yna--2020-06-17--(News Focus) N. Korea set to raise tensions further with eye on U.S.: experts

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has also yet to showcase the `` new strategic weapon '' he spoke of in @ @ @ @ @ providing the opportunity to do so -- June 25 will be the 70th anniversary of @ @ @ @ @ War , July 4 will be Independence Day in the U.S. and Oct. 10 will @ @ @ @ @ founding of the North 's ruling Workers ' Party .

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, June 16 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's destruction of an inter-Korean liaison office is likely the first step in a series of provocations aimed at increasing its bargaining power with Washington and Seoul ahead of the November presidential election in the United States, experts here said Tuesday.
Fully aware that it is unlikely to get any sanctions relief it wants from the U.S. before the election, North Korea will continue to escalate its military and nonmilitary threats in preparation for a second term for President Donald Trump or a first term for former Vice President Joe Biden, according to the analysts.
"This is just the opening bid," Sue Mi Terry, who served as Korea director on the National Security Councils of former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, told Yonhap News Agency in a phone interview.
"From here, escalations will continue. They have to. After provocations towards South Korea, then they will turn their attention to the United States," she said, noting the abundance of options North Korea can choose from without directly provoking Trump's ire.
This photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) standing with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before holding talks at the Freedom House on the southern side of the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas, on June 30, 2019. (Yonhap)
Trump has drawn the line at nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests that threaten the United States, but North Korea could fire medium-range ballistic missiles over Japan or launch a missile from a submarine and still build its nuclear deterrence.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has also yet to showcase the "new strategic weapon" he spoke of in December, with upcoming anniversaries providing the opportunity to do so -- June 25 will be the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, July 4 will be Independence Day in the U.S. and Oct. 10 will be 75 years since the founding of the North's ruling Workers' Party.
"Pyongyang has issued increasingly negative depictions of the personal relationship between Kim Jong-un and President Trump, and vowed not to engage in another photo-op summit," Bruce Klingner, a former CIA deputy division chief for Korea, told Yonhap, supporting the notion that North Korea is not interested in diplomacy anytime soon.
"For now, Pyongyang is more interested in incrementally ratcheting up tensions to force further South Korean obsequiousness and U.S. relaxation of sanctions," he said.
The recent tensions in inter-Korean relations isn't to say that the North Koreans have steered clear of criticizing the U.S.
Last week, it warned the U.S. to stay out of inter-Korean affairs if it wants to ensure a smooth presidential election without experiencing a "hair-raiser."
Those comments were a response to the U.S. State Department's expression of disappointment at North Korea's decision to cut off all inter-Korean communication lines.
But the State Department continued to urge calm Tuesday after the North blew up the liaison office, saying the U.S. "fully supports" South Korea's efforts on inter-Korean relations and "urges" the North to "refrain from further counterproductive actions."
"I think the U.S. and the State Department are trying to dial down pressure, trying to not let it escalate," Terry said, adding that for the U.S. government, it's important that North Korea doesn't do anything to embarrass Trump.
"It's hard for the United States to do anything about this anyway," she continued, "because right now, the one thing that they have done, blowing up the liaison office, it's still (North Korea's) territory. It's not like they did something to the United States."
Frank Aum, a senior expert on North Korea at the U.S. Institute of Peace, seemed to support the State Department's response.
"The U.S.-South Korea alliance should be careful about not overreacting to North Korea's dramatic outbursts," he told Yonhap.
The allies should focus on things they can control, such as increasing financial costs on the regime, maintaining military deterrence and readiness, and resolving negotiations over cost-sharing for the U.S. troop presence in South Korea, he said.
Blowing up inter-Korean relations: What is N. Korea aiming at? Youtube https://youtu.be/nGLpweCw6OQ
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(LEAD) N.K. to redeploy troops to Kaesong, Mount Kumgang areas, rejects Seoul's offer for envoys

