Thursday June 18, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
“We created our democracy together with students office workers, taxi drivers”
President Moon Jae-in said that the Korean people created their democracy together with students, workers, taxi drivers and everyone else in Korea.
Speaking on the June-10 Democratic Protest on the occasion of its 33rd anniversary, President Moon said, “Our workers have cast the sunshine of equality and unity on the tree while citizens have shone the sunshine of empathy and participation.” Excerpts from his speech follow:
“Dr. Seo gives Oriental medicine tips on how to stay away from COVID-19 woes”
Some 30 ambassadors, other senior diplomats and spouses heard the important tips at the El Tower in Seoul on this morning (June 9, 2020) which are viewed to be helpful on how to beat the on-going (and, in some countries, continuously aggravating) COVID-19 cases.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
S. Korea's Nuke Envoy Flies to US after Destruction of Inter-Korean Liaison Office
South Korea's chief nuclear envoy has visited the United States amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office.
Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon arrived at Dulles International Airport near Washington on Thursday, 32 hours after the North's destruction of the liaison office.
Lee left the airport without answering questions from reporters about the purpose and schedule of his sudden U.S. trip.
Trump Extends US Sanctions on N. Korea for One Year
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday extended existing U.S. sanctions on North Korea for another year, citing the continued "unusual and extraordinary" threat posed by the regime.
The extension comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea blew up the inter-Korean liaison office and threatened to redeploy troops to the Mount Geumgang tourism zone and the Gaeseong Industrial Complex.
S. Koreans Allowed to Buy 10 Masks Per Week
Starting on Thursday, South Koreans are allowed to purchase ten facial masks per week, up from three under a state-run mask rationing scheme.
With the change, people who bought three masks between Monday and Wednesday may purchase seven more during the rest of this week.
Mask buyers still have to present their ID cards at pharmacies or post offices. People who buy masks on behalf of family or patients at nursing homes or hospitals are also required to present proper documents showing their relations.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
S. Korea's nuclear envoy arrives in U.S. amid N.K. tensions
South Korea's top nuclear envoy arrived in Washington on Wednesday for talks with U.S. officials as North Korea has been ratcheting up tensions with a series of angry actions against Seoul, including the blowing up of an inter-Korean liaison office.
Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, was seen arriving at Dulles International Airport in footage aired by Korean broadcaster KBS.
Drug safety agency revokes permit for Medytox's 3 botulinum toxin products
South Korea's drug safety watchdog on Thursday revoked the permit for three botulinum toxin products produced by Medytox, the country's leading player, to produce and sell them as they were made using an unapproved ingredient and the company fabricated related documents.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also ordered Medytox to recall the three botulinum toxin products, which come in bottles of 50 units, 100 units and 150 units of Meditoxin.
Mobile shopping hits record high in Q1, food services continue to rise: report
Purchases made through mobile gadgets like smartphones in South Korea reached a record high in the first quarter of the year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, a report showed Thursday.
The total value of mobile shopping transactions reached a fresh high of 24.79 trillion won (US$20.3 billion) in the January-March period, up 280 billion won from three months earlier, according to an e-commerce report from market researcher DMC Media.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Trump extends existing sanctions on N. Korea for 1 year
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday extended existing US sanctions on North Korea for another year, citing the continued "unusual and extraordinary" threat posed by the regime.
In a routine notice sent to Congress, Trump wrote that he is continuing the "national emergency with respect to North Korea" that was first declared on June 26, 2008, by Executive Order 13466.
Seoul hits back at Pyongyang, warns of consequences
Seoul expressed deep concern Wednesday over North Korea’s words and actions, calling them “senseless” and warning again that Pyongyang will have to bear the final consequences.
“We clearly warn that North Korea’s senseless words and actions will not be tolerated anymore,” said Yoon Do-han, President Moon Jae-in’s senior public relations secretary.
S. Korea rolls out stricter regulations to cool heated housing market
South Korea on Wednesday unveiled stricter regulations to curb rising housing prices, including tighter loan rules and an expanded range of areas that are subject to special restrictions.
