The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Wednesday, August 2 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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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/)

White House: Keeping All Options on N. Korea

The White House says that the U.S. is keeping all options on the table regarding North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Tuesday during a daily briefing that they are weighing all options, but they’re not going to broadcast what they are going to do. Sanders said that Pyongyang must decide whether it is an adversary of the U.S. and in some ways, they get to decide by the actions that they take.

Foreign Minister Meets Diplomats from ASEAN Countries

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has met with ambassadors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) to discuss cooperation. In the meeting on Tuesday, Kang assured that the Seoul government and President Moon Jae-in place great importance on South Korea’s strategic partnership with ASEAN, vowing her commitment as a foreign minister to continue to develop the fruitful partnership.

Govt and Ruling Party Agree on Measures to Curb Housing Speculation

The government and the ruling party have agreed on a set of measures to cope with the overheated housing market. After a party-government meeting on Wednesday, Kim Tae-nyeon, the policy chief of the Democratic Party, announced the decision to raise the capital gains tax on multiple-house owners.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

S. Korea to toughen real estate regulations to calm overheating market The government and ruling Democratic Party on Wednesday agreed to toughen regulations to stabilize an overheating real estate market.

The government is set to announce the measures later in the day, including increasing capital gains taxes on multiple-home owners and restricting the resell of purchase rights of new apartments, which has been cited as a major speculative practice aggravating problems facing regular households.

S. Korea eyes trilateral FM talks with U.S., Japan

South Korea is pursuing a trilateral foreign ministerial meeting with the United States and Japan to discuss North Korea's nuclear stalemate and other issues of mutual concern, a foreign ministry official said Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is to attend foreign ministerial meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) early next week in Manila, the Philippines. They include the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), a rare gathering attended by North Korea.

U.S. does not seek regime change in N. Korea: Tillerson

The United States does not seek a regime change in North Korea, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday, as tensions renewed over the country's nuclear and missile programs. North Korea conducted its second test of an intercontinental ballistic missile last week, fueling concerns that the communist nation may be close to delivering a nuclear weapon to the U.S. mainland. Pyongyang said the test was aimed at giving a "stern" warning to the U.S., which is bent on employing sanctions and pressure on North Korea and justifies the regime's will to develop nuclear weapons with threats of war.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Vietnam denounces N. Korea's ICBM launch

Vietnam has criticized the North's latest test-launch of a second intercontinental ballistic missile, calling on Pyongyang to comply with UN Security Council resolutions, government officials said Wednesday. Le Thi Thu Hang, spokeswoman of Vietnam's Foreign Ministry, said in a press conference the previous day the country "is deeply concerned about the continued test of an intercontinental ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on July 28, 2017, which seriously violates relevant UN Security Council resolutions and escalates tension in the region."

Irregular workers account for one out of 10 employees at conglomerates

One out of every 10 workers at South Korea's top 30 business groups were irregular workers as of end-March this year, with the rate highest at construction firms, research data showed Wednesday. According to an analysis by corporate tracker CEO Score of 360 companies who have over 300 full-time workers, the business groups checked had 119,577 non-regular workers, or 9.6 percent of the total 1.24 million. The latest figure marks a 4.2-percent drop from last year.

US prepares to test launch unarmed ICBM from California

The US Air Force was preparing Tuesday to test an unarmed Minuteman 3 intercontinental ballistic missile with a launch from California, the fourth such test this year. The 30th Space Wing says the missile was to be launched between 12:01 a.m. and 6:01 a.m. Wednesday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, about 130 miles (209 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

`North Korean regime change not feasible'

Regime change in North Korea is not a feasible option to address Pyongyang's nuclear and missile issues, analysts in Seoul said Tuesday, although some U.S. experts suggested it as a viable solution after the North's test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Friday.

South Korean officials and analysts talked of a possible collapse of the Kim Jong-un regime in 2016 when then-President Park Geun-hye encouraged North Korean civilians to defect to the South, which provoked Pyongyang.

North may test-fire ballistic missile from submarine

North Korea is expected to test-fire a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) soon to show off its sea-based nuclear attack capabilities after its purported successful test of a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The move could come as the North is highly likely to make the most of the current tension-ridden situation on the peninsula to gain recognition as a nuclear state.

North may test-fire ballistic missile from submarine

North Korea is expected to test-fire a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) soon to show off its sea-based nuclear attack capabilities after its purported successful test of a land-based intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The move could come as the North is highly likely to make the most of the current tension-ridden situation on the peninsula to gain recognition as a nuclear state.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Absence of global leadership to deal with N. Korean nuclear issue

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are building as North Korea continuously test launched its Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in July, but global leaders have failed to react to the North Korean nuclear issue properly, rather than solving the problem. Progress on adopting a new resolution concerning sanctions against the North by the UN Security Council is slow as the G2 or China and the U.S. who are the key players in dealing with the issue are not showing leadership due to complicated domestics politics.

