The headline that covered the front page of Tokyo Shimbun on Tuesday was President Moon’s comment at an event held the day before, reaffirming his plans to scrap two of the newly proposed nuclear power plants as well limiting any further extension to the lifespan of existing nuclear power plants in the country. (Image: Yonhap)
TOKYO, June 21 (Korea Bizwire) – As the South Korean government continues its efforts to lower reliance on nuclear energy and focus on renewable energy, the Japanese media is paying attention to its neighbor’s denuclearization policy in memory of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011.
The headline that covered the front page of Tokyo Shimbun on Tuesday was President Moon’s comment at an event held the day before, reaffirming his plans to scrap two of the newly proposed nuclear power plants as well limiting any further extension to the lifespan of existing nuclear power plants in the country.
While the newspaper said the Moon administration’s energy policy was inspired by lessons learned from the horrendous disaster in Fukushima, which saw devastation from a tsunami lead to a nuclear meltdown and radioactive leaks, Yomiuri Shimbun also followed suit, saying that Moon mentioned that nuclear power plants are unsafe, very expensive, and are not environment-friendly.
In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster a few years ago, the Japanese government temporarily shut down the country’s nuclear power plants, until recently when the country’s energy policy makers saw it necessary to rely on nuclear energy.
As the South Korean government continues its efforts to lower reliance on nuclear energy and focus on renewable energy, the Japanese media is paying attention to its neighbor’s denuclearization policy in memory of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011. (Image: Yonhap)
Since the 2016 Fukushima earthquake, four power plants have resumed operation in the western region of Japan after agreements were reached with local communities.
According to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan’s reliance on nuclear energy will account for 20 to 23 percent of all sources of energy in 2030.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
