The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, August 2, 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 fires unidentified short-range projectiles: JCS

North Korea on Friday fired unidentified short-range projectiles off its east coast, South Korea's military said, its third launch in a week. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were fired at 2:59 a.m. and 3:23 a.m. from Yonghung, South Hamgyong Province, into the East Sea. "We are monitoring the situation in case of additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture," the JCS said.

U.S. aware of N.K. 'missile' launches, consulting closely with allies: official

The United States is aware of North Korea's latest "missile" launches and is closely consulting with South Korea and Japan, a senior U.S. government official said Thursday. South Korea's military said North Korea fired unidentified short-range projectiles off its east coast early Friday (Seoul time), its third launch in a week.

Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to meet trilaterally amid Tokyo's push for whitelist exclusion

The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan were set to meet trilaterally in Thailand on Friday, as Tokyo's push to strip Seoul of a preferential trade status casts a pall over three-way security cooperation despite Pyongyang's saber-rattling. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her U.S. and Japanese counterparts -- Mike Pompeo and Taro Kono -- plan to hold talks at 4:30 p.m. (local time) on the margins of multilateral gatherings involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok.

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

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

Trump Says 'No Problem' with N. Korea Missile Tests

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he has "no problem" with North Korea's missile tests. Trump made the remark to reporters at the White House shortly after the regime conducted its third set of weapons tests in just over a week. Dismissing a question about whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was "testing him," Trump said "I have no problem. We'll see what happens, but these are short-range missiles. They are very standard."

Britain, France, Germany Condemn N. Korea Missile Launches

The United Nations Security Council held a closed-door meeting in New York on Thursday to discuss recent missile launches by North Korea. Britain, France and Germany, which called for the meeting, condemned the North's ballistic missile launches as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions in a joint statement after the meeting.

Kang-Kono Meeting Ends Without Results

South Korea and Japan held foreign ministerial talks in Bangkok on Thursday, with Seoul hoping to redirect Japan's intention to remove it from a "whitelist" of preferential trade partners. However, the two sides were unable to strike a last-minute deal, and the delisting appears inevitable.

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

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

Japan set to approve decision to remove S. Korea from whitelist in deepening row

Japan's Cabinet is widely expected to approve a proposal to remove South Korea from a list of trusted trading partners on Friday in a move sure to deal yet another heavy blow to already badly frayed relations between the two countries.

BOK says may consider further rate cut amid looming uncertainty

South Korea's central bank said Thursday it may consider further slashing its policy rate to help boost economic growth should conditions worsen amid escalating trade tension with Japan. Last month, the Bank of Korea cut the benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 1.50 percent, citing slower-than-anticipated growth.

K League demand apology from Juventus for 'disappointing' exhibition match

South Korea's pro football governing body, the K League, on Thursday demanded Juventus FC apologize for breach of contract for benching Cristiano Ronaldo in an exhibition match in Seoul last week. Earlier this week, the K League sent a letter of protest to the Italian football club over its irresponsible conduct during the friendly held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Friday.

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

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

S. Korea hints at cutting defense cooperation with Japan

Seoul will be forced to reconsider its security cooperation with Tokyo, should Japan take further trade-curbing measures, South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha said Thursday. According to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry, Kang gave the warning during her meeting with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono in Bangkok, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

Seoul stocks open lower on trade tensions

Seoul stocks opened sharply lower Friday as Japan is set to remove South Korea from its list of trusted trading partners later in the day and a trade row between the United States and China is escalating. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index crashed 23.10 points, or 1.15 percent, to reach 1,994.24 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Japan removes South Korea from whitelist of trusted trade partners

Japan decided on Friday to remove South Korea from a whitelist of 27 countries that receive preferential trade treatment. As a result of the decision, made at a Cabinet meeting, Japanese exporters need to obtain approval from the Japanese government each time they export a shipment of any of the 1,115 parts and materials categorized as strategic items, meaning it is possible they could be used to develop weapons.

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

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

Japan approves bill removing Korea from list of trusted trading partners

Japan's Cabinet approved a proposal Friday to remove South Korea from a list of trusted trading partners in a move seen as additional economic retaliation in a row over wartime forced labor. The decision, which was widely expected, follows Tokyo's first restriction, imposed on July 4, that applies a tougher approval process for exports to South Korea of three key chemicals used for semiconductor and display production.

Japan's broader export curbs aim for Korea's Achilles heel

Japan's expanded export curbs appear to target key pillars and future growth drivers of the South Korean economy, but its move could create mutually damaging situations for the closely intertwined Asian economies, depending on the scope of the measures, industry watchers say. The Japanese government passed a bill Friday to remove South Korea from a "whitelist" of trusted buyers, citing security concerns, amid a diplomatic standoff over wartime forced laborer compensation issues.

Japan hides true intentions, leaving export curbs unjustified

Despite what Japan cites as reasons for its curbs on exports to South Korea, the country may have hidden motives that include an attempt to evade responsibility for its past wrongdoings, officials here say. On July 4, Tokyo implemented tougher restrictions on South Korea-bound shipments of three materials ― resist, etching gas and fluorinated polyimide ― that are essential in the production of semiconductors and display panels.

