S. Korean minister blasts Japan for radiation leaks: Yonhap
SEOUL (Kyodo) — South Korea’s fisheries minister on Monday blasted Japan for apparently trying to downplay radiation leaks at the stricken nuclear power plant at Fukushima Prefecture, according to Yonhap News Agency.
“We wondered if we had to protect such immoral people under diplomatic protocols, and so we did it (placed an import ban) as soon as we could,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister Yoon Jin Sook was quoted as telling reporters.
“We did not know that Japan would let the contaminated water leak. We thought this cannot be allowed while our people’s fears were growing,” she reportedly said.
South Korea earlier this month expanded its import ban to include all fisheries products from Japan’s radiation-affected Fukushima Prefecture and seven surrounding prefectures.
Although the distribution of fisheries products contaminated by radioactive materials following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident has not been confirmed in South Korea, there is growing concern over leaks of contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.