The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Wednesday May 17, 2017

Your Excellency:

Here are The Korea Post notices and a roundup of importantheadlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea today:

Very Respectfully Yours

/s/

Lee Kyung-sik

Publisher-Chairman

Korea Post Media

U.S. to further tighten sanctions on N. Korea, go after third country entities: Haley

The United States will further strengthen sanctions on North Korea and go after third-country entities supporting the communist regime, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Tuesday.Speaking before an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council convened to discuss the North's latest missile test, Haley also said that the U.S. is willing to hold talks with Pyongyang, "but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear progress and of any test there."

"We want to look at the current sanctions in place and we want to look at strengthening the sanctions. And the United States is not past looking at third country entities who are helping North Korea and putting sanctions on them because if you're supporting North Korea, you're against the rest of the international community," Haley said.

Tuesday's meeting came a day after the council adopted a press statement condemning the North's missile launch. The test was seen as a demonstration of considerable progress the North has made in its pursuit of development of an continental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S.Haley warned of sanctions against those supporting Pyongyang.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley (Yonhap)

"If you are a country that is supplying or supporting North Korea, we will call you out on it. We will make sure everyone knows who you are and we will target those sanctions towards you as well."The U.S. will ramp up pressure on the North in every possible way, Haley said.

"We're going to make sure we put the pressure on them economically, diplomatically, politically, and internationally and in any way that we need to," she said. "We are going to send a very strong unified message to North Korea that the international community wants to support you, but as long as you test, as long as you continue your nuclear program, you're on an island by yourself."

Haley said the North is "more than just a problem" and "a true threat to every country in the world.""What you have is a leader who is paranoid. He thinks we're trying to have regime change. He thinks there is people trying to assassinate him. We're not trying to do any of those things," she said. "What we are saying is for peace on the Korean Peninsula, he has to stop his testing, he has to stop any nuclear program that he has."

Haley also reaffirmed the security commitment to South Korea and Japan."We will continue to have their backs. We're going to continue all of our military exercises with South Korea because we think it's important in order to protect them," she said.

South Korean Ambassador Cho Tae-yul said the North's missile launch came just a few days after the inauguration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, and the new administration is firmly committed to the North's denuclearization."Obviously Pyongyang, with this missile launch, tried to test the resolve of our new government in its pursuit of denuclearization of North Korea. But our response remains as firm as ever," Cho said.

"At the meeting of the National Security Council convened immediately after the North Korean provocation, President Moon, our new president, made it clear that he will resolutely respond to whatever provocation by North Korea and that a dialogue is possible only if and when there is a change in North Korea's behavior," he said. Japanese Ambassador Koro Bessho also called for further pressure on Pyongyang.

"The important thing is we need to put further pressure on North Korea to make them feel that they have to change course," he said. "Change has to come from North Korea, not us. We will continue our course. As you can see, the three countries, the United States, ROK and Japan are standing together." (Yonhap)

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What’s ticking in Korea today?Here is a quick roundup of important news stories from the major Korean news media today:


The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapsot.co.kr) in Korean.

KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

S. Korea, US to Hold Summit in Late June in Washington

South Korea and the United States have agreed in principle to hold a summit in late June in Washington.Yoon Young-chan, senior presidential secretary for public relations, told reporters Tuesday the agreement came at a meeting between Chung Eui-yong, the presidential diplomacy and security task force chief and White House official Matt Pottinger at the presidential office in Seoul. Yoon said that detailed schedules will be discussed later, adding that the top office will ensure President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump have an opportunity to build personal ties at the summit.

China Says S. Korea's Special Envoy to Visit Beijing Thursday

A former South Korean prime minister is set to visit China as a special envoy of the Moon Jae-in government. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters Tuesday Lee Hae-chan will visit Beijing from Thursday to Saturday. Hua said sending a special envoy demonstrates that Seoul puts importance on its relations with China. She added that the envoy’s trip is about promoting mutual trust, expressing hope that the envoy will play a role in narrowing differences between the two nations and developing bilateral relations.

