The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Monday, September 25, 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 Convenes NSC Meeting

President Moon Jae-in convened a National Security Council(NSC) meeting on Sunday to monitor North Korea's movements and review South Korea's countermeasures for potential provocations by the North. The presidential office said that Moon ordered officials to actively look for countermeasures to curb North Korea's additional provocations. The president also instructed them to seek all possible diplomatic measures together with the international community, while also calling for the maintenance of strong military deterrence based on the South Korea-U.S. joint defense posture.

Mnuchin: Trump Does Not Want Nuclear War with N. Korea

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says that President Donald Trump does not want a nuclear war with North Korea and his administration will do everything to stop it from happening. The secretary made the remarks on Sunday during an interview with ABC News. The assurance comes as Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have been engaged in an escalating war of words. Mnuchin also stressed that the president has said all the options are on the table, he has had lots of alternatives presented to him, and he'll make decisions at the time. Meanwhile, a recent poll showed that two thirds of Americans are against a preemptive strike against North Korea.

Merkel Wins 4th Term, German Far Right Enters Parliament

German Chancellor Angela Merkel won a fourth term on Sunday as her conservative bloc claimed a lackluster victory in the German general election. The German public broadcaster ZDF's exit polls showed Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and their Bavaria-only allies, the Christian Social Union, secured around 33 percent of the vote.

Despite losing support, the election victory sets Merkel to match the late Helmut Kohl's record as the longest serving leader in Germany's post war history.

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

N.K. sends letter condemning Trump to foreign parliaments

A North Korean parliamentary committee on diplomacy has sent to foreign parliaments an open letter condemning U.S. President Donald Trump and calling for creating anti-U.S. fronts, the country's state media said Monday.

In a letter to parliaments in other countries, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly rebuked Trump's threat to "totally destroy" the North as an "intolerable insult" to North Koreans, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It did not specify to which country the North sent letters Sunday.

Sales of flexible OLEDs double in Q2

Global sales of small and midsized OLED displays doubled in the second quarter from a year earlier, data showed Monday, on the back of rising demand for smartphones.

According to the data compiled by IHS Markit, the market for flexible OLEDs that are 9 inches and below was estimated at US$2 billion in the April-June period, rising sharply from $886 million posted a year earlier.

Two-thirds of Americans oppose preemptive strike on N. Korea: poll

Two-thirds of Americans are against a preemptive strike on N. Korea, a poll showed Sunday, amid an escalating war of words between the countries' leaders.

The joint poll by the Washington Post and ABC News found that 67 percent of respondents were in favor of an attack on the North only if the regime strikes the U.S. or its allies first. The remaining 23 percent said the U.S. should launch an attack before North Korea can strike America or its allies.

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

N. Korea, Venezuela, Chad among 8 countries on new US travel ban

North Korea, Venezuela and Chad were added Sunday on a new list of countries targeted by a US travel ban due to poor security and lack of cooperation with American authorities.

Sudan, one of six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list, leaving eight nations with complete or partial blocks on travel to the United States.

N. Korea warns US military option would lead to tragic fate

North Korea warned Sunday that military action by the United States would lead to the "most tragic" end for the US, vowing that the country would not sit on President Donald Trump's threat to destroy the regime.

"(North Korea) will seriously review taking the strongest-ever response measure and our top leadership's bombshell declaration to deal with the US' dotard with fire should not be overlooked," the country's Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

Fourth industrial revolution, a golden opportunity for Samsung

Businesses around the world are facing a paradigm shift in electronics devices and information technology.

And Samsung Electronics, whose operating profit is forecast to reach a record 15.5 trillion won ($13.6 billion) in the fourth quarter, has built its strategy around the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and automotive components, to maintain growth and its leading position in technology.

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

NK foreign minister warns of 'merciless preventive action'

Military tension surrounding the Korean Peninsula is escalating dangerously, with Washington and Pyongyang intensifying their war of words and the United States flying B-1B Lancer bombers off the North Korean coast.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho has said missile attacks against the U.S. mainland would be inevitable as U.S. President Donald Trump has kept insulting the dignity of the Kim Jong-un regime.

US imposes travel restrictions on N. Korea, 7 other nations

The United States on Sunday imposed travel restrictions on North Korea and seven other nations deemed to be a security risk.

Under a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, citizens of North Korea, Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen will face travel restrictions starting Oct. 18.

N. Korean FM threatens 'merciless preventive action' against US

North Korea's foreign minister lambasted U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday, saying he made its "rockets' visit to the entire U.S. mainland inevitable" by calling leader Kim Jong-un "rocket man" and threatening to destroy the North.

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, Ri Yong-ho said North Korea will take "merciless preventive action" if the U.S. shows any sign of "decapitating operation on our headquarters or military attack against our country."

