yna--2020-10-21--S. Korean, Chinese defense chiefs discuss security situation, vow to boost cooperation

`` The Chinese minister invited Suh to his country , '' the ministry said .
`` The two sides agreed @ @ @ @ @ communications and exchanges via diverse channels , including the ministers ' visits to each other @ @ @ @ @ time . ''

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- The defense chiefs of South Korea and China discussed security situations on the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday and vowed to continue exchanges and cooperation, Seoul's defense ministry said.
During the telephone talks, South Korea's Defense Minister Suh Wook explained recent security circumstances to his Chinese counterpart, Wei Fenghe, and asked for Beijing to play a "constructive role" for peace and stability on the peninsula.
Wei stressed the need to make joint efforts toward that goal while maintaining close communication between their militaries and pushing for exchanges and cooperation, according to the ministry.
North Korea is believed to have continued to beef up its nuclear and missile capabilities amid stalled denuclearization talks with the United States. During a massive military parade earlier this month, the communist country showed off a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
The Chinese minister congratulated Suh on his inauguration last month, and expressed gratitude for South Korea's repatriation of remains of its troops killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, according to the ministry.
"The Chinese minister invited Suh to his country," the ministry said. "The two sides agreed to strive together to continue communications and exchanges via diverse channels, including the ministers' visits to each other's countries at a convenient time."
The first talks between the two ministers were arranged at the request of the Chinese side, according to ministry officials.
The meeting also took place amid a growing Sino-U.S. rivalry. Suh visited the U.S. last week for his first meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
This photo, captured from the website of North Korea's Rodong Sinmun on Oct. 10, 2020, shows North Korea's new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
South Korean and Chinese officials hold a ceremony to put the remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War into coffins for their repatriation at a provisional mortuary inside the Army's 17th Division in the western city of Incheon on Sept. 26, 2020, in this photo provided by the defense ministry. The repatriation ceremony was to take place the following day. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Moon talks with Indian, Danish leaders over race for top WTO post

Moon said that Yoo is a candidate with expertise on trade affairs and political leadership and that she 's the @ @ @ @ @ adjust the interests of advanced and developing nations and successfully carry out the reform of @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in continued his phone diplomacy Wednesday to help South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee win the ongoing competition to become the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Moon had back-to-back phone talks with the prime ministers of Denmark and India -- Mette Frederiksen and Narendra Modi -- and requested support for Yoo's bid, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
South Korean President speaks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the phone at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Oct. 21, 2020 in this photo provided by Moon's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Moon said that Yoo is a candidate with expertise on trade affairs and political leadership and that she's the "right person" to adjust the interests of advanced and developing nations and successfully carry out the reform of the WTO, Kang added.
Speaking with the Danish leader, the president requested the country's support and cooperation in connection with the second P4G summit slated to be held here in the first half of 2021.
Frederiksen agreed to do so, Kang said. Denmark hosted the inaugural P4G summit on tackling climate change and other sustainable development challenges.
Moon and Modi, meanwhile, agreed that South Korea and India need to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the post-coronavirus era, as well as in response to the pandemic, as special strategic partners.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--S. Korea pledges US$10 mln in humanitarian aid to conflict-ridden Sahel region

`` Lee stressed the need to address the fundamental causes that lead to instability and humanitarian crisis in the Sahel @ @ @ @ @ , climate change and weak governance , '' the ministry said in a press release @

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to offer $10 million in humanitarian aid to the crisis-ridden Sahel region of West Africa for the 2020-2021 period, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.
Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho unveiled the assistance plan during a video-linked high-level international meeting held by Denmark, Germany, the European Union and United Nations to help address growing humanitarian concerns related to the Central Sahel.
"Lee stressed the need to address the fundamental causes that lead to instability and humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region, such as poverty, climate change and weak governance," the ministry said in a press release.
"To that end, he underscored the need for an approach based on a long-term perspective related to strengthening government capabilities and the establishment of institutions," it added.
Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho attends a video-linked high-level international meeting held by Denmark, Germany, the European Union and United Nations to help address growing humanitarian concerns related to the Central Sahel on Oct. 21, 2020 in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
South Korea's aid plan includes programs to tackle the public health crisis stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, ensure the region's food security, offer education for women and young girls and help enhance agricultural environments.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--48 N. Koreans defected to South Korea in this year's 3rd quarter

A total of 135 arrived here in the first three months of this year and the number tumbled to 12 @ @ @ @ @ the ministry said .
( END )

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- A total of 48 North Korean defectors arrived in South Korea during the third quarter of this year, the unification ministry said Wednesday.
The figure, including 23 males and 25 females, is a significant drop from the 226 North Koreans that defected in the same period last year.
The sharp decline appears to reflect challenges in moving across borders due to the COVID-19. North Korea has maintained tight border controls since early this year as part of antivirus efforts.
A total of 135 arrived here in the first three months of this year and the number tumbled to 12 in the second quarter, the ministry said.
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--S. Korea, Mexico agree to designate Mexican gov't staff to support Korean biz

Under the agreement , the Mexican government will designate staff inside its economy ministry to help South Korean companies smoothly @ @ @ @ @ a time when the business environment faces shifts following the July effectuation of a free @ @ @ @ @ , Canada and Mexico , known as the USMCA .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Mexico have agreed to designate Mexican government staff to support Korean businesses as part of efforts to enhance bilateral economic cooperation, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.
The agreement came as Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn held talks with Maria de la Mora, undersecretary of foreign trade at Mexico's Ministry of Economy, during his two-day visit to the country that started Monday.
"Deputy Foreign Minister Kim's trip this time is meaningful as it marked the start of the post-coronavirus economic cooperation between the two countries, which included the introduction of an institutional apparatus to support South Korean businesses' corporate activities," the ministry said in a press release.
Under the agreement, the Mexican government will designate staff inside its economy ministry to help South Korean companies smoothly operate in the country at a time when the business environment faces shifts following the July effectuation of a free trade agreement among the U.S., Canada and Mexico, known as the USMCA.
During his talks with Mexican officials, Kim also stressed the need for a bilateral free trade agreement between South Korea and Mexico and called for Mexico's support for Seoul's efforts to become an associate member of the Pacific Alliance, a Latin American trade bloc formed by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.
Joining the trade bloc is expected to create an effect akin to having a bilateral free trade pact with Mexico. South Korea has bilateral trade deals with the other members of the trade bloc, the official said.
Kim also used his trip to ask for Mexico's support for South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's campaign for the top post of the World Trade Organization.
During his stay in the country, Kim also met Mexican Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs Julian Ventura, as well as David Bautista Rivera, head of the Mexico-South Korea parliamentarian friendship group and chiefs of South Korean businesses operating in the country.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--(2nd LD) Health authorities see no link between flu shots, deaths, will go ahead with vaccine progra

(2nd LD) Health authorities see no link between flu shots, deaths, will go ahead with vaccine program

`` No drugs or vaccines are 100 percent safe , but we should know that flu vaccines have been around @ @ @ @ @ , since 1945 , '' said Ki Mo-ran , an epidemiology professor at the National @ @ @ @ @ would have not used flu vaccines if there were so many deaths connected with flu @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 6, 11, 16)
By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's public health body said Wednesday there was no direct link between flu shots and recent reported deaths and the government will go ahead with the nationwide flu vaccine program.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), told a media briefing that the KDCA will conduct thorough investigations into the recent deaths of nine people who got flu shots.
"We have not found a direct connection between deaths and vaccines, or a relation between adverse effects of flu shots and deaths," said KDCA chief Jeong Eun-kyeong. "Considering no major severe adverse effects have been reported from a specific vaccine, we decided not to stop flu vaccinations."
The KDCA said two deaths may be related with anaphylaxis shock, a serious allergic reaction after immunization.
Of the nine deaths, health authorities are currently conducting epidemiological investigations, including autopsies, on eight cases.
So far, 12.97 million people have received flu shots, with 8.36 million of them getting the shots for free under the state-run program.
Earlier, health authorities reported that a 68-year-old man on the country's southern resort island of Jeju and a 78-year-old man in Daegu have died after getting the shots.
Gyeonggi Province also reported two deaths from people who received the shots at public centers in Gwangmyeong and Goyang.
A citizen receives a free flu shot at a medical center in Seoul on Oct. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
Fears over flu vaccines emerged last Friday after a 17-year-old boy in the western port city of Incheon died two days after receiving a flu shot.
Similar fatalities were reported from a 77-year-old woman in Gochang, North Jeolla Province, and from an 82-year-old man in Daejeon on Tuesday. Both received flu shots Monday.
Most of them had underlying diseases, health authorities said. One of them died only 12 hours after receiving the flu shot.
"We feel regret over people's concerns over free flu shots and are looking into the situation in a grave manner," said Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip at a press briefing. "But first, we must find out the exact cause of the recent deaths."
According to health authorities, the deceased people got flu vaccines manufactured by Korea Vaccine, Boryung Biopharma, LG Chem, SK bioscience and GC Pharma.
Health authorities said they are closely monitoring people who were administered those vaccines at the same medical institutions with the deceased on the same day.
So far, 431 people showed abnormal responses after receiving flu shots, though no causal connection to flu shots has been confirmed. Of them, 111 showed local reactions, 119 had allergies and 93 suffered fever.
"Since most people who got flu shots with the same vaccines reported no major problems, we concluded that those vaccines do not contain toxic materials," said Kim Joong-gon, who leads a KDCA team investigating flu vaccination cases. "We can get rid of the possibility that the vaccine itself is a problem."
Experts said it is too early to determine whether flu vaccinations should be stopped.
"No drugs or vaccines are 100 percent safe, but we should know that flu vaccines have been around for more than 70 years, since 1945," said Ki Mo-ran, an epidemiology professor at the National Cancer Center. "We would have not used flu vaccines if there were so many deaths connected with flu shots."
Citizens wait in line to receive a free flu shot at a medical center in Seoul on Oct. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
According to the KDCA, there has been only one death case that authorities found a connection to a flu shot. In 2009, a 65-year-old woman was diagnosed with Miller Fisher syndrome, a rare nerve disease, after receiving a flu shot and died a year later.
Prior to the suspected flu shot deaths, many people already expressed concerns over flu vaccinations after some of the inactivated flu vaccines, handled by Shinsung Pharm, were found to have been exposed to room temperatures during shipping last month. It recalled the mishandled products later.
Earlier this month, Seoul's drug safety watchdog ordered Korea Vaccine to recall 615,000 doses of flu vaccines after confirming white particles were found in the vaccines, though it believed that the efficacy and safety of vaccines were not compromised.
"Any vaccine that is suspicious should be recalled to prevent bigger troubles," said Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital in Seoul. "At a time like this, the government should stick to its principles, but the problem is that people are worried."
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Gov't urged to reduce classroom density to protect students from virus

