South Korean officials announced plans to resume whaling for scientific research during a meeting in Panama City.

Like Japan, whose ships are seen here in video provided by Greenpeace, South Korea found a loophole in an international moratorium on commercial whaling by claiming they do it for scientific purposes.

South Korea has also said whaling is part of their cultural heritage.

Anti-whaling activists regularly harass Japanese vessels engaged in whale hunting.

South Korea has said an increase in the whale population is depleting fishing stocks, but the World Wildlife Fund said that claim has no scientific basis.

Julie Noce, Reuters