Asean Tribune

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been in discussions with China over establishing a joint information mechanism over the water discharge from Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, similar to the agency’s arrangement with South Korea, according to the agency’s chief.

In light of the water discharge that began late last month, South Korea and the IAEA have established the IAEA-ROK Fukushima Information Mechanism, allowing the agency to share the latest information regarding the release plan with the Seoul government and hold video conferences regularly.

ROK stands for South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.

In an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency on Friday, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the agency was “having discussions with China” over creating an arrangement similar to that with South Korea.

“I have offered this also to other countries in case they still harbor doubts or concerns (over safety),” Grossi told Yonhap in the video interview held online.

The director general said discussions with China, which has been vocally outspoken against Japan’s water discharge, remain a “work in progress.” Grossi said he has written to the Chinese foreign minister and other authorities over the matter.

He said he hoped to have meetings with high-ranking officials from China “in the next few days” and that this issue may be discussed.

Regarding the activities of South Korean experts involved in the information mechanism, Grossi explained that they are not making their own independent measurements, but mostly being briefed and studying the activities of Japanese authorities and the IAEA.

The South Korean government has reported that the Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the plant, has encountered no technical issues during the release.

Grossi, meanwhile, ruled out the possibility of South Korean experts themselves being involved and participating in the inspection along with IAEA experts.

“If we are moving into the logic that the IAEA, to be credible, needs to have experts with a South Korean passport, an Argentine passport or an American passport, then this is the end of the international controls.”

He added, “We should work together but with a healthy division of labor.”

Grossi said he was receiving briefings of the Fukushima operation on a daily basis and that he expects to travel to Japan early next year to see the IAEA’s onsite monitoring activities and also possibly visit South Korea then.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested South Korea’s cooperation in nuclear power, resource development and the defense industry as part of reconstruction efforts of the war-ravaged country, Seoul officials said Saturday.

A delegation of government officials and business representatives who visited Kyiv this week to discuss South Korea’s potential involvement in reconstruction projects, estimated to be worth around 1,200 trillion won (US$902 billion), returned home Saturday morning.

During a meeting with them Wednesday, Zelensky called for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, particularly expressing interest in South Korea’s expertise in large-scale atomic power technology, the delegation said.

Zelensky also expressed hopes for South Korea’s assistance in solar power generation technology and the development and expansion of oil-refining facilities, they said.

“President Zelensky seemed to envision a partnership between Ukraine and South Korea in the energy sector, with a focus on the European Union market,” a member of the delegation said.

Zelensky also proposed a joint effort in mining lithium, a vital component of rechargeable batteries, since Ukraine possesses substantial lithium deposits in its eastern region.

In the realm of defense, Zelensky suggested combining South Korean defense manufacturing technology with Ukraine’s intelligence on Russia to create advanced weaponry that could be exported to European countries, the delegation said.

In addition, the president expressed hopes for South Korea’s involvement in various other sectors, including automobile manufacturing, dam restoration and the construction of a high-speed railway line connecting Kyiv and Warsaw, Poland.

During the meeting, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, who led the delegation, reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to actively supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.

He said the high-speed railway project could move forward promptly and that both the South Korean government and businesses were eager to collaborate on nuclear energy, lithium, automobiles and various construction projects, according to delegates.

South Korea plans to dispatch a second economic delegation, led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to Kyiv later this year.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Cuba Ambassador to Laos Enna Viant Valdés highlighted the remarkable progress in Laos-Cuba relations as the President Thongloun Sisoulith is visiting Cuba to attend G77+China Summit scheduled for Sep 12-17. Cuba Ambassador to Laos Enna Viant Valdés highlighted the remarkable progress in Laos-Cuba relations as the President Thongloun Sisoulith is visiting Cuba to attend G77+China Summit scheduled for Sep 12-17.

President Thongloun’s visit is the beginning of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of relations between both nations – a moment that will take place in 2024.

“Right now in Havana we are in the preparation of the G77 Summit which is an important multilateral organization of 134 countries of the South. This event will be held tomorrow 15 to 16 September 2023, on current development challenges: role of science, technology and innovation,” said Ambassador Enna Viant Valdés on Thursday.

“Comrade Sisoulith’s visit “is an expression of the ties of friendship, brotherhood and solidarity that unite us- which are indestructible ties, they are ties between brother countries, and in particular, that you have agreed to come to this Summit of the Group of 77 and China, also reflects – in addition to Laos’ commitment to the cause of the Group of 77 – the support for Cuba in the pro-tempore presidency; and for that, we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts,” said the Cuban ambassador. “The name Cuba means friend, brother, man who fights for common ideas. We will always be together. Therefore, your visit is an encouragement to continue fighting, working, and to continue strengthening relationships.”

Laos and Cuba established diplomatic relations on November 4, 1974. Since then the exchange of visits by Party and government officials of the two countries has been growing constantly.

The cooperation is developed in areas such as education, health, agriculture, according to the Cuban diplomat.

Source: Lao News Agency

Secretary-General of ASEAN Dr Kao Kim Hourn met with the Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Cambodia Cham Nimul on the sidelines of China-ASEAN Expo today. Dr Kao congratulated Minister Cham Nimul anew on her recent appointment as the Minister of Commerce and looked forward to continued support from Cambodia in further advancing ASEAN economic integration.

Source: Association of SouthEast Asian Nation