The lawmakers said a two-meter distance can be secured among students if 16 students are in one classroom .
If @ @ @ @ @ class rises to 25 , the maximum distance between them is reduced to 1.4 meters @ @ @ @ @ meters front and rear , they noted .
If the figure rises to 36 , @ @ @ @ @ directions is a mere one meter .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Two liberal party lawmakers, their supporters and civic activists on Wednesday urged the government to drastically reduce the number of students per classroom at elementary and secondary schools, as part of efforts to strengthen social distancing in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Rep. Kang Min-jung of the Open Democratic Party, Rep. Lee Eun-ju of the Justice Party and their supporters held a news conference in front of the National Assembly to ask the government to revise its guidelines on classroom density and lower the number of students per classroom to below 16.
At present, 99 percent of elementary and secondary classrooms nationwide are of the same size, measuring nine meters in length and eight meters in width.
Civic activists hold a rally in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Oct. 21, 2020, to ask the government to help lower the number of students per class. (Yonhap)
But the number of students per classroom differs widely depending on the individual situations of schools. In some congested classrooms, social distancing is said to be difficult to implement. According to education ministry data, the number of students per class in domestic elementary schools averaged 23 as of 2017.
The lawmakers said a two-meter distance can be secured among students if 16 students are in one classroom. If the number of students per class rises to 25, the maximum distance between them is reduced to 1.4 meters right and left and 1.25 meters front and rear, they noted. If the figure rises to 36, the maximum distance in all directions is a mere one meter.
"It may be realistically difficult to reduce the number of students per class below 16 overnight. But the government has to clarify its principles on classroom density to help gradually lower the number of students per class," the lawmakers said in a press release.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--BLACKPINK appears on U.S. talk show 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'

BLACKPINK 's four members -- Jisoo , Jennie , Rose and Lisa -- talked about their successful gig at the @ @ @ @ @ and behind-the-scene episodes from the making of their first full-length album released earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ 's agency .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- K-pop quartet BLACKPINK performed and shared its stories on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," becoming the first K-pop girl group to appear on the U.S. late-night show.
The band, which Kimmel introduced as "the most popular all-female group in the vast realm of music known as K-pop" joined the show through video chat on Tuesday (U.S. time).
BLACKPINK's four members -- Jisoo, Jennie, Rose and Lisa -- talked about their successful gig at the Coachella music festival last year and behind-the-scene episodes from the making of their first full-length album released earlier this month, according to the band's agency.
The band gave a performance of their latest hit "Lovesick Girls" following the interview.
With the latest appearance, BLACKPINK became the first all-female K-pop act to appear as a guest on the popular talk show, which has featured a wide range of guests including former U.S. President Barack Obama.
BLACKPINK is set to appear on another U.S. television show, "Good Morning America," on Wednesday (U.S. time).
The band recently made history by becoming the first K-pop girl group to rank No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and the Official Charts with its latest album "The Album."
This photo, provided by YG Entertainment, shows BLACKPINK performing "Lovesick Girls" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Oct. 20, 2020 (U.S.time). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by YG Entertainment, shows BLACKPINK performing "Lovesick Girls" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Oct. 20, 2020 (U.S.time). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by YG Entertainment, shows BLACKPINK performing "Lovesick Girls" on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Oct. 20, 2020 (U.S.time). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--(LEAD) Health authorities see no link between flu shots, deaths, will go ahead with vaccine program

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)
By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's public health body said Wednesday there was no direct link between flu shots and recent reported deaths and the government will go ahead with the nationwide flu vaccine program.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), told a media briefing that the KDCA will conduct thorough investigations into the recent deaths of nine people who got flu shots.
"We have not found a direct connection between deaths and vaccines, or a relation between adverse effects of flu shots and deaths," said KDCA chief Jeong Eun-kyeong. "Considering no major severe adverse effects have been reported from one specific vaccine, we decided not to stop flu vaccinations."
The KDCA said two deaths may be related with anaphylaxis shock, a serious allergic reaction after immunization.
Of the nine deaths, health authorities are currently conducting epidemiological investigations, including autopsies, on eight cases.
So far, 8.36 million people have received flu shots under the state-run program.
Earlier, health authorities reported that a 68-year-old man on the country's southern resort island of Jeju and a 78-year-old man in Daegu have died after getting the shots.
Health officials said they are investigating whether there is any causal link between their deaths and flu vaccines, noting that both men had underlying diseases.
Gyeonggi Province also reported two deaths from people who received the shots at public centers in Gwangmyeong and Goyang.
A citizen receives a free flu shot at a medical center in Seoul on Oct. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
Fears over flu vaccines emerged last Friday after a 17-year-old boy in the western port city of Incheon died two days after receiving a flu shot.
Similar fatalities were reported from a 77-year-old woman in Gochang, North Jeolla Province, and from an 82-year-old man in Daejeon on Tuesday. Both received flu shots Monday.
"We feel regret over people's concerns over free flu shots and are looking into the situation in a grave manner," said Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip at a press briefing. "But first, we must find out the exact cause of the recent deaths."
According to health authorities, the deceased people got flu vaccines manufactured by Korea Vaccine, Boryung Biopharma, LG Chem, SK bioscience and GC Pharma.
Health authorities said they are closely monitoring people who were administered those vaccines at the same medical institutions with the deceased on the same day.
So far, 431 people showed abnormal responses after receiving flu shots, though no causal connection to flu shots has been confirmed. Of them, 111 showed local reactions, 119 had allergies and 93 suffered fever.
Experts said it is too early to determine whether flu vaccinations should be stopped.
"No drugs or vaccines are 100 percent safe, but we should know that flu vaccines have been around for more than 70 years, since 1945," said Ki Mo-ran, an epidemiology professor at the National Cancer Center. "We would have not used flu vaccines if there were so many deaths connected with flu shots."
Citizens wait in line to receive a free flu shot at a medical center in Seoul on Oct. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
According to the KDCA, there has been only one death case that authorities found a connection to a flu shot. In 2009, a 65-year-old woman was diagnosed with Miller Fisher syndrome, a rare nerve disease, after receiving a flu shot and died a year later.
Prior to the suspected flu shot deaths, many people already expressed concerns over flu vaccinations after some of the inactivated flu vaccines, handled by Shinsung Pharm, were found to have been exposed to room temperatures during shipping last month. It recalled the mishandled products later.
Earlier this month, Seoul's drug safety watchdog ordered Korea Vaccine to recall 615,000 doses of flu vaccines after confirming white particles were found in the vaccines, though it believed that the efficacy and safety of vaccines were not compromised.
"Any vaccine that is suspicious should be recalled to prevent bigger troubles," said Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital in Seoul. "At a time like this, the government should stick to its principles, but the problem is that people are worried."
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--(2nd LD) LG Chem's Q3 profit soars on petrochemicals, battery sales

