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Japan's Asahi Shimbun daily reported earlier this week that the
country plans to start releasing the water into the ocean as
early as late August, citing unidentified government sources.
"If it is discarded, radioactive substances contained in the
contaminated water will eventually destroy the marine
ecosystem," said Choi Kyoungsook of Korea Radiation Watch, an
activist group that organised the protest.
"We are opposed... because we believe the sea is not just for
the Japanese government, but for all of us and for mankind."
Hundreds of protesters held up signs saying "Keep It Inland" and
"Protect the Pacific Ocean!" while singing songs and listening
to rally organisers.
Japan's nuclear regulator last month granted approval for plant
operator Tokyo Electric Power to start releasing the water,
which Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency said is
safe but nearby countries fear may contaminate food.
U.S. President Joe Biden will meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio
Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a
trilateral summit on Aug. 18.
"There is talk that the dumping of contaminated water is on the
summit agenda. The governments of South Korea, the U.S., and
Japan should view it an environmental disaster, rather than a
political issue, and agree to block it... for future
generations," Choi said.
(Reporting by Do Gyun Kim and Minwoo Park; Writing by Joyce Lee;
Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
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