South Korean President Moon Jae-in puts country on highest alert amid outbreak

South Korea's president has put the country on its highest alert for infectious diseases and said officials should take "unprecedented, powerful" steps to fight a viral outbreak.

President Moon Jae-in says the outbreak has reached "a crucial watershed" and that "the next few days will be a very important critical moment."

He made the comments at the start of a government meeting as authorities reported 123 more cases on Sunday, raising the total to 556 with five deaths.