South Korea criticizes release of radioactive water

South Korea has expressed concern over Japan's release of contaminated water into the sea from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The Japanese government approved the action by the plant operator. Tokyo Electric Power Company began dumping wastewater containing radioactive materials, including iodine-131 with a level of about 100 times the legal limit, into the sea to stabilize the crippled plant on Monday.

South Korea's Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry conveyed its concern to Japan's Foreign Ministry on Monday evening through its embassy in Tokyo.

The South Korean ministry pointed out that release of contaminated wastewater could be a violation of international law.

South Koreas have been increasingly worried about radioactive contamination of tap water and farm products. Minute amounts of radioactive material have been detected in the country after the trouble of the nuclear plant.

There's growing criticism in the country that Japan failed to notify neighboring countries in advance about the release of contaminated water.

NHK World