US concerned about S. Korea's whaling program

WASHINGTON - The United States on Thursday expressed concern about Republic of Korea's (ROK) plan to start what it called a "scientific" whaling program in northwest Pacific.

"We remain committed to the moratorium on commercial whaling," State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters at a regular news briefing, highlighting US concern about "South Korea's announcement that it will begin a lethal scientific research whaling program."

"We plan to discuss this with the South Korean government," he added.

ROK's plan, announced on Wednesday during talks of the International Whaling Commission in Panama, has drawn criticism from Australia, New Zealand and other countries which have opposed Japan's whaling in Antarctic waters.