Asked if the company has a plan to put aside some provisions to handle the fire cases , Lee said @ @ @ @ @ put aside any provisions for the matter as the exact cause of the fires has @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS executives' comments and stock prices in last 6 paras)
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's leading chemical firm, said Wednesday its third-quarter net profit more than quadrupled from a year earlier, helped by robust sales of petrochemical and battery products.
For the three months ending in September, its net profit soared to 570.39 billion won (US$503 million) from 137.19 billion won in the same period of last year, the company said in a statement.
"Raw material prices remained stable and demand for petrochemical products recovered in the third quarter. Increased sales of car batteries and rechargeable battery products also helped the bottom line," the statement said.
This photo taken on Oct. 12, 2020, shows LG Group's headquarters building in Yeouido, Seoul. (Yonhap)
In a conference call held after the release of the quarterly results, LG Chem Executive Vice President Cha Dong-seok expected sales in the petrochemical and battery divisions to continue to improve in the fourth quarter on robust demand for the products, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Operating profit more than doubled to 902.08 billion won in the third quarter from 348.76 billion won a year earlier.
The company logged its highest quarterly operating profit since it reported 831.3 billion won in the first quarter of 2011.
Sales rose 8.8 percent to 7.5 trillion won from 6.89 trillion won in the same period a year earlier.
LG Chem is the world's biggest car battery supplier, accounting for a global share of 24.6 percent. It supplies lithium ion car batteries to more than 20 carmakers, such as General Motors Co., Volkswagen, Porsche, Geely Auto Group, Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp.
The company expects sales in the battery business to reach 18 trillion won in 2021 and over 30 trillion won in 2024, helped by growing demand for electric vehicles.
As for recent fires in Hyundai Motor Co.'s Kona Electric vehicle equipped with LG Chem's lithium ion battery system, Vice President Lee Ho-woo said in the conference call that the company has formed a joint task force team with Hyundai to identify the cause of the fires in the all-electric car.
Last week, Hyundai Motor said it will voluntarily recall 77,000 Kona Electric models for a faulty battery cell component, as 14 cases of fires in the model -- 10 domestically and four overseas -- have been reported since 2018.
The announcement comes after the transport ministry said the Kona Electric models manufactured between Sept. 29, 2019, and March 13, 2020, are subject to the recall as a possible short circuit in the faulty battery cell system may cause a fire in the electric model.
Asked if the company has a plan to put aside some provisions to handle the fire cases, Lee said it's too early to put aside any provisions for the matter as the exact cause of the fires has yet to be investigated.
On Wednesday, LG Chem fell 0.6 percent to 617,000 won and Hyundai Motor declined 1.2 percent to 165,500 won, underperforming the broader KOSPI's 0.5 percent gain.
This file photo provided by Hyundai Motor shows the Kona Electric model. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--(LEAD) S. Korea takes issue with Chinese official over suspension of BTS goods delivery

`` As there was a related news report again today , we had a phone call with the Chinese customs @ @ @ @ @ that the news about BTS was a wild rumor , '' he added , referring @ @ @ @ @ authorities ' restrictions on the imports of BTS-related goods .

(ATTN: ADDS Chinese embassy's remarks in paras 8-10, info in 7th para)
BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Ambassador to China Jang Ha-sung said Wednesday that he has taken issue with a senior Beijing official over the reported suspension of the delivery of some merchandise featuring K-pop superband BTS.
Jang made the remarks during a video-linked parliamentary audit session following reports that the Chinese logistics firm, Yunda Express, and other firms have boycotted the shipments of goods related to BTS.
The boycott came after BTS faced online rebukes in China earlier this month following its member's remarks honoring the sacrifices of South Koreans and Americans during the 1950-53 Korean War, in which Chinese troops fought in support of North Korean forces.
"The day after the related situation was first reported in the media, I directly communicated with a high-level official in the Chinese government," Jang said, stressing he will seriously watch and respond to the related developments.
South Korean Ambassador to China Jang Ha-sung speaks during a video-linked parliamentary audit session at his embassy in Beijing on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
The ambassador added that his embassy has also been communicating with the parcel delivery companies and Chinese customs authorities to verify the facts, and that after the parliamentary audit session, he would again raise the issue with senior Chinese officials.
"We have been seriously responding to this matter as this is a very sensitive issue and could hurt the sentiment of the people in both countries," he said.
"As there was a related news report again today, we had a phone call with the Chinese customs office, and they said that the news about BTS was a wild rumor," he added, referring to the speculation about customs authorities' restrictions on the imports of BTS-related goods.
In a statement later in the day, Wang Wei, the spokesman of the Chinese Embassy, also said that rumors about the restrictions by the customs office are untrue.
"The Chinese side regards the China-South Korea relations as crucial, and cherishes the deep friendship between the two countries, which has been forged in the process of jointly responding to COVID-19," he said.
Is China fighting a losing battle against BTS? : BTS merchandise delivery service halted in China Youtube https://youtu.be/wpFPUpvzaPc
"(China) will work together with the South Korean side to safeguard the good atmosphere of the bilateral relationship and continue to achieve the new, greater development of bilateral ties," he added.
Chinese pushback flared up after RM, a BTS member, made the Korean War-related remarks during an Oct. 7 ceremony giving the boy band an award for its contributions to the relations between South Korea and the United States.
BTS fans and others also hit back, arguing that his seemingly innocuous comments with no tinge of political intentions have been interpreted through the prism of nationalism and different historical perspectives.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

Kang 's meeting with Lee Rae-jin , the brother of the deceased official , came amid criticism that her ministry @ @ @ @ @ family 's calls for a U.N. probe into the incident and for the ministry to @ @ @ @ @ case .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
-----------------
(3rd LD) New virus cases under 100 for 6th day; untraceable, cluster infections still worrisome
(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by double digits for the sixth day on Wednesday, but untraceable and sporadic cluster infections continued to put strain on the country's virus fight. Imported cases also reached an almost three-month high.
The country added 91 more COVID-19 cases, including 57 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,424, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
-----------------
(LEAD) FM meets brother of S. Korean official killed by N. Korea
(ATTN: UPDATES paras 4-6 with Lee's remarks after meeting; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Wednesday met with the elder brother of a South Korean fisheries official killed by North Korea near the western sea border last month.
Kang's meeting with Lee Rae-jin, the brother of the deceased official, came amid criticism that her ministry has been lukewarm about the family's calls for a U.N. probe into the incident and for the ministry to bring international attention to the case.
-----------------
Fears grow in S. Korea over suspected flu shot deaths
SEOUL -- Concerns over the safety of seasonal flu shots are mounting here after more potential flu shot fatalities were reported Wednesday, putting health authorities in hot water amid its push to curb the "twindemic."
So far, five people have died after receiving flu vaccines under the state-led free flu shot scheme this year, although no evidence has been found to show those deaths are linked to flu shots.
-----------------
(LEAD) LG Chem's Q3 profit soars on petrochemicals, battery sales
(ATTN: CHANGES headline and lead; ADDS photo and details throughout)
SEOUL -- LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's leading chemical firm, said Wednesday its third-quarter net profit more than quadrupled from a year earlier, helped by robust sales of petrochemical and battery products.
For the three months ending in September, its net profit soared to 570.39 billion won (US$503 million) from 137.19 billion won in the same period of last year, the company said in a statement.
-----------------
S. Korea takes issue with Chinese official over suspension of BTS goods delivery
BEIJING -- South Korean Ambassador to China Jang Ha-sung said Wednesday that he has taken issue with a senior Beijing official over the reported suspension of the delivery of some merchandise featuring K-pop superband BTS.
Jang made the remarks during a video-linked parliamentary audit session following reports that the Chinese logistics firm, Yunda Express, and other firms have boycotted the shipments of goods related to BTS.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks extend gains for 3rd session on U.S. stimulus optimism
(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks extended gains for a third consecutive session Wednesday, as investors held out optimism for progress in the U.S. stimulus talks. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 12.45 points, or 0.53 percent, to close at 2,370.86.
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Prosecutors grill suspicious investor in scandal-ridden Optimus Asset

Lee took over the management of the financially troubled Haeduk Powerway in April 2018 and the company then invested a @ @ @ @ @ ( US $ 32.77 million ) into private equity funds operated by Optimus Asset later @ @ @ @ @ the list of Optimus investors , Haeduk invested 2 billion won on Sept. 27 , @ @ @ @ @ billion won on Nov. 7 of the same year .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- A former chief executive of a Kosdaq-listed ship parts maker was questioned Wednesday by Seoul prosecutors investigating a large-scale fraud by the scandal-ridden private equity investment firm Optimus Asset Management.
The former CEO of Haeduk Powerway Co., identified only as Lee, was called in by the Seoul Central Prosecutors Office to be questioned over his role in Optimus Asset Management's suspected capital-free acquisition of Haeduk last year.
Lee took over the management of the financially troubled Haeduk Powerway in April 2018 and the company then invested a total of 37.09 billion won (US$32.77 million) into private equity funds operated by Optimus Asset later that year. According to the list of Optimus investors, Haeduk invested 2 billion won on Sept. 27, 2018, and another 13 billion won on Nov. 7 of the same year.
Lee resigned as CEO of Haeduk on Nov. 30, 2018, and Hwasung Industrial, an affiliate of Septillion Co. jointly owned by the wives of Kim Jae-hyun, the arrested CEO of Optimus Asset, and Yoon Seok-ho, the arrested director of Optimus Asset, acquired the biggest 15.89 percent in Haeduk in February last year.
In this regard, allegations have arisen that Optimus Asset took control of Haeduk through the so-called capital-free merger and acquisition method without spending a single penny.
The Optimus scandal centers on allegations that the private equity company solicited funds worth about 1.2 trillion won from about 2,900 investors for investments in public institutions but actually funneled most of the money into risky assets, causing huge losses to the investors. In June, Optimus suspended withdrawals from its funds.
Prosecutors tracking down fund flows in and out of Optimus reportedly questioned Lee about the processes of his acquisition of Haeduk and the company's investments in Optimus Asset.
Lee, who now runs a plastic surgery clinic in southern Seoul, was confronted by reporters at the Seoul prosecutors office, but refused to answer questions, saying only, "I'm also a victim. I have nothing to say."
Meanwhile, prosecutors have obtained computer server records from the state-run Korea Communications Agency as part of their probe into suspicions of bribery surrounding the agency's investment of 67 billion won into Optimus Asset funds between 2017 and 2018.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Minister renews calls for inter-Korean cooperation in railway linking, tourism

