Headlines, August 20, 2019

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

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

Moon urges N. Korea, other parties to seize rare dialogue opportunity

President Moon Jae-in called on North Korea and the United States on Monday to seize the current chance to achieve denuclearization and lasting peace, as Seoul and Washington are wrapping up their combined military drills. The allies kicked off the "command-post" exercise on Aug. 5. In response, North Korea demonstrated its own firepower with the test-firing of a salvo of short-range missiles and other rocket systems.

Tokyo authorizes second shipment of materials under export restriction

S. Korea calls in Japanese diplomat over Fukushima water discharge plan

South Korea called in a Japanese diplomat Monday to demand Tokyo's explanation on its reported plan to discharge into the Pacific Ocean contaminated water from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown. The move came amid Seoul's push to reverse Tokyo's recent export curbs through bilateral dialogue and pressure. Seoul sees the curbs as political retaliation for last year's South Korean Supreme Court rulings against Japanese firms over wartime forced labor.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

N. Korea Continues Criticism of US-S. Korea Joint Drill

North Korea continued its criticism of a joint military exercise between South Korea and the U.S. on Tuesday, the last day of the combined drill. The North’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper denounced the ten-day combined command post training as a "hostile act and unacceptable military provocation" against North Korea staged by the U.S. and “warmongers” in South Korea.

S. Korea's Foreign Minister Departs for Talks with Top Diplomats of China, Japan

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha departed for a three-day trip to Beijing Tuesday, where she will meet with top Chinese and Japanese diplomats. Kang will hold talks with her Chinese and Japanese counterparts, Wang Yi and Taro Kono, respectively, on Wednesday morning to discuss and coordinate agenda items for a possible trilateral summit later this year.

S. Korean, US Officials to Meet Ahead of Defense-Cost Sharing Negotiations

South Korean and U.S. diplomats will hold talks in Seoul on Tuesday over the two allies' planned negotiations on cost sharing for the upkeep of American troops in Korea. According to a diplomatic source on Monday, Chang Won-sam at Seoul's Foreign Ministry and his U.S. State Department counterpart, Timothy Betts, plan to meet Tuesday afternoon. They were the chief negotiators in the previous round of talks on the Special Measures Agreement(SMA), a defense cost-sharing deal for the 28-thousand-500 soldiers stationed on the peninsula as part of U.S. Forces Korea(USFK).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

N. Korea slams S. Korea for joint military drill, warns of consequences

SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper blasted South Korea on Tuesday for conducting a joint military exercise with the United States on the last day of the drill, warning that Seoul will pay dearly for such "stupid" acts. South Korea and the U.S. were to wrap up their weekslong joint exercise later in the day. Seoul has said that it is part of its preparations to regain wartime operational control of its troops from Washington, but Pyongyang has called it a rehearsal for invasion. "The joint command post exercise that the warmongers in South Korea are conducting together with the U.S. is an outright hostile act of invading us and a military provocation that cannot be tolerated," the Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary.

FM Kang departs for Beijing to attend talks with Wang, Kono

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha left for Beijing on Tuesday for meetings this week with her Chinese and Japanese counterparts over three-way cooperation and a possible summit among their leaders. Her trip drew keen attention as she is expected to meet bilaterally with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono amid heightened tensions between the two countries over trade and history. Their talks are reportedly set for Wednesday. Their meeting comes at a delicate time when Seoul is mulling whether to renew a bilateral military intelligence-sharing accord with the deadline for its decision set for Saturday.

Preorders for Samsung's Galaxy Note 10 hit 1.3 mln units in S. Korea

Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday that preorders for its latest phablet, the Galaxy Note 10, have topped 1 million units in South Korea. On Aug. 9, the country's three mobile carriers -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- began taking preorders for the tech giant's latest smartphone, which will officially hit the local market Friday. The total number of preorders for the Galaxy Note 10 reached 1.3 million units, more than twofold the preorder number for the Galaxy Note 9, according to Samsung.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Something to get off your chest? Women question need for bras

For many women, the best moment at the day’s end is getting to unclasp their bras. Now increasingly more women are wondering why that kind of freedom should be confined to home. On May 28, 2018, a group of young women celebrated the annual Menstrual Hygiene Day with a campaign to reject shaming and lift taboos related to menstruation. At the event held in Yeongdeungpo in western Seoul, some women also rallied topless to protest against male voyeurism.

