News reports coming out of Seoul, South Korea late Thursday say South Korea has agreed to resume accepting American beef imports. Yonhap News Agency says both sides are drafting an agreement, with details to be announced on Friday. The deal is seen as Seoul's concession to the United States, to speed up U.S. ratification of a broader free trade deal struck last year.

South Korea suspended American beef imports six months ago, after a shipment from the states contained parts banned, over mad cow concerns.