SEOUL

South Korea is awaiting test results from two further suspected cases of African swine fever (ASF), according to the country’s Agriculture Ministry on Friday.

If they are confirmed as ASF, it would double the number of local infections following Tuesday's announcement of the first ever local outbreak at a farm in Paju near the border with North Korea.

The South's second ASF case was verified nearby in Yeoncheon on Wednesday, while Friday's suspected infections were at farms in Paju.

Local news agency Yonhap reported that more than 10,000 pigs had been culled due to the outbreak as of Friday morning. Surrounding municipalities have also been placed under tight controls.

Officials are investigating as to what caused the outbreak of ASF, which is fatal to pigs but is not known to affect people.

One theory is that infected wild boar could have crossed the heavily guarded inter-Korean border, as the disease was already reported in the North around four months ago.

ASF has been spreading through Asia since emerging in China last year.