The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, July 7, 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/)

Leaders of S. Korea, US, Japan Agree on Tougher Sanctions on N. Korea

Leaders of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan have agreed on the need for intensifying pressure against North Korea’s missile provocation in their three-way talks. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping also agreed to work together to produce a fundamental solution to the North Korean nuclear issue in their bilateral summit in Germany. Alannah Hill has more. President Moon held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over a dinner on Thursday in Hamburg, Germany on the eve of the G20 summit. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told reporters that the three leaders agreed to work to have the UN Security Council swiftly produce stronger sanctions against North Korea.

US Defense Chief Dismisses Concerns of Military Action on N. Korea

U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis told reporters that the president and secretary of state want to lead with diplomatic and economic efforts in dealing with North Korea. He said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will remain in charge until U.S. soldiers become involved. Kim Bum-soo has more. U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis dismissed concerns of immediate military action against North Korea, saying his government has already made it clear that it is leading with diplomatic and economic efforts.

THAAD Deployment Decision Difficult to Retract

Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk met face to face Thursday with residents living right next to the deployment site of THAAD missile defense, and told them reversing the deployment would be very difficult. Residents of Seongju County and the nearby city of Gimcheon in North Gyeongsang Province are demanding the Moon Jae-in administration completely reconsider the THAAD deployment. In meetings with about 20 regional representatives, Vice Defense Minister Suh passed on the administration's position that the THAAD deployment decision is based on a national security assessment by the South Korea-U.S. alliance to counter North Korea’s growing nuclear and missile threats.

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

Samsung posts record-high operating profit for Q2

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. predicted Friday that its second-quarter operating profit shot up nearly 72 percent on-year to post a record-high quarterly level, apparently helped by the robust performance of its chip business. Operating profit is estimated at 14 trillion won (US$12.1 billion) in the April-June period, compared with 8.14 trillion won posted a year earlier, the South Korean tech giant said in its regulatory filing.

Leaders of S. Korea, U.S. Japan agree to draw tougher UNSC sanctions on N. Korea

Leaders of South Korea, Japan and the United States agreed to work together for tougher sanctions by the international community against North Korea for its latest missile provocation that hinted at its ability to target most countries in the world, South Korea's presidential office said Friday. "The leaders agreed on the importance and need of intensified pressure on North Korea," it said. The three-way talks between South Korean President Moon Jae-in, U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came on the eve of the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. It also followed North Korea's test launch of what it claimed to be its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which experts say may reach the mainland U.S. if proven to be as effective as claimed.

KORAIL wins consultancy contract for new Philippine subway line

South Korea's national train operator KORAIL said Friday it has won a 5 billion-won (US$4.32 million) consultancy contract for a new subway line in the Philippines. The contract signed with San Miguel Corp. calls for KORAIL to oversee the construction of the 23-kilometer Manila Metro Rail Transit System Line 7 (MRT-7) and production of 108 trains, due for completion by the end of 2019, KORAIL officials said. The contract will be renewed every six months. KORAIL has been providing consultancy for the design of the MRT-7 since July last year. The new subway line will service 14 stations between Quezon City and the province of Bulacan.

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

Korea, US, Japan call for stronger financial sanctions on N. Korea

The leaders of South Korea, US, and Japan shared the view that stronger sanctions -- not military but financial ones -- are needed in order to curb North Korea’s nuclear ambition and to eventually to bring the communist regime back to the negotiating table. President Moon Jae-in met with US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Hamburg on Thursday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit to run on Friday-Saturday in the German port city.

Samsung predicts $12.1 billion in operating profit for Q2

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. predicted Friday that its second-quarter operating profit shot up nearly 72 percent on-year to post a record-high quarterly level, apparently helped by the robust performance of its chip business. Operating profit is estimated at 14 trillion won ($12.1 billion) in the April-June period, compared with 8.14 trillion won posted a year earlier, the South Korean tech giant said in its regulatory filing.

