S Korea to probe nuclear reactors

South Korea’s nuclear watchdog said Wednesday it would carry out a rigorous inspection of all the country’s 23 reactors after a scandal involving unvetted components fuelled public fears about nuclear safety. On Monday the government said it was shutting down two reactors fitted with thousands of parts that had been provided with forged quality and safety warranties. The two affected units at the Yeonggwang nuclear complex may remain offline until early January, causing severe power shortages during the harsh winter. “All 23 nuclear reactors in operation and five other reactors under construction will be scrutinised,” Shim Eun-Jung, spokeswoman for the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, told AFP. “This kind of an extensive probe is rare,” she said, adding that the commission had set up an investigation team of nearly 60 private and state experts. The watchdog will also look into possible collusion by officials in the state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) with the suppliers who faked the quality certificates. KHNP president Kim Kyun-Seop told a parliamentary hearing Wednesday that he would willingly resign once the situation had been resolved.