Cabinet Approves Motions for Presidential Planning, Job Committees

The government has approved motions for setting up an advisory committee for President Moon Jae-in that will work as his de facto transition team and a job committee. The motions were passed Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho. The envisioned state policy planning and advisory committee will establish key goals and visions as well as devise mid- and long-term plans on running state affairs. It will operate for up to 70 days. Representative Kim Jin-pyo of the ruling Democratic Party was appointed to head the committee. The job committee to be set up directly under President Moon Jae-in will be headed by the president himself.

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Yonhap(http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

U.S. to further tighten sanctions on N. Korea, go after third country entities: Haley

The United States will further strengthen sanctions on North Korea and go after third-country entities supporting the communist regime, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Tuesday. Speaking before an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council convened to discuss the North's latest missile test, Haley also said that the U.S. is willing to hold talks with Pyongyang, "but not until we see a total stop of the nuclear progress and of any test there." "We want to look at the current sanctions in place and we want to look at strengthening the sanctions. And the United States is not past looking at third country entities who are helping North Korea and putting sanctions on them because if you're supporting North Korea, you're against the rest of the international community," Haley said.

S. Korea's export prices hit 8 year record high in April

South Korea's export prices hit a record eight year high in April due to strong demand for electric and electronic products as well as petrochemicals, central bank data showed Wednesday. In local currency terms, export prices rose 8.7 percent on year last month, according to preliminary data provided by the Bank of Korea (BOK). The dollar came to an average of 1,132.73 won in April, down 0.2 percent from a month earlier the latest findings showed. For exporters, the won's gain means decreased income as dollar-denominated earnings from their overseas businesses fall in value when repatriated into the local currency. Export prices of industrial goods gained 8.7 percent year-on-year in April while those of agricultural and fisheries products climbed 7.0 percent during the same period.

Host S. Korea eyeing historic success at FIFA U-20 World Cup

The FIFA U-20 World Cup will kick off on Saturday, with South Korea eyeing to deliver their best performance to date at home. Under the slogan "Trigger the Fever," the U-20 World Cup will be played until June 11 in six local cities -- Cheonan, Daejeon, Incheon, Jeonju, Suwon and Jeju. South Korea was named the host of the 2017 U-20 World Cup in 2013 after edging out Azerbaijan in a vote during a FIFA Executive Committee meeting. The U-20 World Cup is the fourth FIFA-sanctioned competition that South Korea will stage, after the 2001 Confederations Cup; the 2002 World Cup, which it co-hosted with Japan; and the 2007 U-17 World Cup. South Korea is the third country to host all four FIFA events, after Japan and Mexico.

U.S. nuclear scientist: N. Korea has 'ample technical reason' to conduct sixth nuclear test

North Korea has "ample technical reason" to carry out yet another nuclear test as the regime seeks to develop a reliable intercontinental ballistic missile that can deliver nuclear weapons, a U.S. nuclear scientist said. Siegfried Hecker, a Stanford University professor known for having a first-hand look at North Korea's uranium-enrichment facility during his 2010 visit, also said in an interview with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists that it's imperative for President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in to develop a unified strategy on the North.

Ex-security advisor Rice calls for steadily increasing pressure on N. Korea

Former U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice said Tuesday the U.S. should focus on increasing pressure on North Korea, accusing President Donald Trump of "vacillating" between threatening to use military force against the North and praising its leader."We can't allow Twitter wars to become shooting wars," Rice said during a speech at the Center for American Progress's "Ideas Conference." "So, instead of vacillating between reckless saber-rattling and dubbing Kim Jong-Un a 'smart cookie,' we should steadily apply increased pressure on North Korea, while protecting our allies and homeland." Rice sharply criticized the Trump administration for its handling of foreign policy.

