In a statement on June 16 the Council noted that experts have called for survey into soil rather than underground water because dioxin, one of toxic substances contained in defoliant, is hard to be dissolved in water.

Nevertheless, a joint investigation team consisting of the south Korean authorities and the U.S. forces announced the investigation results that there would be no big damage as a very small amount of dioxin was detected in underground water, the statement charged, adding: The team whiled away the time, wandering about allegedly to locate where drums of defoliant were buried.

This matter should never be overlooked since the inclusion of toxic material in underground water, though it is very small in amount, proves that surrounding soil was contaminated, it said.

If the investigation team refuses to accept the people's demand for investigation into soil in the base, it will face bitterer criticism, the statement warned.