The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 22nd that an outbreak of pine wilt disease has recurred in Bukhansan National Park in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, on the 20th of this month, and has initiated emergency control measures. The infected trees were finally diagnosed as pine wilt disease based on the results of the first diagnosis by the Northern Regional Forestry Office and the second diagnosis by the National Institute of Forest Science. The Seongbuk-gu area of Bukhansan was declared a clean area in June 2018 after control measures were completed following the first outbreak of pine wilt disease in 2014. [Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government. Resale and database use prohibited] (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Hwang Jae-ha = The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 22nd that an outbreak of pine wilt disease has recurred in Bukhansan National Park in Jeongneung-dong, Seongbuk-gu, on the 20th of this month, and has initiated emergency control measures. The infected trees were finally diagnosed as pine wilt disease based on the results of the first diagnosis by the Northern Regional Forestry Office and the second diagnosis by the National Institute of Forest Science. The Seongbuk-gu area of Bukhansan was declared a clean area in June 2018 after control measures were completed following the first outbreak of pine wilt disease in 2014. The current outbreak site is approximately 300 meters away from the site of the first outbreak in 2014, but it is estimated that there is no direct connection to the past outbreak. The city plans to hold a 'Central and Regional Control Strategy Meeting' at the Bukhansan site on the 23rd to implement emergency control measures such as the removal and destruction of infected trees. The meeting will be attended by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seongbuk-gu, nearby local governments, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Northern Regional Forestry Office, the Seoul National Forest Management Office, the National Institute of Forest Science, and the Korea Disaster & Safety Technology Authority. The meeting will establish roles and cooperation systems among the agencies and discuss the implementation of emergency control measures. In addition, the city plans to set up a restricted export area to remove infected trees and prevent their spread within the city. Pine tree movement checkpoints will be operated to prevent their entry and spread. The designated areas are five districts in Seongbuk-gu (Jeongneung 1-dong, Jeongneung 2-dong, Jeongneung 3-dong, Jeongneung 4-dong, Gileum 1-dong), six districts in Gangbuk-gu (Samgaksan-dong, Songcheon-dong, Samyang-dong, Suyu 1-dong, Insu-dong, Mia-dong), and Pyeongchang-dong in Jongno-gu. Moving pine trees in these areas without a non-infection certificate will be subject to inspection. Furthermore, the city plans to maintain a constant surveillance system and strengthen joint response through cooperation with the National Park Service, the Seoul National Forest Management Office to prevent further spread.