Friday, August 3, 2018
Round-up of important news from major Korean, international dailies, other news sources today:
The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.
S. Korea's 1st floating offshore wind turbine to begin test operation next year
South Korea's first floating offshore wind turbine will enter test operations off the coast of the southeastern city of Ulsan in the first half of next year, the city government said Thursday. The 16 billion won (around US$14.27 million) project will make South Korea the fifth country to run a floating wind farm following Norway, Britain, Japan and Portugal. The project to build the 750-kilowatt turbine was launched in 2016 jointly with the University of Ulsan, Mastek Heavy Industries Co., Unison and Seho Engineering Co.
N. Korea's media shed light on ties with Hyundai Group, tour program
A North Korean media outlet reported in detail on a South Korean firm's devotion to inter-Korean cooperation Friday, apparently trying to create a favorable mood for resumption of the company's now suspended tour program. Uriminjokkiri, the North's external propaganda website, shed light on Hyundai Group's work and its relations with Pyongyang in time for a trip by group officials to Mount Kumgang to attend a memorial service for late chairman Chung Mong-hun.
State firms to spend over 30 tln won to nurture innovative growth
State-led companies plan to spend over 30 trillion won (US$27 billion) in key leading sectors, such as autonomous driving, by 2022, thus creating an environment for private companies to seek innovative growth, the country's chief economic policymaker said Thursday. "To boost innovative growth, state-run companies will play a vital role, and they will spearhead investment," Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said in an economy-related ministers meeting.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
White House: Trump Received Another Letter from N. Korean Leader
U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that China may be obstructing denuclearization talks with North Korea The White House says U.S. President Donald Trump received a letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters on Thursday that Trump has written a response which will be delivered shortly. The letter is the third to be sent from Kim to Trump. Sanders did not provide details on the content of the letter but said the ongoing correspondence between the two leaders is aimed at following up on the agreements reached at their Singapore summit.
China’s Foreign Minister Supportive of Declaring End to Korean War
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has made clear his country’s intention to support efforts to formally declare an end to the Korean War. Wang said in a news conference in Singapore after meeting his ASEAN counterparts on Thursday that a formal declaration is in keeping with the trend of the time and reflects the aspiration of not only the two Koreas but of all nations around the world.
Foreign Minister Kang Meets Russian, Japanese Counterparts
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Thursday discussed efforts for regional peace and security with her Russian and Japanese counterparts in Singapore. During talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of ASEAN-related events held in the city state, Kang said Seoul is grateful for Moscow’s efforts toward improving inter-Korean relations and establishing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, adding she hopes such support continues.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
N. Korean foreign minister in Singapore for regional forum
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho began his trip to Singapore on Friday to attend an annual forum hosted by a group of Southeast Asian countries amid speculation about whether he will meet bilaterally with his South Korean and U.S. counterparts. Ri flew from Beijing on an Air China plane. Entering his hotel in Singapore, wearing a black suit and a purple tie, he didn't take reporters' questions about his activity here. The minister and his entourage stayed at the hotel throughout the morning.
Seoul says reopening of Kaesong complex should wait until sanctions lifted
South Korea reiterated its stance Friday that resuming the operation of an inter-Korean industrial complex should be considered in light of progress in denuclearization talks and wait until sanctions are lifted. "The government's stance remains unchanged when it comes to the issue of the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex," Lee Eugene, a deputy spokesperson of the unification ministry, told reporters during a regular press briefing. "The stance has not been changed either that things will be considered in line with progress in denuclearization efforts and within the frame of sanctions," she added. "From a broad perspective, it would be desirable to push for its resumption after the lifting of the sanctions."
Another joint lawsuit filed against BMW amid more cars catching fire
A group of South Koreans consumers jointly filed a lawsuit against BMW over a faulty part which appears to have caused vehicles to catch fire, a local law firm representing the plaintiffs said Friday. The lawsuit by 13 owners of the BMW 520d sedan is the second joint litigation filed against the German luxury brand and its five dealerships after the first action was lodged by four 520d owners on Monday. "In the suit, the 13 customers called on BMW to pay 5 million won (US$4,500) in compensation for not being able to drive their 520ds for fear of a faulty part causing a fire in the engine room," Ha Jong-sun, an attorney at Barun Law, which represents the 13 plaintiffs, told Yonhap News Agency over the phone.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Transport ministry advises BMW 520d owners to refrain from driving over possible engine fire
The Ministry of Transport and Land on Friday advised the owners of BMW 520d sedans to refrain from driving the vehicle, citing safety issues. “(We advise) owners of the vehicles subject for recall to receive a safety check up as soon as possible and refrain from driving the vehicle until safety is ensured,” said Sohn Byeong-seok, the first transport vice minister. While apologizing for causing public concern, the vice minister said that the government would conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the engine fires. The ministry also said it would look into whether responsive measures by BMW Korea and related government agencies were adequate.
