The government says the nation is now free of the foot-and-mouth disease. The Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said it will file for a "foot-and-mouth free status" next month at the Paris-based Office International des Epizooties ... an international organization determining the status of animal health problems for international trade. South Korea has already begun negotiations with Russia, the Philippines and a few other Southeast Asian nations to resume pork exports. More than one hundred-60 thousand pigs and cows were slaughtered this year since the outbreak of the deadly disease in early May. South Korea exported 46 million dollars worth of pork products last year, mostly to these countries. The ministry expects pork exports to Japan will likely resume next March.