Headlines, April 12, 2019

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, April 12, 2019

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

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

Moon emphasizes need to continue U.S.-N. Korea dialogue

South Korean President Moon Jae-in emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue between the United States and North Korea to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue in a series of meetings with key U.S. officials on Thursday. Seoul officials refuse to call the Hanoi meeting a failure, but Moon's hasty visit here apparently confirms a gap between the U.S. and North Korea, which are technically at war. Moon's two-day visit here this week is one of the briefest overseas trips he has taken so far. He is also scheduled to embark on an eight-day trip to three Central Asian countries next week, which makes his U.S. visit more unusual.

Trump says he wants 'big deal' on N.K. nuclear program

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he aims to strike a "big deal" with North Korea on its nuclear weapons program while keeping sanctions in place for now. Trump made the remark at the start of a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House, which came weeks after his nuclear summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam collapsed without a deal.

N.K. leader re-elected as chairman of State Affairs Commission

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been re-elected as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, the communist state's highest decision-making body, in a key parliamentary meeting, state media reported Friday. The North's Premier Pak Pong-ju has also been replaced with Kim Jae-ryong, a senior member of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, during the first session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly held Thursday, the Korean Central News Agency said.

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

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

Moon, Trump Discuss Inter-Korean Summit to Resolve Nuclear Stalemate

The leaders of South Korea and the United States have agreed to continue their dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. At the summit in Washington on Thursday, President Moon shared his plan to hold inter-Korean talks to resolve the stalemate. President Donald Trump, however, noted that he is not in a rush to hold another summit with Kim.

S. Korea Wins WTO Appeal on Fukushima Seafood Ban

The World Trade Organization(WTO) has upheld South Korea's import ban on Japanese seafood affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. The WTO appellate body on Thursday overturned the 2018 decision by a lower panel, saying Seoul's measures are not unfair trade restrictions and do not fall into the category of arbitrary discrimination. It's rare for the appellate body to reverse the lower panel's decision.

Kim Jong-un Re-elected as Chairman of State Affairs Commission

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been re-elected chairman of the State Affairs Commission, the country's highest decision-making body, during a key parliamentary meeting. The North's official Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) reported on Friday that Kim was named chairman during the first session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly held on Thursday. During the session, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Kim Yong-nam, the North's nominal head of state, was replaced by Choe Ryong-hae, vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission.

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

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

Constitutional Court rules against abortion ban after 66 years

The Constitutional Court ruled Thursday that the country's strict abortion ban is unconstitutional, a landmark decision that signals major change in various aspects of society. The nine-justice panel made the ruling in a 7-2 vote, in response to a 2017 complaint filed by an obstetrician standing trial for performing multiple abortions. A vote of two-thirds is required to reverse a ruling. The court found that an outright ban on abortion under the criminal law is against the Constitution and ordered allowing termination in the early stages of pregnancy.

Korean Air holds funeral services for late chief

The funeral services for Korean Air Lines Co.'s late Chairman Cho Yang-ho began Friday and will be held through Tuesday at a hospital in Seoul, the company said.The body of the deceased chairman was transported from the United States to Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, earlier in the day and moved to Yonsei Severance Hospital in Sinchon, a Korean Air spokeswoman said. Cho, 70, died in the United States on Sunday, where he had been receiving medical treatment for a chronic lung disease since December.

New unification minister vows efforts to hold inter-Korean parliamentary meeting

The new point man on inter-Korean affairs vowed Thursday to make active efforts to hold the first-ever parliamentary talks between South and North Korea. Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, who took office earlier this week, made the remarks during his meeting with Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), where the two exchanged opinions about the peace-making process on the Korean Peninsula. "North Korea held its key parliamentary meeting today. The unification ministry will actively make efforts to hold inter-Korean parliamentary talks," the minister said.

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

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

Constitutional Court orders revision of abortion ban by end of 2020

In a landmark decision that overturned its 2012 ruling, the court ruled 7-2 that criminalizing all abortions -- even in the early stages of pregnancy -- restricts pregnant women’s rights to self-determination by forcing them to maintain the pregnancies. The court saw that a fetus is considered as close to be a human being after 22 weeks of pregnancy. Before that period, women’s rights to self-determination outweighs a fetus’s right to life as giving birth and child-rearing have a “decisive” impact on women’s lives, according to the verdict.

