Korea, Mexico share concerns about Japan's Fukushima decision
Representatives of member states of the Central American Integration System and South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun, fifth from left, pose for a group photo during the meeting between Choi and vice-ministers and other experts from the region's eight countries in Costa Rica, April 23. The participants jointly expressed concerns about Japan's decision to release radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. / Courtesy of Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Korea and Mexico shared their concerns during a vice-ministerial meeting about Japan's planned release of contaminated wastewater from its destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant, the foreign ministry here said Saturday. First Vice
Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun, who is now on a nine-day trip to Latin America, met with Carmen Moreno Toscano, Mexico's undersecretary of foreign relations, in Mexico, Friday (local time), to discuss Fukushima and other issues, the ministry added,
At the talks, Choi delivered the concerns of the South Korean government and people about Japan's recent decision to discharge the radioactive water into the ocean and asked for support and cooperation from Mexico whose eastern coastline borders the Pacific.
In response, Moreno said Mexico, as a Pacific rim country, recognizes South Korea's concern about marine contamination and stressed the importance of listening to the voices of all affected countries, according to the ministry.
She also said Mexico will pay close attention to the issue and consider taking appropriate measures together with the international community.
Earlier this week, South Korea and eight Central American countries adopted a joint statement expressing "deep concerns" over the Fukushima issue during a vice-ministerial consultative dialogue between South Korea and the members of the Central American Integration System, or SICA in Spanish, held in Costa Rica, Thursday. (Yonhap)