The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, August 18, 2017

Your Excellency:

Here are The Korea Post notices and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea today:

Very Respectfully Yours

/s/

Lee Kyung-sik

Publisher-Chairman

Korea Post Media

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What’s ticking in Korea today? Here is a quick roundup of important news stories from the major Korean news media today:

The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.

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

Moon Assures US will Seek Seoul's Consent on N. Korea Action

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has reaffirmed that there will be no war on the Korean Peninsula. The president on Thursday marked his first 100 days in office with a news conference attended by some 250 reporters from home and abroad. "I will tell you again with confidence that there will not be another war on the Korean Peninsula. The whole nation rebuilt the devastated country after the Korean War and we cannot lose everything again due to another war." He also addressed concerns that his peace policy could be hampered by U.S. President Donald Trump's hawkish stance against the North.

Military Option Still in Play for N. Korea

U.S. foreign and defense ministers said that the U.S. is continuing to consider military options to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, although it prefers a diplomatic solution. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke to reporters Thursday following a U.S.-Japan security meeting in Washington. Defense Secretary James Mattis, who also took part in the meeting, urged Pyongyang to immediately halt its missile provocations.

13 Dead, 100 Injured in Barcelona Van Attack

At least 13 people were killed and more than 100 injured after a van rammed through crowds in the heart of Barcelona in Spain on Thursday. Police arrested two male suspects after the van attack, for which the Islamic terrorist group ISIS claimed the attacker was one of their "soldiers." According to El Pais and other local media, a white van rammed through pedestrians on the renowned Las Ramblas avenue at around 5 p.m. Thursday.

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

S. Korea, U.S. to begin talks on possible FTA amendment next week

South Korea and the United States will begin talks next week to discuss possible revisions to their bilateral free trade agreement, the U.S. trade representative said Thursday. The special session will be held in Seoul on Tuesday upon Washington's request and address U.S. concerns about a trade deficit with the Asian ally. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer made the request last month. "Ambassador Lighthizer and Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong will open the meeting via a video conference, to be followed by additional senior-level discussions between U.S. and Korean officials in Seoul," the USTR's office said in a statement.

Cardinals' Oh Seung-hwan to get save opportunities following closer's injury

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Oh Seung-hwan is expected to get more save opportunities following an injury to the club's incumbent closer. The South Korean right-hander, who started the season as the closer but was removed from the role last month, could be back in his old job after Trevor Rosenthal was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right posterior elbow irritation Thursday (local time). Rosenthal left Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox early. He'd converted seven consecutive save chances before his velocity dipped noticeably. Oh got his last save opportunity July 8. Since then, he's pitched mostly in seventh or eighth innings, picking up six holds and posting a 3.18 ERA in the process.

U.S. lawmaker calls for 'massive cyber-attack' on N. Korea

The United States should carry out a "massive cyber-attack" on North Korea to disable its capabilities to launch missiles, an American lawmaker said Thursday. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, made the case as tensions with North Korea have spiked over its two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July. Just last week U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to rain "fire and fury" on Pyongyang, to which the North Korean leadership responded with plans to fire ballistic missiles towards Guam.

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

Moon reiterates no war on peninsula, Seoul and US have shared vision

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday reiterated that war would not break out on the Korean Peninsula, saying that Seoul and Washington share the ultimate goal of resolving North Korean issues through peaceful means. The South Korean leader also warned North Korea not to cross the “red line,” which he defined as the North arming itself with nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles. Speaking at a press conference to mark his 100 days in office, Moon said that South Korea has the final say in any military action on the peninsula and that seeking a peaceful resolution to the issue is backed by the international community.

Samsung SDI to supply batteries for BMW i3 from China

Samsung SDI plans to supply batteries for BMW’s upcoming electric vehicle i3 from its plant in China, in a move to diversify its markets after facing a setback in the world’s largest EV market. “Some of the EV batteries from Samsung SDI’s plant in Xian will be used for the BMW i3 next year,” a source familiar with the matter told The Korea Herald. This is the first time the German automaker will use batteries produced in Samsung’s plant in China. They have been produced from the tech firm’s Ulsan plant in Korea.