Resumption of US-NK dialogue a matter for speculation as drills come to end

A possible resumption of talks between the US and North Korea is in the spotlight as the top nuclear negotiator from Washington is due in Seoul on Tuesday, the final day of their joint military drills. According to the US Department of State, US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun is set to arrive here after visiting Tokyo. His trip to both countries is intended to “further strengthen coordination on the final, fully verified denuclearization” of North Korea.

How IMO regulations affect Korean oil refiners, shipbuilders

New environmental regulations in international waters could serve as a momentum for Korean oil refiners and shipbuilders to seek new opportunities in the sluggish markets. In response to heightening environmental concerns and growing harmful emissions from ships, the International Maritime Organization has ruled that from January 2020 ships will have to use fuel with a maximum of 0.5 percent sulfur content, down from the current 3.5 percent. To abide by this, ship owners have three options. First, they can simply switch high-sulfur fuels to low-sulfur fuels or marine gas oil at higher costs. Second, owners can install exhaust gas cleaning systems, or scrubbers, on their ships. Third, ships can run on liquefied natural gas.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

US extends travel ban on North Korea for another year

The United States on Monday extended a ban on American citizens traveling to North Korea for another year. The State Department announced the extension in a notice, saying "there continues to be serious risk to United States nationals of arrest and long-term detention" in the North. The notice is due to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. The travel ban was imposed in September 2017 in the wake of the death of Otto Warmbier, an American college student who was detained in the North and died shortly after his return to the U.S. in a coma. Exceptions can be granted to journalists and for humanitarian reasons for a single trip.

Tokyo authorizes second shipment of materials under export restriction

The Japanese government has authorized a second shipment of an industrial material under its export restrictions to South Korea, informed sources said Monday. According to industry and government sources here, Tokyo has recently approved a request from a local manufacturer to export photoresist to South Korean chipmaker Samsung Electronics. The shipment will mark the second of its kind since Japan announced tougher restrictions on South Korea-bound shipments of three key materials, including photoresist, at the beginning of last month. The latest batch, if delivered, is said to be six months' worth of supplies for the Korean chipmaker.

Twitter shuts Chinese accounts targeting Hong Kong protests

Twitter said Monday it has suspended more than 200,000 accounts that it believes were part of a Chinese government influence campaign targeting the protest movement in Hong Kong. The company also said it will ban ads from state-backed media companies, expanding a prohibition it first applied in 2017 to two Russian entities. Both measures are part of what a senior company official portrayed in an interview as a broader effort to curb malicious political activity on a popular platform that has been criticized for enabling election interference around the world and for accepting money for ads that amount to propaganda by state-run media organizations.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Korea Presses Japan Over Fukushima Water Discharge Plans

The Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the economic affairs minister at the Japanese Embassy to demand an official explanation of Japanese plans to discharge contaminated water from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident into the Pacific Ocean. Kwon Se-jung, a director-general at the ministry, asked Tomofumi Nishinaga to give a "specific answer" about plans to discharge contaminated water from the stricken nuclear plant. He also expressed Seoul's grave concerns that the matter could impact public safety and health in both countries and others.

Korean Car Production Plummets to Historic Low

Korea's car production will fall to the lowest in 16 years this year amidst declining demand. According to performance reports by Hyundai, Kia and Ssangyong on Sunday, the three companies produced 1.73 million cars in Korea in the first half of this year, down 1.6 percent from a year ago and 3.7 percent from two years ago. The major reason is decreasing demand, which fell to some 730,000 cars in the first half of this year, down 6.1 percent on-year. Ssangyong stopped operation of factories for four days last month. Hyundai and Kia also decreased production slightly.

