The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, April 19, 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.

N. Korea calls for replacing Pompeo with 'more careful and mature' negotiator

North Korea called Thursday for replacing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with a "more careful and mature" negotiator, accusing the top American diplomat of failing to understand Pyongyang's position and causing the denuclearization talks to become "entangled." A senior North Korean foreign ministry official made the demand, claiming that whenever Pompeo "pokes his nose in, talks between the two countries go wrong without any results even from the point close to success," according to the Korean Central News Agency.

N.K. weapons test did not involve ballistic missile: U.S. defense chief

North Korea's weapons test this week did not involve a ballistic missile, acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said Thursday, hours after Pyongyang announced the launch. The test-firing of what the North called a new "tactical guided weapon" took place Wednesday under the supervision of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to the country's state media.

Yonhap News Agency's Southeast Asia HQ sets sail in Hanoi

The Southeast Asia headquarters of Yonhap News Agency, the key South Korean news wire service, officially set sail in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Thursday in a bid to carry more vivid news stories from the region. The office officially entered into business on Hanoi's emerging business street of Trung Kinh in an opening ceremony attended by Yonhap CEO Cho Sung-boo, South Korean Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Do-hyon and Nguyen Duc Loi, the general director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

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

Kremlin: Kim Jong-un to Meet Putin This Month

The Kremlin said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit Russia later this month for talks with President Vladimir Putin. In a brief statement on Thursday, the Kremlin said Kim will make the visit at Putin's invitation. The statement did not give further details, including the dates and the venue of the summit between Kim and Putin. However, local media outlets are speculating that the two leaders would hold their first summit at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok around next Tuesday and Wednesday when Putin travels to the Far East on his way to China for an international conference.

Moon to Hold Summit with Uzbek President

President Moon Jae-in arrived in Uzbekistan on Thursday for a four-day state visit, the second leg of his three-nation tour to Central Asia. Moon will hold a summit with his Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Friday to discuss ways to improve their countries' relationship and boost their cooperation in various sectors, including ICT, health and medicine, public administration and defense technology.

US Nuke Envoy Meets Russian Deputy Minister on N. Korea

The top U.S. nuclear envoy met with a senior Russian official to discuss North Korea's denuclearization ahead of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's trip to Russia next week. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said that U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov in Moscow on Thursday. The embassy said the two officials discussed respective bilateral engagements with the North and efforts to achieve the "final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea."

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

Moscow says Kim Jong-un to visit Russia in late April: report

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit Russia later this month for talks with President Vladimir Putin, Russian news service RIA Novosti reported Thursday, citing the Kremlin. Kim will make the visit at Putin's invitation, the news service and other Russian news outlets quoted the Kremlin as announcing in a press release. The report did not give further details, including dates and the venue of the summit between Kim and Putin. Speculation has been rising that the two leaders would hold their first summit in Russia's Far East city of Vladivostok next week when Putin travels to the Far East on his way to China for an international conference.

N. Korean leader highlights trust, friendship with China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has highlighted "trust" and "friendship" with China, saying they need to work together to advance their ties at a "very crucial period." Kim emphasized bilateral relations with the neighbor in a message answering President Xi Jinping's congratulations on his recent re-election as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, according to the Korean Central News Agency. "Respected general secretary was the first to send sincere and warm congratulations to me on my re-election as chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Kim was quoted as saying by the Korean Central News Agency.

U.S. ready to continue nuclear talks with N. Korea: State Dept.

The United States said Thursday that it stands ready to continue nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea, a response to Pyongyang's calls on Washington to change tack and replace its top negotiator. The two countries have made little headway since a second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in February ended without any deal. In a report carried by state media earlier Thursday, the North urged the U.S. to remove the "obstacles" on the path to its denuclearization and called for the replacement of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with someone "who is more careful and mature in communicating with us."

