<Anchor>
I am worried that
if Japanese contaminated water enters our waters, it could harm the health of the Navy crew. This is because soldiers filter seawater and drink it. To solve this problem, the Navy has installed equipment in the ocean that can detect radioactive materials and responds step-by-step when contaminated water is detected.

This story was exclusively covered by defense reporter Kim Tae-hoon.

<Reporter>
At the plenary session of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly
today (6th), Democratic lawmakers focused on the fact that contaminated water from Fukushima, Japan, could harm the health of Navy personnel.

[Rep. Kim Byung-ju/Democratic Party: It becomes a form of direct seawater through the tide.]

[Lee Chong-sub/Minister of National Defense: Yes, by converting seawater to clean water...]

Vessels of 400 tons or more use fresh water filtered from seawater with equipment called tidal machines for drinking along with water taken from land.

But there's a problem.

[Rep. Sulhoon/Democrat: You know that they say they filter it through an assistant, but tritium doesn't. How are you going to deal with this situation?]

Tidal devices that filter radioactive materials have not been developed anywhere at home or abroad at present.

In response to these issues, the Navy has developed a separate contaminated water response plan.

Marine radiation measurement equipment for ships that detect tritium and gamma nuclides has been installed in key waters to activate the response manual immediately when contaminated water is detected.

Marine radiation measurement equipment for ships currently under construction is deployed at five locations: the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fleets that have jurisdiction over the East, West, and South Seas, respectively, and the Jeju and Jinhae bases with a large number of ship operations.

When contaminated water is detected by measuring equipment installed in the sea a certain distance from each base, step-by-step action is taken, such as supplying additional drinking water through supply ships, returning ships to base, and suspending operations.

The Navy plans to complete the development and deployment of marine radiation measurement equipment by the end of the year.

(Video Interview: Hwang In-suk, Video Editor: Jung Sung-hoon, CG: Kang Yoon-jung)

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