An outbreak of foot and mouth disease is reported in North Korea.
The Yonhap newspaper in South Korea is quoting an intelligence official as saying that the North is unable to carry out quarantine and sanitation efforts because of a lack of medicine and equipment.
The ABC reports the epidemic may take a toll on North Korea's military, which raises livestock to feed its troops.
The country has persistent food shortages and it is believed people are eating infected cattle and pigs instead of burying them.
Meanwhile, South Korea has culled about 15% of its combined pig and cattle population to contain outbreaks of foot and mouth disease there.
It has so far confirmed 120 cases, up from 116 a week ago. A nationwide epidemic that originated in pigs more than a month ago, has now spread to six provinces.