`` We are faced with the task of moving the U.S.-North Korea nuclear talks forward through inter-Korean trust , allowing @ @ @ @ @ Korea and reconnecting and modernizing railways and roads as agreed upon by the leaders of @ @ @ @ @ he said .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Lee In-young vowed Wednesday to push ahead with inter-Korean cooperation projects to reconnect railways and allow for travel to North Korea, saying that it is the way that the two Koreas should go no matter what.
Lee made the remark during a speech at a forum of the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), stressing the need to seek practical inter-Korean cooperation amid several challenges.
"We are faced with the task of moving the U.S.-North Korea nuclear talks forward through inter-Korean trust, allowing individuals to travel to North Korea and reconnecting and modernizing railways and roads as agreed upon by the leaders of the two Koreas," he said.
"That is the way to go no matter what and the responsibility that cannot be neglected," he added.
Lee also vowed to make practical efforts for inter-Korean cooperation in health and anti-virus measures and to build a "biotic community" in the face of global crises such as COVID-19.
During his speech in an annual United Nations General Assembly session last month, South Korean President Moon Jae-in proposed launching a regional cooperation initiative on infectious diseases and public health with other countries, including North Korea.
Since his inauguration in July, Lee has sought to bring stalled inter-Korean relations back on track and resume cross-border exchanges despite tensions after the North blew up a joint liaison office in June and fatally shot a South Korean fisheries official in its waters last month.
New Unification Minister Lee In-young speaks during a meeting of the ministry at the government complex in Seoul on July 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Civil society leaders demand creation of panel to address couriers' deaths

`` Additional workers must immediately be assigned to the job of sorting , and special measures must be drawn up @ @ @ @ @ an appropriate level , '' he continued , claiming that couriers currently work an average @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Over 130 leaders of civic, religious and health groups on Wednesday demanded the creation of a new deliberative body to tackle the issues that have led to the deaths of nearly a dozen couriers.
The leaders, representing various groups, including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, Buddhist, Catholic and Protestant organizations, as well as healthcare workers, laid out their demands in a joint declaration that also called attention to the harsh working conditions of parcel couriers.
Civil society leaders hold a press conference on Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square on Oct. 21, 2020, to demand the creation of a new deliberative body to address couriers' deaths. (Yonhap)
"The deaths of couriers from overwork are structural murders," one representative said during a press conference held at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, accusing courier companies of forcing workers to put in long hours to sort parcels before delivering them.
"Additional workers must immediately be assigned to the job of sorting, and special measures must be drawn up to reduce working hours to an appropriate level," he continued, claiming that couriers currently work an average of 71 hours a week.
As of Tuesday, 11 couriers were reported to have died this year apparently from overwork or by suicide after struggling to make ends meet.
Couriers have come under growing pressure this year due to the high volume of online shopping orders triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
"At this time of COVID-19, as the entire nation has become courier users, let us all come forward to create a social monitoring (mechanism) and carry out social deliberations on preventing deaths from overwork," the declaration said.
The civil society leaders claimed that courier companies failed to deliver on their promise to hire more workers, while the government stopped short of fulfilling its pledge to halt late-night deliveries and conduct on-site inspections.
Kwon Young-ghil, former chairman of the former left-leaning Democratic Labor Party, called on President Moon Jae-in to personally get involved in ensuring that the issue is addressed through special measures.
This photo, provided by the National Assembly press pool, shows workers sorting parcels at a facility in southern Seoul on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--(LEAD) Seoul stocks extend gains for 3rd session on U.S. stimulus optimism

The KOSPI was boxed in a tight range , however , since most of such anticipation was already projected in @ @ @ @ @ previous sessions , he added .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks extended gains for a third consecutive session Wednesday, as investors held out optimism for progress in the U.S. stimulus talks. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 12.45 points, or 0.53 percent, to close at 2,370.86.
Trading volume was moderate at 802 million shares worth some 9.7 trillion won (US$8.6 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 675 to 183.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,370.86 on Oct. 21, 2020, up 12.45 points or 0.53 percent from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
Foreigners bought a net 6.4 billion won, while retail investors sold a net 131 billion won. Institutions purchased a net 115 billion won.
"Local stocks got a boost from U.S. peers, largely as optimism for the new stimulus plan has weakened the U.S. dollar and raised the investor appetite for risk," said Kiwoom Securities analyst Seo Sang-young.
The KOSPI was boxed in a tight range, however, since most of such anticipation was already projected in the stock prices in the previous sessions, he added.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics closed flat at 60,900 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 1.64 percent to 83,800 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics gained 0.88 percent to 688,000 won, while Celltrion lost 0.61 percent to 244,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver advanced 2.59 percent to 297,500 won, with its rival Kakao climbing 0.28 percent to 353,500 won.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem fell 0.64 percent to 617,000 won, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI edged up 0.12 percent to 433,000 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, declined 1.19 percent to 165,500 won, while top steelmaker POSCO advanced 0.24 percent to 207,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,131.9 won per dollar, up 7.5 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 2.3 basis points to 0.934 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond added 5.7 basis points to 1.224 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--S. Korean Bond Yields on Oct. 21, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Oct. 21, 2020

(URGENT) N. Korea says Travis King decided to come over to N. Korea because he harbored ill feeling within the U.S. Army: KCNA


yna--2020-10-21--(URGENT) KDCA says 9 people have died after getting flu shots in S. Korea


yna--2020-10-21--(3rd LD) Health authorities see no link between flu shots, deaths, will go ahead with vaccine progra

(3rd LD) Health authorities see no link between flu shots, deaths, will go ahead with vaccine program

(ATTN: UPDATES with the latest tally in 4th para)
By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's public health body said Wednesday there was no direct link between flu shots and recent reported deaths and the government will go ahead with the nationwide flu vaccine program.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), told a media briefing that the KDCA will conduct thorough investigations into the recent deaths of nine people who got flu shots.
"We have not found a direct connection between deaths and vaccines, or a relation between adverse effects of flu shots and deaths," said KDCA chief Jeong Eun-kyeong. "Considering no major severe adverse effects have been reported from a specific vaccine, we decided not to stop flu vaccinations."
The KDCA later said one death may be related to anaphylaxis shock, a serious allergic reaction that follows immunization.
Of the nine deaths, health authorities are currently conducting epidemiological investigations, including autopsies, on eight cases.
So far, 12.97 million people have received flu shots, with 8.36 million of them getting the shots for free under the state-run program.
Earlier, health authorities reported that a 68-year-old man on the country's southern resort island of Jeju and a 78-year-old man in Daegu have died after getting the shots.
Gyeonggi Province also reported two deaths from people who received the shots at public centers in Gwangmyeong and Goyang.
A citizen receives a free flu shot at a medical center in Seoul on Oct. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
Fears over flu vaccines emerged last Friday after a 17-year-old boy in the western port city of Incheon died two days after receiving a flu shot.
Similar fatalities were reported from a 77-year-old woman in Gochang, North Jeolla Province, and from an 82-year-old man in Daejeon on Tuesday. Both received flu shots Monday.
Most of them had underlying diseases, health authorities said. One of them died only 12 hours after receiving the flu shot.
"We feel regret over people's concerns over free flu shots and are looking into the situation in a grave manner," said Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip at a press briefing. "But first, we must find out the exact cause of the recent deaths."
According to health authorities, the deceased people got flu vaccines manufactured by Korea Vaccine, Boryung Biopharma, LG Chem, SK bioscience and GC Pharma.
Health authorities said they are closely monitoring people who were administered those vaccines at the same medical institutions with the deceased on the same day.
So far, 431 people showed abnormal responses after receiving flu shots, though no causal connection to flu shots has been confirmed. Of them, 111 showed local reactions, 119 had allergies and 93 suffered fever.
"Since most people who got flu shots with the same vaccines reported no major problems, we concluded that those vaccines do not contain toxic materials," said Kim Joong-gon, who leads a KDCA team investigating flu vaccination cases. "We can get rid of the possibility that the vaccine itself is a problem."
Experts said it is too early to determine whether flu vaccinations should be stopped.
"No drugs or vaccines are 100 percent safe, but we should know that flu vaccines have been around for more than 70 years, since 1945," said Ki Mo-ran, an epidemiology professor at the National Cancer Center. "We would have not used flu vaccines if there were so many deaths connected with flu shots."
Citizens wait in line to receive a free flu shot at a medical center in Seoul on Oct. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
According to the KDCA, there has been only one death case that authorities found a connection to a flu shot. In 2009, a 65-year-old woman was diagnosed with Miller Fisher syndrome, a rare nerve disease, after receiving a flu shot and died a year later.
Prior to the suspected flu shot deaths, many people already expressed concerns over flu vaccinations after some of the inactivated flu vaccines, handled by Shinsung Pharm, were found to have been exposed to room temperatures during shipping last month. It recalled the mishandled products later.
Earlier this month, Seoul's drug safety watchdog ordered Korea Vaccine to recall 615,000 doses of flu vaccines after confirming white particles were found in the vaccines, though it believed that the efficacy and safety of vaccines were not compromised.
"Any vaccine that is suspicious should be recalled to prevent bigger troubles," said Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital in Seoul. "At a time like this, the government should stick to its principles, but the problem is that people are worried."
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Defect found in Global Hawk drones bought from U.S.: official

