The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Thursday June 20, 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 declares 'renaissance vision' for S. Korea's manufacturing industry

South Korea has proposed to Japan that companies from both countries create a joint fund to compensate victims of Tokyo's wartime forced labor, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Seoul made the proposal as Tokyo has been ratcheting up pressure on it to accept the request for the formation of an arbitration panel to address the thorny issue stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonization of the peninsula.

U.S. says it wants talks with N. Korea, imposes sanctions the same day

The United States said Wednesday it hopes to resume nuclear talks with North Korea and imposed new sanctions on the regime the same day. In the morning, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun used a public speech to emphasize that the "door is wide open" to negotiations, and without preconditions.

S. Korea proposes compensating forced labor victims through company funds; Japan rejects it

South Korea has proposed to Japan that companies from both countries create a joint fund to compensate victims of Tokyo's wartime forced labor, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Seoul made the proposal as Tokyo has been ratcheting up pressure on it to accept the request for the formation of an arbitration panel to address the thorny issue stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonization of the peninsula.

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

Xi Set to Visit N. Korea for First Time as Chinese Leader

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to travel to Pyongyang on Thursday, in what will be the first visit by a Chinese leader to North Korea in 14 years. Xi will embark on the two-day landmark trip from Beijing Capital International Airport and arrive at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport, where North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to greet him.

Nuke Envoys of S. Korea, US Urge N. Korea to Reengage in Dialogue

The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States urged North Korea on Wednesday to reengage in denuclearization dialogue. South Korea’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon and his U.S. counterpart, Stephen Biegun, made the calls in respective speeches given at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank on Wednesday.

US Sanctions Russian Firm for Helping N. Korea

The United States has sanctioned a Russian financial firm for helping North Korea evade financial sanctions. The Treasury Department said on its website on Wednesday that the Russian Financial Society provided financial services to the North’s Dandong Zhongsheng Industry and Trade, enabling it to access the global financial system and channel funds to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

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

Xi to visit N. Korea amid trade tensions with U.S.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was set to visit North Korea on Thursday, in a high-profile trip likely to highlight the countries' traditional alliance amid escalating Sino-U.S. competition on trade and other tricky geopolitical fronts. It will mark the first trip to the North by a Chinese head of state in 14 years and the fifth since Beijing and Pyongyang established diplomatic relations in 1949. Then Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Pyongyang in October 2005.

U.S. says it wants talks with N. Korea, imposes sanctions the same day

The United States said Wednesday it hopes to resume nuclear talks with North Korea and imposed new sanctions on the regime the same day. In the morning, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun used a public speech to emphasize that the "door is wide open" to negotiations, and without preconditions.

S. Korea to send 50,000 tons of rice to N. Korea via WFP

South Korea said Wednesday it will send 50,000 tons of rice in aid to North Korea via a U.N. agency as part of efforts to help the impoverished state cope with its worsening food shortages. The aid will be transported by the World Food Programme (WFP), which will also be in charge of its distribution and necessary monitoring in North Korea, according to the unification ministry.

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

South Korea to map out AI strategy this year, build 2,000 AI-based factories by 2030

South Korea announced its vision to create a “manufacturing renaissance” over a number of industries, viewing manufacturing as the nation’s economic foundation and a way of creating high-quality jobs and innovative growth. “The government has mapped out strategies for the nation to become an innovative manufacturing powerhouse over the next decade by being away from ‘quantitative and market follower strategies,’” a spokesperson for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Wednesday.

Chinese leader hints at bigger role in NK issues

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday voiced support for North Korea and its approach to denuclearization, fanning speculation that Beijing will take a more direct hand in North Korean issues. In an op-ed piece published in North Korea’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, Wednesday -- a day before he begins a state visit to North Korea -- Xi highlighted China’s support for Pyongyang.

Hyundai Motor, Saudi Aramco to cooperate on hydrogen

South Korean carmaker Hyundai Motor will partner Aramco, the biggest oil company in the world, on the “comprehensive” development of hydrogen energy, sources told The Korea Herald on Wednesday. An official familiar with the matter said the two companies would sign a memorandum of understanding on hydrogen-related business in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun.