Through the Moon Jae-in administration’s 21st set of housing price regulations, the government expanded its special regulations and monitoring zone to most areas west of Seoul and to certain other key cities as well, it said in a briefing of related ministries.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Trump extends existing sanctions on North Korea for one year
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday extended existing U.S. sanctions on North Korea for another year, citing the continued "unusual and extraordinary" threat posed by the regime.
In a routine notice sent to Congress, Trump wrote that he is continuing the "national emergency with respect to North Korea" that was first declared on June 26, 2008, by Executive Order 13466.
The executive order, which was further expanded under Trump and previous administrations, calls for sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Infection clusters show signs of spilling over into other regions
Another mass COVID-19 infection reported in Daejeon is putting the health authorities on high alert as it marks the first time the country has seen an infection cluster outside the capital region since May.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), Wednesday, at least 13 people living in the southern city have been confirmed infected with the coronavirus over the past three days.
Pandemic brings changes to Korea's courts
At 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday, courtroom 477 of the Seoul Central District Court was unusually empty.
Judge Kim Young-ki entered the room, sat down, took off his mask and started to talk to the computer screen in front of him.
"Legal representative for the plaintiff, can you hear me okay?" he asked.
"Yes, I can," the lawyer on the computer screen answered. Her face was projected on a big white screen on the wall to the judge's right.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
N. Korea needs to halt escalations immediately and return to dialogue
North Korea blew up the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office in Kaesong on the afternoon of June 16. On June 13, Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), threatened that “before long, a tragic scene of the useless North-South joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen.” She followed through on that threat three days later.
Why did N. Korea demolish the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office?
North Korea blew up the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office in Kaesong on June 16, destroying a symbolic achievement of the Panmunjom Declaration made by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Apr. 27, 2018. The move came three days after Kim Yo-jong, deputy director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), warned that “before long, a tragic scene of the useless North-South joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen.”
What was the purpose of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office?
North Korean demolished the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office in Kaesong at 2:49 pm on June 16. The office first opened in the Kaesong Industrial Complex in September 2018, following a surprise agreement on its establishment in the Panmunjom Declaration between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Apr. 27 of that year. At the time of its opening, it was seen as marking the arrival of a permanent window for communication between Seoul and Pyongyang. Just 21 months later, the office is a pile of concrete rubble.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
N.Korea Threatens More Provocations
North Korea on Tuesday threatened further provocations including massive military buildup along the border after blowing up the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong.
The North Korean military in a statement said it is considering "an action plan for measures to make the army advance again into zones that had been demilitarized under the [inter-Korean] agreement, turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten military vigilance against the South."
N.Korea 'Built More Nuclear Warheads'
North Korea is suspected of having built more nuclear warheads at a secret uranium enrichment facility in Kangson south of Pyongyang last year.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates in its yearbook published Monday that North Korea had 30 to 40 nuclear warheads as of January this year, 10 more than last year's estimate.
Shannon Kile of the institute told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday that it reached the conclusion from analysis of commercial satellite images, especially vehicular movements.
Korea Makes Progress in Global Competitiveness Ranking
Korea rose five notches to 23rd place in global competitiveness rankings by the Institute for Management Development.
The Swiss business school issues an annual report that ranks 63 countries. Korea ranked 22nd, the highest so far, from 2011 through 2013 but fell to 29th in 2016 and had been unable to make noticeable progress until last year.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
N. Korea publicizes behind-the-scenes negotiations
On March 5, 2018, the Moon Jae-in administration sent its first special envoys to North Korea. National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong, Spy Chief Suh Hoon and others were welcomed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his sister and First Deputy Director of the Workers’ Party Kim Yo Jong when they arrived at the State Affairs Commission.
Nurturing semiconductor talents to lead post-COVID-19 world
Korea University announced on Wednesday that three faculties and departments related to advanced industries will be created next year. The new departments are data science, smart security, and fusion energy engineering with 30 seats available each. All three of them are related to the fourth industrial revolution.
Dexamethasone is only a supplementary treatment, KCDC chief says
A team of researchers in the UK has reported successful clinical results of a COVID-19 treatment, attracting the attention of the global health industry.
