S. Korea May Lift Ban on Fishery Products from Fukushima

Seoul, Jan. 15 (Jiji Press)--A South Korean Foreign Ministry official suggested Thursday that the country may lift a ban on imports of fishery products from Fukushima and seven other Japanese prefectures. South Korea introduced the ban in September 2013 due to leaks into the ocean of water contaminated with radioactive substances released from Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s <9501> Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which was crippled in the March 2011 disaster. The official said that, as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic normalization between South Korea and Japan, the ministry is discussing the issue based on the view that the ban may have to be lifted. The South Korean government set up a private-sector panel in September 2014 in order to assess whether the ban should be maintained or removed. Panel members visited Japan in December and earlier this month for on-site inspections. At a press conference on Thursday, a South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said the country will take appropriate measures if the safety of the fishery products in question is confirmed scientifically, chiefly through on-site inspections. The most important thing is the safety of the South Korean people, the spokesman said. The seven other Japanese prefectures targeted by the ban are Miyagi, Aomori, Iwate, Ibaraki, Gunma, Tochigi and Chiba. END