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

Seoul to send 50,000 tons of rice to Pyongyang

South Korea said Wednesday it will send 50,000 tons of rice in aid to North Korea via a U.N. agency as part of efforts to help the impoverished state cope with its worsening food shortages. The aid will be transported by the World Food Programme (WFP), which will also be in charge of its distribution and necessary monitoring in North Korea, according to the unification ministry.

Military surveillance questioned after North Korean ship drifts near Samcheok

The country's surveillance capabilities are being called into question after a North Korean fishing boat carrying four sailors was found in Samcheok Port, 150 kilometers south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), last Saturday, apparently without being detected by the military. Speaking at a commanders' meeting held at the ministry Wednesday, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo expressed regret over the failure of the military's surveillance apparatus and vowed to strengthen "defensive" operations around the coastline.

Muslim, Arabs denied refugee status through 'rigged' interviews

Mohamad Sabry came to Korea in July 2016 to seek asylum. In his refugee interview, Sabry told the immigration officer he faced political persecution in Egypt for being an active member of the Muslim Brotherhood. The official didn't write this down.

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

S.Korea Adrift in Diplomatic Waters as G20 Summit Approaches

The government on Tuesday welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping's plans to visit North Korea and said the trip will "help dialogue" in the pursuit of North Korean denuclearization. But both Cheong Wa Dae and the Foreign Ministry looked startled because Xi's trip to the North on June 20-21 dashes their hopes of an inter-Korean summit ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to Seoul around June 29.

Korean Universities Fail to Prepare Students for Job Market

Korean universities are declining in international rankings because they fail to prepare students for the global job market. Rankings firm Quacquarelli Symonds released its latest global ranking on Wednesday and 28 out of 30 Korean universities all suffered a drop in employer reputation. Seoul National University fell from 41st to 45th and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) from 81st to 88th. The ranking is based on the opinions of HR staff at top global companies.

Foreign Tourists Spend Less in Korea

Per-capita spending by foreign tourists in Korea has steadily declined to levels last seen a decade ago. According to the Korea Tourism Organization on Tuesday, per-capita spending by foreign tourists in the first quarter this year amounted to US$1,268 for an average stay of 6.9 days. That is the smallest amount since 2010 when it stood at $1,224.

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

Xi Jinping’s N. Korea visit indicates 4-party format in denuclearization talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Pyongyang on June 20–21 means that the Korean Peninsula peace process is shifting from its previous three-party framework spearheaded by South and North Korea and the US to a four-party one involving China. The growing role for Beijing could result in an even more complex situation – but the change could also be seen as a positive shift toward progress and intensification of the Korean Peninsula peace process rather than a step backward. China is one of the parties to the armistice agreement that halted the Korean War. This had led to predictions that the Korean Peninsula peace process will unfold with all four parties to that agreement taking part to resolve a complex issue involving cooperation and conflict. While many experts and media have focused only on the North Korean denuclearization aspect, the Korean Peninsula peace process entails the resolution of far more complex and deeply rooted structural conflicts. The Cold War framework on the Korean Peninsula is a complex structure sustained by four “pillars,” as described by former South Korean Minister of Unification Lim Dong-won: mutual distrust and antagonism between South and North, hostile relations between the US and North Korea, an arms race involving weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear weapons), and a military armistice regime. For the four “Cold War pillars” to be fully removed, China’s participation is not optional but necessary.

US offers relatively muted response to Xi Jinping’s North Korea visit

Following the announcement that Chinese President Xi Jinping will be visiting North Korea on June 20–21, the American response has been relatively muted. US President Donald Trump refrained from commenting immediately, while the White House and the State Department sent messages containing both pressure and a warning about the North Korea-China summit while stressing the US’ oft-repeated goal of North Korea’s denuclearization. On June 17, the White House responded to press queries about Xi’s visit to North Korea by saying that the US’ goal is bringing about North Korea’s final and fully verified denuclearization (FFVD), something that it noted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has already agreed to. As a general reiteration of the US’ position on North Korea’s denuclearization, this statement itself would not appear to contain anything new. But given current relations between the US and China — the two countries are in the middle of a trade war — underlining the goal of denuclearization can be seen as the US’ way of warning North Korea and China not to stray from the set path.

