Fine dust partially from North Korea: minister
South Korea's environment minister said Monday some fine dust particles that blanketed most of the South last week came from North Korea.
Minister Cho Myung-rae told the National Assembly he believes North Korea is one of the many causes for fine dust coming into South Korea.
Cho made the remarks replying to a question from an opposition lawmaker during a meeting of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee.
"There are several reasons for the inflows of fine dust, but I believe some of the dust particles came from North Korea during times of their heavy concentrations (in South Korea)," said Cho, answering a question from Rep. Lee Jang-woo of the Liberty Korea Party.
Lee had asked Cho about the cause of high levels of fine dust in pristine areas in Jeju, Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces early this month.
In the first seven days of March, most of South Korea, including Seoul, was hit by heavy concentrations of ultrafine particles that were about six times higher than the maximum density recommended by the World Health Organization.
South Korea's state-run laboratories have argued pollutants from China are responsible for 50 to 70 percent of fine dust pollution here, though the Beijing government has repeatedly denied any responsibility.
President Moon Jae-in has recently ordered his government to work together with China to fight fine dust pollution.
It is the first time for Seoul's Cabinet minister to officially blame North Korea for the problem of fine dust pollution in South Korea.
Meanwhile, Cho denied a recent media report alleging he didn't make any particular protest to his Chinese counterpart, Li Ganjie, over the fine dust problem during their talks in Beijing on Feb. 26.
"The talks lasted about 1 1/2 hours. But there was not much direct expression because it was a diplomatic meeting. Li said a flow of Chinese fine dust into South Korea is impossible because China has reduced its fine dust 43 percent over the past five years," the minister said in the parliamentary meeting.
"The Chinese minister also said South Korean media somewhat exaggerated China's responsibility for fine dust, but I made a counterargument based on data. I cited a study of the National Institute of Environment Research that concluded up to 81 percent of fine dust over South Korea came from abroad. I also made a long explanation on alternative solutions and the Chinese side surprisingly accepted my proposal," he said.
Cho said one of the proposals he made to China calls for establishing a high-level policy consultation conference to discuss ways to reduce fine dust. (Yonhap)
Minister Cho Myung-rae told the National Assembly he believes North Korea is one of the many causes for fine dust coming into South Korea.
Cho made the remarks replying to a question from an opposition lawmaker during a meeting of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee.
"There are several reasons for the inflows of fine dust, but I believe some of the dust particles came from North Korea during times of their heavy concentrations (in South Korea)," said Cho, answering a question from Rep. Lee Jang-woo of the Liberty Korea Party.
Lee had asked Cho about the cause of high levels of fine dust in pristine areas in Jeju, Jeolla and Chungcheong provinces early this month.
In the first seven days of March, most of South Korea, including Seoul, was hit by heavy concentrations of ultrafine particles that were about six times higher than the maximum density recommended by the World Health Organization.
South Korea's state-run laboratories have argued pollutants from China are responsible for 50 to 70 percent of fine dust pollution here, though the Beijing government has repeatedly denied any responsibility.
President Moon Jae-in has recently ordered his government to work together with China to fight fine dust pollution.
It is the first time for Seoul's Cabinet minister to officially blame North Korea for the problem of fine dust pollution in South Korea.
Meanwhile, Cho denied a recent media report alleging he didn't make any particular protest to his Chinese counterpart, Li Ganjie, over the fine dust problem during their talks in Beijing on Feb. 26.
"The talks lasted about 1 1/2 hours. But there was not much direct expression because it was a diplomatic meeting. Li said a flow of Chinese fine dust into South Korea is impossible because China has reduced its fine dust 43 percent over the past five years," the minister said in the parliamentary meeting.
"The Chinese minister also said South Korean media somewhat exaggerated China's responsibility for fine dust, but I made a counterargument based on data. I cited a study of the National Institute of Environment Research that concluded up to 81 percent of fine dust over South Korea came from abroad. I also made a long explanation on alternative solutions and the Chinese side surprisingly accepted my proposal," he said.
Cho said one of the proposals he made to China calls for establishing a high-level policy consultation conference to discuss ways to reduce fine dust. (Yonhap)
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