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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

Moon, Trump to hold first summit in June

President Moon Jae-in and his US counterpart Donald Trump are expected to hold their first summit next month in Washington, as they seek to coordinate North Korea policy following their respective leadership transitions, officials said Tuesday. A visiting delegation of White House officials in charge of Korea affairs met with a group of foreign affairs and security advisers for Moon, chaired by former Ambassador to Geneva Chung Eui-yong. The representatives, led by Matt Pottinger, senior director for East Asia at the White House’s National Security Council, and including Allison Hooker, Korea director at the NSC, arrived here late Monday for a two-day stay.

North Korea behind ransomware attack: experts

North Korea may be behind the ransomware attacks that disrupted computer systems across the world over the weekend, cyber security experts said Tuesday, suggesting a link between the latest attack and a hacking group associated with Pyongyang. Researchers from two cybersecurity providers, US software company Symantec and the Russian-based Kaspersky Lab, said that some of the code found in the latest “WannaCry” ransomware was nearly identical to code used by the Lazarus Group, a North Korean-run hacking operation.

30,000 shoes form ‘tree’ on Seoul overpass

Shoes Tree, a 17-meter-tall art installation made of over 30,000 worn-out shoes, will be revealed outside Seoul Station on Saturday, marking the opening of the city’s first highway-turned-park, Seoullo 7017. Modeled after New York’s iconic High Line, Seoul’s soon-to-open pedestrian-friendly park stretches for about a kilometer and links seven surrounding areas, including Seoul Station and Namdaemun Market, to 12 pedestrian walkways. Shoes Tree, a major art piece installed at the center of Seoullo 7017, was designed and installed by environmental artist Hwang Ji-hae. Flower seeds have been planted inside each shoe.

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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

Moon will meet Trump in June

President Moon Jae-in will hold his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington in late June, Cheong WaDae said Tuesday. Senior officials of the two countries reached an agreement in principle during a meeting at the presidential office in Seoul. Chung Ui-yong, the former permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, who now leads Cheong WaDae' security team, met with Matt Pottinger, the senior director for East Asia at the National Security Council (NSC). "The two agreed to hold additional discussions through diplomatic channels to fine-tune the details of the summit," said Moon's chief press secretary Yoon Young-chan at a press briefing.

N. Korea behind globe-spanning 'Wannacry' cyberattack?

Is North Korea behind the devastating globe-spanning cyberattack that has crippled countless of computer systems in recent days? Two major software security firms, Kaspersky and Symantec, claim they have evidence linking the Wannacryransomware attack to North Korea's notorious Lazarus Group. The worldwide cyber ransomware extortion attack, which started on May 12, has crippled tens of thousands of computer systems in nearly 100 countries, including South Korea.

Korea-China entertainment exchanges show signs of thaw

Korean artists and entertainers have had a hard time in China as the Chinese authorities imposed restrictions on Korean content in retaliation to the placement of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery. However, frosty ties between Korea and China show signs of thawing after President Moon Jae-in took office on May 10. President Moon had a 40-minute phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last Thursday and reportedly discussed THAAD and North Korea's nuclear program. The talk created expectations China would ease its THAAD retaliation and stock prices of major Korean entertainment companies such as SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment ascended soon after their call.

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DongAIlbo (http://english.donga.com)

U.S. pressures N.K. by sending aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan to the East Sea

The international community is accelerating its moves to sanction and pressure North Korea after the North’s test launch of Hwasong-12, an intermediate range ballistic missile, has been confirmed.

The Japanese media including the Asahi Shimbun reported that the U.S. shifted on Tuesday its nuclear aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to the East Sea from Yokosuka in Japan. The aircraft carrier departed from the base with about 3,100 crewmembers on board around 1:30 p.m. on the day.

'Trump revealed classified information to Russia,' say U.S. media

The Washington Post and other U.S. media reported on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump revealed classified information on the Islamic State (IS) when he met with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak, jeopardizing a critical source of intelligence. It is expected that the controversy will continue for a while as the U.S. president is beset by doubts on possible links between the Trump campaign and Moscow after he fired FBI Director James B. Comey. According to the Washington Post, the revelation came during a May 10 meeting with the Russian minister and other high level officials when the president describes details about issues related to the IS, a day after he dismissed Mr. Comey.

