Korea to review nuke safety in wake of Japan's nuclear crisis

The South Korean government plans to review its nuclear safety policy in the wake of severe damage caused to Japan's nuclear reactors following last week's catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, Yonhap News Agency said quoting a senior South Korean government official.

Anh Hyun Ho, first vice minister of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, outlined the government thinking during a parliamentary committee meeting held to study the lessons from the Japanese tragedy on Tuesday.

''The lesson from the accident in Japan is that natural disasters can go beyond all expectations,'' Anh was quoted as saying.

South Korea has 20 nuclear power plants, located mostly in the southern provinces.

An official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the committee that the South Korean government plans to send forensics experts to Japan to help identify the bodies of South Koreans who died from the earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck eastern Japan last Friday.

President Lee Myung Bak said South Koreans should enhance their awareness on the risks of nuclear power plants from a possible earthquake or other natural disasters, Yonhap reported.