It did not elaborate on where the border areas would be , but they seem to be referring to regions @ @ @ @ @ of Kaesong and Mount Kumgang on the east coast from which the North previously withdrew @ @ @ @ @ joint economic and tour projects were under way .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline; ADDS info throughout)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Wednesday it will redeploy troops to two inter-Korean business zones near the border and reinstall border guard posts removed under a tension reduction deal, further heightening tensions a day after blowing up a joint liaison office.
The decision to move troops to the now-shuttered industrial complex in the border city of Kaesong and the Mount Kumgang tourist zone on the east coast are the latest in a series of actions the North has taken against South Korea in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets.
The General Staff of the Korean People's Army also said it will resume "all kinds of regular military exercises" near the inter-Korean border in an apparent move to abolish a tension-reduction military deal the two Koreas signed in 2018.
"Units of the regiment level and necessary firepower sub-units with defense mission will be deployed in the Mount Kumgang tourist area and the Kaesong Industrial Zone where the sovereignty of our Republic is exercised," a spokesperson of the General Staff said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.
Blowing up inter-Korean relations: What is N. Korea aiming at? Youtube https://youtu.be/nGLpweCw6OQ
"The artillery units deployed on the whole front line including the southwest naval front will reinforce those on combat duty, upgrade the level of the front guard duty to top class combat duty system throughout the front line and will resume all kinds of regular military exercises in the areas close to the boundary," the spokesperson added.
The official said that "civil police posts" that had been pulled back from the Demilitarized Zone straddling the inter-Korean border under a military deal "will be set up again to strengthen the guard over the frontline" and open areas along the border to support leaflet-sending by its own people into the South.
The General Staff will "work out these military action plans against enemy in more detail" and plans to present them to the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party for approval "at an earliest date," the KCNA said.
The KCNA also said that North Korea has also "flatly" rejected South Korea's offer to send special envoys to defuse tensions, calling it a "tactless" and "sinister" proposal.
"Upset by the toughest retaliatory offensive against enemy taken by us, the south side sent a message to the effect that 'President' Moon Jae In hopes for sending special envoys to the Chairman of our State Affairs Commission," the KCNA said.
"Upon the urgent message sent by the south side in a hurry, Kim Yo Jong, first vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, made known the stand that we flatly reject the tactless and sinister proposal," it added.
The inter-Korean liaison office in North Korea's border city of Kaesong is blown up by the North on June 16, 2020, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
North Korea has taken a series of retaliatory action against South Korea, denouncing activists' sending of leaflets criticizing its leadership and regime as an act that breaches inter-Korean agreements.
Pyongyang has vowed to deal with South Korea as an "enemy," cutting off all cross-border communication lines, and threatened to take other measures, including military action. It also has threatened to dismantle a now-shuttered joint industrial park in Kaesong and scrap the 2018 military deal the two Koreas signed to reduce cross-border tensions.
On Tuesday, the KPA's General Staff warned that it is reviewing an action plan to advance into "the zones that had been demilitarized under the north-south agreement, turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten the vigilance" against the South.
It did not elaborate on where the border areas would be, but they seem to be referring to regions around the western border town of Kaesong and Mount Kumgang on the east coast from which the North previously withdrew troops there as the now-shuttered joint economic and tour projects were under way.
In a surprise move later on the same day, North Korea blew up an inter-Korean joint liaison office in Kaesong in anger over the leafleting issue. The explosion sparked concern that the North could put other threats against the South into action, including taking military action.
South Korea expressed strong regret and warned it would sternly respond if the North takes more action to escalate tension.
The demolition of the liaison office marked the latest setback in inter-Korean relations, which have been almost stalled since a no-deal summit between Pyongyang and Washington in February last year.
Last October, North Korea demanded the South tear down all "unpleasant-looking" facilities at the now-shuttered Mount Kumgang resort on its east coast. Launched in 1998, the tour program was a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation but has been put on hold since 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot dead near the resort for allegedly trespassing in an off-limits area.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on June 17)

The liaison office in Kaesong was a tangible symbol of improved relations ardently sought by the Moon Jae-in administration over @ @ @ @ @ An existing office for inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation in the compound was renovated after the @ @ @ @ @ Kim Jong-un in 2018 and reopened as a liaison office later that year .
However @ @ @ @ @ lifted due to North Korea 's reluctance to denuclearize .
Pyongyang cut off all communication @ @ @ @ @ South Korea for the dispatch of propaganda leaflets by North Korean defectors across the border @

Prepare for provocations
North Korea on Tuesday demolished the inter-Korean liaison office inside the Kaesong Industrial Complex. It took the action just three days after Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and vice director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, warned that South Koreans would soon witness such a tragic scene. The blasts were heard on the frontlines of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and black smoke arose from the explosion. The Ministry of National Defense said it had been observing signs of destruction with surveillance equipment from across the border.
The liaison office in Kaesong was a tangible symbol of improved relations ardently sought by the Moon Jae-in administration over the last three years. An existing office for inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation in the compound was renovated after the first summit between Moon and Kim Jong-un in 2018 and reopened as a liaison office later that year. However, international sanctions were not lifted due to North Korea's reluctance to denuclearize. Pyongyang cut off all communication channels with Seoul after blaming South Korea for the dispatch of propaganda leaflets by North Korean defectors across the border.
After the elimination of the inter-Korean office, South-North relations will likely be frozen rapidly. The levelling of the office reflects Pyongyang's determination not to cooperate with the Moon administration's rapprochement policy. As Kim Yo-jong warned, additional provocations can follow, including the dismantling of the industrial compound and tourism facilities on Mt. Kumgang.
North Korea will likely restore armed guard posts in the Joint Security Area (JSA) and the DMZ. It removed some of its guard posts along the DMZ in a reconciliatory gesture after an inter-Korean military agreement in 2018. The North also threatened to send its own propaganda leaflets to the South. Such hostile threats hint at the possibility of a full-fledged confrontation — including localized battles and SLBM launches.
Such belligerent reactions would constitute a brazen violation of the Sept. 19 military agreement of two years ago. But they cannot address the economic hardships North Korea has suffered from international sanctions and the Covid-19 outbreak. The amicable image the North Korean leader has built on the international stages over the past also will be critically damaged. If North Korea chooses to use nuclear weapons, that will invite self-destruction.
North Korea must understand that it cannot find a breakthrough in the deadlock through blackmail or use of military force. That will only push it further into the swamp. North Korea must return to basics. At the same time, our government and military must get ready for any possible provocations.
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--Religious group calls for calm amid heightened inter-Korean tensions