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

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

Korea Fails to Dissuade Japan from Export Curbs

The Japanese government in a Cabinet meeting on Friday morning is expected to remove Korea from a whitelist of preferential trade partners. Once Korea is struck from the list, Japanese exporters must apply for individual permission every time they ship one of about 1,100 high-tech materials and products to Korea.

U.S. Approves Sale of Spy Planes to Seoul

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of state-of-the-art Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft worth US$950 million to South Korea, the Pentagon said Tuesday. The aircraft is capable of identifying an object as small as 30 cm in diameter from an altitude of 20 km. Seoul signed a contract for the purchase of four of the aircraft with manufacturer Northrop Grumman in 2014, but Washington delayed approval due to concerns over cybersecurity.

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

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

[Interview] Abe neglects foreign ministry and diplomacy for economic retaliation

The intense frictions between South Korea and Japan over historical issues have escalated into a trade conflict. After recently adopting control measures on three types of semiconductor and display materials amid its objections to a South Korean Supreme Court ruling ordering compensation for forced labor mobilization, Japan declared last weekend that it plans to cut South Korea from its “white list” of countries receiving favorable treatment for the exportation of strategic goods.

[News analysis] Kim Jong-un’s escalating pressure campaign against S. Korea and US

A series of recent moves by North Korea — including the announcement that Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho won’t be attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), leader Kim Jong-un’s tour of a submarine production facility, a short-range missile launch following a 77-day hiatus on such activity, and the rejection of 50,000 tons of South Korean-grown rice sent via the World Food Programme — are being taken as signs of irritation and attempts to pressure South Korea and the US, which are planning to hold a joint military exercise in August.

Two projectiles launched by N. Korea assumed to be new kind of short-range ballistic missile

The two projectiles assumed to be short-range missiles separately test-launched by North Korea toward the East Sea from near Wonsan early in the morning on July 25 represented a “new kind of short-range ballistic missile,” the South Korean government officially confirmed.

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

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

[Exclusive] Six-year-old Geumbok Taken to the South Pacific Mandate Planted Cassavas under the Scorching Sun

Born in Gimje, Jeollabuk-do in 1936, Geumbok headed for Tinian Island (part of the South Pacific Mandate at the time) in the western Pacific Ocean in 1939 along with his parents and his younger sister. He can't remember what month it was, but he remembers staying in Japan for a month or two. Geumbok worked in the Aguiguan farm run by Nanyo Kohatsu, a company chartered by imperial Japan, since he was six. He planted cassavas in the scorching sun. He worked, but he has no memory of being paid proper wages. He was lucky if he wasn't beaten by the Japanese.

[Editorial] Dangerous Signs in the South Korean Economy: No Time to Hesitate, for We Could Face a Real Crisis

A series of economic indicators and performance reports raised an alarm for the South Korean economy. According to the June Industrial Activity Trend released by Statistics Korea on July 31, all major indicators, including industrial production, facility investment and consumption showed sluggish performance. Facility investment increased slightly, but this was simply a base effect following the large drop last month. In addition, indicators showing the present and future economic condition all declined. On top of all this, the performance of Samsung Electronics released this day was also shocking. Samsung continued to show poor performance in the second quarter. Operating profits in the second quarter decreased 56% compared to the same quarter last year. However, the latest result did not reflect the impact of Japan's economic retaliation. Therefore, it is obvious that various economic indicators and performance will deteriorate when the Japan-triggered effects are reflected.

Comfort Women “Peace Statue,” First Display at a Public Art Museum in Japan

The "Girl of Peace" statue (pictured) in memory of the comfort women victims in the Japanese military will be on display at the Aichi Triennale, Japan's largest international art festival. This is the first time that the "peace statue" will be exhibited at a public art museum in Japan. The display of the "peace statue" in the heart of Japan, amidst intensifying conflicts between South Korea and Japan surrounding the issues of the comfort women and forced labor, will be quite significant.

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

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

Korean markets, won tumble on less dovish Fed move, BOK signals more cuts

South Korean markets slumped and the won weakened against the U.S. dollar due to disappointment over the Federal Reserve’s less dovish tone after its much-anticipated rate cut on Wednesday. Meanwhile the Korean central bank hinted at more rate cuts to come.

Celltrion reports 8% gain in OP in Q2 on brisk biosimilar sales in Europe

South Korea’s leading biopharmaceutical company Celltrion Inc. vowed to release more than 10 new products by 2030 after reporting a 7.8 percent gain in second-quarter operating profit from the previous quarter driven by brisk sales of its antibody copy drugs in Europe.

Woongjin Coway preliminary bid draws 6 bidders including SK, Carlyle

A preliminary auction for South Korea’s top home appliance rental service company Woongjin Coway Co. has drawn multiple bidders including SK Group and Carlyle Group, heating up the buyout race with a hefty price tag of around 2 trillion won ($1.7 billion).

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

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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are you waiting for?

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=9694
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

저작권자 © The Korea Post 무단전재 및 재배포 금지