The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Your Excellency:

Here are The Korea Post notices and a roundup of important headlines 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

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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.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.

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

Moon Asks German Support on N. Korean Nuke Issue

President Moon Jae-in held a summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and asked for her active support and cooperation in efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue. In a news release issued ahead of the summit talks on Wednesday, Moon said that the North’s missile provocation poses a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world and that much stronger global sanctions and pressure should be produced to stop the provocations. However, he added that the North Korean nuclear issue should ultimately be resolved in a peaceful way, calling for full support and cooperation from the German leader on the matter.

US Clashes with China, Russia over N. Korea at UNSC

The U.S. clashed with China and Russia over North Korea at a UN Security Council(UNSC) meeting Wednesday, following the North’s latest missile test. The U.S. called for strong additional sanctions against Pyongyang along with Britain and France, but China and Russia opposed sanctions, instead calling for dialogue. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley warned China during the emergency UNSC session that it risks its massive trade with the U.S. if its business with North Korea violates UN sanctions. Haley said that the U.S. is prepared to use the full range of its capabilities to defend itself and its allies and one of its capabilities lies with its considerable military forces. She added that Washington will use its military forces if it must, but prefers not to have to go in that direction.

Moody's Maintains S. Korea's Sovereign Credit Rating at Aa2

Moody's Investors Service has maintained a high sovereign credit rating for South Korea. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said on Wednesday that the global credit rating agency has kept the country’s credit rating at a stable Aa2, the third highest rating in Moody's system. It is the first official opinion on the country announced by an international credit appraiser since the launch of the Moon Jae-in administration in May.

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

U.S. prepared to use military force against N. Korea if necessary

The United States will use military force against North Korea if necessary, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said Wednesday, warning the regime's actions, including its test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile, are "quickly closing off" chances of a diplomatic solution. "Make no mistake. North Korea's launch of an ICBM is clear and sharp military escalation. The North Korean regime openly states that its missiles are intended to deliver nuclear weapons to strike cities in the United States, South Korea and Japan, and now has greater capacity to do so," Amb. Nikki Haley said during a U.N. Security Council meeting.

Moon, Merkel vow to boost cooperation on N. Korea, trade

The leaders of South Korea and Germany agreed to boost their countries' cooperation in ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions, vowing to use all available means, Seoul's presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said Thursday. The agreement by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and German Chancellor Angela Merkel came at their bilateral summit in Berlin on Wednesday (Berlin time), according to Cheong Wa Dae.

Moon is currently on a two-day visit to the German capital. He will leave Thursday for Hamburg, where he and the German head of state will join 18 other global leaders for the annual Group of 20 summit.

Exports of dried laver up 49.4 pct in first half of this year

South Korea's exports of dried seaweed surged 49.4 percent in the first six months of 2017 from a earlier on firm demand from overseas consumers, government data showed Thursday. Outbound shipments of dried laver came to a record-high US$268.93 million, becoming the country's most overseas sold marine product in the January-June period, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. It was the first time for dried laver to take first place among all marine products.

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

S. Korea seeks Germany's support in pressing N. Korea

President Moon Jae-in, currently on his visit to Germany for the annual Group of 20 summit, met with his German counterparts on the first day of the trip and reconfirmed the two states’ partnership, focusing on peninsular peace and energy policies. Moon attended a summit respectively with German Federal Republic President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and de facto state chief Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday, local time. “In order to deter North Korea‘s provocations, stronger international sanctions and pressure are needed, an issue which I wish to discuss at the G-20 summit,“ Moon said in a joint press conference prior to his dinner summit with Merkel.

Allies confirm NK fired ICBM amid doubts over capability

South Korea and the US on Wednesday confirmed North Korea’s claim that it had launched a ballistic missile with an intercontinental range, but doubts persisted over whether the communist state had overcome technological challenges to reach the US mainland. In its report to lawmakers, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said that the Hwasong 14, which the North fired Tuesday morning, was most likely to be a new ICBM-range two-stage missile, a variant of the intermediate-range single-stage Hwasong-12 that the North launched in May. According to Reuters, the Pentagon also concluded Pyongyang test-fired an ICBM, reversing its initial assessment that the missile was a “land-based IRBM.”

Blind hiring system to be implemented in public sector

The government on Wednesday introduced plans to implement a “blind” recruitment system in the public sector and expand it into private firms to ensure fair competition in the hiring process. Starting this month, state-run agencies will be banned from asking job candidates to reveal personal details such as names of the schools they attended, birthplace, family relations and physical attributes in the job application process. Attaching photos to application forms will also be prohibited. “The hiring process should guarantee equal opportunities and fair evaluation. Talented people should not be excluded because of prejudice stemming from their academic backgrounds and physical appearance,” Vice Labor Minister Yi Sung-ki said during a press briefing.

