Gov't to check radioactivity levels of fish caught in East Sea

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- The government said Tuesday it will increase safety
checks on fish caught in the East Sea following North Korea's second nuclear
test.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said it will carefully
examine all fish that are caught and increase sample testing of sea water for
radioactivity.
"The measures are designed to alleviate possible public concerns that radioactive
fallout may have contaminated fisheries resources," an official said.
The ministry said it will examine roughly 10 percent of all fish products
imported from North Korea, Russia and Japan as a further precaution against
contaminated fish reaching consumers.
However, the official pointed out that no abnormal radioactive levels were found
in marine life when the government conducted extensive tests following the
North's first nuclear test in October 2006.
Seoul said Monday that the underground test was stronger than the explosion
caused by Pyongyang's first detonation, and was probably was equivalent to five
to 15 kilotons of TNT. The nuclear explosion, which the United States has yet to
formally acknowledge, probably took place in Poongkye-ri, North Hamgyong
Province, on the country's east coast.
The North's Korean Central News Agency confirmed that the detonation helped
solve the country's technological problems in increasing the yield of its
nuclear weapons.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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