Tesla Model 3 Goes on Sale in Korea at Last

Tesla started sales of the Model 3 in Korea last Tuesday, more than three years after it started taking pre-orders. Although the range and function of the electric vehicle slightly improved compared to specs revealed at the time of pre-orders, the price tag has also soared. Consumer responses were mixed. Some said the price actually halved, given that the Model 3 boasts similar specs to the Model X and Model S. Others said there is no thrill as it no longer represents the cutting edge.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Korea maintains “strategic ambiguity” regarding GSOMIA renewal

As the deadline for the South Korean government to renew its participation in the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) approaches on Aug. 24, the next question is which decision Moon Jae-in administration will make regarding the agreement. South Korean officials have considered withdrawing from GSOMIA as a way to counter Japan’s decision to remove South Korea from its “white list” (countries that enjoy expedited screening on the exports of strategic materials). All parties to GSOMIA reaffirm their participation in the agreement on an annual basis; however, GSOMIA is automatically terminated if any party to the agreement announces its intent to withdraw 90 days before the annual renewal deadline.

N. Korea and China highlight their cooperation amid their criticism of S. Korea-US joint exercises

Military leaders from North Korea and China highlighted their cooperation in a recent meeting in Beijing that came amid North Korea’s repeated criticism of South Korea-US joint military exercises and Pyongyang’s test launches of new weapon systems. Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, and Kim Su-gil, director of the General Political Bureau of the North Korean People’s Army, emphasized the two countries’ friendly relations in a meeting on the afternoon of Aug. 17, China’s Ministry of National Defense reported on Sunday.

S. Korea to hold special summits with ASEAN and Mekong River countries in November

South Korea’s Blue House announced that it will be holding two special summits, one with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and one with countries around the Mekong River, on Nov. 25-27. Joo Hyung-chul, an economic aide to the president and chair of the special committee for South Korea’s New Southern Policy, made the announcement in a press conference at the Blue House on Aug. 18.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)

Moon calls for cautiousness in dealing with inter-Korean relations

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a meeting with his top aides Monday that his administration needs to be cautious, as if handling a fragile glass bowl, in taking a step forward with regards to the inter-Korean relationship. Moon also stressed the need to make mutual efforts to avoid actions that obstruct dialogue, in an apparent reference to the North’s recent missile launches and personal attacks on Moon, in which the regime used strong words such as “the boiled head of a cow” to criticize the president.

Samsung considers 4g-enabled Galaxy Note 10 launch in Korea

Possibility is growing that the Galaxy Note 10, the latest flagship smartphone from Samsung Electronics to be launched exclusively as a 5G model, will be also available in 4G or Long Term Evolution (LTE) plans. It is reported that SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, the three largest mobile careers in South Korea, are in consultation for the launch of an LTE version of the Galaxy Note 10. The rigid mobile plan for the Galaxy Note 10 caused much controversy from the initial phase as the same product would be available in LTE models in overseas markets. Critics said the plan will limit the choice of consumers when the local 5G market is not mature enough. Previously, the LTE and the 5G versions of the Galaxy S10 were launched in March and April, respectively.

Choo Shin-soo reaches 20 homer mark for 7 straight seasons

Texas Rangers outfielder Choo Shin-soo, nicknamed “Choo Train,” has reached the 20 home run mark for seven seasons in a row for the first time as an Asian Major Leaguer. During a match against the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, Choo tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of seventh inning, hitting a solo homer against the Twins’ closer Sam Dyson. It was a match against the Milwaukee Brewers on August 11 when Choo last hit a home run.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Tenth Anniversary of the Death of Kim Dae-jung: Let Us Recall the DJ-Obuchi Declaration

On August 10, the tenth anniversary of the death of former President Kim Dae-jung (DJ), the top five government leaders (heads of the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, the prime minister, and the chief of the National Election Commission), including Moon Hee-sang, chairman of the National Assembly and the leaders of the five political parties remembered the former president at the Seoul National Cemetery. In his memorial address, Chairman Moon said, "Former President Kim presented a solution and future vision in bilateral relations with the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration in 1988." He further said, "Our people will proactively and proudly overcome this difficulty." Ruling and opposition politicians including Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, in one voice, also remembered the former president's insights and courage, which had helped advance relations between South Korea and Japan. We agree with these evaluations of the politicians and hope the political pledges will to lead to action.