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

Allies conduct armed protest

South Korea and the United States fired ballistic missiles in a joint drill aimed at striking the North Korean leadership, Wednesday. The live-fire exercise was an armed reaction to the North's purported successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) conducted Tuesday. President Moon Jae-in issued the missile firing order after getting consent from U.S. President Donald Trump, Cheong Wa Dae said. This marked the first time for the allies to conduct a ballistic missile drill in response to the North's missile threats, Defense Minister Han Min-koo said in a National Assembly session. Issuing the order, Moon said the allies needed to demonstrate their joint defense posture "with action not just words," according to chief press secretary, Yoon Young-chan.

UN calls for Seoul-Tokyo 'comfort women' deal to be revised

In another embarrassment for Japan, the U.N. Committee against Torture has called on Japan and South Korea to revise their controversial ‘comfort women' deal for ending the dispute over women forced into Japanese military brothels before and during World War II. The agreement should be modified to "ensure that the surviving victims of sexual slavery during World War II are provided with redress, including the right to compensation and rehabilitation and the right to truth, reparation and assurances of non-repetition," the committee said in a report.

'SOS note' saves Thai women forced into prostitution in South Korea

A Thai woman's wits have led to her rescue and that of four others from a brothel in South Korea. The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency revealed the case on Wednesday. The incident started when the five women visited a Busan supermarket on May 16 under the "guidance" of a Korean man. The women were regular customers who visited late at night to buy daily necessities. On May 16, the women bought products while the Korean man stood just outside the supermarket. But something unusual happened when they paid the bill.

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

‘N. Korea is isolating from China,' says Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong Un’s stampede to develop missiles seems to be completely uncontrollable, as North Korea successfully tested an ICBM-class missile. “North Korea is isolating from China,” the North Korean leader said, suggesting that since the North is distancing itself from its biggest ally China, it is getting increasingly difficult to control Kim. The South Korea-U.S. alliance has declared a stern response, but it is nonetheless struggling to find a proper response.

Closed Gamagol Theater to reopen in Busan

Gamagol Theater, the now-closed incubator for the Theatre Troupe Georipae, will reopen. Established Busan in 1986, the theater moved to various other places in the port city before being closed in 2012. To mark the reopening of the 120-seat Gamagol Theater, the Theatre Troupe Georipae will put on stage “Don't Cry, Hong-Do,” an early 20th century-style melodrama from July 7 to July 23. Theater Gamagol, a troupe consisting of young members of the Theatre Troupe Georipae, will become the permanent performer of the reopened theater, which will be run by three managers. 

China and Russia say 'talks and negotiation' on North Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin released a joint statement on North Korea after their presidential summit in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday. This is an unprecedented case from two countries to issue a statement on a particular issue. However, it has been criticized that two leaders only called for talks and negotiation without mentioning stronger pressure on North Korea’s repeated provocations. “We express our grave concerns on North Korea’s ballistic missile program and urge the regime to abide by the United Nations Security Council resolution," two leaders said in the statement. "We must deal with this issue peacefully through talks and negotiation. We oppose to any form of conflicts to escalate tension.

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

1 in 10 Newlywed Couples Give up Dual Income to Raise Kids

One in 10 young couples decide that one partner, usually the woman, will give up her job to raise children. Statistics Korea said Tuesday that a study of 235,000 couples who married in 2014 showed that 49.7 percent earned dual incomes at the time, but that fell to 44.4 percent a year later. Among those who have their first child in the first year of their marriage, the proportion of double-income couples fell from 50.8 percent in the year of marriage to 41.2 percent the year after that, meaning that one partner probably gave up his or her job.

N. Korea Pours Cold Water on Moon's Proposal for Talks

North Korea on Tuesday responded to South Korea's repeated calls for dialogue, saying its nuclear weapons constitute its "sword of justice" and insisting that it will never relinquish them. Meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, President Moon Jae-in proposed sitting down for talks with the North if it freezes its nuclear and missile programs. But the North's official Rodong Sinmun daily on Tuesday called the isolated country the "rocket leader of Asia" and scoffed that warnings from South Korea against provocations were "highly ridiculous."