8 in 10 Korean men admit abuse of girlfriend

About 8 in 10 Korean men said they had used violence against romantic partners, a study showed Thursday. According to a study conducted by the Korean Institute of Criminology, 1,593 of 2,000 Korean men, or 79.7 percent, said they had abused a girlfriend while they were dating. About 71 percent of those who admitted to a history of dating abuse said they had control over their girlfriends’ personal activities, such as restricting them from meeting friends or keeping them isolated from others, including family members.

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

Moon rules out possibility of war

President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to get South Korea's consent first before using any military options against North Korea, ruling out the possibility of a war on the Korean Peninsula. In his first press conference held at Cheong Wa Dae, marking the 100th day of his presidency, Moon said he would prevent war here at all costs. The conference came after Pyongyang test-fired an alleged intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and exchanged bellicose rhetoric with Washington. "I can guarantee you there will be no war here again," Moon said.

Renegotiation of S. Korea-US FTA to begin Aug. 22

'Korea will not flinch on FTA talks with US'

President Moon Jae-in said that his administration has no reason to hold back in talks with the United States over amendments to the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. "According to an analysis by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Korea-U.S. FTA benefited both countries. While global trade decreased 12 percent since signing the deal, trade between Korea and the U.S. increased 12 percent between 2011 and 2016," President Moon said in a press conference.

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DongA Ilbo (http://english.donga.com)

USFK upgrades Patriot missile defense system to counter N. Korea

The United States Forces in Korea said on Wednesday that it has completed a large-scale improvement project of the Patriot systems (PAC-2 and PAC-3) operated by the Dragon Brigade (35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade) and confirmed its operational status. The USFK completed the Patriot modernization project intended to counter sophisticated nuclear and missile threats from North Korea in seven months after its kickoff in early January.

Remains of 33 Korean forced laborers return home from Japan

Remains of Korean forced laborers during the Japanese imperial rule have returned to the motherland. The Seoul metropolitan government held a ceremony Wednesday to bury the remains of 33 Korean forced laborers during the Japanese colonial rule at Seoul City Yongmi-ri Second Cemetery Park located in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. The remains of the 33 victims who were forced to slave labor by the Japanese imperialists, have been buried at the Memorial Hall at Second Cemetery Park, after completing a restoration ceremony at Gukpyeong-sa, a Buddhist temple for ethnic Koreans in Tokyo, Japan on August 6.

Luxury brands and fashion designers are turning to space

Luxury brands and fashion designers are turning to space as they seek breakthroughs in business. The so-called "retro-futurism" that had boomed in the space age in the 1960s has returned in 2017. Silver clothes that remind of spacesuits, silver shoes and mirror sunglasses are becoming a new trend. The Chanel 2017 Fall/Winter fashion show that opened at Grand Palais in Paris in March was full of space-like atmosphere. Chanel's creative director Karl Lagerfeld installed a 37-meter massive rocket on the event hall and had models wear chiffon blouses with astronaut prints.

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

U.S. State Department Refuses to Be Drawn on Moon's Warning

The U.S. State Department was anxious Wednesday to avoid any further impression of chaos in the Trump administration after President Moon Jae-in warned hawkish U.S. officials that Washington cannot go over Seoul's head in taking military action against North Korea. Asked for a comment on Moon's warning, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, "That's a Department of Defense issue so I'm going to stay away from that." Nauert added, "We have a good relationship, as you know, with [South Korea]. We have constant, ongoing conversations with that government."

N. Korean Missile Engines Supplied by Russia

The government of Ukraine on Tuesday confirmed a U.S. media report that the engine of North Korea's Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missile was Ukrainian in origin and apparently supplied to the North by Russia. But Ukraine claimed it merely built the engine and blamed Russia for letting it fall into North Korean hands. Earlier, the New York Times quoted Michael Elleman from the International Institute for Strategic Studies as saying, "It's likely that these engines came from Ukraine -- probably illicitly." Elleman added, "The big question is how many they have and whether the Ukrainians are helping them now."