Moon, Xi stress need for dialogue, role of South Korea in NK matters

President Moon Jae-in and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed on the need for dialogue, along with sanctions and pressure, and South Korea taking a leading role in resolving North Korea’s escalating military threats in their first bilateral summit held in the German capital on Thursday. Moon and Xi met amid escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula after the communist state said it successfully tested a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile, putting the US within its attack range. US President Donald Trump, visiting Poland before joining Moon, Xi and other leaders in a Group of 20 summit later this week, said he was considering “some pretty severe things,” while his envoy to the United Nations said the US will use “considerable military forces ... if we must.”

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

Moon, Xi confirm common goal of N. Korea denuclearization

President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jingping reaffirmed that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula was their common goal, pledging for heavier sanctions on North Korea to prevent its further nuclear and missile development, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. During their first summit in Berlin on the sidelines of the G20 summit, Xi also expressed his support for Seoul's leading effort to resume talks with Pyongyang and create peace on the peninsula.

'No war again on peninsula'

President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed his stance Thursday to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue through dialogue despite Pyongyang's recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), saying "there must not be a war on the Korean Peninsula ever again." In a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin, Moon admitted the situation has become more complicated, as his government's offers for talks have only been met with more frequent missile tests by Pyongyang.

President to pursue peace treaty with N. Korea, despite ICBM

President Moon Jae-in said Thursday he will seek to pursue a peace treaty with North Korea, taking a step forward for inter-Korean reconciliation despite Pyongyang's test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) two days earlier. Moon's pledge comes after North Korea and China have repeatedly called for the signing of a peace treaty with the United States to formally end the Korean War and settle the security crisis on the peninsula. The President appeared to be seeking U.S. support in his push for a peace treaty as the U.S., on behalf of the United Nations, signed the 1953 armistice agreement with North Korea and China. South Korea was not among the signatories.

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

'U.S. will use considerable military force,' warns the U.S.

At a Wednesday (local time) U.N. Security Council meeting urgently convened to discuss the recent launch of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) by North Korea, U.S. Ambassador to United Nations Nikki Haley pressured North Korea saying, "One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them if we must." On China backing the North, she also warned China, by saying, "Bilateral trade between the U.S. and China will falter when Beijing's trade to Pyongyang violates U.N. sanctions."

Renee Fleming performs first Korean concert in 15 years

She sang and smiled, moving her skirt back and forth like a teenage girl. The audience enjoyed the concert with a big smile under her spell. Renee Fleming, America’s most popular soprano, performed her first concert in Korea in 15 years on Monday. “I missed you,” Fleming said after singing the first song, "C'est Thais, l'idole fragile" from the opera "Thais” by Massenet at her recital in the Seoul Arts Center. The whole audience-close to 2,000 seats- cheered enthusiastically for this long-awaited performance.

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group becomes No. 3 maker of electric cars

Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. are seeking a way out of their troubles in China stemming from Beijing’s economic retaliation against South Korea’s deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system. The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has become the world’s third-largest carmaker in the electric vehicle sector, getting ahead of Germany’s BMW. Environmentally friendly vehicles are rapidly becoming the center of the global automotive market. Sweden’s Volvo announced Wednesday that it would use electric motors on all of its cars from 2019 for the first time among major global carmakers.

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

S. Korea, U.S. Flex Muscles After N. Korean Missile Launch

The South Korean military and U.S. Forces Korea on Wednesday simultaneously test-fired ballistic missiles that could pulverize North Korean nuclear and missile facilities. The show of force came only a day after North Korea launched what it claimed was an intercontinental ballistic missile. South Korean forces also released footage of a "decapitation operation" drill, including practice for a strike on Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang. "All this shows how serious both Seoul and Washington are about Pyongyang's ICBM launch," a Defense Ministry spokesman here said.

N.Korean 'Boat People' Are Elite Scientist and Family

Five North Koreans who crossed the maritime border in a small fishing boat last Saturday have turned out to be a scientist from Pyongyang and his family. A government source said Wednesday the defector is a graduate of the prestigious Pyongsong Institute of Science and fled with his son, his son's girlfriend and two members of his brother's family. The son and son's girlfriend are also graduates of the same university and lived in Pyongyang.

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.

