South Korea to step upsafety measures

Seoul: South Korea, which depends on nuclear energy for 33 per cent of its electricity, said it will improve safety and security at nuclear power plants as Japan struggles to contain damaged at reactors caused by a record- strong earthquake.

Japan is seeking to avoid a meltdown at a power station in Fukushima north of Tokyo by flooding reactors with water and boric acid to eliminate the potential for a catastrophic release of radiation into the atmosphere.

"Reactors in South Korea are safer than those in Fukushima," Ahn Hyun-ho, Vice Minister of Knowledge Economy, told lawmakers in Seoul on Monday. "Still, we will review and improve the safety of nuclear power plants."

More reactors

Ahn didn't provide details of the improvements.

South Korea has said it will construct more nuclear reactors to cut reliance on fossil fuels including crude and coal, and to diversify energy sources after oil prices in New York climbed to a record $147.27 a barrel in 2008.

Nuclear plants will provide 59 pe rcent of South Korea's power generation by 2030.

The nation operates 21 reactors.