The Republic of Korea has announced that it will not go ahead with a lethal scientific whaling program. The policy decision was announced in a circular released by the International Whaling Commission.
Australia has hailed the decision and extended its support: “Australia is more than happy to share our techniques and approaches to non-lethal cetacean research to help Korea answer their key management and conservation priorities”, said the Australian Environment Minister Tony Burke in response to the news.
A case against commercial whaling for scientific research will be heard in the Hague in the latter half of 2013. Australia is one of the countries pursuing a complete moratorium on whaling through the International Court of Justice.