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

NK’s new weapons development a message to Seoul, US

North Korea on Thursday reported the development of a new tactical weapons system, adding uncertainty to the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula. According to the North’s Korean Central News Agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the testing of a newly developed guided tactical weapons system on Wednesday, and applauded the development as having a “very big significance” in strengthening the country’s military capabilities.

Moscow says Kim Jong-un to visit Russia in late April: report

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit Russia later this month for talks with President Vladimir Putin, Russian news service RIA Novosti reported Thursday, citing the Kremlin. Kim will make the visit at Putin's invitation, the news service and other Russian news outlets quoted the Kremlin as announcing in a press release. The report did not give further details, including dates and the venue of the summit between Kim and Putin.

N. Korea calls for replacement of Pompeo as chief US negotiator

North Korea called Thursday for replacing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with a "more careful and mature" negotiator, accusing the top American diplomat of failing to understand Pyongyang's position and causing the denuclearization talks to become "entangled." A senior North Korean foreign ministry official made the demand, claiming that whenever Pompeo "pokes his nose in, talks between the two countries go wrong without any results even from the point close to success," according to the Korean Central News Agency.

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

North Korea test-fires 'new guided weapon'

NK demands US remove Pompeo for 'mature dialogue' North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watched the test-firing of his regime's "new tactical guided weapon," the country's state-run media reported Thursday. The launch was an apparent move to raise the pressure on Washington amid deadlocked nuclear negotiations between the two sides. On Wednesday, Kim visited the Academy of Defense Science to oversee the testing of the new type of weapon, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). However, it did not specify what kind of a weapon it was

[INTERVIEW] Taiwanese envoy defiant on China, optimistic on future

A little fuss occurred at the office of Daniel D. W. Tang, representative of the Taipei Mission in Korea, in downtown Seoul last week, as a flag was moved behind him before an interview. Obviously, it is uncommon for the "ambassador of Taiwan" to have a full-fledged interview with a media outlet. Tang wanted to make sure his national flag was included in photos and video for this meeting with The Korea Times.

Appeals court rejects disclosure of 2015 sexual slavery deal with Japan

The Seoul High Court overturned a lower court ruling that ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to disclose details of its 2015 settlement with Japan over the issue of wartime sexual slavery, Thursday. Taking the side of the ministry, the appeals court ruled the undisclosed records of the closed-door negotiations behind the 2015 deal should remain sealed for reasons of diplomatic protocol.

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

2 Million Foreign Patients Treated in Korea

A record 380,000 foreign patients were treated in Korea last year, bringing the total to more than 2 million over the last decade. Korea only opened up to medical tourism in 2009. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Wednesday, 378,967 foreign patients received treatment here last year, up 17.8 percent on-year.

Park Petitions to Get out of Jail

Ex-President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday filed a petition asking to be let out of jail because she is seriously ill. Park has been incarcerated in a remand prison since March 2017 while standing trial in the massive corruption scandal that led to her being removed from office. She has since been sentenced to decades of consecutive jail terms but remains in the remand prison because one appeal is pending.

Korea's 1st For-Profit Hospital Scrapped

A 17-year effort to open Korea's first for-profit hospital on Jeju Island has ended in failure after the operator failed to open on time. The Jeju provincial government said Wednesday that it has canceled the license of Greenland International Hospital, which was granted on Dec. 5, 2018 with a proviso to open within 90 days, because the operator failed to meet the deadline. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it will no longer license for-profit hospitals.

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

[Reportage] 5-day journey of 2 victims of civilian massacres by South Korean troops during Vietnam War
Vietnam has had countless tragedies comparable to those that occurred on Jeju Island in 1948 and in Gwangju, a city in southwestern Korea, in 1980. Some of those tragedies occurred in the villages of Phong Nhi, Phong Nhat and Ha My in Quang Nam Province, where South Korean troops deployed to Vietnam brutally massacred civilians over the course of 10 days in February 1968. Nguyen Thi Thanh, 58, who was seven years old when Korean soldiers killed her family and shot her on the left side in Phong Nhi and Phong Nhat, shared her story with the Hankyoreh 21.