Exploitation for history distortion feared in N. Korea-China excavation of N.K. relics

“Joint excavation by North Korea and China could pose the risk of possible exploitation in history distortion by China, such as DongBuk GongJeong (China’s historical research project on Northeast Area). "Against this backdrop, the South Korean archeological community must step up efforts to take part in (excavation of) historical relics in North Korea," Korea University archeology professor Choi Jong-taik told at an interview with The Dong-A Ilbo. “There are cases in which China reinstated relics from the Goguryeo and Balhae kingdoms of Korea sitting within its territory in the style of (China’s) Tang Dynasty style. Similarly, China could emphasize and exaggerate the roles of Chinese culture in North Korean relics more than the fact.”

Scaramucci fired from White House communications director

Anthony Scaramucci who emulated U.S. President Donald Trump’s style that made colleagues call him Trump’s “Mini Me” had been criticized for causing the White House power struggle. The former economic advisor for Trump’s camp called Reince Priebus, Trump’s former chief of staff, a “f**ing paranoid” schizophrenic for not wanting him in the White House. He also criticized Steve Bannon, Trump’s chief strategist, with vulgar words. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee said that the president certainly felt that Anthony's comments were inappropriate for someone in that position,”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Is Military Strike Against N.Korea Feasible?

Missile and nuclear facilities in the North could be targeted even without troop reinforcements. But nobody knows exactly how many missile bases the North has built, and the precise locations of nuclear arms development facilities are still unknown. It would be difficult to strike a few possible locations without full preparations for a large-scale escalation of war.

U.S. Ready to Set Up 4 More THAAD Launchers

The U.S. Defense Department said Monday that it is ready to install four more Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery launchers in South Korea. Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis told reporters in Washington, "We made an alliance decision with the [South Korean] government last year to deploy THAAD to the Korean Peninsula as a defensive measure.

Incheon Airport Offers Storage for Items Banned on Flights

The airport has set up desks facilitating the service in the departure area. Passengers can pay W3,000 per day to store the items until they return, or ship them to a requested address (US$1=W1,121). "It was possible to store or ship prohibited items at the airport before, but it was inconvenient and expensive to use. An average of 120 people a day opted to throw away the items, including expensive cosmetic products, rather than use the service," an airport official said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Nuclear power more expensive than gov’t claims, as spent fuel storage exceeds $57 billion

The cost of managing the “spent nuclear fuel” irradiated in nuclear plants has steadily increased and now exceeds 64 trillion won (US$57.2 billion), a new report confirms. If the government implements its policy of a nuclear phaseout, it could reduce this maintenance cost by as much as 19 trillion won (US$16.9 billion), according to the report.

90-year-old former North Korean agent longs to see his love in North Korea

“I would like to see my family once before I die. This time, I would really like to go,” said Suh Ok-ryeol, 90, in a calm voice during an interview with the Hankyoreh on the morning of July 22. Suh spent 29 years in prison. Suh, who lives in a rental apartment in Gwangju, was just released from the hospital after spending two months there. Heart disease combined with the other ailments of old age to put him for a time on the threshold of life and death. His kitchen is only furnished with a small fridge, a small rice cooker and a few plates. On the table in the main room are some books and magazines, along with several medicine wrappers. His bookshelf is neatly arranged with books on economics and philosophy printed in Japanese.

South Korea effectively gives up on getting US to clean up returned military base in Wonju

The South Korean government has decided to effectively give up asking the US military to clean up contamination at Camp Long, a base in Wonju, Gangwon Province, that remains “US land” seven years after its closure, as environmental talks with the US have dragged out. The situation means South Korea is more likely to be on the hook for the costs of cleaning up the 340,000 square meters of the camp, which is to be the first US base returned to South Korea under the Moon Jae-in administration.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JoongAngIlbo (http://koreajoongangdU.S. says China must curb Northaily.joins.com/)

Moon’s Thaad decision has Beijing fuming

Beijing may increase its retaliations against Seoul after Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered the installation of four additional launchers for the U.S.-led Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system. The U.S. Department of Defense said Monday it is ready to resume deployment of the Thaad system as quickly as possible. Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters in Washington Monday, “We are certainly ready to bring additional pieces in as quickly as we can.”

U.S. beef industry champions FTA

The U.S. beef industry urged Washington not to change the free trade agreement with South Korea because it’s been so beneficial to it. This is the first industry to make the call since the Office of the United States Trade Representative called for a Joint Committee meeting with its Korean counterpart to discuss revisions to the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (Korus) last month.

North might be able to hit most of mainland U.S.

North Korea’s claim that it can target anywhere in the United States with its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) is no longer bluster, U.S. intelligence officials suggested Monday. Two officials who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity said North Korea’s latest ICBM test, carried out last Friday night, has shown that the regime may be able to reach most of the continental United States.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

President Moon Clarified Position on THAAD, But Lost a Diplomatic "Card"

President Moon Jae-in decided to complete the deployment of four Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile launchers, which he had planned to postpone in order to follow a legitimate process, in response to North Korea's test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). With this decision, the president has given the "green light" to an issue on which he had maintained a "yellow light" up to this point.