Half of Small Firms to Slash Jobs Over Minimum Wage Hike

Nine out of 10 small and mid-sized businesses are against government plans to raise the minimum wage to W10,000 an hour, and a majority claim they would have no choice but to cut down on staff or hiring (US$1=W1,150). The Small and Medium Business Administration polled 332 SMEs last month on their views on the minimum wage hike and found that 56 percent would cut down on new hires. Some 41.6 percent said they would lay off existing staff, 28.9 percent they would have to close their business completely, 14.2 percent they will slash pay and 6.3 percent they would think of moving abroad.

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

Pres. Moon with less room to maneuver after North Korean ICBM launch

North Korea’s claim on July 4 that it successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is raising the question of how provocations by Pyongyang will influence South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s approach to North Korea. The very fact that North Korea tested a missile capable of striking the contiguous US so soon after Moon’s summit with US President Donald Trump is being seen as a protest against the two leaders’ agreement to attempt dialogue while also coordinating on maximum pressure and sanctions against Pyongyang.

In N. Korea’s claims are true, new ICBM could fly up to 6,700 km

After North Korea claimed on July 4 that it had successfully test launched the Hwasong-14 (KN-14), an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the next question is what effect this will have on the strategic balance on the Korean Peninsula. On the morning of July 5, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense identified the missile launched on July 4 as a new type of ICBM, after assessing the missile’s altitude, distance, flight time and stage separation.

North Korea’s ICBM launch comes as apparent response to recent S. Korea-US summit

North Korea’s claims on July 4 of having successfully launched a Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) strikes a blow against a South Korean government that was attempting to leverage the outcome of its recent South Korea-US summit to push an ambitious North Korea policy approach. For now, pressure from the international community appears certain to grow, including a possible additional UN Security Council resolution. Pyongyang‘s claims of having successfully launched an ICBM are being seen as a response to the summit.

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

North’s leader says ICBM starts a ‘new phase’

North Korea’s leader said Wednesday he had no intention of discussing his nuclear weapons or ballistic missile programs “unless the U.S. hostile policy and nuclear threat” to his country are “definitely terminated,” fueling tensions after Pyongyang conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test Tuesday that it claimed succeeded. Leader Kim Jong-un, who personally supervised the ICBM test Tuesday morning, was quoted by the regime’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) Wednesday as saying that the “protracted showdown with the U.S. imperialists has reached its final phase” and that the time has arrived for the North to “demonstrate its mettle to the U.S.”

Film clip is new proof of ‘comfort women’ fate

The first video footage of Korean victims of the Japanese military’s sexual slavery during World War II was revealed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul National University on Wednesday. The 18-second black-and-white footage from U.S. archives shows seven barefoot young women leaning against the wall of a house in Songshan, Yunnan Province, China, and was shot on Sept. 8, 1944, according to the SNU Human Rights Center and city government.

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

Head of the “Sung Wan-jong List” Investigation Team Who Indicted Hong Jun-pyo to Lead Prosecution Service

Moon Moo-il (56, 18th Class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), chief of the Busan High Prosecutors’ Office, nominated for public prosecutor general on July 4, once indicted Hong Jun-pyo (63), leader of the Liberty Korea Party for violating the Political Funds Act when he led a special team to investigate the “Sung Wan-jong list” two years ago. Interestingly, one day after Hong, who was President Moon Jae-in‘s competitor in the last presidential election, was elected the leader of the first opposition party, the prosecutor who had forced him to stand trial was nominated as the chief of the Prosecution Service.

South Korea in a Dilemma After Kim Jong-un Punches Outstretched Hand Seeking Dialogue

The Moon Jae-in government‘s North Korea policy has met with an obstacle from the onset as North Korea announced the successful launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 4. North Korea’s super hardline response came just as President Moon Jae-in was about to get in the driver‘s seat to resolve the problems on the Korean Peninsula, leaving the Moon Jae-in government at a loss. President Moon announced his plans of a step-by-step approach arguing that if North Korea did not conduct further nuclear or missile tests and promised to freeze its nuclear program, it could lead to talks toward denuclearization and a peace system in his latest trip to the U.S. He had secured some support for South Korea’s leading role in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula and for inter-Korean dialogue on humanitarian issues in his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

President Moon Meets Former U.S. President Obama, "This Is the Last Change for North Korea to Engage in Talks"

On July 3, President Moon Jae-in said, "If North Korea takes part in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics next year, it will not only help promote the spirit of the Olympics, it will also contribute to peace in our region and the world and to the harmony of mankind." The president also said, "I am well aware that North Korea's participation in the Pyeongchang Games depends on the decision by the IOC," when he met with Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at Cheong Wa Dae this day.