Living humans offered while building castle wall in Silla Dynasty

The traces of the Silla Dynasty people in the fifth century offered as sacrifice while building castle walls were identified for the first time at Wolseong in Gyeongju. It is the first archeology evidence of an attempt of human sacrifice while building a structure found in Korea. In the fourth and fifth centuries, Silla people promoted burial of the living with the dead at a stone mound tomb while burying a living person at the castle walls in the royal palace. According to the Gyeongju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage on Tuesday, two human bones were found at a site nearby West Gate of the castle wall west of Wolseong.

Kim Si-woo becomes youngest winner of PGA Players Championship

Things have changed overnight. Korean male golfer Kim Si-woo has become the youngest to win the 2017 PGA Players Championship, which is considered the unofficial "fifth major." Marking a new milestone, Kim is considered the next generation star golfer. As Kim decided not to play at the AT&T Byron Nelson that opens Friday citing back injury, major media including PGA Tour immediately sent out the news. Given that Kim had not received much media attention, his status has changed. "This is a preventive decision to digest the season with the utmost physical condition," Kim said.

Taiwanese romance films start emerging

If you were a student in the 1990s, you would recall “Love Letter (1995)” by Shunji Iwai, a movie famous for “Ogenkidesuka (How are you)?” The movie about the first love between a boy and a girl attracted 1.15 million audiences. “April Story (1998)” and “Poppoya (1999)” were also famous romantic movies with innocent and genuine love. All of them were made by Japanese directors. Taiwanese romance movies have replaced Japanese ones in the romantic movie sector. A boy and a girl in school uniform with no makeup, bicycles in the greenish landscape, and the careful gesture and expressions.

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ChosunIlbo (http://english.chosun.com)

N.Korean Missile Development Accelerating at Breakneck Speed

The South Korean military is stunned not only by North Korea's missile technology but also by the short time it took to test and actually deploy a new high-powered engine. A Defense Ministry official said Monday, "The pressure South Korea and the U.S. are feeling is incomparable to the past." The speed of North Korea's missile development far surpassed their expectations. On March 18, the North successfully tested a new high-thrust engine at a launch site in Tongchang-ri, North Pyongan Province.

U.S. 'Armada' to Stay in East Sea AfterN.Korean Missile Test

A U.S. Navy strike group headed by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Carl Vinson will remain in the East Sea and western Pacific for the time being after North Korea's latest missile test, a Navy source here said Monday. The strike group, dubbed an "armada" by U.S. President Donald Trump, was scheduled to leave this week. It is engaged in exercises with the South Korean Navy right now. The source said the movements of strike groups are decided by the White House National Security Council.

Economists Expect Slow Growth to Continue

Economists present a gloomy outlook for the Korean economy, saying that Korea will keep suffering slow growth despite improving exports and increasing investments. The Korea Economic Research Institute polled 32 economists on the policies of the new government and announced the results on Monday. About two-thirds predicted a slight recession for years to come and about one-third that it will manage to survive. Only two foresee a moderate boom. Those who predicted a recession cited a continuous vicious cycle of dwindling corporate investment amid bleak prospects and sluggish consumption.

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HanKyoRehShinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Hwasong-12 a stepping stone in North Korea’s ICBM development

North Korea announced on May 15 that the missile it had launched the previous day was a newly developed Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile. Analysts saw the Hwasong-12, which became the first North Korean missile to reach an altitude above 2,000 km, as a stepping stone in North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) development. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), RodongSinmun, and other North Korean state media outlets reported on May 15 that scientists and engineers had successfully conducted a test launch the day before on the Hwasong-12, a “newly developed surface-to-surface intermediate-range strategic ballistic rocket.”

