2013-09-06 18:36:43

South Korea bans Japanese seafood


(Vatican Radio) South Korea has banned seafood imports from parts of Japan that might be affected by on-going radioactive pollution from the Fukushima nuclear plant. The ban comes despite assurances by Japan's government that levels are largely within safe limits.

South Korea's government said it's banning the import of 50 kinds of seafood from waters up and down the coast from the Fukushima plant.

A spokesman said it's because of growing concern by the South Korean public about the health risk from hundreds of tons of radioactive groundwater thought to be entering the sea every day.

Japan's government said ocean radiation levels are mostly within safe limits. A spokesman said Japan would ask South Korea to take decisions based on science.

But a South Korean deputy fisheries minister said Japan is providing insufficient data.

Critics have long accused Tokyo and the Fukushima plant operator of day to day lack of clarity about leaks and progress cleaning up the site.

And those concerns might be a factor for the International Olympic Committee this weekend when it decides whether Tokyo, Madrid or Istanbul should host the Olympic Games in the year 2020.

Japan's Prime Minister said this week that by that date, the problems will be fixed.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn’s report: RealAudioMP3








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