< Anchor>

The second round of inspections on the site inspection of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant was held yesterday (17th), but it ended without any concrete results. It is reported that they conveyed additional requirements for contaminated water purification and discharge facilities in general, and exchanged views with Japan.

The first news is brought to you by reporter Choi Jae-young.

<Reporter>
Even at the second working-level meeting on the inspection of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which was held via
closed-door video conference, South Korea and Japan did not reach a final conclusion.

Yesterday's meeting was held with Japan accepting many of the ROK Government's demands presented at the first meeting on 2 March, so there was a prospect that we would be able to agree on a schedule and scope of inspections.

[Park Gu-yeon, First Deputy Director of State Affairs at the State Affairs Coordination Office (Yesterday, National Assembly Political Affairs Committee): We expect to finalize the composition of the inspection team and the action plan, and we expect to do so.]

However, we received the Japanese side's opinion on our additional demands, and we ended the meeting in just over four hours at the level of discussion.

It is reported that the ROK government has demanded the provision of various performance data of the polynucleated species removal facility called the Alps, as well as confirmation of transfer pumps, emergency shut-off valves, and radiation monitors of discharge-related facilities.

Today, it is known that we are adjusting what was discussed at yesterday's working meeting at the working level and arranging our positions.

An official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "We will review the matters of consultation separately and communicate through diplomatic channels from today."

The two countries have decided not to hold any more face-to-face or video conferences, but they plan to coordinate inspection facilities and accessible data through diplomatic channels.

(Video editing: Jeon Min-kyu)