The prosecution on Thursday is poised to investigate suspicions that fraudulent quality certificates were issued on faulty components used in the suspended nuclear reactors.

The Supreme Prosecutor’s Office launched a special task force in Busan to respond to the charge filed by the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corporation against the cable suppliers.

The task force will not only take charge of the KHNP’s case but also look into all cases of irregularities found in nuclear reactor businesses, according to officials.

“Past cases will also be subject to investigation as long as the statute of limitations remains,” said an official.

“The purpose of this task force is to solve all doubts concerning the nuclear reactors here.”

A special phone line and email address were created to receive civil reports, he added.

The team also seized and searched the suppliers’ office early on Thursday, confiscating all possible evidence of document forgery.

The series of actions came two days after the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission suspended the operation of two nuclear reactors and delayed the scheduled resumption of two others.

It had detected in the corresponding reactors substandard control cables, which had been supplied under fabricated quality warranties, officials said.

The sudden shutdown of the nuclear reactors boosted worries about a serious electricity shortage, especially during the imminent summer season when the supply is usually low.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)