Hanwha Chemical plans to merge Q Cells, Solar Holdings
Hanwha Chemical said Friday that it was currently reviewing a merger between its subsidiaries Hanwha Q Cells and Hanwha Solar Holdings, to boost efficiency of its solar modules manufacturing business. The company said that Q Cells has accepted a letter of intention for a merger from Solar Holdings, while the merger will be confirmed following Q Cell’s board of directors’ decision. Currently, Hanwha Chemical owns 100 percent stocks of Solar Holdings. Solar Holdings holds 94 percent stock in Q Cells.
NK-related stocks rise on Hyundai chairwoman’s visit to North
As Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun visited Kumgangsan in North Korea to attend a private service commemorating of her late husband Chung Mong-hun, shares rose Friday morning in expectation of the resumption of inter-Korean economic cooperation. Share prices of Hyundai Group’s affiliates, including Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Hyundai Elevator and Hyundai-Rotem, were on upward trend this week.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
'North Korean women have no one to turn to in domestic violence'
In a photo North Korea's party mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun published on Monday, the 72nd anniversary of the country's gender equality act, men are buying flowers for their wives, mothers and women teachers. In July, Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korea outlet in Tokyo, reported on the North's non-smoking movement, saying many want to quit smoking "for their wives." It indicates North Korean men treat their women well, but that does not reflect the reality of North Korean women, many experts and defectors say.
Trump receives letter from North Korean leader: White House
U.S. President Donald Trump received a letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un this week, the White House said Thursday, in the latest sign of top-level diplomacy on Pyongyang's denuclearization. "A letter to President Trump from Chairman Kim was received on August 1," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. "The ongoing correspondence between the two leaders is aimed at following up on their meeting in Singapore and advancing the commitments made in the US-DPRK joint statement."
China won't concede an inch, Xi Jinping tells Mattis on South China Sea and Taiwan
Chinese President Xi Jinping has told visiting US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis that China will make no concession on its core interests, despite calling for stronger ties between the countries' militaries. "Our attitude is firm and clear in terms of Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, that we would not lose a single inch of the lands we inherited from our ancestors, while we would not take a single penny of others' possessions," Xi said to Mattis on Wednesday in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Mattis' visit comes at a time of sharp US criticism of China's militarisation of islands in the South China Sea and tensions over Taiwan, and a trade dispute between the world's two largest economies.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
China Eases N.Korea's Power Shortage
Chinese President Xi Jinping has told visiting US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis that China will make no concession on its core interests, despite calling for stronger ties between the countries' militaries. "Our attitude is firm and clear in terms of Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, that we would not lose a single inch of the lands we inherited from our ancestors, while we would not take a single penny of others' possessions," Xi said to Mattis on Wednesday in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Google working on censorship-ready search for China
Google is reportedly working on a mobile version of its search engine that will comply with strict censorship controls in China. The Intercept reported that the work has been ongoing since the spring of 2017 and was accelerated in December following a meeting between Google CEO Sundar Pichai and a top government official in China. The report cited internal Google documents and unnamed people familiar with the plans.
Gov't affirms next year's minimum wage raise won't be changed
South Korea's labor ministry said Friday that the country's 2019 minimum wage will be set as earlier decided, rejecting calls from businesses for the sharp raise to be reconsidered. The ministry posted next year's minimum wage in the government's official gazette, reaffirming the state-commissioned council's recent decision to hike the wage by 10.9 percent to 8,350 won (US$7.44) per hour after a 16.4 percent rise this year. The move indicated that the government will not review it in response to complaints filed by the groups of conglomerates and smaller firms over a steep rise in the wage.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Blue House indicates possibility of ending Korean War through quadrilateral treaty
On July 31, the Blue House said it was too early to say whether the declaration of the end of the Korean War – which was agreed upon in the Panmunjeom Declaration, which resulted from the inter-Korean summit on Apr. 27 – would be made by three parties or by four, but that it was not writing off the possibility of four parties. The Blue House had previously been pushing for a trilateral declaration of the end of the war by South Korea, North Korea and the US and a quadrilateral peace treaty between South Korea, North Korea, the US and China, but there are signs that it’s moving toward allowing China to participate in the declaration, too.