`` ( We ) think there would be no problem in putting them into normal operation by the target period @ @ @ @ @ official said , refusing to go into details .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has confirmed defective parts in two of four RQ-4 Global Hawk surveillance drones it purchased from the United States, an official said Wednesday.
An oil leak was found in the landing gear of one aircraft, with a core control sensor-related problem detected at another, the official told reporters on the condition of anonymity.
South Korea's military authorities are in consultations with U.S. defense company Northrop Grumman, the manufacturer of the cutting-edge high-altitude, remotely-piloted surveillance drones, regarding the matter, according to a defense source.
In 2011, South Korea signed a deal worth 965.9 billion won (US$847 million) to introduce four RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawks. The first one arrived here in December last year and the delivery of the others was completed in September.
It remains unconfirmed whether the flaw was present at the time of their delivery or it has occurred during their operation here.
The military plans to deploy them starting in the latter half of next year, following preparatory procedures, the source said.
"(We) think there would be no problem in putting them into normal operation by the target period," an Air Force official said, refusing to go into details.
A Global Hawk High Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle moves at an Air Force base in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, in this file photo dated June 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Ministry says it transports daily necessities, not military equipment, onto THAAD base

In May , the ministry moved new interceptor missiles onto the base as replacements in a surprise overnight operation , @ @ @ @ @ Korea and the U.S. might aim at upgrading the batteries there or deploying additional launchers @ @ @ @ @ rejected it , saying such issues have never been discussed between the two countries .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Thursday that it has been bringing daily necessities for troops and construction equipment to be used to improve old living facilities onto a THAAD missile base by ground.
Thursday's shipment onto the base for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the central town of Seongju, however, does not include any missiles or other military equipment, according to the ministry.
"Basic commodities to ensure the basic living rights of the troops, as well as some construction equipment and building materials such as sand, are being transported," a defense ministry official said during a regular press briefing.
"No weapons or other items that aim at upgrading or strengthening the unit are included," the official said, adding that the ground transport is inevitable as those items are too heavy to be airlifted.
In May, the ministry moved new interceptor missiles onto the base as replacements in a surprise overnight operation, which sparked speculation that South Korea and the U.S. might aim at upgrading the batteries there or deploying additional launchers. But the ministry flatly rejected it, saying such issues have never been discussed between the two countries.
Seongju residents have long been opposed to the stationing of the battery in their village, citing environmental and other concerns. They have often clashed violently with police as they tried to block new equipment and other supplies from entering the base, forcing the U.S. military to use air transportation to move supplies.
"We visited civic activists in the region yesterday and gave detailed explanations about today's plan," the official said. "We will continue efforts to seek their understanding regarding the matter."
The ministry also noted that it has not had prior consultations with China regarding Thursday's transport, as no military hardware was involved this time. In May, the Seoul ministry notified China of the missile transport plan in advance.
As an integral part of the U.S.-led missile-defense system, THAAD is designed to shoot down short-, medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at a high altitude in their terminal phase using a hit-to-kill method.
South Korea hosted the U.S. battery in 2016, which led to strong opposition from China and economic retaliatory measures. Seoul and Washington have stressed that the system aims only to better cope with the growing missile threats posed by North Korea.
Military vehicles transport equipment to the site of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in the town of Seongju, about 220 km south of Seoul, on May 29, 2020, as part of an upgrade, in this photo released by a group of residents and activists opposing the installation of the missile defense system. U.S. Forces Korea and South Korea's defense ministry, which had only used air transportation to move supplies due to strong opposition by local residents until now, were transporting equipment by ground to and from the system's site. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
A launcher of an advanced U.S. missile defense system called THAAD is seen in this photo captured from the Facebook account of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on April 24, 2019. The USFK said it conducted a THAAD exercise at a base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, the previous week. (Yonhap)
Residents and civic activists hold a protest against the planned ground transport of equipment onto a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on Oct. 22, 2020, in this photo provided by a civic group. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--(2nd LD) N.K. leader pays respects to fallen Chinese soldiers

`` He said with deep emotion that even though 70 years have passed since the excellent sons and daughters of @ @ @ @ @ an entry into the sacred Fatherland Liberation War fought by the Korean people , the @ @ @ @ @ made by the CPV by sacrificially supporting us ... remain vividly in the memory of @ @ @ @ @ KCNA added .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 2, 10-14, 18-19)
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the cemetery of Chinese soldiers who fell during the 1950-53 Korean War to mark the anniversary of their participation in the conflict, state media said Thursday.
It appears be in line with Kim's push to further strengthen bilateral ties with China at a time when the North is in need of support from the ally amid stagnant economic growth and stalled nuclear negotiations with the United States.
Kim visited "the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) in Hoechang County, South Pyongan Province, and paid a high tribute to them on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the entry of the Chinese People's Volunteers into the Korean front," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
Hoechang is where the headquarters of the Chinese soldiers was located during the war.
"He said with deep emotion that even though 70 years have passed since the excellent sons and daughters of the fraternal Chinese people made an entry into the sacred Fatherland Liberation War fought by the Korean people, the immortal exploits and heroic feats made by the CPV by sacrificially supporting us... remain vividly in the memory of our people." the KCNA added.
Kim lauded the participation of Chinese soldiers in the Korean War as a "historic contribution to the great victory in the Fatherland Liberation War."
"The great victory won by the armies and peoples of the DPRK and China while linking their destiny as one and sharing weal and woe with each other is, indeed, of great significance no matter how much water flows under the bridge," Kim was quoted as saying.
DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
He then paid tribute to Mao Anying, the son of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, who died in the conflict, and a floral basket was laid at his grave, the KCNA said.
In a separate article, the KCNA said that Kim also sent a floral basket to the Friendship Tower in Pyongyang, a monument symbolizing the friendly ties between the two countries.
This week's visit marks the third of its kind since Kim became leader in 2011, a unification ministry official said Thursday.
In July 2013, he visited the cemetery and paid tribute to the fallen Chinese soldiers to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean armistice agreement that ended the war, followed by another visit in 2018 to mark the 65th anniversary.
"The difference this year is that they marked the 70th anniversary of China's participation in the war," he added.
"This appears to reflect the further strengthening of ties between North Korea and China recently. But we will let you know the details when the conclusion of our analysis is out," he said.
China fought alongside the North against South Korean, U.S. and United Nations troops during the Korean War.
The Korean War ended in an armistice on July 27, 1953. The North calls the war the Fatherland Liberation War and designated the armistice signing date as Victory Day.
Top officials accompanied Kim, including Choe Ryong-hae, the North's No. 2 leader and president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and current Premier Kim Tok-hun.
The North has been seeking to maintain closer ties with its traditional ally amid an impasse in nuclear negotiations with Washington.
Earlier this week, Kim pledged to further boost friendly relations with China in a reply message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who sent a congratulatory letter to Kim to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the North's ruling Workers' Party.
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un (C) visits a cemetery for Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War in Hoechang, South Pyongan Province, central North Korea, to mark the 70th anniversary of China's entry into the conflict, in which China fought alongside the North, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 22, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un places a wreath at a cemetery for Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War in Hoechang, South Pyongan Province, central North Korea, to mark the 70th anniversary of China's entry into the conflict, in which China fought alongside the North, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 22, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--N. Korea suspends scheduled mass gymnastic shows this month: official

North Korea 's media earlier reported that the propaganda shows would be put on stage from early last week to @ @ @ @ @ at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang on the occasion of the ruling party 's @ @ @ @ @ 10 .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to have suspended its signature mass gymnastic shows scheduled to be held until the end of this month after leader Kim Jong-un recently attended its performance, a unification ministry official said Thursday.
North Korea's media earlier reported that the propaganda shows would be put on stage from early last week to the end of this month at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang on the occasion of the ruling party's 75th founding anniversary on Oct. 10.
Kim attended its performance held on Oct. 11, but no more shows have been held since, the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
"It remains to be seen whether the shows have been temporarily suspended or just canceled," he said. "We will keep an eye on relevant developments going forward."
Earlier, a local daily reported that the scheduled gymnastic shows have been put on hold, speculating that it might have been caused by Kim's expression of dissatisfaction or concerns over the coronavirus.
Earlier this year, a Beijing-based tour agency said that North Korea had informed the company of its plans to hold the gymnastic propaganda show in time for the party founding anniversary.
Observers, however, had expected the North to cancel the shows in consideration of the country's all-out efforts to stave off an outbreak of COVID-19.
North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free, but it has imposed strict restrictions on the movement of people and maintained tight border closure since early this year.
In this photo captured from the North's Korean Central Television on Oct. 12, 2020, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) waves during a mass gymnastics and artistic performance at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang the previous day in celebration of the 75th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Seoul stocks trim losses late Thur. morning amid U.S. stimulus uncertainties

