S.Korea to send emergency shipment of reactor coolant

SEOUL - SOUTH Korea said on Wednesday it plans to send an emergency shipment of cooling material to Japan to help control its quake-damaged nuclear reactors.

Tokyo has asked for the shipment of boron, a key material used for moderating nuclear chain reactions, as it is running short of the metalloid to which it needs to cool the overheated Fukushima reactors, Seoul's Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.

'We sent boron samples yesterday and we are prepared to send tens of tons of boron if Tokyo gives the nod,' said a spokesman from the state-run Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power.

The ministry said Seoul would provide as much boron from its reserves as possible.

Boron goes into control rods used to halt or slow down fission reactions at nuclear reactors.

Japan also asked for an emergency fuel shipment from South Korea. -- AFP