Wednesday June 24, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
“Colombian troops in Korea add to friendship, brotherhood between the two countries”
Ambassador Juan Carlos Caiza Rosero of the Republic of Colombia in Seoul said, “The Embassy of Colombia in Seoul launches an online photo exhibition entitled, The Korean War through the Eyes of a Colombian Veteran, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Outbreak on June 25, 1950.
Speaking at a breakfast with Korean media representatives at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul on June 23, Ambassador Caiza Rosero said, “This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, an event that marked the establishment of special bilateral friendship and brotherhood relations between Colombia and Korea.”
Please visit: http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20965
Korean firm accelerates COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kit, secures European CE certification
COVID-19 woes are gripping the world with a total of over nine million people confirmed affected as of June 22, of whom over 400,000 people died with a mortality rate estimated at 5.2%.
In Korea, the situation is much better off thanks to the government efforts and solutions put out by he pharmaceutical companies. In Korea as of that date, 12,438 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, of whom, 280 persons died with a mortality rate of 2.25%.
Please visit: http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20961
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
N. Korean Leader Suspends Military Action Plans against S. Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly chaired a preliminary meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday and decided to suspend "military action plans" against South Korea.
According to the North's official Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) on Wednesday, the commission assessed the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula and suspended military action plans brought forth at the fifth meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission by the General Staff of the Korean People's Army.
US Expresses 'Significant Concerns' about N. Korea Nuke Program
The United States has expressed "significant concerns" about North Korea's nuclear weapons program and pledged to keep sanctions on the country until full denuclearization is achieved.
In its annual report on U.S. and other nations' compliance with various arms control and nonproliferation agreements, the U.S. State Department said that throughout 2019, the country continued to have significant concerns regarding North Korea's nuclear weapons program and its continued production of fissile material.
Remains of 147 S. Korean Soldiers Killed in Korean War to Return Home
The remains of 147 South Korean soldiers killed in the Korean War will return home after about seven decades.
The Defense Ministry said the remains will arrive at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam from Hawaii at around 4:50 p.m. on Wednesday on a South Korean Air Force aircraft.
According to the ministry, the remains are being repatriated to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War on Thursday.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
N. Korean leader suspends military action plans against S. Korea
North Korea suspended "military action plans" against South Korea during a Central Military Commission meeting presided over by leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported Wednesday, raising questions about Pyongyang's intentions behind the decision.
The decision came as a surprise because the North had widely been expected to convene a meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party to endorse military action that its military has threatened to take against the South in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets.
Remains of 147 S. Korean soldiers return home after 70 years
A solemn ceremony was held in Hawaii on Tuesday to repatriate the remains of 147 South Korean soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.
The remains had been among those brought to the U.S. after joint excavation work in North Korea from 1990-1994, and following the first summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June 2018.
Through two joint forensic reviews, South Korea and the United States identified 147 sets as those of South Koreans. The remains are being repatriated to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War on Thursday and will be welcomed home in an official ceremony by President Moon Jae-in.
Love, quantified: K-pop super fans keen on competitive goals, numeric milestones
From the most casual to the most ravenous followers, the international K-pop fan community is as varied and nuanced as any ethnic group or nationality. Given the diverse demographics, any attempt to broadly define K-pop fandom is bound to end in futility.
But on close observation, one common trait becomes apparent among the most devoted super fans of K-pop stars: an acute sensitivity to numbers.
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Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Why 'kid idols' stir debate
With K-pop's global ascent, more diverse groups are springing up on the Korean music scene.
One such example is "kid idols," a term which refers to young singers mostly aged between 9 and 14. Just like older K-pop acts, kid idols such as "Little Cheer Girl" and "Vitamin" put on fancy costumes and makeup and perform less-powerful, but still polished dance routines. The themes of their songs seem to be the only difference ― these young stars mostly sing about childhood crushes and stress from studying, captivating followers of comparable age.
Defector group sends 500,000 anti-NK leaflets
A North Korean defectors' group floated hundreds of thousands of anti-North Korea leaflets across the border, Monday night, adding fuel to the already-tense situation on the Korean Peninsula.