Justice Ministry routinely falsifies refugee applications to reject asylum seekers

In May 2016, Rahim (pseudonym) came to South Korea with his wife, fleeing danger in the guise of the Egyptian government. Rahim had been one of the leaders of the April 6 Youth Movement, in 2008, and had organized protests against the dictatorship led by former President Hosni Mubarak. Then in April 2014, the organization to which Rahim belonged was outlawed by the Egyptian government. In June, the month after his arrival, Rahim applied for refugee status. The resulting interview left him feeling baffled. “I tried to talk about the protests I’d been in, the number of times I’d been arrested, and the soldiers breaking my legs, but the interviewer told me to keep my replies simple and didn’t even ask me to submit any documentation. The interviewer kept asking me about things that were irrelevant to what I’d written on my application, such as how much money I have,” Rahim said.

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

Pres. Donald Trump formally makes his 2020 reelection bid

U.S. President Donald Trump has officially announced his 2020 reelection bid at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday (local time). The roars of his supporters filled the 20,000-seat venue. Clad in red caps and T-shirts with Trump's 2016 slogan "Make America Great Again" printed, his supporters responded with thundering applauses and cheers at every word he said. No longer a real estate mogul and political outsider who declared his presidential bid in Manhattan, New York just before a media corps of 200 four years ago, Trump vividly displayed the power and authority of the incumbent president of the world's most powerful country. Stepping on the podium after an introduction by his wife Melania in a yellow dress, Trump launched an attack on the mainstream media that had been critical about him. "(The 2016 election) was a defining moment in American history. Ask them, right there," he said, pointing at members of the media present. "By the way, that is a lot of fake news back there." The crowd also booed at the media, urging them to "tell the truth." He went on, saying, "And not only did we fill it up, but we had 120,000 requests. You know, if we have three or four empty seats, the fake news will say headlines he didn't fill the arena.

N. Korean fishing boat drifts for 3 days in S. Korean waters

A North Korean fishing boat first found anchored at Samcheok Port in Gangwon Province thanks to a report by a local resident on Saturday was confirmed on Wednesday to have departed from a fishing village in Kyongsong County, Hamkyong Province, North Korea on June 9 after receiving a written order for sailing (aka fishing operation permit). According to a government source, the North Korean residents on the boat sailed a small 1.8-ton wooden boat the day after a sailing order was issued by the North Korean authorities on June 8 and ran a fishing operation in disguise near the Northern Limit Line in the East Sea until they crossed the inter-Korean border to South Korea on June 12. The boat came alongside a quay near a breakwater in Samcheok Port at 6:20 a.m. on Saturday after having drifted in the nearby waters of Ulleung Island.

Samsung likely to unveil Galaxy Note 10 on Aug. 7 in New York

Samsung Electronics Co. will likely unveil the Galaxy Note 10, the company's strategic smartphone for the second half of this year, on August 7 in New York. According to CNET, a U.S. technology website, and the telecommunication industry, the South Korean tech giant plans to launch the new product during an Unpacked event on August 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the place where Samsung launched the Note 9 last year. The Galaxy Note 10 is expected to introduce the 6.8-inch Pro model, the biggest screen size ever for a smartphone, in addition to the regular 6.4-inch model. Reportedly, the regular model will reportedly feature triple cameras in the back, while the Pro will be equipped with a quad camera. Just like the Galaxy S10, the Note series will come with the Infinity-O display with a hole-punch cutout on the screen for a front-facing camera. The Note products will not feature a headphone jack but provide wireless earbuds instead, as was the case with the Galaxy Fold. The removal of an earphone jack will likely result in slimmer bezels and thickness.

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

Busy Ten Days for the Korean Peninsula

Diplomatic talks concerning the Korean Peninsula between state leaders will unfold in the next ten days. Attention is on what kind of change the words exchanged by the state leaders will trigger. Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea on June 20-21 and meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The Chinese president will meet separately with the U.S. President and the South Korean president at the G20 summit, scheduled to take place in Osaka, Japan on June 28-29. The two Koreas will hold a series of meetings with the U.S., China and Japan while denuclearization negotiations remain at a standstill since the collapse of the Hanoi nuclear talks, so the meetings could become a turning point for the Korean Peninsula. President Xi will be the first Chinese leader to visit North Korea in fourteen years and is scheduled to talk with Chairman Kim. President Xi is also scheduled to talk with U.S. President Donald Trump at the G20 summit. North Korea may seek an advantageous position in the denuclearization talks using China as leverage, while China may take advantage of North Korea in the negotiations concerning the trade dispute. The two leaders are expected to focus their discussions on the Korean Peninsula, including the denuclearization talks.

