South Korea to delay resumption of US beef imports

SEOUL, South Korea—South Korea says it will delay the resumption of U.S. beef imports.

Agriculture Ministry spokesman Kim Hyun-soo says his ministry decided to delay the final administrative step needed for imports to begin.

He offered no further details Monday.

The move comes after tens of thousands of South Koreans took to the streets over the weekend to protest the government's decision to implement an agreement with the United States to resume imports.

U.S beef has been banned by South Korea for most of the past 4 1/2 over fears of mad cow disease.