The safety of the water is a major sticking point as the two sides work to improve long-strained ties. Discussions were held Friday in Seoul and online, in which the Japanese government also provided an update on the status of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Officials are preparing to release the water, saying it's an unavoidable step for the decommissioning process. The government and the plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, say the water release will begin between spring and summer and take decades to finish. Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 13, 2023 06:32 UTC