Headlines, May 6, 2020

Wednesday May 6, 2020

Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today

The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
Crown Prince of the UAE discusses with President Moon ways to contain COVID-19
The following details were provided by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Seoul to The Korea Post for publication.—Ed. To prevent the wide spread of novel coronavirus, international cooperation have been important. The UAE has been in close collaboration with international and regional organizations and other nations, including the Republic of Korea. It was one of the first countries to stand by China in this critical period. It also supported other nations including Afghanistan, Iran and Italy, to mention a few.

President of Uzbekistan is bringing together government and businesses to ensure social protection of the people at times of coronavirus outbreak
Uzbekistan, along with a number of other countries in the world, is facing consequences of COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and social area, including on the lives of people in cities and regions.
Amid novel coronavirus, the head of state places a great emphasis on providing support to vulnerable segments of the population and ensuring full operation of industrial enterprises, construction area and country’s infrastructure.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
S. Korea Shifts to 'Distancing in Daily Life'
South Korea will relax its months-long social distancing campaign and shift to a more relaxed "distancing in daily life" from Wednesday.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said the government will implement the "distancing in daily life" scheme in light of a slowdown in the number of new COVID-19 cases.
The country's daily new infections have remained under 20 for 18 straight days since April 18. The daily figure fell to three on Tuesday, the lowest since February 18.

Oil Prices Extend Recovery
Global oil prices soared on Tuesday, extending their recovery for the fifth consecutive session.
In the New York Mercantile Exchange, the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for June delivery closed at 24 dollars and 56 cents per barrel, jumping over four dollars, or 20-point-five percent, from the previous close.
In London, June prices for Brent Crude, the benchmark used by Europe and the rest of the world, were being traded at over 30 dollars per barrel as of 3:08 p.m., up over 13 percent.

'US Looks for Flexibility from S. Korea in Defense Cost Talks'
A senior U.S. official said Tuesday that the United States has been "very flexible" in its defense cost-sharing negotiations with South Korea, and it is looking for some flexibility from the Korean side as well. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Korea and Japan Marc Knapper made the remarks during an online forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
U.S. expects S. Korea to be flexible in defense cost-sharing talks: official
The United States expects South Korea to be flexible in their defense cost-sharing negotiations, a U.S. official said Tuesday, amid a prolonged impasse in talks.
The comment by Marc Knapper, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan, suggests Washington continues to seek significant increases in Seoul's contributions to the cost of stationing 28,500 American troops on the peninsula.

N. Korea apparently nearing completion of ballistic missile support facility: expert
North Korea appears to be nearing completion of a ballistic missile facility with the capacity to test-fire intercontinental ballistic missiles, an expert with a U.S. think tank said Tuesday.
The Sil-li Ballistic Missile Support Facility, which was "previously undisclosed," is approximately 17 kilometers northwest of Pyongyang and close to Pyongyang International Airport, Joseph Bermudez wrote in a report for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. His conclusions are based on satellite imagery.
Hyundai, Kia partially resume domestic production amid virus woes
Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. said Wednesday they have partially resumed operations at their domestic plants as the coronavirus outbreak continues to affect the automobile industry.
The corporate duo suspended their domestic plants from April 30 through Tuesday to keep inventories at manageable levels amid COVID-19 worries.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
How COVID-19 changes classrooms
Thermal cameras, transparent dividers in cafeterias, masks and disinfectants in classrooms: These are some of the changes Korean students are to face in the era of COVID-19 as they return to schools from May 13.
With a marked slowdown in new infections and the easing of social distancing nationwide, students will go back to school in phases after 72 days, starting with high school seniors. The spring semester already began in April, though entirely with online classes.

N. Korea apparently nearing completion of ballistic missile support facility: expert
WASHINGTON -- North Korea appears to be nearing completion of a ballistic missile facility with the capacity to test-fire intercontinental ballistic missiles, an expert with a US think tank said Tuesday.
The Sil-li Ballistic Missile Support Facility, which was "previously undisclosed," is approximately 17 kilometers northwest of Pyongyang and close to Pyongyang International Airport, Joseph Bermudez wrote in a report for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. His conclusions are based on satellite imagery.