The local currency was trading at 1,136.6 won against the U.S. dollar , down 4.7 won from the previous session @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks trimmed part of their earlier losses late Thursday morning but continued to trade bearish amid lingering uncertainties over a new stimulus push in the world's largest economy.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 17.8 points, or 0.75 percent, to 2,353.06 as of 11:20 a.m.
Local stocks got off to a weak start on long-stalled stimulus talks in the United States, one of South Korea's largest trade partners.
The number of daily local coronavirus cases in South Korea also hit a monthly high, dampening investor sentiment.
In Seoul, most large caps traded lower.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics dipped 1.48 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix dropped 0.6 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics fell 2.91 percent, and Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, declined 2.42 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver declined 1.18 percent, but leading chemical maker LG Chem gained 2.76 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,136.6 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.7 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Seoul city to run pilot program allowing bikes on buses

Under the plan , passengers on five bus routes will be able to mount their bikes onto the back of @ @ @ @ @ inside for two months starting next Monday , the city government said .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul metropolitan government will launch a pilot program next week that will allow passengers to mount their bikes onto city buses.
Under the plan, passengers on five bus routes will be able to mount their bikes onto the back of the bus or carry them inside for two months starting next Monday, the city government said.
Bike racks will be installed on the back of six "6657" buses, which travel between Yangcheon and Gangseo wards, and three "7730" buses, which travel between Nanji Han River Park and Mount Bukhan. Each rack can carry two bikes.
The other three participating bus routes -- 162, 6513 and 7612 -- will have buses with space for one bike inside the vehicle.
This photo, provided by the Seoul metropolitan government, shows a bus installed with a bike rack. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
An exception will be during the rush hours of 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays.
"With this pilot program, we have enabled bikes to be mounted onto city buses and enhanced connectivity (between bikes) and public transport," Hwang Bo-yeon, a city official overseeing transportation, said, noting that similar programs are under way with taxis and the subway.
If successful, the bike program could be expanded to other bus routes in the first half of next year following consultations with bus users, citizens and relevant agencies, the city government said.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--S. Korea to provide US$300,000 worth of aid to flood-hit Vietnam

`` We hope that the emergency assistance will be used to provide relief to the flood victims and contribute to @ @ @ @ @ , '' the ministry said in a release .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to provide US$300,000 worth of humanitarian assistance to Vietnam to help the country cope with the damage from severe floods, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
Flooding triggered by weekslong heavy downpours in central Vietnam has left at least 110 people dead and some 90,000 others displaced, with more than 130,000 houses inundated.
"We hope that the emergency assistance will be used to provide relief to the flood victims and contribute to swift stabilization of their livelihoods," the ministry said in a release.
This Xinhua photo shows residents checking their belongings at a local community in Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam on Oct. 20, 2020, after floods caused by heavy downpours that left at least 105 people dead. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Key suspect in Lime fund scandal makes additional claims in 2nd letter from prison

`` One day , he told me that he bumped into Prosecutor General Yoo Seok-youl in a sauna in an @ @ @ @ @ that the chief prosecutor asked him to help him prepare for his confirmation hearing , @ @ @ @ @ that he `` came to trust ( the lawyer ) more as ( the lawyer @ @ @ @ @ '' while implying that he cooperated with the team investigating the Lime case on the @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- A key suspect in the Lime fund scam case has made additional claims that he identified two prosecutors he lobbied during a justice ministry probe and that he was tipped off about an ongoing investigation against him.
In a second letter sent from prison to Yonhap News Agency on late Wednesday, Kim Bong-hyun, a prime suspect in the financial fraud case involving Lime Asset Management Co., reiterated that he did lobby sitting prosecutors but strongly denied his alleged relations with ruling party politicians or Cheong Wa Dae.
Lime Asset, founded in 2012, has been under probe over its alleged cover-up of massive losses and subsequent suspension of fund redemption worth an estimated 1.6 trillion won (US$1.39 billion). Kim was arrested in April on charges of embezzlement from a bus company that allegedly received investment from Lime.
The Lime case has surfaced as a major financial and political minefield amid allegations that Kim lobbied lawmakers and prosecutors to conceal the case and evade investigations.
Kim Bong-hyun, owner of Star Mobility, is taken out of a detention room at Nambu Police Station in Suwon, south of Seoul, on April 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Kim argued in the letter that it was true that he threw a drinking party for a lawyer as well as three prosecutors who he claimed used to work on the same team investigating Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.
To back up his claims, he revealed that he had identified two of the three prosecutors in a photo presented by the Ministry of Justice during a probe.
Last Friday, he dropped a bombshell in a letter that he hosted a drinking party in July last year for them in a bar in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, and that one of the prosecutors later joined a team investigating the Lime scandal.
In the second letter, Kim also argued that he has been close to the lawyer who he apparently believed was influential. He met the lawyer in 2007 for the first time and hired him last year to represent him in his embezzlement case, he said.
"One day, he told me that he bumped into Prosecutor General Yoo Seok-youl in a sauna in an apartment complex in Seocho-dong and that the chief prosecutor asked him to help him prepare for his confirmation hearing," Kim wrote, adding that he "came to trust (the lawyer) more as (the lawyer) was close to Yoon" while implying that he cooperated with the team investigating the Lime case on the lawyer's advice.
Kim also elaborated on his previous lobbying claims by revealing that he gave 50 million won (US$44,126) in a bribe in December to former prosecutor Yoon Dae-jin, currently serving as vice chairman of Judicial Research and Training Institute, in connection with the embezzlement case.
He argued that he was tipped off in the early stages of the Lime investigation about how to evade the probe.
Kim, however, strongly denied allegations that he lobbied ruling party politicians, saying that he met with a ruling party politician only once since the scandal and that he met with three ruling party lawmakers in 2016 but that they have nothing to do with the Lime case.
This photo shows the second letter from Kim Bong-hyun, a prime suspect in the financial fraud case involving Lime Asset Management Co. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Kumho Tire to supply tires for Scoda Kamiq from January

In the January-June quarter , its net losses widened to 132 billion won ( US $ 116 million ) from @ @ @ @ @ same period of last year due to the coronavirus impact on global tire demand for @ @ @ @ @ the company 's overseas plants .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- Kumho Tire Co., South Korea's second-largest tiremaker by sales, said Thursday it will begin supplying tires for the Skoda Kamiq compact crossover in January.
Kumho Tire also has been supplying ECSTA PS71 original equipment (OE) tires to Skoda's Czech Republic-based plant that produces the Octavia sedan since May.
Scoda is a carmaker belonging to Volkswagen Group.
This file photo provided by Kumho Tire shows the Skoda Octavia sedan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Supplying OE tires to car manufacturers does not generate much revenue for tiremakers but securing big companies as clients helps improve their brand image and can lead to the raising of product prices down the line.
For tiremakers, it is more profitable to sell replacement equipment (RE) tires in after-sales markets.
To enhance its global brand image, the tiremaker has shipped products to dozens of foreign carmakers, including Audi, Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
In the January-June quarter, its net losses widened to 132 billion won (US$116 million) from 43 billion won in the same period of last year due to the coronavirus impact on global tire demand for vehicles and tire production at the company's overseas plants.
In July 2018, China's Qingdao Doublestar Co. wrapped up a deal to acquire a 45 percent stake in Kumho Tire for 646.3 billion won from the state-run Korea Development Bank.
By acquiring Kumho Tire, Doublestar said it will focus on mid- and low-end tires for trucks and buses, and Kumho Tire will focus on mid- and high-end tires for passenger vehicles.
Kumho Tire earns 60 percent of its total revenue from abroad. It has eight plants -- three in South Korea, one in Vietnam, one in the United States and three in China -- whose combined capacity reaches 55 million tires.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Oct. 22 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .


yna--2020-10-22--'The Man Standing Next' chosen as S. Korea's 2021 Oscars entry

The Academy Awards pick the best international film out of five final nominees during an annual ceremony held in Los @ @ @ @ @ year , the event is scheduled to take place on April 25 , a little @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus pandemic .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- A political thriller depicting the intense power struggle among former President Park Chung-hee's top aides before one of them assassinated him in 1979 will represent South Korea in next year's Oscars.
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) said Thursday that it has chosen "The Man Standing Next" out of 13 films as the country's entry for the best international feature film category of the 93rd Academy Awards.
The selection came after South Korean director Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" swept four awards, including best picture and best international feature film, at this year's Oscars.
Directed by Woo Min-ho, "The Man Standing Next" chronicles the 40 days of a secretive power struggle among the aides before Park was shot to death at a safe house in Seoul by his chief intelligence officer Kim Jae-kyu, whose motive for the killing is still debated.
Park is one of the most controversial figures in modern South Korean history, being the head of a military dictatorship while at the vanguard of the miraculous development of the country's economy at the same time.
A poster of "The Man Standing Next" provided by Showbox (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
A scene from "The Man Standing Next" in a photo provided by Showbox (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"'The Man Standing Next' is an attractive film featuring a rather dark side of the history of South Korea renowned for its phenomenal economic growth," KOFIC said in its press release.
"Actor Lee Byung-hun, who has name recognition in the United States, gives a great performance in the movie," it added. Lee plays the role of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency chief who ends up assassinating the president.
The Academy Awards pick the best international film out of five final nominees during an annual ceremony held in Los Angeles every year. Next year, the event is scheduled to take place on April 25, a little behind schedule, due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Another Army soldier tests positive for new coronavirus