[Reportage] A petition of tears by victims of civilian massacres during Vietnam War
Among the dozen or so people gathered in the darkened yard, she immediately recognized him. Nguyen Yen Ly, 93, was seated at a stone table. It had been 20 years exactly. A septuagenarian before, he was now looking ahead to his hundredth year. He could no longer recognize or hear the visitor he had waited for before so eagerly. “He doesn’t remember our names either,” his family told me. Even so, they leaned close to his ear and shouted together, “She’s here from Korea!” He sank to the ground and pounded with his cane as he cried out, “Ku Su-jeong, Ku Su-jeong.” Somewhere in the fog of his memory, the elderly man found the name of the stranger he had met 20 years earlier.

Trump says North Korea-US dialogue “doesn’t have to move fast”
US President Donald Trump reiterated on Apr. 15 that denuclearization dialogue with North Korea “doesn’t have to move fast.” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also stressed the need for North Korea-US dialogue while urging Pyongyang to take action toward denuclearization. The messages raised the possibility of a third North Korea-US summit while maintaining the US’ insistence on a “big deal” approach in which no sanctions relief is provided before complete denuclearization.Speaking at a business roundtable discussion on “the economy and tax reform” that day in Burnsville, Minnesota, Trump referred to North Korea while explaining about the results of his foreign policy efforts.

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

It wasn’t just me. It was all the team members,’ says Son Heung-min

Five goals were scored in the opening 21 minutes of the match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) quarter-final. The final score was a 4-3 win for Man City.

Bolton: U.S. wants to see ‘real indication’ from N. Korea before a third summit

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, who is known to be ultra-hawkish on North Korea, demanded Wednesday that North Korea show additional evidence of its commitment to denuclearization. His remarks have thrown the ball back to the North, which looks forward to seeing changes in U.S. attitude, sparking speculation that the tug-of-war between Washington and Pyongyang could get prolonged.

Huawei denies concern over its security threat

John Suffolk, Huawei's global cybersecurity and privacy officer, held a meeting for Korean press on Wednesday at the Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen, China, and told the attendees that Huawei is “one of the most strictly inspected” companies in the world.

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

The Last Letter from the Comfort Woman To the Japanese Emperor, “My name is Won-ok Gil, a so-called “Comfort Woman”

“I am now 92-years old. My wish before I die, is for the truth be revealed and to receive your sincere apology...” Sometimes you don’t have to read all of a text to know what someone is trying to say. The deep intention in the labored handwriting, and the name of the sender says it all. The letter sent to Kyunghyang Newspaper on the 20th of last month was one such letter.

[5th Anniversary of the Sewol Accident] "The Sunken Truth Must Be Salvaged Now" Nationwide Memorial

"When spring comes, I think of you. You never came back, but the sea is so still and calm, as if nothing ever happened. What did we do wrong that we were parted? I won't ask you for forgiveness. But on the day the truth is revealed, will you give me a chance to apologize?" At 3 p.m. on April 16, a “ceremony of remembrance” on the 5th anniversary of the Sewol accident was held at Hwarang Yuwonji (park) in Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do. The voice reading the letter trembled. As Jang Ae-jin, a student who survived the accident, read the letter to her friends, now stars studded in heaven, the trembling voice led way to tears, and silent sobs spread throughout the park.

