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South Korea will take time to explain new U.S. beef deal before resuming importsSEOUL, South Korea (AP)--South Korea will have ample time to explain to the public a new beef trade deal with the United States before resuming imports, the ruling party said June 22 in a move aimed at placating critics. Seoul had been expected to move in coming days to resume American beef imports after it struck the deal with Washington that calls for South Korea to import beef only from cattle younger than 30 months--considered less at risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy. But the ruling Grand National Party and the government concluded in a high-level policy meeting June 21 that it is better to restart imports later, after seeking the public's understanding, party spokeswoman Cho Yoon-seon said. Resuming imports "is not something we should do in a hurried manner," Cho said. "Our party suggested that we should do that after providing the public with a sufficient explanation of the additional negotiations." Prime Minister Han Seung-soo, who was also in the meeting, agreed with this approach, Cho said. She declined to predict when imports would resume, saying only that the party would monitor public opinion. The decision appeared to reflect concern about a possible backlash if the government and the ruling party push ahead with the resumption of imports without enough time to explain it to the public--a move that could be seen as arrogant. South Korea was forced to seek negotiations with Washington to revise the April beef import deal after pressure from the public that accused President Lee Myung-bak of arrogance for failing to consider possible health risks and caving in to American demands. Eating meat products contaminated with BSE is linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare and fatal human malady. U.S. and South Korean officials have insisted American beef is safe. Still, the April deal, which had few restrictions on what meat should be allowed, sparked daily anti-government protests, forcing Lee to issue a public apology twice and replace all his top advisers. His entire Cabinet also has offered to resign. Protest leaders say the new beef deal falls short of their demand for a complete renegotiation and vowed to continue with demonstrations. On June 21, about 9,600 people rallied in central Seoul, some of them turning violent. More rallies were planned for June 22. 6/30/08 Date: 6/25/08
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