US expects S. Korea to be flexible in defense cost-sharing talks: official
The United States expects South Korea to be flexible in their defense cost-sharing negotiations, a US official said Tuesday, amid a prolonged impasse in talks.
The comment by Marc Knapper, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan, suggests Washington continues to seek significant increases in Seoul's contributions to the cost of stationing 28,500 American troops on the peninsula.

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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
US expects Korea to be flexible in defense cost-sharing talks: official
The United States expects South Korea to be flexible in their defense cost-sharing negotiations, a U.S. official said Tuesday, amid a prolonged impasse in talks.
The comment by Marc Knapper, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan, suggests Washington continues to seek significant increases in Seoul's contributions to the cost of stationing 28,500 American troops on the peninsula.

N. Korea views nuclear program as essential, but may give up 'some' capabilities: US intel chief nominee
North Korea continues to view its nuclear program as "essential" to the protection of its regime, but may be willing to give up "some" nuclear and missile capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief and other gains, the nominee to be U.S. director of national intelligence said Tuesday.
John Ratcliffe's assessment suggests that North Korea is unlikely to completely dismantle its nuclear and ballistic missile programs as the U.S. has insisted North Korea agreed to do during the first summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018

Chinese state media step up attacks on 'evil' Pompeo
Chinese state media outlets have continued their angry attacks on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo describing him as "evil" for blaming China for the Covid-19 outbreak.
Attacks on Pompeo began to heat up last week when state news outlet CCTV called him the "common enemy of mankind" after he blamed the Chinese Communist Party for mishandling the outbreak of Covid19 in an interview with Fox News.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://englishani.co.kr)
S. Korean schools to begin reopening on May 13
After a delay of over two months in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak, South Korea’s schools will begin opening their classrooms on May 13. That’s the day that students in the third year of high school will return to the classroom. The other grades will follow suit in three phases, with a gap between each week, beginning on May 20.
The news was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae during a briefing at the Central Government Complex in Seoul on the afternoon of May 4.

Changes to school life in the time of corona
From now on, South Korean students will have to wear masks whenever they’re at school. They won’t have a desk buddy to sit with, and they won’t be allowed to chit-chat over lunch. As schools reopen after a hiatus of 72 days, their first priority will be disease control measures aimed at keeping students at a proper distance from each other to prevent the coronavirus from spreading again.

The insidious threat of fake news surrounding North Korea
The recently disproven rumors of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s failing health and possible death are only the latest in a history of “fake news” about Pyongyang that has plagued inter-Korean relations for the past 70 years. The most famous example was a report on the front page of the Chosun Ilbo on Nov. 16, 1986, that claimed then leader Kim Il-sung had been shot. Two days later, Kim appeared at Sunan Airport in Pyongyang to deny the “fake news” reports in person.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
How Does the Weather Affect Spending Patterns?
That weather affects the spending patterns of consumers is no surprise, but now Hana Bank has broken down the effects into clearer patterns in a report based on the analysis of credit-card spending in 2018.
The report reveals that spending on daily necessities like gasoline and at convenience stores and coffee shops are less affected by weather than other goods.

Lockdown to Be Eased This Week
Korea will ease social-distancing rules and start a slow return to normal this week, some 45 days after it imposed the lockdown to stem the spread of the coronavirus epidemic.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Sunday said that the government will loosen lockdown rules from Wednesday to reopen public and other facilities gradually and allow social gatherings and events provided that preventive measures are taken.
"Thanks to the high level of public participation and cooperation, we are now ready to move on," Chung added.

