National News

SEOUL (Kyodo) -- Japanese playwright Oriza Hirata, who serves as a special adviser to the Cabinet, claimed in a recent lecture given here that the dumping of low-level radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean was done at the "strong request" from the United States, a person who attended the lecture said Wednesday.

The release of the water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant last month generated anxiety about the possible spread of radioactive contamination from the seaside power station.

The Japanese government had apparently given its permission for the release of the water after receiving a report from plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co.

Hirata's remarks, made Tuesday, that the release was not carried out based on Tokyo's independent judgment but rather on a request from Washington is likely to ignite a discussion.

South Korea and other neighboring countries have voiced concerns over a lack of prior notification of the tainted water discharge.

Hirata's lecture in Seoul was titled "Earthquakes and the Revitalization of Japan," and in response to a question at the venue, he called Japan's failure to give advance notification an error of communication.

While acknowledging that the release of the water caused concern in South Korea, he said the water that was discharged had an extremely low radioactivity and the quantity was small.

Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said that he was "not aware" of the release of the water being carried out at the request of the United States.

"I would like to confirm with him afterward based on what recognition he was speaking," Edano said, indicating that he intends to question Hirata on his claim of U.S. intervention.