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

North Korea’s ICBM launch presents Trump administration with a dilemma

The US government under President Donald Trump has changed its assessment of the missile that North Korea test launched on July 4 from an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) to an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Faced with the test launch of a North Korean ICBM, which is being called a “game changer,” the Trump administration will have to ask some big questions about its North Korean policy moving forward, the US media reported.

Pres. Moon sticking to pressure and dialogue approach after N. Korea’s ICBM launch

“They’re even firing missiles in North Korea, and the security crisis is more severe than ever before. I have a heavy heart,” said President Moon Jae-in during a meeting with several members of the ruling Minjoo Party and Blue House aides in the VIP room at Seoul Air Base on the morning of July 5, shortly before he left for Germany to attend the G-20 summit. Moon had been planning to take the initiative in policy toward North Korea based on the success of his summit with the US, but his remarks indicate concerns that his plan will be strangled in the cradle by North Korea’s ICBM launch.

South Korea says North Korea’s launch apparently an early-stage ICBM

North Korea claimed on July 5 that the Hwasong-14 missile it had test-launched the day before was an “ICBM capable of carrying a large and heavy nuclear warhead.” But the South Korean military said the launch could not be viewed as proof of ICBM development, citing the failure to confirm whether atmospheric re-entry technology had been established and the fact that the missile was launched from a fixed launch pad.

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

Moon gets nod from Xi on North

In his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, President Moon Jae-in won the support of Beijing, Pyongyang’s main ally, to resume talks with North Korea to improve inter-Korean relations and resolve the security crisis prompted by its nuclear and missile tests. Moon and Xi met in Berlin before heading to Hamburg to attend a Group of 20 Summit Thursday and Friday. It was the leaders’ first meeting since Moon was elected in May in a snap election. Moon met with U.S. President Donald Trump last week and won his apparent support for his North Korea policy. That was before Pyongyang tested a new, long range missile Tuesday.

U.S. envoy at UN hints at use of force after test

The top U.S. diplomat at the United Nations is pushing for tougher Security Council sanctions on North Korea following its latest missile test and warned Washington is ready to use its military capabilities to pressure China and Russia to back a new resolution. “The United States is prepared to use the full range of our capabilities to defend ourselves and our allies,” said U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley on Wednesday in an emergency meeting of the New York-based Security Council. “One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them if we must.”

To close nuclear plants, Korea needs new tech

The Moon Jae-in government has decided to establish a research institute dedicated to researching the decommissioning of nuclear power plants, an expertise that Korea will need. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced Thursday that it will come up with details on the institute by the end of this year. “We believe it is necessary not only to develop key technologies that we don’t have but also to train specialists in this field,” said Ahn Chang-yong, a director at the Trade Ministry. “We also need to build ties between industries and scholars and will do our best to exchange information with other developed countries.”

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

South Korea and the U.S. Fire Back: Korean Peninsula Trapped Under Missiles

On July 5, President Moon Jae-in mentioned North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch and said, "At North Korea's severe provocation, we cannot respond with just a statement. We need to clearly show North Korea our strong joint response posture." The previous day, after the North's provocation, the president ordered Chung Eui-yong, head of the Office of National Security to conduct a joint demonstration of the ROK-US missile defense force, and Yoon Young-chan, the senior secretary for public relations conveyed that U.S. President Donald Trump also agreed to such actions. President Trump said that he highly valued and shared President Moon's firm determination against North Korea's provocation.

Challenges Expected for Blind Recruitment in the Private Sector

The purpose of the blind recruitment in the public sector released by the government on July 5 is to improve the current recruitment process, where some candidates cannot earn a chance to show their capacity because they fail to pass the screening of application forms due to factors that can trigger "prejudice." The government plans to first expand blind recruitment throughout the public sector, in which the government is the management, and then focus efforts to accelerate the spread of the method in the private sector as well. Items that can trigger prejudice will be deleted from application forms and interviews from July for public agencies and from August in the case of local public enterprises.

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.