Housing Measures for Young People Surrender Before Housing Prices

The city of Busan had planned to build two thousand units of Happy Houses, public rental housing, on a popular and expensive site across City Hall for college students, newlyweds and young people entering the workforce. Unfortunately, that plan was halved. According to the city, the change was a remedy for damages due to an oversupply of rental housing and a way to avoid problems of traffic congestion and parking. The project had attracted nationwide attention as a successful model of the Happy House, but now that it has been stigmatized as a NIMBY facility raising concerns of falling housing prices, it may affect future Happy House projects.

Next Week’s Meeting with Japan, a Variable in Determining the Time and Intensity of the Dokdo Defense Drill

President Moon Jae-in refrained from criticizing Japan and stressed a diplomatic solution in his speech celebrating Liberation Day on August 15, and now eyes are on whether the military authorities will conduct the Dokdo defense exercise. At present, the government is considering diplomatic schedules to ease tensions with Japan as they review the time and scale of the military drill. This day, a defense ministry official referred to the date and scale of the Dokdo defense drill and said, "It is still under consideration," and added, "We are observing various circumstances." The government is keeping the door open to the possibility of improving relations through dialogue with Japan and is strategically maintaining an ambiguous position.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

KCGI CEO confirms fund’s bid for Asiana to reduce over-competition in aviation industry

Korea Corporate Governance Improvement (KCGI) will bid for Asiana Airlines, despite antitrust and financing questions due to its ownership in the country`s top full-service carrier Korean Air Lines, to defend the domestic aviation industry from injurious over-competition, according to the chief of the home-grown activist fund. “What the domestic market needs is not new licenses and liners but lessened competition before all the players go bust,” Kang Sung-boo, chief executive of KCGI, said in an exclusive interview with Maeil Business Newspaper.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 LTE unlikely to be released in S. Korea any time soon

South Korean consumers won’t likely have the long-term evolution (LTE) network version of Samsung Electronics Co.’s new premium smartphone Galaxy Note 10 any time soon despite high demand. Min Won-ki, second vice minister of science and ICT, said on Monday that the Korean government has suggested Samsung Electronics to launch the LTE version of its Galaxy Note 10 “as it is advisable for consumers to have [wider] options.” The government’s move comes after the country’s three mobile carriers – SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and LG Uplus Corp. – have asked the world’s largest smartphone maker to roll out the LTE network version of its premium flagship Galaxy Note 10 that will be release in fifth-generation (5G) version only in Korea.

Korea’s top 5 duty-free shops set best top-line record for six months in H1

South Korea’s top five duty-free shops achieved sales milestone of 10 trillion won ($8.25 billion) in the first half and are set for a record-breaking year due to outlet additions and increased Chinese shoppers. Combined sales of five major Korean duty-free shops reached 10.16 trillion won in the first six months, the highest half-year top line data, according to industry sources on Monday. Lotte Duty Free made up the lion’s share of 4.43 trillion won in sales, followed by Shilla Duty Free 2.97 trillion won, Shinsegae DF 2.09 trillion won, Doota Duty Free 353.5 billion won, and Hyundai Department Store Duty Free 209.9 billion won.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What’s ticking around the world at this second?
See what the world media around the world have to report:

Use us!
The Korea Post media are more than eager to be used, and to serve you—with the following five news outlets, 34 years old this year!

Korean-language Internet edition: http://www.koreapost.co.kr
English-language Internet edition: http://www.koreapost.com
Korean-language print newspaper:
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3801.pdf
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3802.pdf
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3803.pdf
http://www.koreapost.co.kr/pdf/list.php?category=&syear=2018&smonth=03&sday=26&hosu=40
English E-daily: http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=9864
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lee Kyung-sik edt@koreapost.com