NK leader talks about 'tense situation,' 'self-reliance' at politburo meeting

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called the current situation "tense" and urged politburo officials to follow through on the party's strategic line of economic development with a spirit of "self-reliance," state media reported Wednesday. The remark, made at an enlarged meeting Tuesday of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, suggests the North is unlikely to announce any major policy shift at this week's parliamentary meeting despite the no-deal breakdown of Kim's summit with US President Donald Trump.

NK leader re-elected as chairman of State Affairs Commission

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

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

'Pro-choice!': Constitutional Court rules against abortion ban

The Constitutional Court overturned the country's 66-year-old abortion ban Thursday, saying it was unconstitutional to bar women from terminating a pregnancy in its early stages as it prevented them from making their own decision on personal matters. In a seven-to-two decision, the court ruled that Articles 269 and 270 of the Criminal Act, which sentences women who have abortions to up to one year in jail or a 2 million won ($1,750) fine, and doctors who carry them out to up to two years in prison, were unconstitutional.

Man taken to hospital after dog bites genitals

A 39-year-old man is receiving treatment at a hospital after a dog bit his genitals at an apartment complex in the southeastern coastal city of Busan, police said Friday. The Haeundae Police Station said the Old English sheepdog, which was being led by his owner, a 29-year-old woman, bit the man in front of an elevator at an apartment around 9:32 p.m. on Thursday. The woman came out of the elevator with the dog to walk him, while the man was approaching the elevator after disposing of trash outside the apartment.

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

Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)

Urges Trump to Maintain Dialogue with N.Korea

President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump met in Washington on Thursday to discuss North Korean denuclearization, resuming dialogue between the U.S. and the North.

Moon called for a gradual easing of sanctions against the North even as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to achieve "self-reliance" and "deal a serious blow" to the U.S. The two presidents' seventh meeting since Moon took office came a month and a half after the U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi collapsed. They talked for about two hours, partly in the presence of their wives, followed by an expanded meeting with key officials and lunch.

Seoul City Wants to Improve Water Quality in Pyongyang

The Seoul Metropolitan Government wants to help the North Korean capital of Pyongyang improve the water quality of the Taedong River that runs through it. The city on Wednesday said it has launched a committee that will help with the task. The first step is to modernize Pyongyang's water supply and drainage system. "It's a humanitarian project to ensure access to clean drinking water, which is at the core of the UN's sustainable development goals," a city official said.

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

HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)

The ideals of the Korean Provisional Government are still be threatened today

Apr. 11 marks 100 years to the day since the Korean Provisional Government (KPG) was established in Shanghai to resist Japanese imperialism. We are filled with respect for the innumerable patriotic martyrs who fought for independence from Japan, enduring hardships overseas as they struggled to reclaim their lost fatherland. Thanks to their dedication and sacrifices, the Republic of Korea has emerged as a proud economic and cultural power in the world. Yet some of the tasks that the provisional government in Shanghai sought to accomplish remain before us as we greet the next 100 years. As we consider the dream of peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula and the principle of a democratic republic where sovereignty lies with the people, we ponder once again the meaning of the KPG today.

Kim Jong-un emphasizes dealing “telling blow to hostile forces that focus exclusively on sanctions”

On Apr. 10, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the 4th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), during which he announced his views on the recent North Korea-US summit in Hanoi from Feb. 27 to 28. This was the first time Kim directly stated his position on the summit. Emphasizing the importance of a “self-supporting national economy” and the recovery of North Korea’s “self-reliance,” Kim said it was necessary to “deal a telling blow to hostile forces” that “focus exclusively on sanctions,” according to a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report on Apr. 11.

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

The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)

Satellite imagery suggests N. Korea may hold military parade soon

Satellite images indicating North Korea preparing a military parade were released on the eve of a South Korea-U.S. summit. There are concerns that a military parade displaying new weapons systems, including long-range ballistic missiles, would negatively affect the denuclearization negotiations stalled since the collapse of the U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi in late February.

