Over 12 years ago, the strongest earthquake in Japan's recorded history caused a massive tsunami that led to a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. We take a look at what's to become of the water used to cool the plant's reactors. With the Fukushima facility rapidly running out of storage space, the UN nuclear watchdog and Japanese regulators gave separate approval to a plan to dump over a million tonnes of treated wastewater into the Pacific. Both said the environmental impact would be negligible, but that has not allayed the fears of local people.

The US is seeking to deter Pacific island nations from forming security ties with China. Analysts say Pacific countries are forced into a balancing act as they try to safeguard their own interests.

A 7.7 magnitude quake hit near the Loyalty Islands, creating small tsunami waves in Vanuatu, with others possible for Fiji, New Caledonia, Kiribati and New Zealand.

Seoul has long walked a tightrope between China, its most important trading partner, and the US, its closest security ally.