According to BBC on Tuesday (local time), a joint research team led by a team from Oxford University gave dexamethasone, a steroid drug, to more than 2,000 COVID-19 patients. As a result, the drug reduced the risk of death by 28-40 percent for seriously ill patients on ventilators. It cut the risk of death by 20-25 percent for patients on oxygen. When injected to 20 COVID-19 patients on self-quarantine, 19 people got better without being hospitalized.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
The Symbol of Reconciliation Between North and South Korea Destroyed
On June 16, North Korea demolished the North-South Korea Joint Liaison Office in Kaesong. This day, the North Korean Central Broadcasting Committee reported, “At 14:50 p.m. the North-South Korea Joint Liaison Office in Kaesong was blasted.” The liaison office, assessed as a symbol of reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula in the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration, disappeared into history after two years. Earlier this morning, North Korea suggested that it would deploy its military back to the Kaesong Industrial Complex and warned of further military action.
Seoul’s Paid Sick Leave to Support Outpatient Treatments
The city of Seoul implemented the Seoul Paid Sick Leave policy last June and is planning to add outpatient treatments in addition to the existing items, such as hospitalization and medical check-ups, supported by the policy. According to the policy, the city provides living expenses of over 80,000 won a day for up to eleven days a year to low-income workers and self-employed small business owners who are not eligible for paid sick leave according to the Labor Standards Act.
Under Attack for Distorting Facts on Forced Labor, an Audacious Japan Claims, “We Kept Our Promise”
Japan exhibited distorted contents claiming, “There was no discrimination in the forced labor of Koreans,” drawing fierce criticism from the South Korean government. Japan insisted, “We faithfully implemented the decision and recommendation of the World Heritage Committee.”
Shortly after the South Korean foreign ministry summoned Koji Tomita, the Japanese ambassador to South Korea, and protested such actions on the afternoon of June 15, the Japanese government displayed a shameless attitude and fiercely refuted South Korea’s argument in a regular briefing by Naoki Okada, deputy chief cabinet secretary.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
SK Materials starts commercial production of etching gas
South Korea`s SK Materials has commenced commercial production of high-purity etching gas for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, a move that is expected to help Korean semiconductor makers to significantly reduce reliance on imported products from Japan.
On Wednesday, the company announced the start of commercial production of gaseous high-purity hydrogen fluoride (HF) from a 15-ton capacity line at its Yeongju plant in Gyeongbuk Province after successful prototyping late last month. The company’s initial goal is to ramp up domestic supply of HF to 70 percent by 2023.
Seoul hits back at Pyongyang, cites limited market impact from liaison office bombing
South Korea condemned North Korea’s demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office and vowed to take prompt actions to minimize any negative economic impact from the escalated geopolitical tensions.
South Korea’s Moon Jae-in administration, which has been all-engaging towards Pyongyang over the last three years, criticized North Korea`s actions in an unusually harsh tone, calling them “very rude without any essence.”
Southeast Asia’s two e-commerce giants to market South Korean products
Southeast Asia’s two leading e-commerce platforms will open a shopping corner devoted to South Korean products.
Shopee and Qoo10 struck an alliance with Korea SMEs and Startups Agency on Wednesday to market Brand K, a joint consumer brand for small- and medium-sized companies backed by the Korean government, in Southeast Asia.
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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
AustraliaBrisbaneTime
www.brisbanetimes.com.au syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Sydney Morning Heraldwww.smh.com.au
Colombia Reports http://www.colombiareports.com
BogotaFree Planet http://www.bogotafreeplanet.com,bfp@bogotafreeplanet.com
El Universal https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english
Andes https://www.redaktionstest.net/andes-info-ec/
Ecuador Times https://www.ecuadortimes.net/
The Jordan Times https://www.jordantimes.com/
LSM.lv https://www.lsm.lv//
The Baltic Times http://www.baltictimes.com lithuania@baltictimes.com, estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com
El Pais https://english.elpais.com/
Philippine Daily Inquirer https://www.inquirer.net/
Daily News Hungary https://dailynewshungary.com/
Budapest Times https://www.budapesttimes.hu/
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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.
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