The soldier stationed in Yangju , north of Seoul , was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 the previous day while @ @ @ @ @ were reported at his barracks , according to the ministry .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- An Army officer has tested positive for the new coronavirus at a unit near Seoul, the defense ministry said Thursday.
The soldier stationed in Yangju, north of Seoul, was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 the previous day while in quarantine after virus cases were reported at his barracks, according to the ministry.
"As the soldier was in self-isolation, no contact with other service members has been identified as of now," ministry deputy spokesperson Col. Moon Hong-sik said during a regular press briefing.
The latest case raised the total number of infections reported among the military population to 159.
Nationwide, South Korea reported 121 additional virus cases, raising the total caseload to 25,543. It marked the first time in nearly a month that the number of daily local virus cases spiked to over 100, as sporadic cluster infections continued to climb.
In this file photo, taken May 8, 2020, soldiers board a train at a station in Paju, north of Seoul, as they were allowed to go on vacation after more than two months of restrictions amid fears about the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Doosan Bobcat launches new product line for Europe

SEOUL , Oct. 22 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea 's small-sized construction equipment maker Doosan Bobcat Co. said Thursday @ @ @ @ @ Bobcat EMEA Ltd. has held a virtual event to launch its new product line as @ @ @ @ @ sales in Europe .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's small-sized construction equipment maker Doosan Bobcat Co. said Thursday that its European unit Doosan Bobcat EMEA Ltd. has held a virtual event to launch its new product line as part of efforts to expand sales in Europe.
The line of 12 new products includes a compact wheel loader, a light compaction machine, a small-sized loader and a mini-sized excavator, Doosan Bobcat said.
Doosan Bobcat EMEA based in the Czech Republic plans to annually sell 1,000 units of compact wheel loaders in the European market, whose size is expected to reach 20,000 units a year within five years.
The compact wheel loader is tailored to the needs of Europe as it can maximize its work capabilities in narrow places, Doosan Bobcat said.
A compact wheel loader lifts drums at a storage place, in this photo provided by Doosan Bobcat Co. on Oct. 22, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Doosan Bobcat EMEA aims to expand its share of the European mini-sized excavator market to 10 percent within two years by expanding its sales networks and strengthening marketing for its upgraded mini-sized excavators.
The European mini-sized excavator market, whose annual sales reached 90,000 units last year, accounts for 80 percent of the European small-sized construction equipment market, Doosan Bobcat said.
"The virtual event was an opportunity showing Doosan Bobcat's strategic direction to expand its presence in the European market," Doosan Bobcat said in its emailed statement.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Fine dust expected to reach 'bad' levels

According to the Air Quality Forecasting Center , which is affiliated with the Ministry of Environment , the fine dust @ @ @ @ @ and South Chungcheong Province will likely be `` bad '' in the morning , followed @ @ @ @ @ , Sejong , North Chungcheong Province , South and North Jeolla Provinces and Jeju Island @ @ @ @ @ and North Gyeongsang Provinces at night .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- Fine dust concentrations are expected to rise to "bad" levels on Thursday due to an inflow of fine dust and yellow dust from China and elsewhere, authorities said.
According to the Air Quality Forecasting Center, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Environment, the fine dust reading in the capital area and South Chungcheong Province will likely be "bad" in the morning, followed by Gangwon Province, Daejeon, Sejong, North Chungcheong Province, South and North Jeolla Provinces and Jeju Island in the afternoon and South and North Gyeongsang Provinces at night.
Outside of those time frames, the fine dust levels are expected to be "average," the center said. The four levels are "good," "average," "bad" and "very bad."
People look out over Seoul's southern wards of Songpa and Gangnam on Oct. 20, 2020, as fine dust concentrations in the capital area rose to "bad" levels. (Yonhap)
"Most areas will see high concentrations of fine dust as fine dust coming in from overseas and yellow dust originating from Tuesday will gradually move southeast," the center explained.
Yellow dust, which began blowing from the Gobi Desert and the highlands of China's Inner Mongolia on Tuesday, reached South Korea's western island of Baengnyeong around 9 p.m. Wednesday and the country's central region by early Thursday, according to the weather authorities.
Fine dust levels are announced based on readings of PM 10 and PM 2.5, whichever is higher. PM 10 is a reading of fine dust particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter, while PM 2.5 is a reading of particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--LG Uplus releases International Space Station VR series with telco alliance

`` Space Explorers : The ISS Experience '' follows the daily activities of the astronauts all in VR and is @ @ @ @ @ Felix & Paul Studios , a member of the Global XR Content Telco Alliance , @ @ @ @ @ is the first 3D VR content to be filmed in space , according to LG @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- LG Uplus Corp., a South Korean telecom company, said Thursday it released a virtual reality (VR) series on the International Space Station, its first project with a global alliance of telecom operators and VR developers.
"Space Explorers: The ISS Experience" follows the daily activities of the astronauts all in VR and is produced by Canadian VR developer Felix & Paul Studios, a member of the Global XR Content Telco Alliance, and TIME Studios. It is the first 3D VR content to be filmed in space, according to LG Uplus,
A scene from the VR series "Space Explorers: The ISS Experience" is shown in this photo provided by LG Uplus Corp. on Oct. 22, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The VR series started filming in January 2019 using 3D VR camera equipment by astronauts who were trained by Felix & Paul Studios.
The carrier said the studio also collaborated with the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the project.
The series is available globally through telecom operators that are part of the VR alliance, which launched last month and also funded the project.
The four-part series is available for South Korean viewers through the LG Uplus' VR application.
The alliance, currently headed by LG Uplus, is made up of global mobile carriers, including Bell Canada, Japan's KDDI and China Telecom, as well as U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies Inc. and another VR developer, Atlas V.
The South Korean carrier has recently boosted its involvement in VR and augmented reality (AR) technology.
In August, the mobile carrier released a 5G-based AR glasses device with Chinese mixed-reality developer Nreal.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--POSCO Chemical Q3 net income down 77.2 pct. to 6.9 bln won

Operating profit for the July-September period was 19.4 billion won , down 30.7 percent from a year ago , the @ @ @ @ @ filing .
Sales rose 4.6 percent to 388.7 billion won .
( END )

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- POSCO Chemical Co. on Thursday reported its third-quarter net profit of 6.9 billion won (US$6 million), down 77.2 percent from a year earlier.
Operating profit for the July-September period was 19.4 billion won, down 30.7 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales rose 4.6 percent to 388.7 billion won.
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Masterminds of high-profile sex abuse ring additionally indicted

Prosecutors plan to ask the court to merge the additional charges against Cho and Kang into their ongoing trials .
@ @ @ @ @ probe into Baksabang and other illegal Telegram chat rooms to punish their members .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- Two arrested masterminds behind one of the nation's largest online sex trafficking rings have been additionally charged with concealing criminal proceeds, prosecutors said Thursday.
Cho Ju-bin, the 24-year-old prime suspect accused of blackmailing women and girls into providing sexual videos and photos to a pay-to-view Telegram chat room called "Baksabang," Korean for doctor's room, was additionally indicted for allegedly hiding about 108 million won (US$95,200) in criminal proceeds on 53 occasions, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office.
One of Cho's accomplices, identified only as Kang, was also additionally accused of changing 3.5 million won of cryptocurrency earned from Baksabang into cash and delivering the money to Cho, the prosecutors said.
Cho was earlier indicted for organizing a criminal ring together with 38 accomplices, blackmailing 74 minor and adult victims into filming pornographic content and distributing the sex abuse materials to Baksabang members.
Prosecutors plan to ask the court to merge the additional charges against Cho and Kang into their ongoing trials. They have been expanding their probe into Baksabang and other illegal Telegram chat rooms to punish their members.
This file photo taken on Sept. 1, 2020, shows Cho Ju-bin, the alleged founder of Baksabang, an illicit Telegram chat room. (Yonhap)
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--(LEAD) Local virus cases at 1-month high, cluster infections biggest hurdle in virus fight