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

U.S. flies bombers off North Korean coast

B-1B Lancer strategic bombers of the United States, dubbed as “the swan of death,” flew Saturday beyond the Northern Limit Line (NLL), which was an armed protest of the highest level. The B-1B Lancer bombers’ flight was made just four days after U.S. President Donald Trump said, “We will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.” This was the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone any U.S. fighter or bomber has flown off North Korea’s Coast in the 21st century.

It is an exaggeration to say N. Korea aid helps nuclear armament,’ PM says

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon talked about the decision of the Moon Jae-in administration to provide humanitarian aid to North Korea in an interview with the Asahi Shimbun on Saturday. “The South Korean government will not provide the aid right now, nor will it send cash to the North,” Lee said. “It is an exaggeration that the aid will facilitate North Korea’s nuclear armament.” The prime minister actively defended the administration’s decision to provide eight million dollars to the North through an international organization against the criticism that the aid goes against the international community’ policy toward North Korea.

Korea beats China to become the third-largest Bitcoin market

Korea has surpassed China and become the third-largest market in bitcoin trading volume.

CryptoCoinsNews and Cointelegraph, news sites covering bitcoin and cryptocurrency, announced on Sunday that the daily bitcoin trading volume of Korea hit 15,408 (around 65.1 billion won) as of Thursday. The Korean won’s market share was 5.55%, outstripping those of the Chinese yuan (4.97%) and the euro (4.77%). The first and second spots in the market share were taken by the Japanese yen (49.13%) and the U.S. dollar (72.73%).

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

U.S. Bombers Buzz N.Korean Coast

U.S. B-1B Lancer bombers flew in international airspace off North Korea's eastern coast in the latest show of force on Sunday as a war of words between the two countries escalated to fever pitch.

The move came after North Korea threatened to detonate a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean. South Korea's National Security Council met on Sunday amid fears that the U.S. could clash with North Korea.

Anxious Parents Turn to Professional Child Carers

A growing number of parents hire professional child carers to look after their children while they are at work. Normally parents who work late turn to neighbors or relatives to look after their children, but more and more are turning to professional help. Although fees differ by region, they now range from W12,000 to W15,000 an hour (US$1=W1,135). Many parents put out job ads themselves instead of going through agencies, even if that means spending more money. Some parents turn to private security companies amid some high-profile crimes against kids.

Cabinet OKs US$8 Million Humanitarian Aid to N.Korea

The government on Thursday approved a proposal to give US$8 million in aid to North Korean mothers and children through international organizations.

But it did not set a date for the payment. "The government will decide on the timing after watching the development of the inter-Korean situation and taking other factors into account," the Unification Ministry said in a statement.

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

Moon exhibits contradictory behavior during visit to UN

On Sept. 21, during his visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly meeting, President Moon Jae-in's actions regarding diplomacy and security went from one extreme to another. Speaking before the General Assembly, he stressed the urgent need to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula through peaceful, diplomatic and political efforts, but later, in a summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, he agreed to a deal on the purchase of state-of-the-art American weaponry, raising concerns that this might set off an arms race in northeast Asia.

Kim Jong-un warns of “ultra hardline measures” in response to Trump’s UN Speech

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a statement in his own name firing back against US President Donald Trump’s remarks about “totally destroy[ing]” North Korea. Apart from New Year’s addresses, this is the first example of a North Korean leader issuing a statement in his own name. With Kim’s statement making reference to “the most ultra-hardline response measures,” tensions around the Korean Peninsula appear to be dramatically escalating.

Moon offers upbeat appraisal of his UN trip

“I don’t think [the North Korean nuclear issue] will be resolved in the short term, but I do see us as being in the process of moving toward a resolution. International coordination is working out well on the whole, and from the Republic of Korea’s standpoint, we are receiving support and cooperation, so I think the international response is going well.”

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

Ri threatens ‘pre-emptive action’

North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho threatened to take “merciless pre-emptive action” against the United States in case it shows any sign of military attack, calling U.S. President Donald Trump the “gravest threat” to international peace and security during an address to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday in New York.

U.S. flies B-1B bombers off the North’s east coast

The Pentagon flew its Air Force B-1B Lancer strategic bombers Saturday east of North Korea, near the demilitarized zone, demonstrating U.S. President Donald Trump’s resolve.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced later that day that the bombers flew from Guam, escorted by F-15C Eagle fighters from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, to international airspace over waters east of North Korea.

Emart begins its pullout from Chinese market

Emart is selling five of its six discount store locations in Shanghai to Thailand’s CP Group, sources briefed on the matter said Sunday.

A spokesman at Korean conglomerate Shinsegae, which owns Emart, confirmed the sell-off was in progress, pending approval from the Chinese government.

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

Moon Government to Consider the Inter-Korean Situation in Determining the Time and Scale of First Step in Aid for North Korea

On September 21, the government decided to fund US$8 million to projects supporting the vulnerable, such as pregnant women and infants, in North Korea through international organizations like the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP). However, the government decided to consider the inter-Korean situation when determining the time and scale of the actual support. The government appears to have opted for a flexible approach to details considering the public opinion in and outside the country, which has deteriorated due to a series of nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches by the North.