Drunk-Drivers Get Slap on Wrist While Victims Suffer
Victims of drunk-driving accidents suffer massive financial damage on top of their injuries while the perpetrators often get off with a slap on the wrist, a study suggests.
The Korea Transport Institute surveyed 256 drunk drivers and 300 victims and found that the victims suffered on average W18.3 million worth of financial damage and their income fell by 30 percent (US$1=W1,219).
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
U.S. reconnaissance resources could increase pressure on S. Korea’s defense burden
U.S. reconnaissance resources may be used as a bargaining chip of the U.S. side for later negotiations on the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), said diplomatic sources. A growing number of people are saying that the South Korean government should develop plans to address the U.S.’s claim that the mass utilization of its reconnaissance resources has been a help to South Korea.

Moody’s: Manufacturing industry’s profit to fall 13% this year
Global manufacturing companies will experience a significant profit drop this year due to the impact of COVID-19. International credit rating agency Moody's Corporation published a report on the future of the manufacturing industry on Tuesday (local time), which estimates that the industry’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) will decline 13 percent this year. The credit rating agency predicted at the end of last year that the industry’s EBITDA will show a zero to one percent rise.

J.Crew files for bankruptcy amid COVID-19 crisis
American fashion retailer J. Crew, once frequently worn by former First Lady Michelle Obama, filed for bankruptcy on Monday as it succumbed to the COVID-19 crisis. It has become the first American retailer to file for bankruptcy protection during the pandemic. Experts point out that there will be more of such cases down the road.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
“Shift to ‘Everyday Quarantine’ on May 6” Government Lifts Strict Distancing after 45 Days
The nation’s quarantine system to stop the spread of COVID-19 will change to “everyday quarantine (keeping a distance in everyday life)” beginning May 6, 45 days after the country began “strict physical (social) distancing” on March 22. The government will also gradually lower the nation’s infectious disease alert, which is currently at “serious,” and open schools beginning with classes for high school seniors.

Gunfire the Day after News of Kim Jong-un’s Public Appearance. What Is North Korea’s Intention?
On May 3, North Korean soldiers fired at a South Korean military guard post (GP) in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Gangwon-do. South Korea responded by firing warning shots. The latest shooting occurred one day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un showed himself before the North Korean state media for the first time in twenty days.

Trump Claims “South Korea Agreed to Pay More for Defense,” But Foreign Ministry Says, “We Have Agreed to Nothing”
U.S. President Donald Trump said that South Korea agreed to pay more for defense cooperation when speaking of the negotiation on defense contributions between South Korea and the United States on April 29 (local time). He pressured South Korea for a higher contribution by making it sound like South Korea had agreed to a higher defense contribution. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, “We have agreed to nothing.”
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
S. Korean inflation rate returns to zero in April amid pandemic
South Korea’s inflation rate returned to zero in April after consumer demand and oil prices slumped as the result of global pandemic.
According to Statistics Korea on Monday, the country’s benchmark consumer price index (CPI) in April added 0.1 percent to 104.95 from the previous year, a sharp retreat from a 1.1-percent gain in the previous month and the weakest on-year number since October last year when the inflation rate stayed flat.

Hyundai, Kia US car sales shrivel 40% on year in April
Auto sales of South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Co. and its sibling Kia Motors Corp. shriveled 40 percent each in April in the United States against a year earlier due to plunged demand and output from the coronavirus outbreak.
Hyundai Motor America announced Friday (local time) it sold 33,968 finished cars last month in the U.S., down 39 percent from the same period a year ago. Kia Motors also reported its U.S. vehicle sales slid 38.2 percent on year to 31,750 units in April.

S. Korea’s household manufacturers restart their overseas factories
South Korean electronics and automakers have started to normalize operations of their overseas factories after weeks of shutdowns amid COVID-19 pandemic.
Both Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics had all their factories in eastern Europe running late April, according to industry sources on Sunday. Samsung has restarted its home appliance assembly lines in Poland as well as TV factories in Slovakia and Hungary. LG’s home appliance factory in Poland was plugged back in from April 27 after two weeks of shutdown.
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Lee Kyung-sik edt@koreapost.com

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