Chinese President with positive remarks on Pres. Moon’s philosophy and ideology

During his first meeting with the delegation sent by the newly launched South Korean government, Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly praised the political philosophy of South Korean President Moon Jae-in and highlighted the importance of South Korea-China relations. During a meeting with reporters in Beijing on May 15, Minjoo Party lawmaker Park Byeong-seok, who visited China as the head of the South Korean delegation to the Belt and Road Summit for economic cooperation, said that he had had a meeting with Xi during a dinner that Xi had organized. “Xi said he was extremely satisfied with his telephone conversation with President Moon Jae-in, that he thought highly of Moon’s political philosophy and ideology and that they had many things in common.

As president, Moon moving quickly, making in-person visits

It has only been five days since the presidential election, but the government has already agreed to convert irregular workers at Incheon International Airport to regular status before the end of the year, lifted the ban on sing-alongs of “March for the Beloved” (a song associated with the Gwangju Democratization Movement), recognized the short-term teachers who died on the Sewol Ferry as having lost their lives in the line of duty, and temporarily shut down aging coal plants to deal with fine particle dust air pollution.

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JoongAngIlbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)

Summit between Moon and Trump set for late June

President Moon Jae-in will have a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. in late June, the Blue House said Tuesday. The summit was arranged at a meeting in Seoul between Chung Eui-yong, head of Moon’s security and foreign affairs task force, and a visiting senior White House official, Matthew Pottinger, senior director for East Asia at the National Security Council. According to Yoon Young-chan, senior presidential secretary for public affairs, the meeting took place at the Blue House. President Moon briefly stopped by and greeted Pottinger, Yoon said.

UN ‘demands’ Pyongyang cease nuclear, missile tests

The United Nations Security Council on Monday “demanded” that North Korea “conduct no further nuclear and ballistic missile tests,” warning of further sanctions, after the regime’s latest missile launch Sunday, which came days after South Korea’s presidential elections. The 15-member council in New York unanimously adopted a statement condemning Pyongyang’s recent launch, which violates UNSC resolutions, emphasizing it will carry out measures discussed in its ministerial meeting held last month on denuclearizing North Korea.

WannaCry may be from the North

The malware strain called WannaCry, which holds users’ computers hostage until they pay money, continues to spread around the world - and some see signs that it originated in North Korea. WannaCry has spread to over 150 countries and 300,000 machines and the damage reported in Asia is growing at a faster rate than in Western countries, where attacks began. In China, nearly 40,000 organizations, including about 4,000 educational institutions, have been hit. Prestigious Chinese colleges including Tsinghua and Peking Universities were attacked. State-run oil firm PetroChina was also hit, which disrupted electronic payments at many gas stations across China.

Deutsche, BNP Paribas colluded on FX bids

Two foreign banks were found of colluding in pocketing unfair profits in forward exchange transactions. Forward exchange is a financial product that is targeted at hedging risks stemming from fluctuating foreign currencies. Deutsche Bank and BNP Paribas conspired on 45 contracts when bidding for forward exchange contracts with Korean companies between 2011 and 2015, the Fair Trade Commission said.

Kospi firms’ Q1 profit growth hints at recovery

Another sign of steady recovery in Korea’s economy emerged Tuesday when the Korea Exchange revealed that profit at companies listed on the local stock market improved significantly during the first quarter. The combined revenue of 536 companies listed on the benchmark index, the Kospi, rose 8.35 percent from last year’s first quarter to total 455.6 trillion won ($410 billion). Operating profit rose 25.34 percent to 38.9 trillion won, and net profit surged 35.77 percent to 32.2 trillion won. The figures are a stark contrast to a year ago, when the combined revenue of listed companies barely changed in the first quarter, only inching up 0.24 percent from 2015.

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The KyungHyangShinmoon(http://english.khan.co.kr/)

Who Will Be Appointed to a Gender-Equal Cabinet?