In response, the police are set to apprehend those who were involved in the campaign that the government believes violates the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act
According to Fighters for a Free North Korea (FFNK), it floated 20 balloons carrying 500,000 anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border from Paju, Gyeonggi Province.
ASEAN envoys meet despite COVID-19 to put Korea partnership back on track
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for ASEAN and Korea to follow up on their 2019 commemorative summit in Busan and spur cooperation through more frequent people-to-people exchanges.
Under the circumstances, a roundtable hosted by The Korea Times last week, as described by ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk, was "timely and meaningful" in helping ASEAN ambassadors to interact and facilitate partnerships between the two regions.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Bolton’s memoir proves that S. Korea must take control of inter-Korean relations
The new memoir by former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton is an irresponsible expose on the diplomatic negotiations between South Korean President Moon Jae-in, US President Donald Trump, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Bolton’s book not only ignores the diplomatic norms of the international community, but also serves as a shameful and one-sided attempt to justify his repeated obstruction of the Korean Peninsula Peace Process.
Blue House issues strong rebuttal to Bolton’s claims about Korean Peninsula affairs
The Blue House issued a swift and stern rebuttal on June 22 to former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton’s characterization of Korean Peninsula affairs in his new memoir, “The Room Where It Happened,” criticizing Bolton’s remarks as “unsound and inappropriate behavior.”
As Bolton’s biased and one-sided description is being covered and amplified by South Korea’s conservative press, the Blue House appears determined to keep its efforts to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula from being sabotaged.
S. Korean defense minister says demolition of joint liaison office is unrelated to inter-Korean military agreement
Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo described North Korea’s demolition of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office in Kaesong as “unrelated to the [inter-Korean] military agreement of Sept. 19 [2008]” while appearing before a plenary session of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee on June 22.
“The Sept. 19 military agreement directly concerned various measures to prevent an unintended military clash, so it is unrelated to the joint liaison office,” he explained. In September 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un drafted a military agreement with provisions including the suspension of all hostile activities by land, sea, and air.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
N.Korea Reinstalls Propaganda Loudspeakers in DMZ
North Korea is reinstalling loudspeakers in the demilitarized zone that will blare propaganda across the border, the South Korean military said Monday.
The two sides dismantled their walls of loudhailers after President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Panmunjom 2018.
The North Korean equipment was always sub-par and the tinny waffle it broadcast could barely be understood a few hundred meters away, but like its decision to float propaganda leaflets across the border it signals a return to square one and end to any de-escalation agreements.
Crew of Russian Ship in Busan Test Positive for COVID-19
Sixteen out of 20 crewmembers of a Russian trawler which arrived Busan over the weekend have tested positive for coronavirus, officials in the southern port city said Monday.
A health official said, "Tests were conducted as soon as the ship entered the port, and there was no contact with people outside of the vessel."
But the transport workers union of Busan said some 160 workers who boarded the ship to unload cargo and conduct repairs were placed in self-quarantine. Health officials said the Russians will be treated at Busan Medical Center.
Korean Wave Resurges in Japan
Diplomatic relations between Seoul and Tokyo are at an all-time low, but the Korean Wave is seeing a resurgence in Japan.
Leading the trend most recently is the TV series "Crash Landing on You," which wrapped up here in February.
The Asahi Shimbun recently focused on the hype in Japan about the Korean melodrama available on Netflix, reporting that Japanese fans are posting messages on social media saying they watched "Crash Landing on You" five times and that the soap was "the only source of happiness during lockdown."
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
U.S.’ B-52 bombers are deployed near Korean Peninsula
It was confirmed on Tuesday that the U.S. Air Force’s B-52 bombers flew over the Japanese Islands, which is close to the Korean Peninsula, on Monday when North Korea installed loudspeakers facing South Korea.
The latest deployment of the U.S.’ representative strategic assets near the Korean Peninsula came in after their deployment on last Wednesday and Friday – right after North Korea exploded the inter-Korean joint liaison office in Kaesong on June 16. It seems to be a warning message against North Korea, which has been raising the level of its provocations against South Korea and the U.S.
