Korea's indigenous "sapsal" dog, a natural monument, will be used to detect termites around state-designated cultural properties.

The Cultural Heritage Administration says that together with the Korean Sabsaree Foundation and a dog breed institute in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, it will train two sapsal dogs as termite sniffers to assess termite damage around cultural sites.

The dogs are being trained to respond to the smell of termites' secretion using their exceptional olfactory sense.

The administration says the dogs will be put to the field by the first half of next year.

Sapsal dogs have a mild and calm temperament and superb concentration, which make them perfect for sniffing out termites.