President Moon Jae-in had declared himself a "feminist president" during his election campaign, so now all eyes are on who will be appointed to his "female-friendly" cabinet. If Moon keeps his election promise-to launch a government with women accounting for at least 30% of the cabinet-5-6 ministries among the current eighteen (based on the existing government organization) are expected to have female chiefs. This being the first step toward a cabinet with equal proportion of men and women, a goal Moon aims to achieve during his term, Cheong WaDae is reportedly making every effort to find and verify female candidates for minister.

Temporary Shut Down of Old Coal-Fired Power Plants

On May 15, President Moon Jae-in ordered the temporary shut down of old coal-fired power plants in operation for more than thirty years during the month of June. This day, the president attended a class on fine dust at Eunjung Elementary School in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul and announced government measures to fight fine dust after observing the class teach everyday-life measures in response to high levels of fine dust. Currently there are 59 coal-fired power plants nationwide, and among them ten have been in operation for over thirty years. The government plans to shut down eight of these, excluding two in the Honam region.

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The Korea Economic Daily (http://english.hankyung.com/)

Which Jobs Are Most Likely to Be Replaced by Robots?

A research report showed that university graduates majoring in economics and business administration are most likely to lose their jobs due to the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education & Training (KRIVET) said in its report released on May 15 that the Fourth Industrial Revolution would replace 38.1 percent of jobs occupied by university graduates majoring in economics and business administration. Following them were those who majored in humanities (33.0%), language and literature(29.8%), and law (26.1%).

Macquarie Eyes Bigger Role in Waste Treatment Business

Australian financial group Macquarie launched a drive to raise a 500-billion-won fund to take over another Korean waste treatment firm. Since 2013, Macquarie has acquired a string of waste treatment companies, based on its judgment that the waste treatment industry has a great potential for future growth. According to industry sources on May 15, Macquarie Capital Korea and Davi Hana Infra Fund formed a consortium to create a fund dedicated for acquisition of waste treatment companies. IBK Bank will take part in as a major investor. Given that the acquisition price for a waste treatment company ranges between 30 and80 billion won, the fund is large enough to finance acquisitions of up to 7-8companies. The fund will have a long-term maturity of 15 years.

GS Caltex Celebrates 50th Anniversary Since Founding

Korea's first private-sector oil refiner GS Caltex is set to celebrate its 50thanniversary since founding on May 19. The company, which achieved a record-breaking operating profit of more than 2trillion won last year, is pushing for the production of bio butanol which is known as a future fuel, and the expansion of new energy businesses. On May 18, one day before the foundation anniversary, GS Caltex will host acommemorative ceremony at the Amoris Hall of GS Tower in Seoul's Gangnam, which will be attended by its 500-or-so employees.

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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)

Experts track clues for N. Korea's involvement in global ransomware attack

Cyber security experts are looking for clues to a possible link between North Korean hackers and ransomware computer attacks that have crippled computer systems worldwide. No evidence has yet to be found, but security firms in South Korea and abroad have kept an eye on "Lazarus", a notorious hacking group tied to North Korea, which is suspected of launching cyber attacks on Sony Pictures in 2014 and of hijacking some 100 million dollars from banks in Bangladesh and other countries in 2015 and 2016. Despite Pyongyang's repeated denials of his involvement in any cyber attacks, experts believe North Korean hackers have been tied to the group.

Samsung SDS sets up joint venture for China's logistics market

Samsung SDS Co., a logistics and IT arm of South Korea's top conglomerate, Samsung Group, has agreed to set up a joint venture with a Hong Kong-based firm in a bid to expand its presence in China's logistics market. The South Korean company said it agreed with Kerry Logistics to establish a joint venture in China. Kerry Logistics provides logistics services to some 42 countries. Samsung SDS said its expertise in logistics and IT solution would be combined with the network and infrastructure of Kerry Logistics to cope with growing demand in China's food and beverages, pharmaceutical, healthcare and e-commerce sectors.