Apple breaks up with Intel after 15 years
Apple has decided to break up with Intel. Ending a 15-year partnership with Intel, Apple said Monday that it will switch to its own “Apple Silicon” processor for Mac computers. The first Mac with Apple Silicon is scheduled to be released by year’s end. The transition is expected to enable the tech giant to solidify its own ecosystem by using in-house chips for all of its products.
During its first ever virtual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, Apple CEO Tim Cook officially announced the breakup with Intel. He said that it is “a historic day for the Mac,” and “Apple Silicon will make the Mac stronger and more capable than ever.”
Trump denies Navarro’s claim that U.S.-Sino trade deal is over
White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, one of the outspoken critics of China, said Monday that the trade deal between the United States and China was over, only to be quickly contradicted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Seen as a sign of worsening relations between the two nations, the initial comments caused momentary panic on stock markets across the globe on Tuesday.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Loudspeakers and Leaflets: Risk of Military Provocation Rises as North Korea Annuls the Panmunjom Declaration
North Korea installed loudspeakers for propaganda broadcasts aimed at South Korea in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) again following its notice of plans to distribute a large number of propaganda flyers, continuing its steps to annul the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration. Despite our government’s repeated warnings to stop aggravating the situation further, the North is sending inter-Korean relations back into the “Cold War” era. The risk of a military clash is rising as North Korea is expected to soon distribute the propaganda flyers in the border areas and at sea.
Cheong Wa Dae, “Bolton’s Memoir Drastically Distorted the Truth… Expect the NSC to Take Appropriate Action”
Cheong Wa Dae conveyed its opinion on the memoir of former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton to the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) requesting appropriate action since the memoir “drastically distorted the truth.” It is very unusual for Cheong Wa Dae to directly confront a memoir by a former senior official of another country demanding “appropriate action.” It seems Cheong Wa Dae rushed to draw the line due to concerns that the details of Bolton’s memoir could further deteriorate the current situation--denuclearization negotiations between North Korea and the United States are at a standstill and the situation on the Korean Peninsula is unstable due to rising tensions between the two Koreas.
“Domino Transmission” of COVID-19 from the Seoul Metropolitan Area to Daejeon, Chungnam, and Jeonbuk. “No Place Is Completely Safe”
COVID-19 has spread beyond the Seoul metropolitan area and into Daejeon, and the cluster of infections that began in Daejeon is spreading to Sejong, Chungcheongnam-do (Chungnam), Gwangju and Jeollabuk-do (Jeonbuk). The risk of infection in all regions has increased at such a rate that quarantine authorities are saying, “Now, there is no place around us that is completely safe from COVID-19.” Experts claim that the number of COVID-19 patients without any symptoms may be more than ten times the number identified by authorities, and advise authorities to secure hospital beds by easing standards for admitting and discharging patients in order to prepare for a secondary outbreak.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr)
Nine out of 10 small firms in Korea fear disruption on foreign labor shortage
Nine out of 10 small businesses in South Korea fear disruption in their production lines as they face a graver problem from the coronavirus pandemic: dire shortage of migrant workers due to entry barriers.
Of the 1,062 companies that had signed up for overseas labor this year, 556 responded that they were “currently facing production setbacks,” according to a survey by the Korea Federation of SMEs on Monday.
S. Korea to put forward adoption of mobile driving license to 2021
South Korea will put forward the adoption of mobile driving license a year earlier than the government’s initial plan as demand for contactless services has grown sharply in the era of coronavirus.
According to measures announced by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Tuesday, the government will start to issue a mobile driving license that will be stored in a personal smartphone to be used as identification before the end of 2021.
Korean gov’t plans to proceed with sale of remaining stake in Woori Financial in H2
The South Korean government will divest the remaining state stake in Woori Financial Group in the second half if “conditions are right,” the Financial Services Commission said Tuesday after holding public fund management committee.
State-owned Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. (KDIC) retains 17.25 percent stake in Woori Financial Group, which it fully nationalized Woori Bank in the wake of the 1997-1998 financial crisis by merging multiple ailing lenders. Its stake in Woori Bank has been converted to shares in Woori Financial after it turned into a holding structure earlier this year.
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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 Herald www.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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