Samsung unveils Galaxy A80 with rotating camera in Thailland

Samsung Electronics unveiled “Galaxy A80,” the first smartphone from Samsung to have an embedded “rotating camera,” at the “A Galaxy Event” in Bangkok on Wednesday (local time). The rotation technology enables the camera module on the top of the device to pop up and flip around to face the user when the selfie mode is activated. The A80 is equipped with a 48-megapixel camera, a 3D depth sensor, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens, which can be used when taking selfies in high definition.

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

The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)

The Awkward "Old Boys," Sohn Hak-kyu and Chung Dong-young: Where Has Their Influence Gone?

Sohn Hak-kyu (pictured left), leader of the Bareun Mirae Party and Chung Dong-young (right), leader of the Party for Democracy and Peace are facing a political challenge. After the April 3 by-elections, the two parties have been swept into the changing alignment in the political circle. The two men both took the helm of their parties in late summer last year and attracted attention for the "return of the old boys." But at a time of change within the political circle, the words and actions of the two men have lost their influence, revealing their political limitations.

Clearly Uncover the Stock Allegations of Justice Nominee Lee Mi-sun

On April 10, the confirmation hearing of the Constitutional Court justice nominee Lee Mi-sun began and ended with questions on stocks. Lee and her husband own over 3.5 billion won worth of stocks, which account for 83% of the total 4.2 billion won of property they own. Among these stocks nearly half are the stocks of a certain company, eTEC E&C, which has been the cause of controversy. Lee said, "I was not involved in the stock trading. My spouse selected all the companies and number of stocks (to invest in)." However, as long as stocks exist in her name, it is questionable as to whether she will be able to convince the people with such an explanation. No wonder, even lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea argued, "It goes against the public sentiment" (lawmaker Back Hye-ryun), and pointed out, "I learned that a judge or prosecutor should not trade stocks so as not to lose public trust" (lawmaker Keum Tae-sup).

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

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

FDI in S. Korea down 35.7% in Q1 amid global economic slowdown

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in South Korea dropped sharply in the first three months of this year from the previous year as foreign companies engaged in less investment amid a global economic slowdown, data showed Thursday. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea received $3.17 billion worth of new FDI commitments in the January-March period, down 35.7 percent from the same period a year ago. Actual investment also dropped 15.9 percent to $2.62 billion during the same period.

Asiana Airlines’ creditors reject self-rescue plan of its parent company

Creditors of Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea’s second largest full-service carrier suffering from a liquidity crunch, has rejected the revamp plan submitted by its parent Kumho Asiana Group, asking the company to take more practical actions to restore the market’s trust. After its meeting on Thursday with eight other creditor banks to review Kumho Asiana’s self-rescue plan submitted a day before, state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), main creditor of Asiana Airlines, announced that the creditors concluded the plan does not include “practical measures such as giving up personal assets of owner family members or a new share issue” so that it is “insufficient to regain trust of the market.”

Hyundai and Kia car share in China falls to fresh record low of sub-4%

South Korea’s top automaker Hyundai Motor and sibling Kia Motors together commanded less than 4 percent in China’s car market in March, fast losing grounds in the world’s largest auto market against ascension of local brands. According to data from Chinese and local industry on Thursday, the combined share of Hyundai and Kia cars in March stood at a record low of 3.9 percent in China’s car retail market, where total sales declined 12 percent on year to 1,781,000 units. Passenger car sales fell 12 percent to 1,740,000 units and commercial vehicles down 6 percent to 40,000 units as consumption soured in the world’s second largest economy amid escalated trade tensions with the United States.

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

What’s ticking around the world at this second?
See what the world media around the world have to report:

Use us!
The Korea Post media are more than eager to be used, and to serve you—with the following five news outlets, 34 years old this year!

Korean-language Internet edition: http://www.koreapost.co.kr
English-language Internet edition: http://www.koreapost.com
Korean-language print newspaper:
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3801.pdf
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3802.pdf
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3803.pdf
http://www.koreapost.co.kr/pdf/list.php?category=&syear=2018&smonth=03&sday=26&hosu=40
English E-daily: http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=8817
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lee Kyung-sik edt@koreapost.com