Headlines, December 18, 2019

'4+1' Consultation Body Fails to Reach Agreement on Tuesday
Four political parties and a group of lawmakers preparing to launch a new party held discussions late Tuesday night on a fast-tracked election reform bill but failed to reach an agreement. The group, known as the "four plus one" consultation body, is made up of the ruling Democratic Party, the Bareunmirae Party, the Justice Party, the Party for Democracy and Peace and the group of lawmakers.

Pres. Moon to Hold Summit with Swedish Prime Minister Wed.
President Moon Jae-in will hold a summit with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in Seoul on Wednesday. Lofven will be making a three-day trip to South Korea at Moon’s invitation which was extended as South Korea and Sweden their 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties this year.

US Senate Passes Annual Defense Bill that Restricts USFK Reduction
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed a massive 738-billion dollar defense spending bill that restricts the reduction of American troop presence in South Korea. The National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA) for fiscal year 2020 passed the Senate 86-8 after passing the House of Representatives last week by a vote of 377 to 48.

US envoy fails to meet North Korea's senior diplomat
U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun failed to meet a senior North Korean diplomat at the North's side of the Joint Security Area, also known as Panmunjeom, despite his open request for the high-profile meeting to resume stalled denuclearization talks.

Former Assembly speaker named Prime Minister
President Moon Jae-in has picked ruling party heavyweight Chung Sye-kyun to replace Lee Nak-yon as prime minister. Chung previously served as industry minister during the 2003-08 Roh Moo-hyun administration and has served six terms at the National Assembly before building up extensive corporate experience.

Gov't to create W455 tril. in economic value through AI
The government will generate a total of 455 trillion won ($390 billion) in economic value over the next 10 years by fostering artificial intelligence (AI) through 100 inter-agency projects, the Ministry of Science and ICT said Tuesday. Through the plans, the government is aiming to become No. 3 in terms of digital competitiveness, and No. 10 in living standards of citizens in the world by the end of 2030.

Will Pyongyang answer Biegun’s call?
After Stephen Biegun, the US State Department’s special representative for North Korea, publicly offered to meet North Koreans on Dec. 16, during his visit to South Korea, the next question revolves around the possibility of reviving the North Korea-US negotiations, which broke down in Stockholm in early October. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Biegun mentioned “feasible steps,” “flexibility,” and “balanced agreements,” all expressions that seem catered to North Korea’s desired approach.

Biegun urges North Korea to return to negotiating table during Seoul visit
As North Korea’s declared end-of-the-year deadline for its denuclearization talks with the US draws closer, Stephen Biegun, the US State Department’s special representative for North Korea and the nominee for deputy secretary of state, openly proposed meeting with the North Koreans. “It is time for us to do our jobs. Let’s get this done. We are here [in Seoul], and you know how to reach us,” said Biegun, who is currently visiting South Korea, on Dec. 16.

Defense Ministry think tank says N. Korea may develop multi-warhead ICBMs
According to a report titled “2020 Prospects and Challenges for the National Defense Policy Environment” that was published by the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) on Dec. 16, North Korea could take steps to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) with multiple warheads next year if its denuclearization talks with the US break down. Though some elements of the military have previously claimed that North Korea is seeking to develop multi-warhead ICBMs, this is the first time the idea has been officially broached by a think tank associated with South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND).

Biegun, “Let Me Speak Directly to North Korea, Let’s Get This Done”
U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun (pictured), currently in South Korea, publicly proposed a meeting during his stay to North Korea. In a public press conference after discussions with Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the foreign ministry in Seoul on December 16, Biegun said, ”Let me speak directly to our counterparts in North Korea,” and continued, “It is time for us to do our jobs. Let’s get this done. We are here, and you know how to reach us.”

Cheong Wa Dae Instructs Senior Officials with Multiple Homes to Sell All But One
On December 16, Cheong Wa Dae recommended its officials, in secretarial or higher positions, with two or more houses in the Seoul metropolitan area to sell all but one. It asked that the senior officials at Cheong Wa Dae lead by example the “one household, one home” recommendation in order to stabilize the housing market. Reportedly, there are eleven Cheong Wa Dae officials in secretarial or higher positions with two or more houses in speculation prone zones.