Blue House considers third inter-Korean summit this month
The Blue House is opening up the possibility of another inter-Korean summit ahead of schedule in August while working on exemptions to North Korea sanctions as a precondition to cooperative efforts between the two sides. Speaking on Aug. 1 in connection with the possibility of an early summit happening in August, a senior House official said, “This is a matter to be decided in consultation with the North, not something we can pursue unilaterally.” At the same time, the opposition added that “every possibility is open” for the South Korean side.
North Korean foreign minister to attend ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho is reportedly scheduled to arrive in Singapore early in the morning on Aug. 3 to attend an ASEAN Regional Forum foreign ministers’ meeting. Kim Chang-min, the director of the international organization bureau in North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, previously arrived in Singapore on Aug. 1. The big question that has emerged concerning the summit is whether bilateral foreign minister meetings between South and North Korea, North Korea and the US, and North Korea and Japan will be taking place.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Seoul’s morning temperature reaches 30.3 degrees Celsius
Thursday had the hottest morning this year throughout the nation as the morning temperature in Seoul reached 30.3 degrees Celsius, the first time to go above 30 degree Celsius. Seoul recorded the highest morning temperature across the nation, followed by Incheon (29.1), Daejeon (27.6), Dongducheon (26.9) of Gyeonggi Province, Paju (26.8) and Yeosu (27.7) of South Jeolla Province.
Killing field survivor-historian calls for education on genocide
When a Dong-A Ilbo reporter visited the office of the executive director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia on Monday, there were piles of books on his desk and the floor. Words such as "holocaust" and "genocide" caught the reporter's eyes. "These books show that debates on genocide are still going on," said the director, Youk Chhang, who was named last week as a winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, also known as "Asia's Nobel Peace Prize," for having collected documents and evidence on the Khmer Rouge's 1975-1979 atrocities symbolized by the "killing fields."
S. Korea, U.S. have different views on resuming Kaesong complex
The Trump administration has reconfirmed its negative position with respect to resuming the Kaesong Industrial Complex, but the Sound Korean Ministry of Unification sent its deputy minister to Mt. Kumgang after announcing its position to resume the complex at the earliest date possible. Some people raise concern that mutual assistance between Seoul and Washington may face difficulties in terms of speed and level of inter-Korean economic development even when the North’s new ICBM development has been confirmed.
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JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)
President vows to bring Korean hostage home from Libya
President Moon Jae-in ordered the use of Korea’s “utmost abilities” and resources to rescue a Korean citizen who has been held by unidentified armed militants in Libya for nearly a month, according to the Blue House Thursday. Three Philippine nationals are also being held. An anti-piracy unit operating in the Gulf of Aden, which is on a 4,400-ton Korean Navy destroyer, has been deployed to North African waters to lend support. On July 6, an unidentified armed group entered lodgings for foreign workers at a local water management plant in Jabal Hasouna, western Libya, and abducted the Korean and three Filipinos. They took off with goods as well.
World Bank’s China program head to lead Korea office
The World Bank Group named Soh Hoon-sahib on Thursday as the new head of its Korea office in Songdo, Incheon. For the past two years, Soh has been the lead on economic policies in China, Mongolia and Korea at the World Bank’s Beijing office. A Korean national, Soh joined the World Bank in 2000 after receiving a doctorate in economics from Stanford University and a stint in the private sector doing corporate research and management consulting. Soh will be succeeding Joyce Msuya in the Korea office.
FSS advocates blockchain for stock trading
Korea’s financial watchdog called on the country’s regulatory agencies and companies to work together on developing an integrated blockchain system in a study released on Thursday. The Financial Supervisory Service’s (FSS) report focused on the use of blockchain in stock transactions in the United States, Japan and Australia. Blockchain technology promises to offer safer and tamper-proof transactions when compared to existing transaction systems. Conventional systems require a centralized ledger to track transactions, but such systems are slow and are vulnerable to hacks.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Fiery Peninsula Kills 29 People
The management office of one apartment compound in Jung-gu, Daejeon has been broadcasting announcements asking residents to save power for several days. "Power consumption increases after 7 p.m., so please turn off your air conditioners and washing machines." Resident Choi (70) said, "I worry every night that we might have a blackout." People are consuming more electricity in the sizzling heat, and a number of apartment compounds throughout the nation have experienced blackouts.