U.S. Military Chief in Rare Visit to China-N. Korea Border

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff made a visit to China's border with North Korea on Wednesday. It was the first time in 10 years that a top U.S. military official has visited a command post of the Chinese armed forces along the border, which will be the first to be deployed in an emergency on the Korean Peninsula. The Wall Street Journal quoted a military expert as saying the visit was "very rare" and reflected concerns that the U.S. and China might make a wrong decision in the event of a North Korean nuclear or missile provocation. The paper said the visit was a stern warning to the North against any wrong move.

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

Moon’s first hundred days in office show a president at ease with the people

Over the past hundred days, the Blue House has witnessed a number of scenes that were unfamiliar in their sheer ordinariness. The path along which advisors once scurried carrying documents to the presidential residence is now the path along which the president walks to work. After being briefed on the latest developments at the presidential residence around 7 am, Moon walks to his office at the Yeomingwan building between 8 am and 9 am, a distance of 0.6 km. The secretaries get to the office before 7, prior to Moon’s arrival, and take part in team meetings until 7:30 am.

Negotations with North Korea are “not going to happen imminently”

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Aug. 15 that he plans to continue working toward bilateral dialogue to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, but called for a change in behavior first from Pyongyang. Appearing at a press conference for the publication of the 2016 International Religious Freedom Annual Report at the State Department building in Washington, Tillerson was asked to assess the current situation with North Korea. “We continue to be interested in finding a way to get to a dialogue, but that’s up to [North Korean leader Kim Jong-un],” he replied.

National Security Advisor Chung made secret visit to China

The Hankyoreh has learned that Blue House National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong recently visited Beijing in complete secrecy. “Chung Eui-yong recently went to Beijing,” a senior official at the Blue House said on Aug. 16. While the exact timing or agenda of Chung’s visit to China has not been revealed, he was presumably there to discuss bilateral cooperation about the elevated tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea’s recent launch of an ICBM. There is also speculation that Chung asked for China’s understanding on the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system and discussed a range of issues, including a South Korea-China summit meeting.

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JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)

Moon sets a ‘red line’ for North

North Korea will be crossing a “red line” if it builds intercontinental ballistic missiles tipped with nuclear warheads, President Moon Jae-in said Thursday, warning that the reclusive communist regime is “approaching” that very threshold. “I think the red line is when North Korea completes intercontinental ballistic missiles and weaponizes them with nuclear warheads,” Moon said. “And the North is nearing that red line.” But he said there will not be war on the Korean Peninsula, stressing that the United States has promised to seek the South’s consent before taking any military action against the North.

26 more farms busted for pesticides in eggs

The number of farms producing eggs with excessive levels of pesticides rose to 32 Thursday, 26 more than the previous day. The farms were located all around the country except for the southern island of Jeju.

The government said some of the eggs had levels of fipronil exceeding the Codex International standard of 0.02mg/kg and of bifenthrin exceeding the country’s standard set at 0.01mg/kg. Farmers use such pesticides to kill mites and ticks on their chickens and especially in summers. Fipronil is allowed to be used to kill mites and ticks on animals like dogs and cats but can’t be used on chickens in Korea. Bifenthrin is allowed to be used on chickens but farmers need to follow the government standards.

Trump says Kim Jong-un made ‘wise’ decision

U.S. President Donald Trump climbed down from his fire and brimstone rhetoric of last week and praised North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for stepping back from his threat to launch missiles toward Guam.

Trump tweeted Wednesday: “Kim Jong Un of North Korea made a very wise and well reasoned decision. The alternative would have been both catastrophic and unacceptable!” The president’s remarks - made in response to North Korean state media reports Tuesday that its leader Kim would hold back on plans to strike the Guam vicinity with ballistic missiles - was a major shift in tone from his threat of “fire and fury” on Aug. 8.