Kim Myeong-su's Supreme Court: Door Opens for Judicial Reforms

The National Assembly approved the appointment a month after President Moon Jae-in nominated Kim on August 21. The appointment of Kim was unconventional, for it ignored seniority within the court, and it is expected to add momentum to judicial reforms as we now enter the age of a Supreme Court under Kim Myeong-su, who is determined to establish a more democratic court.

[President Moon & the UN Summits] Nuclear Submarine Debate Resurfaces: Introducing the Submarines Contradicts the Joint Declaration on the Denuclearization of North and South Korea

The issue of introducing nuclear-powered submarines has emerged again as President Moon Jae-in visits the United Nations and prepares to attend a summit with the U.S. leader on September 21. When a media outlet reported that South Korea and the U.S. had reached an agreement on this issue, Cheong Wa Dae officially denied it on September 20. However, since Cheong Wa Dae has repeatedly expressed its intention to introduce the nuclear submarines, the debate refuses to die down.

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

Moon Government's Approval Rating Hits Low of 67.1%

The approval rating of the Moon Jae-in government has hit a low of 67.1 percent largely due to North Korea nuclear issues. The rating has fallen for three consecutive weeks.

As for the approval rating of the ruling Minjoo Party has declined for four weeks in a row to 49.3 percent.

Semiconductor and Display Industries Set to Invest 52 Tril. Won by 2024

Chief executives of the nation's leading companies like Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and LG Display have made a request to the government to relieve the problem of labor shortage in the area of semiconductor and display.

Kwon Oh-hyun, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, said on September 18 in a discussion session held in Kensington Hotel in Seoul's Yoido presided over by Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy Baek Woon-gyu, "Skilled workers are in short supply in fast-growing industries like semiconductor. The government must step in and help the industry foster experienced hands in semiconductor materials and equipment."

Oil Refiners See Good Times ahead due to Rising Oil Prices

International oil prices have hit a record high in seven months as they went up over US$50 a barrel. The domestic oil refining sector raised its hopes of improving their profitability in the third quarter after suffering poor results for two consecutive quarters.

The spot price for Dubai crude as compiled by the Korea National Oil Corp. was $53.64 a barrel on September 16, up by 7 cents from the previous day. This is the highest level since February this year when the figure was $54.39.

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

Teen-aged girls get harsh penalties for brutal killing of 8-year-old

A court handed down harsh penalties to two teen-aged girls on conviction of conspiring to kidnap and kill an eight-year-old girl nicknamed "Sarang (love)" whose body was dismembered and dumped, ruling their brutal crime was premeditated "very elaborately". A 17-year-old girl was sentenced to 20 years in prison for abducting Sarang at a park in the western port city of Incheon on March 29 to strangle her to death at her home. She allegedly sent a social media message to her friend that she was going out for "hunting" and presented a body part as a gift.

Army general arrested in probe into human rights violation at his residence

A four-star general has been arrested in a military investigation into allegations he and his wife abused authority to treat house-keeping soldiers like slaves at their official residence. He has been questioned by military investigators since he was dismissed as filed army commander. of the 2nd Operations Command.

Telecom giant KT allowed to make first road test of autonomous bus

As tech companies and researchers compete to secure advanced autonomous vehicle technology at home and abroad, South Korea's largest telecom company, KT, secured temporary government approval to test-drive its autonomous bus on public roads for the first time.

"We are the first to be approved by the transport ministry to test our bus on public roads," KT said in a statement. The test will begin this month at an unspecified location.

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

Majority 50.1% in Toshiba to stay in Japan, SK Hynix wants convertible share

As Japan’s Toshiba Corp. wrangles out key issues in last-minute negotiations over a 49.9 percent stake in its NAND flash business with its first choice group led by Bain Capital of the U.S. backed by South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix, state-sponsored Japanese investors are likely to walk away with the bigger 50.1 percent to ensure the lucrative memory chip business stays in Japan.

DSME wins 920bn won order from European container shipper

South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) won a 926.6 billion won ($820 million) deal to build very large container ships for a European shipping company, the biggest deal for the Korean shipbuilder in two years.

DSME announced in a regulatory filing on Thursday that it has inked a contract worth 926.6 billion won to build five very large container ships for a European company.

China’s THAAD retaliatory actions spread to Korean petrochemical makers

South Korean petrochemical makers have also fallen victim to Beijing’s persistent retaliation on Korean enterprises for Seoul’s deployment of a U.S. antimissile system on the Korean soil.

According to the Korea International Trade Association on Thursday, Korean petrochemical products have been met by the Chinese government’s unusually frequent investigations into alleged dumping in recent months.

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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

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 Heraldwww.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.comlithuania@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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