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

Doosan Heavy Industries Expected to Win Nuclear Reactor Order Worth 1 Tril. Won from India

It is likely that Doosan Heavy Industries will be able to win the nuclear power plant construction project in India. According to power generation industry sources on July 4, Doosan Heavy Industries may benefit from a deal reached in a summit meeting on June 26 between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The Indian government decided to import six "AP1000" nuclear reactors from Westinghouse. The 1,150-megawatt reactors will be installed in the eastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Samsung Electronics to Invest 40 Tril. Won to Cement Current Semiconductor Leadership

Samsung Electronics has announced a plan to invest almost 40 trillion won (US$34.8 billion) in 3D NAND flash memory chips (30.4 trillion won) and OLED chips (9.0 trillion won). With this investment which will be made by 2021, as many as 440,000 new jobs will be created. Samsung revealed the plan on July 4 when it held an event to celebrate the first shipment of wafers in its No. 1 production line in the Pyeongtaek plant. Kwon Oh-hyun, vice chairman, said, "We have successfully completed the construction of the chip-making plant in Pyeongtaek, a monumental challenge for our company." With the completion of the production line, the company will be able to produce 300,000 3D NAND wafers a month from current 200,000 wafers.

Hyundai Motor on Track to Regain 40% Domestic Market Share

Hyundai Motor is on track to boost its domestic market share up to 40 percent again, thanks to the new car effect of its brand-new Grandeur and Sonata models. Kia Motors expect the Stinger and Stonic to contribute to increasing its domestic market share in the latter half of this year. According to industry sources on July 3, domestic car sales reached 738,730 units in the first five months of this year, down 1.4 percent from 749,189 units a year ago.

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

North Korea's ICBM launch and suspicions

On July 4, North Korea announced it had successfully launched a 'Hwasong-14', which is classified as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Pyongyang claimed that through a very vertical launch, it reached a maximum altitude of 2,803 km and flew 933 km for 37 minutes with its range estimated at 8,000 to 10,000 km, enough to hit the western mainland of the United States. Kim Jong-un approved the missile launch in a document signed in his own handwriting on July 3, the anniversary of the creation of North Korea's 'Strategic Force' which has operated nuclear weapons and missiles since it was reorganized into the 4th military division, equivalent to the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, in early 2014.

World No. 1 Ryu So-yeon apologizes for tax scandal involving her father

World number one Ryu So-yeon apologized for disappointing fans with a tax scandal involving her father who has been accused of insulting and threatening tax officials due to back taxes. Her father, Ryu Chang-hee, completed the payment of 316 million won (274,800 US dollars) in back taxes last month after his home was raided by tax officials. He allegedly did not pay local taxes, although he has been living in a luxury home and owned two other apartments registered in the names of his children.

Hyundai shipyard and Saudi Aramco agree to build joint engine plant

Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipbuilder, has agreed with Saudi national oil giant Aramco to invest 400 million US dollars in building a joint factory capable of producing some 200 engines a year by 2019. Under a memorandum of understanding, Hyundai Heavy said the facility would be built on a shipbuilding complex in Ras Al-Khair. The shipbuilder will provide technology and parts related to its trademark Himsen engine in return for royalty payment.

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

S. Korea, U.S. respond to N. Korea missile launch with joint anti-missile drill

South Korea and the United States held extraordinary anti-ballistic missile drill on Wednesday in show of joint muscles after Pyongyang fired what it claims to be its first successful launch of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. Seoul and Washington separately held national security council meetings immediately after the missile test on Tuesday morning. Korean President Moon Jae-in during the meeting called for “resolute actions” beyond rhetorical condemnation. Seoul called up U.S. National Security Adviser Herbert McMaster and received hearty go-ahead from U.S. President Donald Trump for an unscheduled missile exercise.

Philippine President hints at additional aircraft purchases from KAI

South Korea’s sole aircraft manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) could draw additional $400 million order on light attack aircrafts from the Philippines before Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s term ends in 2020. According to KAI on Tuesday, Duterte would have the Philippine government mull purchasing additional 12 FA-50PH light attack aircrafts from the Korean aircraft manufacturer during his term. He made the pledge at an event celebrating the Philippine Air Force’s 70th founding anniversary and the deployment of the 12 aircrafts from KAI.

Korea’s May current surplus -43.4% on yr amid absence of Chinese visitors

South Korea’s current-account surplus shrank against a year-ago period in May largely because of higher oil import prices and dwindled visitors from China. According to preliminary balance of payments data released by the Bank of Korea on Wednesday, the nation’s current account surplus fell 43.4 percent on year to $5.94 billion from $10.49 billion in the same month last year while widening from $3.89 billion in April. The country has maintained a surplus in its current account since March 2012.

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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