0
South Korea's imports of pork and beef surged in the first half of the year from a year earlier due to the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) that led to the culling of millions of animals here.
South Korea imported 219,681 tons of pork in the January-June period, up 120 percent from 99,899 tons a year earlier, according to the Animal, Plant and Fisheries Quarantine and Inspection Agency.
The jump was largely attributed to the spread of the animal disease that affects all cloven-hoofed animals, including pigs, cows and sheep, forcing the Seoul government to destroy over 3 million or one-third of all pigs in the country, along with thousands of head of cattle.
Out of total pork imports, more than 43 percent, or some 95,000 tons, came from the United States, whose exports to South Korea spiked 223 percent from a year earlier.
Yohnap news Agency/ South Korea.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr