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

The Yeongnam Region Steps Back as “SKY” Makes a Comeback in the Four Major Law Enforcement Agencies

The proportion of people from the Yeongnam region among those holding important positions in the National Intelligence Service, the Prosecution Service, the police and the National Tax Service has dropped compared to the previous government. Throughout the government, the proportion of women in higher office was higher than in any past government, and the incumbent government has achieved somewhat of a balance when it comes to regional background. On August 16, the Kyunghyang Shinmun analyzed 213 power elites? ministers, vice ministers, and directors of major offices and bureaus in Cheong Wa Dae, the central government, the National Intelligence Service, the Prosecution Service, and the police on the 100th day since the launch of the Moon Jae-in government and came up with these results.

“Insecticide Eggs” Found in Cheolwon, Cheonan, and Naju. Use of Eggs Suspended in Schools and the Military

On August 16, the government confirmed that egg farms in Yangju, Gyeonggi-do; Cheolwon, Gangwon-do; Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do; and Naju, Jeollanam-do also produced insecticide-tainted eggs. The problem of “insecticide eggs” discovered in Namyangju and Gwangju in Gyeonggi-do the previous day spread nationwide. Insecticide-tainted eggs were also discovered for the first time among products that were sold to consumers. Large supermarkets have resumed the sale of eggs, while the use of eggs has been suspended in schools and military units, confusing the consumers. On August 16, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that they detected Fipronil, an insecticide banned on chickens, in the eggs produced from an egg farm with 55,000 hens in Cheolwon after a preliminary inspection of 243 egg farms. In the case of the farm in Cheolwon, 0.056mg/kg of Fipronil was detected, much more than the international Codex standard (0.02mg/kg).

Insecticide-Tainted Eggs Served on South Korean Tables

The insecticide, Fipronil has also been detected in domestic eggs, sending fears of the insecticide-tainted eggs throughout the nation. Retailers, such as large supermarkets and convenience stores, are suspending the sale of eggs one after another. Due to an inspection of all egg farms and the suspension of shipping, egg distribution in the market is expected to shake, triggering concerns of a hike in egg prices.

The three major supermarkets, Lotte Mart, E-Mart, and Homeplus, and major convenience stores announced on August 15 that they would stop selling eggs. Online shopping malls have also begun to cease the sale of eggs.

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The Korea Economic Daily (http://english.hankyung.com/)

Gov't Announces 83 Tril. Won Welfare Packages in One Week

The Moon Jae-in government has decided to pay 100,000 won (US$88) a month per child younger than 5 years beginning in July next year. The basic pension payment of 200,000 won currently given to low-income (lower 70% of income scale) senior citizens older than 65 years will be increased to 250,000 won from April next year. The additional expenses for these two items will be 13.4 trillion won for children's allowance and 29.5 trillion won for senior citizen pension payments for the next five years between 2018 and 2022. Given the government announced plans for expanding health insurance coverage on August 9 (30.6 trillion won) and providing welfare support for low-income families (9.5 trillion won) on August 10, the total amount of additional bills the government will have to foot announced for the past week is 83 trillion won.

Samsung Engineering Hits 550 Bil. Won Jackpot in Thailand

Samsung Engineering said on August 16 that it won two petrochemical power generation projects worth 550 billion won jointly with PTT Public Company Ltd., a Thai state-run oil company. This has been less than a week since the Korean company announced a large-scale oil refinery building project in Oman worth more than 1 trillion won. The project calls for building a petrochemical plant and an electricity generation plant in Rayong, Thailand's largest industrial city 150 kilometers southeast of Bangkok. The project will be undertaken under an EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) basis. The projects will be completed by 2019 and 2022 respectively. Samsung Engineering said on August 16 that it won two petrochemical power generation projects worth 550 billion won jointly with PTT Public Company Ltd., a Thai state-run oil company. This has been less than a week since the Korean company announced a large-scale oil refinery building project in Oman worth more than 1 trillion won.