Even with "Refugee" Status, Anything More than Mere Survival in South Korea Is a Mirage

A was oppressed for engaging in anti-government activities in Ethiopia, so he left his country with a passport he borrowed from a friend in 2016. He applied for refugee status after entering South Korea. When it was revealed that A was not traveling with his own passport, he was detained for a year in a foreigners' shelter. He was recognized as a refugee in 2017, but due to delayed administrative procedures, he was not issued an ID card for over a year. He could not open a mobile phone subscription or a bank account. A presented a government notice recognizing his refugee status instead of an ID card, but could not find adequate employment because the employers did not trust him. He managed to get by working in one to two-week part-time positions in places like a shoe factory. He could not afford the rent, so he moved from shelter to shelter set up by human rights groups. A was finally issued an ID card this year, and he got a job in a cold-storage company. Many people who have been recognized as refugees complain that they have a hard time receiving fair treatment in South Korean society. According to the Refugee Act, people recognized as refugees can enjoy the same social security and rights as South Koreans. The Refugee Act stipulates social security (Article 31), basic living security (Article 32), assurance of education (Article 33), social adaptation education (Article 34), recognition of schooling (Article 35), and recognition of qualifications (Article 36) on a level equal to that of Koreans.

Pulling out a Sword Against Deep-Rooted Irregularities: Surprise Nomination of Yoon Seok-yeol

On June 17, President Moon Jae-in chose Yoon Seok-yeol (59, 23rd Class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office to succeed Moon Moo-il as prosecutor general. Yoon is five classes behind Moon. If Yoon is appointed as the new prosecutor general following a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, he will be the first to be appointed prosecutor general without any experience of leading a high prosecutors' office. This will be a first in 31 years since the term of the prosecutor general was set in 1988. Yoon was responsible for the investigation of Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil for their abuse of state authority, which eventually led to the arrest and impeachment of the former president. After President Moon Jae-in entered office, Yoon contributed to the arrest of former President Lee Myung-bak and led the investigation on the abuse of court authority by the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Yang Seung-tae. By picking Yoon, President Moon sent out a message that he remained firm in his determination to root out long-established irregularities.

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

S. Korea’s SMEs up call for freeze in minimum wage for 2020

South Korea’s small and medium-sized companies upped their voices calling for a freeze in the minimum wage next year, citing the heavy toll on their business from a 29.1-percent jump in hourly pay over the last two years. Representatives of 15 organizations for small businesses, including Korea Federation of Small and Medium-sized Businesses (KBIZ), Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise and Korean Women Entrepreneurs Association, released a statement on Tuesday at the KBIZ headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, demanding the government restrain from raising the minimum wage next year given the negative impacts and unfavorable economic conditions.

Saudi Crown Prince expected to stop by Seoul on his way to G20 Osaka summit

Saudi Arabia`s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is expected to stop by Seoul to meet with the Korean government and business leaders on his way to the Group of 20 Summit next week in Osaka, Japan. MBS, nicknamed as “Mr. Everything,” is one of the most influential figures of Saudi Arabia, making major decisions on state matters on behalf of his aged father King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Prior to attending the G20 summit that is due to be held in Osaka, Japan on June 28-29, MBS reportedly will be meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on June 26. According to diplomatic sources on Tuesday, MBS’s schedule in Seoul, including a meeting with President Moon, is close to being finalized.

Busan Port Authority to build logistics center in Rotterdam

South Korea’s Busan Port Authority will build a logistics center near the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the gateway to Europe, to mainly serve Korean companies with European operations. Busan Port Authority said on Wednesday that it signed an agreement with the Port of Rotterdam Authority at Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center in Busan, Korea’s biggest port city in the southern coast, to build a logistics center in a complex near the Port of Rotterdam.

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Budapest Times http://budapesttimes.hu
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