Court Left out Documents on Judge Lee Tan-hee, which First Revealed Abuse of Court Authority
After two months, on July 31, the Supreme Court released an additional 196 documents (excluding copies) that had not been made public among the 410 documents that the special investigation team on the alleged abuse of court authority had secured, but the court still refused to release some controversial documents. The Supreme Court did not disclose the document with the details of how judge Lee Tan-hee (40), a member of a judges’ research group on international human rights law--a group that stressed reforms in the court--submitted his resignation after he was assigned to the National Court Administration and later returned to his original position in court.
South Korea North Korea Nuclear
South Korean protesters holding banners with illustrations of U.S. President Donald Trump march toward Yongsan Garrison, a U.S. military base, during a rally to oppose his war rhetoric on North Korea, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. Chinese President Xi Jinping made a plea for cool-headedness over escalating tensions between the U.S. and North Korea in a phone conversation with President Trump on Saturday, urging both sides to avoid words or actions 2that could worsen the situation.
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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)
Hyundai launches nimble campaign to court female Saudi drivers
Hyundai Motor, a top carmaker in South Korea, launched a nimble marketing campaign to court millions of potential female drivers in Saudi Arabia which has lifted a ban on female drivers in an effort to strengthen the role of women. Previously, Saudi women were not allowed to sit in the driver's seat. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who assumed power in June 2017, lifted the ban in June despite a mix of criticism and skepticism from conservative groups.
Hyundai chairwoman visits N. Korean resort for husband's memorial service
The widowed boss of South Korea's troubled Hyundai Group left for a cross-border trip Saturday to hold a memorial service at a North Korean resort developed by her late husband just north of the heavily armed border. Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun and other group officials will hold the memorial service at the Mount Kumgang resort. The service on August 4 was suspended in 2016 because of high cross-border tensions. It was not known whether North Korean officials will attend Saturday's event.
Mini electric hand fans used in N. Korea to fight heat wave
An image captured from the Korean Central Television, a state-owned broadcaster in Pyongyang, on August 2 showed a North Korean woman carrying a small hand-held electric fan and a brightly colored parasol to cool the heat. The entire Korean peninsula has been hit by a deadly heat wave that left at least 30 people killed in South Korea. North Korea also warned of unusually high temperatures and droughts which have damaged crops. Weathermen in Pyongyang said temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius in some areas.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
LG Elec smartphone shipments hit five-year low in Q2
South Korea’s LG Electronics Inc. is rapidly losing ground in the global smartphone market increasingly dominated by Chinese names, pushed to a pitiful 3 percent share in worldwide sales in the second quarter. According to market research firm Strategy Analytics (SA) on Thursday, LG Electronics shipped a total of 9.5 million smartphones in the quarter ended June, down 29 percent from a year earlier and 17 percent from the previous three quarters. It came in ninth with the five-year low record.
Doosan Heavy Industries begins construction of thermal power plant in Vietnam
South Korea’s Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. said on Wednesday that it has finally commenced the delayed construction of a thermal power plant in Vietnam after it received an advanced payment of $170 million for a 1.8 trillion won ($1.6 billion) deal it won in 2014. The Nghi Son 2 thermal power plant project involves building of two 665 megawatt thermal power generation plants in the city of Thanh Hoa, located about 200 kilometers south of Hanoi, Vietnam. Korea’s largest power plant equipment maker will aim to complete the construction by July, 2022.
BMW Korea to recall over 106,000 vehicles for fire risks
BMW Korea will recall 106,317 vehicles from 42 models after a failing engine part led to a series of fires, in what would be the largest automotive recall by a foreign brand in South Korea. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Thursday the recall will cover a total of 106,317 vehicles, including 35,115 units of the 520d model, 14,108 units of the 320d, and 12,377 units of the 520d xDrive manufactured between March 2011 and November 2016. It will also include models from the 4 series, 6 series, 7 series as well as from its SUV lineup including the X3, X5, and X6.
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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 www.smh.com.au
Colombia Reports http://colombiareports.com
Bogota Free Planet http://bogotafreeplanet.com bfp@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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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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