NK Approaching the ‘Red Line,’” Cheong Wa Dae Changes Direction and Accepts U.S. Plans to Place the THAAD System

In response to North Korea’s test launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-14, President Moon Jae-in ordered revisions to the ROK-US missile guidelines along with the placement of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system. The president appears to have opted for a hardline stance, allowing the possibility of a preemptive strike, based on the judgment that the North’s nuclear and missile technology has approached the “red line,” meaning it may be capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.

Nine Years of Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye Have Exhausted All Measures of Sanctions: No Significant Option LeftBy Kim Jae-jung

On July 29, President Moon Jae-in ordered his staff to review separate sanctions on North Korea as a response to North Korea’s second test launch of Hwasong-14, an intercontinental ballistic missile. In other words, the president ordered his staff to draw up additional sanctions that the government can impose on the North aside from the sanctions being discussed in the UN Security Council.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

July Exports Rise 19.5%...Only 2.8% If Semiconductors and Ships Are Excluded

The export growth rate in July this year turned out 19.5 percent from the same month last year. This is a surprise performance after two consecutive slow months followed by a 24-percent year-on-year growth in April. Still, the growth rate except those for semiconductors and ships was mere 2.8 percent. In particular, the growth in ship exports may not be so sustainable as the growth came mostly from one-time factors.

SK Innovation to Separate Battery Unit and Put It under Direct Report of CEO

SK Innovation, the holding company of SK Group's energy affiliates, has on August 1 undertaken an organizational reform focusing on battery and chemical businesses. This is an unusual move given most large conglomerates announce their personnel reshuffle results at the end or beginning of the year.

This is intended to find future growth engines away from the current core business areas such as oil refining and lubricant. Through the reorganization move, the group hopes to raise its corporate value from current 16 trillion won from 30 trillion won by expanding its business in batteries and chemicals.

Gov't to Free 2 Mil. People from Debt Burden

The government will write off the debt of 21.7 trillion won (owed by 1,231,000 consumers) held by the People's Happiness Fund and six other state-run financial institutions. In addition, it will encourage private-sector banks and finance companies to do the same for the debt worth 4 trillion won (for 912,000 consumers) by the year's end. Once the plan materializes as expected, the total number of people to benefit from the government's initiative will be 2,143,000.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

S. Korea regards China's power as top security threat: global survey

ISIS and climate change were cited as top security threats in a global survey, but South Korea picked China's power and influence as a major threat probably due to trade retaliation over a US missile shield. The survey, published by the US-based Pew Research Center, showed that while the level and focus of concern varies by region and country, ISIS and climate change clearly emerged as the most frequently cited security risks.

Kakao challenges smart mobility industry with new subsidiary

South Korea's web service giant Kakao challenged the smart mobility industry by launching a new subsidiary that would use its call taxi app to expand joint businesses with taxi companies. The smart mobility industry is formed by businesses and platforms using smartphone applications for car sharing, taxi hailing and information sharing in designated areas. The sizes of areas vary from a small district to a whole city. In South Korea, Kakao is leading the industry with its taxi-hailing app "Kakao Taxi".

N. Korea leader scoffs at international criticism to host banquet for ICBM developers

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un scoffed at a flurry of international criticism and pressure to host a banquet celebrating what it called the second test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads to the US mainland. Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, attended the banquet Sunday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency, as workers and students held dancing parties in Pyongyang to praise the leader for "firmly defending the sovereignty and dignity of the country with the powerful strategic nuclear force".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

The rich in S. Korea up 14.8 % on year: KB Financial Group Research

In South Korea, the number of rich people increased 14.8 percent last year from a year ago on a boom in the housing and equity markets, according to a report by a local financial research institute. The Korea Wealth Report 2017 released by KB Financial Group Research Institute on Tuesday showed that the number of people who own 1 billion won ($891,000) or more in financial assets per person reached 242,000 in Korea as of 2016, up 14.8 percent from 211,000 in 2015.

Korea’s exports grow 20% in July on strong global demand

Riding on a recovery in the global economy, South Korean exports jumped nearly 20 percent in July from a year ago, running at double-digit growth for seven months in a row. According to preliminary data by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Tuesday, Korea’s exports in July surged 19.5 percent on year to $48.8 billion. The country’s exports have been expanding for the ninth consecutive month.

Payroll at large Korean companies slip to 7-year low in second quarter

Payroll at large South Korean companies employing 300 or more slipped to a seven-year low while jobs at workplaces of four or fewer grew by the fastest pace in three years to underscore job squeeze in large enterprises due to prolonged slowdown in domestic demand, government data showed. According to the Statistics Korea on Monday, the payroll at large companies lost 25,000 from a year ago to total 2,463,000 as of the end of July. The drop is the largest since the third quarter of 2010 in repercussions from the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 LaRepubblicawww.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

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Korea Post is running video clips from the different embassies.

Azerbaijan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR8CBpcQ4WM

Sri Lanka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByX92Y2aGY&t=22s

Morocco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFmp2sVvSE

And many other countries.

저작권자 © The Korea Post 무단전재 및 재배포 금지