South Korea may build cloning lab

SEOUL, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare says it is considering creating a research complex to treat hard-to-cure diseases through cloned embryos.

"We need to create a complex to monitor all related research on cloned embryos," said Health and Welfare Minister Kim Hwa-joong. "The complex will cover research, treatment and practical application."

However, the minister said the research complex is still in the discussion phase, the Korea Times reported.

A South Korean research team, led by Seoul National University professor Hwang Woo-suk, recently cloned a human embryo for the first time in the world.