Liberty Korea Party Members Refuse to Maketh Man and Insult the Families of the Sewol Victims

Once again, we greet the sixteenth of April, when the painful flower of remembrance blooms. It is a day that becomes more vivid rather than fades away for the bereaved families who parted with their loved ones not knowing why and the people who survived the sudden accident also not knowing why. This year, memorials were held and a wave of yellow ribbons appeared in Seoul, Ansan and Jindo once again recalling the promise and resolution, "We will not forget," from five years ago. Thanks to the victims’ families and survivors who did not stop demanding the truth, the South Korean society has not forgotten the Sewol and the lessons from the tragic accident. Yet from another perspective, the past five years were a time that also confirmed how brutal the state and society, which took the lives of 304 people by seeking profits over safety, and efficiency over lives, could be to the victims. More than anything, it is devastating to witness the barbarism insulting and ridiculing the sinking of the ferry and the families of the victims in public fora every time when that painful April come

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

BOK shaves growth outlook, holds rate to watch fiscal stimulus before cut

South Korea’s central bank on Thursday turned more pessimistic about this year’s economy but kept the policy rate steady, choosing to wait out the effects of the planned fiscal stimulus to save policy ammunitions. “I want to make it clear that if the economy grows within our expectations, we won’t study a rate cut,” Bank of Korea (BOK) Governor Lee Ju-yeol said after presiding over the April policy meeting.

The global economy due to enter recession: New York Life Investments CIO

It is time to prepare a new recession as the prolonged expansion supported by ultra-easy monetary policies is near to an end, said Yoon Jae-sung, chief investment officer at New York Life Investment Management LLC. “Global monetary authorities were meant to be the lenders of last resort, however, they have unwittingly become an agent of Minsky instability,” Yoon said in a keynote speech at Global Alternative Investment Insights 2019 conference hosted jointly by Maeil Business Newspaper and European Chamber of Commerce in Korea on Thursday in Seoul. “The prolonged expansion from ultra-easy monetary policy and stable low economic growth has led to unstable practices in the hunt for yield and return.”

Mirae Asset to invest $243 mn in office building in Hong Kong

South Korea’s leading brokerage house Mirae Asset Daewoo Co. has added a Hong Kong high-rise landmark in its worldwide property portfolio. Mirae Asset Daewoo announced Thursday that it will underwrite mezzanine debts worth $243 million of Goldin Financial Global Center located in Kowloon Bay, a district where the Hong Kong government has been developing as the new central business district in the east part of Kowloon Peninsula with an investment of 34 trillion won ($29.9 billion).

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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 Times www.nytimes.com inytletters@nytimes.com
Wall Street Journal www.wsj.com support@wsj.com, service@wsj-asia.com
Financial Times www.ft.com ean@ft.com
The Times www.thetimes.co.uk help@timesplus.co.uk
The Sun www.thesun.co.uk talkback@the-sun.co.uk
Chinese People's Daily www.people.com.cn kf@people.cn
China Daily www.chinadaily.com.cn circulation@chinadaily.com.cn
GwangmyeongDaily www.gmw.cn webmaster@gmw.cn
Japan's Yomiuri www.yomiuri.co.jp japannews@yomiuri.com
Asahi www.asahi.com customer-support@asahi.com
Mainichi www.mainichi.jp
Le Monde www.ilemonde.com
Italy LaRepubblica www.quotidiano.repubblica.it vittorio.zucconi@gmail.com
Germany Frankfurter AllgemeineZeitung www.faz.net anzeigen.ausland@faz.de
SüddeutscheZeitung www.sueddeutsche.de forum@sueddeutsche.de
Australia Brisbane Times www.brisbanetimes.com.au syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au
Colombia Reports http://colombiareports.com
Bogota Free Planet http://bogotafreeplanet.combfp@bogotafreeplanet.com
El Universal http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english
Andes http://www.andes.info.ec/en
Ecuador Times http://www.ecuadortimes.net
The Jordan Times https://www.jordantimes.com
LSM.lv http://www.lsm.lv/en
The Baltic Times http://www.baltictimes.com lithuania@baltictimes.com, estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com
El Pais http://elpais.com/elpais/inenglish.html
Philippine Daily Inquirer https://www.inquirer.net
Daily News Hungary http://dailynewshungary.com
Budapest Times http://budapesttimes.hu
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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.
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