Here is the latest on the Agent Orange issue in Korea:

The Environment Ministry will soon start health tests of people living near a U.S. base that was used as a dump for toxic chemicals between 1977 and 1982, a spokesman said Wednesday.

Chemicals dumped at the U.S. Forces Korea base of Camp Carroll included the lethal defoliant Agent Orange widely used in the Vietnam War.

About 6,500 people from 2,400 households near the camp will be subject to health tests, which will be conducted in three stages — a questionnaire, blood tests and health screening. The results are not expected until the second half of next year.

“We are going to investigate whether residents near the camp are suffering from Agent Orange-related illnesses or whether other toxic materials have had harmful effects on their health,” a ministry official said. “To ensure objectivity, we’re going to include civilian experts recommended by civic groups in the investigation team.”  [Chosun Ilbo via reader tip]