07/04 Japan to improve notification to foreign governments on nuke crisis

Japan to improve notification to foreign governments on nuke crisis

In this photo taken on Thursday, March 31, 2011 by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and released by Japan Defense Ministry Friday, April 1, Top parts of explosion-damaged reactors from left, Unit 4, Unit 3, Unit 2 and Unit 1 of the tsunami-stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex are seen with ravaged waterfront facilities in Okumamachi, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (AP Photo/Japan Defense Ministry)

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese government is working to improve its system of notifying foreign governments of developments in the ongoing crisis at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, government officials said Wednesday.

Tokyo's plan to share information on significant developments more quickly with foreign governments comes after the South Korean government expressed displeasure Tuesday that Japan did not provide sufficient explanations before the plant's operator intentionally released low-level radioactive water into the Pacific.

On Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano instructed the Foreign Ministry and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry to take extra care to provide relevant information to neighboring countries, such as South Korea, Russia and China.

He also called for a more thorough handling of briefings the Foreign Ministry has given daily to embassies in Tokyo. Ministry officials explained the contaminated water discharge to the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo one more time.

"One country raised the issue that we were somewhat short on explaining," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Satoru Sato at a news conference on Wednesday. "We need to consider what proper measures the government should take as a whole based on this experience."

Takashi Kurita, with a microphone, a public relations official with Tokyo Electric Power Co., bows before a news conference at its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, March 30, 2011. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Japan explained the contaminated water discharge plan to other countries about an hour after the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., notified the government of its intention.

"It's not easy to speed up information sharing when situations change minute by minute," a ministry source said.

Low-level radioactive water was dumped into the sea to free up space to pool far more highly radioactive water that has flooded the basements of the turbine buildings for nuclear reactors at the plant.

The basements need to be cleared of radioactive water to restore key cooling functions that have been crippled by the devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

(Mainichi Japan) April 7, 2011