South Korean protesters struggle with riot police as they march to the presidential house during a rally against US beef imports in Seoul on June 1, 2008. (AFP PHOTO/JUNG YEON-JE)

South Korea now says it will delay resumption of U.S. beef imports, after its earlier announcement last Thursday that it was ready to resume those imports. Agriculture Ministry spokesman Kim Hyun-soo says his ministry decided to delay a final step, but did not elaborate, or make any reference to the past weekend's protests. ( 11 photos total



South Korean anti-riot policemen stand guard along a road in Seoul on May 31, 2008. (KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP/Getty Images)



Police use their buses to block protesters in central Seoul as thousands of protesters march toward the presidential Blue House during a candle light vigil demanding the renegotiation of the U.S. beef import deal May 31, 2008. (REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won)



South Korean protesters carrying candles are blocked by police buses during a rally against US beef imports in Seoul on June 1, 2008. (KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP/Getty Images)



Protesters take over the streets during a candle light vigil demanding the renegotiation of the U.S. beef import deal in Seoul June 1, 2008. (REUTERS/Jo Yong-Hak)



South Korean riot police shout as they block protesters marching to the presidential house during a rally against US beef imports in Seoul on June 1, 2008. (JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)



Police push protesters to suppress them as they use a water canon on protesters during a rally demanding the renegotiation of the U.S. beef import deal, near the presidential Blue House in Seoul June 1, 2008. (REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won)



Protesters scuffle with riot police on a police bus as they are hit by the police's water cannon during a candlelight vigil demanding the renegotiation of the U.S. beef import deal in Seoul June 1, 2008. (REUTERS/Jo Yong-Hak)



People hold candles as police block them during an anti-government rally demanding the renegotiation of the beef deal with U.S. in front of the city hall in Seoul May 30, 2008. (REUTERS/Jo Yong-Hak)



Tens of thousands protesters participate at a candlelight vigil against a recent Korea-U.S. agreement on the expansion of U.S. beef imports in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 31, 2008. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)



A South Korean promoter displays US beef at a booth of US Meat Export Federation during the Korea International Retailing Industry Fair in Seoul, 23 May 2007. (AFP PHOTO/JUNG YEON-JE)

More links and information:

South Korea to resume US beef imports - Boston Globe - 5/29

Clashes mark South Korean beef protest - boston Globe - 6/01

South Korea to delay resumption of US beef imports - Boston Globe - 6/02