"No One Can Take Military Action without South's Consent"...Prez. Moon

President Moon Jae-in said on August 15, "Another war in the Korean Peninsula must be resisted at any cost. Military action on the Korean Peninsula can only be decided by South Korea and no one else can decide to take military action without the consent of South Korea." In congratulatory remarks in celebration of the 72nd Liberation Day in Seoul's Sejong Culture Center, he said in relation to the North Korean missile crisis, "The government will do everything it can to prevent a war with North Korea. No matter what we go through, the North Korean crisis must be resolved in peaceful manners."

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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)

Long queue to buy commemorative stamps reflects Moon's popularity

Like a boa snake strangling a tree, scores of people formed a long line encircling the head office of South Korea's national postal service in central Seoul to buy souvenirs marking the 100th day of the inauguration of President Moon Jae-in. Similar scenes were reported in other cities on Thursday when Korea Post started selling five million commemorative stamps, 500,000 souvenir sheets and 32,000 stamp albums. "I've been working at this office for about six years, but I've never seen this kind of a scene before," a postal serviceman told Aju News, showing his astonishment at a long queue around his head office in central Seoul.

Sorry, White Nationalists. You are not welcome on Facebook

Sorry, White Nationalists. You are not welcome on Facebook. What happened in the recent white nationalists protest in Charlottesville, Virginia shocked Americans and the world when an extreme white supremacist plowed his car into the anti-racism demonstrators who were following the white nationalists after the rally was shut down due to physical altercations between the two parties. The man who drove his car into the crowd was arrested shortly after the incident and identified as James Alex Fields, Jr., a 20-year-old man from Maumee, Ohio. From the incident, a 32-year-old woman was killed and 19 people were injured. Fields was charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and one count of hit-and-run.

Concert organizers apologize over Ariana Grande performance in Seoul

As an online controversy intensified over American pop-star Ariana Grande's performance in Seoul, concert organizers issued a rare apology to fans for causing inconveniences. Hyundai Card admitted that the inconveniences were caused by a mix of unexpected situations -- Grande's personal reasons and bad weather. "We wish to make a sincere apology to those who felt inconvenienced at Ariana Grande's concert on August 15," the credit card company said through a Facebook post. Fans have criticized Grande's "insincere" attitude during her quick trip to Seoul and the alleged clumsy operation of organizers for causing chaos among audiences. Fans got over the fact that the world famous pop-star skipped a rehearsal.

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

S. Korean pres assures there won’t ever be another war in the Korean Peninsula

South Korean President Moon Jae-in reiterated Thursday that there would never be another war in the Korean Peninsula and that Washington won’t take any actions against Pyongyang without a full prior consent from Seoul. “We have built this country from the ruins of the (1950-1953) Korean War. We cannot lose everything through a war again,” Moon said in a televised press conference marking his first 100 days in office. “President Donald Trump has promised that the U.S. would fully discuss and seek approval for every option it takes against North Korea,” he said. If North Korea goes as far as attacking the U.S., Washington will take “appropriate actions,” but if that involves military moves and the Korean Peninsula, the final decision should be up to Seoul, Moon said.

Korea bans egg yield from 31 farms mostly organic for excess pesticide use

South Korean authorities completed investigation on pesticide contamination in all egg farms across the country, from which they discovered tainted eggs from 66 out of 876 and, shockingly, 62 being organic farms. Eggs from 31 farms (27 organic farms) have been banned from distribution because their pesticide residues far exceeded accepted levels. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Thursday said the egg scare crisis could be combated within days after destroying all the eggs from the 31 farms. The 35 other organic farms found with moderate pesticide residues will lose organic certification and could go on selling eggs at cheaper price under non-organic category.

Hyundai Motor accelerates green lineup with new fuel cell car

South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor Co. unveiled on Thursday its new fuel cell electric vehicle that can travel more than 580 kilometers (360 miles) on a single charge. The upcoming hydrogen-powered car would go 40 percent farther than the first-generation Tucson ix FCEV. Maximum power output has also improved by more than 20 percent to put it on par with gasoline-powered cars of the same grade.

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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.cnkf@people.cn

China Daily www.chinadaily.com.cn circulation@chinadaily.com.cn

GwangmyeongDaily www.gmw.cn webmaster@gmw.cn