Lotte becomes first to use palm vein patterns for payment in store

The credit card subsidiary of South Korea's Lotte Group opened a new era in off-line store payment Tuesday, using palm vein patterns for biometric authentication at a smart convenience store in the group's new tower. The first commercial use of a new payment system called "BioPay" was introduced at the 7-Eleven Signature store on the 31st floor of the Lotte World Tower, a new 123-story shopping and living tower complex in southern Seoul, that opened on April 3 as South Korea's new high-rise landmark. Lotte Card Co. said its clients could enter the store only after storing biometric data about their palms in advance. They need no cash or plastic card to shop at the intelligent store equipped with palm vein scanners and an automated and unmanned checkout counter.

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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)

S Korea, U.S. to hold summit talks in Washington end of June-Blue House

South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in will travel to Washington late June for his first summit with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, said Yoon Young-chan, senior presidential secretary on Tuesday. The decision was made during a meeting with a visiting delegation led by Matt Pottinger, senior director for East Asia at the National Security Council (NSC) sent to represent Washington after Moon was inaugurated last Wednesday.

Samsung Galaxy S8’s 20-day sales top sales 5 million, half of S7

Samsung Electronics said Tuesday sales of new flagship Galaxy S8 series topped 5 million units in the first three weeks, falling far short of expectations and underperforming the previous series that had sold 10 million units in the first 20 days a year ago. Galaxy S8 series were released on April 21 with much fanfare and anticipation as they follow the disgraceful recall and discontinuation of Galaxy Note7 due to fire-prone battery defect.

LG CNS to set up $43 million ESS in Guam

LG CNS Co., an information technology solution unit of South Korean conglomerate LG Group, said on Tuesday that it has won a $43 million order to build a 40 megawatt energy storage system (ESS) in the United States territory of Guam. It is the largest-ever ESS facility to be exported by a local company, it said. According to LG CNS, it has signed a final agreement with Guam Power Authority (GPA) to build an ESS facility in the island of Guam located on the North Pacific Ocean.

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What’s ticking around the world at this second?

See what the world media around the world have to report:

USA Today www.usatoday.com aallman@gannett.com

The New York Timeswww.nytimes.com inytletters@nytimes.com

Wall Street Journalwww.wsj.com support@wsj.com,service@wsj-asia.com

Financial Times www.ft.com ean@ft.com

The Timeswww.thetimes.co.uk help@timesplus.co.uk

The Sun www.thesun.co.uk talkback@the-sun.co.uk

Chinese People's Dailywww.people.com.cn kf@people.cn

China Dailywww.chinadaily.com.cn circulation@chinadaily.com.cn

GwangmyeongDailywww.gmw.cn webmaster@gmw.cn

Japan's Yomiuriwww.yomiuri.co.jp japannews@yomiuri.com

Asahi www.asahi.com customer-support@asahi.com

Mainichiwww.mainichi.jp

Le Mondewww.ilemonde.com

Italy LaRepubblica www.quotidiano.repubblica.it vittorio.zucconi@gmail.com

Germany Frankfurter AllgemeineZeitungwww.faz.net anzeigen.ausland@faz.de

SüddeutscheZeitungwww.sueddeutsche.de forum@sueddeutsche.de

Australia Brisbane Times www.brisbanetimes.com.au syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Sydney Morning Heraldwww.smh.com.au

Colombia Reportshttp://colombiareports.com

Bogota Free Planethttp://bogotafreeplanet.combfp@bogotafreeplanet.com

El Universalhttp://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english

Andeshttp://www.andes.info.ec/en

Ecuador Timeshttp://www.ecuadortimes.net

The Jordan Timeshttps://www.jordantimes.com

LSM.lvhttp://www.lsm.lv/en

The Baltic Timeshttp://www.baltictimes.comlithuania@baltictimes.com, estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com

El Paishttp://elpais.com/elpais/inenglish.html

Philippine Daily Inquirerhttps://www.inquirer.net

Daily News Hungaryhttp://dailynewshungary.com

Budapest Timeshttp://budapesttimes.hu

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