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

Samsung Electronics Set to Produce AI Speakers

Samsung Electronics is working on an initiative to develop its own voice recognition artificial intelligence speaker using its AI service "Bixby." According to a report by the Wall Street Journal on July 4, Samsung has engaged in the development of its own AI speaker for about an year under the code name "Vega." Once Samsung releases its own AI speaker, it would compete with Amazon, Alphabet (Google), and Apple in the same product category.

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.

Hitachi Elevator Makes Comeback to Seoul

In 18 years after withdrawing from the Korean elevator market, Japan's Hitachi, the world's fifth largest player in the elevator market, has made a comeback. The latest comeback is based on the judgment that Korea's ultra high-rise elevator market is expanding fast. Competition is expected to flare up further in the Korean elevator market as a string of global elevator giants such as Otis of the United States, Mitsubishi of Japan, and Thyssenkrupp of Germany are expanding their investment here.

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

S. Korean drones seek way out of dominance by Chinese rivals

The buzzing sound of small drones filled the air in an exhibition hall, flying over dozens of booths displaying larger flying objects of exotic shape that could be used for farming and other purposes. The booth used by China's DJI, the world's largest drone producer, was much larger and more popular than those run by any other South Korean contenders, reflecting its growing popularity among South Korean fans. "Our drones are best sellers in South Korea. They are cheaper and easy to keep maintenance than other agricultural drones," Kim Tae-chon, a head director in charge of DJI's distribution unit, told Aju News in an interview on June 30, the final day of a three-day exhibition at a KINTEX Hall in Ilsan northwest of Seoul.

Major pizza chain founder arrested for illegal business activities

The founder of South Korea's major pizza chain, Mr. Pizza Korea (MPK) Group, was arrested, becoming the first group head to be punished since President Moon Jae-in, a liberal leader, took office in May with a pledge to eradicate unfair business practices. A court in Seoul approved a request from state prosecutors on Wednesday night to arrest Jung Woo-hyun, 69, on charges of embezzlement, obstruction of duty, and unfair business activities. He resigned as group chairman last month, insisting his departure should not damage the group's normal business activities. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Moon says willing to meet N. Korean leader

South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged North Korea to return to negotiations aimed at ending its nuclear ambition, also saying he was willing to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at any time and any place under right circumstances. "When the right conditions are fostered and when there is a chance to reverse the current tension and situation of confrontation on the Korean Peninsula, I am ready to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at any time and any place," the South Korean President said while speaking at Korber Foundation, a nonprofit think tank based in Berlin, according to a script of his speech released by his presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul.

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

Samsung Elec Q2 Op at new record high of $12 bn, dethrones Intel as top semicon maker

Proving to be an unrivalled winner in the exceptional semiconductor boom, Samsung Electronics achieved a new milestone in the second quarter with its operating profit at a record high of 14 trillion won ($12 billion), up 41 percent from the previous three-month period and 72 percent from a year-ago. According to its earnings guidance for the second quarter ended March, the world’s largest memory chip and smartphone maker reported that its revenue surged 19 percent on quarter and 18 percent on year to 60 trillion won, dethroning Intel Cop. as the world’s largest semiconductor maker by revenue for the first time.

June import car sales in S. Korea up 22.6% on month led by Mercedes-Benz

Import car sales in South Korea in June jumped more than 20 percent from the previous month on strong demand for new cars, with German automaker Mercedes-Benz reclaiming No.1 foreign car brand by sales two months after it lost the title to its rival Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW). According to Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) on Thursday, a total of 23,775 foreign cars were sold in Korea in June, up 22.6 percent from May. Yoon Dae-sung, vice chairman of KAIDA, attributed the significant on-month increase in foreign car sales to an overall supply ease of some brands and the launch of new models.

Chinese, Vietnamese make up most of long-stay foreigners in S. Korea

The number of foreigners who visited South Korea for a long-term stay reached 402,000 last year, with Chinese nationals accounting for the largest group, followed by those from Vietnam, Thailand, and the United States, government data showed on Thursday. According to international migration report announced by Statistics Korea on Thursday, a total of 402,000 foreigners entered Korea last year for a stay of 90 days or longer while 325,000 left the country.

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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