Under Level 1 measures , citizens are permitted to normalize most of their daily routines , with some infection prevention @ @ @ @ @ risk-prone facilities , including clubs and bars , are allowed to operate after monthslong suspension @ @ @ @ @ entry logs and follow sanitary measures .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 3, 11; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- The number of daily local coronavirus cases in South Korea spiked again to over 100 for the first time in nearly one month Thursday, as sporadic cluster infections at senior care hospitals and other facilities continued to climb amid eased virus restrictions.
The country added 121 more COVID-19 cases, including 104 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,543, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The country's new COVID-19 cases bounced back to triple digits for the first time in a week due largely to an uptick in cluster infections at senior care hospitals and other risk-prone facilities, and a rise in imported cases.
The tally marked a rise from 91 new cases Wednesday and 58 Tuesday.
It also marked the first time that local infections surpassed the 100 mark since Sept. 24, when the number of domestic virus cases reached 109.
A health worker conducts a new coronavirus test on a tutor at a cram school in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
Last week, the country relaxed its social distancing scheme to the lowest level in its three-tier system, after applying Level 2 measures across the nation for about two months since late August.
The country's new virus infections are on a downward trend after a flare-up in the number of daily COVID-19 cases for over a month since mid-August.
Compared with mid-August and early September, when the tally rose by triple digits, the country has largely slowed the spread of virus on the back of tougher social distancing measures.
Under Level 1 measures, citizens are permitted to normalize most of their daily routines, with some infection prevention steps in place. Even risk-prone facilities, including clubs and bars, are allowed to operate after monthslong suspension as long as they keep entry logs and follow sanitary measures.
The country also began allowing students on Monday to take in-person classes more often as attendance cap restrictions in schools were eased amid the slowdown in new virus infections.
But health authorities remain on alert over sporadic cluster infections at nursing homes and medical facilities where elderly people, deemed vulnerable to COVID-19, have been infected with the virus.
Cases traced to a hospital in Gwangju, south of Seoul, reached 86 as of noon Wednesday, up 23 from the previous day. A senior care hospital in the southeastern port city of Busan reported seven more patients, raising the total to 81.
Seats at the venue of the Busan International Film Festival are arranged for keeping safe distances in the southern port city of Busan on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
Cases with unknown infection routes accounted for 13.2 percent of the total cases reported over the past two weeks. The proportion of cluster infections reached 23.7 percent, according to the KCDA.
Of the newly identified local infections, 18 cases were reported in Seoul, 62 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital and two cases in Incheon, west of Seoul. The greater Seoul area is home to around half of the nation's 51.6 million population.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding five cases and South Chungcheong Province reporting 11 new cases.
The country, meanwhile, added 17 imported cases, down from a three-month high of 34 cases Wednesday. Four cases came from the Philippines, followed by three from the United States and another three from France.
South Korea reported three additional deaths, raising the death toll to 453. The fatality rate was 1.77 percent.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 62 as of midnight, down from 70 the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,647, up 63 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,515,325 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3., including 11,836 tests from the previous day.
Wearing a mask and plastic gloves, a jobseeker reads a pamphlet at a job fair in Yongin, just south of Seoul, on Oct. 21, 2020.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--LG launches new home appliance brand with upgraded customization features

Of the LG Objet Collection appliances , light wave oven , water purifier and dish washer are compatible with each @ @ @ @ @ Things ( IoT ) platform , LG ThinQ .
For instance , when users select @ @ @ @ @ oven , the water purifier automatically sets the right amount of water needed for the @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. on Thursday launched a new home appliance line with enhanced customization options as the South Korean tech firm targets more consumers who seek their own home interior styling.
LG Objet Collection allows consumers to select their own colors and materials for home appliances so that they can create harmony with interior design in their homes.
The new brand is an upgraded version of LG Objet, which was introduced in 2018 under a concept of "private appliance" that blends home appliances and artfully designed furniture.
LG said it partnered with U.S.-based Pantone Color Institute to offer more color options for LG Objet Collection appliances.
For material selections, the company included FENIX, a high-tech material developed by Italy's Arpa Industriale known for its resistance to scratches and abrasion.
This photo provided by LG Electronics Inc. on Oct. 22, 2020, shows products under the company's new home appliance brand, the LG Objet Collection, which highlights customization features. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
LG said 11 products are currently available under the LG Objet Collection brand, which includes refrigerators, a dish washer, a light wave oven, a washer-dryer combo and a clothing refresher, but the lineup will be expanded in the future.
For refrigerator doors, consumers can choose from 13 colors, along with various materials, including FENIX, stainless, glass and metal. There are a maximum of 145 design combinations for its three-door bottom-freezer refrigerator, according to LG.
Of the LG Objet Collection appliances, light wave oven, water purifier and dish washer are compatible with each other through its Internet of Things (IoT) platform, LG ThinQ. For instance, when users select a cooking option on the oven, the water purifier automatically sets the right amount of water needed for the dish.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--BLACKPINK's 'How You Like That' racks up 600 mln views

The quartet 's music video of the hit song reached the milestone at around 1 a.m. on Thursday , roughly @ @ @ @ @ after it was released on June 26 , according to YG Entertainment .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean all-female band BLACKPINK's music video "How You Like That" has earned 600 million views on YouTube in what its agency said was reached in the shortest time for a K-pop act.
The quartet's music video of the hit song reached the milestone at around 1 a.m. on Thursday, roughly 117 days and seven hours after it was released on June 26, according to YG Entertainment.
The agency said the band set the record about two months earlier than its "Kill This Love" music video, which reached the milestone in 177 days.
"How You Like That" is one of BLACKPINK's previously released songs that was included in its first full-length album, "The Album," which was released earlier this month.
BLACKPINK owns several billion-view music videos, with its most popular "Ddu-du Ddu-du" topping 1.3 billion views.
This image, provided by YG Entertainment, celebrates BLACKPINK's music video "How You Like That" hitting 600 million views on YouTube on Oct. 22, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Local virus cases at 1-month high; cluster infections biggest hurdle in virus fight

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- The number of daily local coronavirus cases in South Korea spiked again to over 100 for the first time in nearly one month Thursday, as sporadic cluster infections at nursing homes and other facilities continued to climb amid eased virus restrictions.
The country added 121 more COVID-19 cases, including 104 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,543, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The country's new COVID-19 cases bounced back to triple digits for the first time in a week due largely to an uptick in cluster infections at nursing homes and other risk-prone facilities and a rise in imported cases.
It also marked the first time that local infections surpassed the 100 mark since Sept. 24, when the number of domestic virus cases reached 109.
A health worker conducts a new coronavirus test on a tutor at a cram school in Seoul's southern district of Gangnam on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
Last week, the country relaxed its social distancing scheme to the lowest level in its three-tier system, after applying Level 2 measures across the nation for about two months since late August.
The country's new virus infections are on a downward trend after a flare-up in the number of daily COVID-19 cases for over a month since mid-August.
Compared with mid-August and early September, when the tally rose by triple digits, the country has largely slowed the spread of virus on the back of tougher social distancing measures.
Under Level 1 measures, citizens are permitted to normalize most of their daily routines, with some infection prevention steps in place. Even risk-prone facilities, including clubs and bars, are allowed to operate after monthslong suspension as long as they keep entry logs and follow sanitary measures.
The country also began allowing students on Monday to take in-person classes more often as attendance cap restrictions in schools were eased amid the slowdown in new virus infections.
But health authorities remain on alert over sporadic cluster infections at nursing homes and medical facilities where elderly people, deemed vulnerable to COVID-19, have been infected with the virus.
Cases with unknown infection routes accounted for 13.2 percent of the total cases reported over the past two weeks. The proportion of cluster infections reached 23.7 percent, according to the KCDA.
Of the newly identified local infections, 18 cases were reported in Seoul, 62 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital and two cases in Incheon, west of Seoul. The greater Seoul area is home to around half of the nation's 51.6 million population.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's southeastern port city of Busan adding five cases and South Chungcheong Province reporting 11 new cases.
Seats at the venue of the Busan International Film Festival are arranged for keeping safe distances in the southern port city of Busan on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
The country, meanwhile, added 17 imported cases, down from a three-month high of 34 cases Wednesday. Four cases came from the Philippines, followed by three from the United States and another three from France.
South Korea reported three additional deaths, raising the death toll to 453. The fatality rate was 1.77 percent.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 62 as of midnight, down from 70 the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,647, up 63 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,515,325 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3., including 11,836 tests from the previous day.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-22--Moon asks Kazakhstan, Chile to support S. Korean candidate for top WTO post

Moon has so far spoken by phone with the leaders of 13 countries to ask for their backing for Yoo @ @ @ @ @ Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria in the final round for the selection process .
The new WTO @ @ @ @ @ announced early next month .

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in held phone talks Thursday with the leaders of Kazakhstan and Chile in his latest round of diplomacy to secure support for South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's bid for the top post of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Moon has so far spoken by phone with the leaders of 13 countries to ask for their backing for Yoo who is competing with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria in the final round for the selection process. The new WTO chief is expected to be announced early next month.
In the phone conversation with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Moon stressed that it is important that the top WTO post should be given to the candidate with capabilities and a vision to restore the trust in a multilateral trading system.
Moon then called for Kazakhstan's support for Yoo, noting that the country is a core partner for South Korea's New Northern Policy aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic relations with Central Asia and Russia.
Later in the day, Moon talked over the phone with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera to call for Chile's backing for Yoo's campaign in the WTO leadership race.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during a phone conversation with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at his office in Seoul on Oct. 22, 2020, in this photo provided by the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)