The KCRP , created in 1965 , said that while the current circumstances are challenging , the present standoff can @ @ @ @ @ better and used to expand the role of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mt .
@ @ @ @ @ said such projects , that have been viewed symbols of what can go right between @ @ @ @ @ create a bright arena of peace and prosperity for all concerned .

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean group representing the country's six major religions issued a statement Wednesday, calling on all sides to maintain calm amid heightened tensions following North Korea's demolition of a joint liaison office.
The Korean Conference of Religions and Peace (KCRP) said the destruction of the joint office in the North Korean border city of Kaesong on Tuesday, threats by Pyongyang to redeploy troops in key areas along the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two sides and demands for a strong response in the South do nothing to resolve the current situation.
"It is our belief that a hardline stance will not help at this stage," the organization said.
The KCRP, created in 1965, said that while the current circumstances are challenging, the present standoff can be turned around for the better and used to expand the role of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mt. Kumkang tour program. It said such projects, that have been viewed symbols of what can go right between the two Koreas, can create a bright arena of peace and prosperity for all concerned.
South Korea pulled out of Kaesong in early 2016 after the North conducted its fourth nuclear test, with tours to the scenic mountains on North Korea's east coast having been suspended since 2008 following the shooting of a South Korean tourist by a North Korean guard.
"As the world reels from the coronavirus pandemic, the South and the North should strive to join forces and come up with ways to plan for a future together," the joint statement said.
The group added that it is best to engage in dialogue when conditions are most difficult, stressing that the latest confrontation can be used as a foundation for all sides to fulfill all their prior promises. It said all KCRP members are praying for everyone to become one again.
The religious group has been a strong advocate of peace on the Korean Peninsula. The National Council of Churches in Korea, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism Confucianism, the Catholics Bishops' Conference of Korea, as well as Won Buddhism, Chondogyo and the Association for Korean Native Religions, are all KCRP members.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(LEAD) (Yonhap Interview) Prolific opera singer Kim Joo-taek eyes diversified portfolio

He has starred in major opera productions at big theaters , like the Rome Opera House , the Fenice Opera @ @ @ @ @ Theater of San Carlo in Naples , since making his debut with the role of @ @ @ @ @ Seville '' at the Pergolesi Theater in Jesi , northeastern Italy , in 2009 .

(ATTN: ADDS pictures)
By Kim Boram
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- When he was a little boy, Kim Joo-taek, known as Julian Kim abroad, used to sing famous trot songs -- a genre of popular music in Korea -- of big-name singers like Na Hoon-a in front of his grandparents and their friends. His talented voice and soulful sound attracted rave responses from his senior fans.
"I have loved trot music since I was a child, and I loved to sing these old school songs to my grandparents," Kim said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency. "When people praised my performance, saying, 'You were good at singing,' I was so pleased and happy."
This photo provided by Arts & Artists shows baritone Kim Joo-taek. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
But it was not easy for the versatile boy to find out his mission in his childhood. Born to a mother who was a classical singer, he was good at everything related to music.
"I started playing the piano when I was 5, and I did pretty well. And I learned the violin and drums, too," said the baritone singer. "But I didn't like practicing these musical instruments eight hours a day for a five-minute performance."
But he did not get tired of singing for a whole day and chose to carve out a career as a classical vocalist around the age of 13, remembering the pleasure of singing in public when he was a child.
He made the right choice. He soon rose to become a mainstream opera singer in Italy after graduating from Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music in Milan, one of most renowned music schools in Europe, with flying colors.
He has starred in major opera productions at big theaters, like the Rome Opera House, the Fenice Opera House in Venice and the Theater of San Carlo in Naples, since making his debut with the role of Figaro in "Barber of Seville" at the Pergolesi Theater in Jesi, northeastern Italy, in 2009.
"An opera is the art of everything, like singing, costume, stage settings, directing and lighting," he said. "And the human voice that comes out of the music played by an orchestra thrills me."
Baritone Kim Joo-taek sings during a recital in 2019 in this picture provided by Arts & Artists. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
But the seasoned opera singer does not set limits on his singing portfolio. He appeared in the crossover vocal audition show "Phantom Singer" on JTBC in 2017 and gained widespread public recognition in his home country.
His four-member team, Miraclass, which finished second in the show and has had a series of concerts in Korea, has made the prolific vocalist far busier.
"No matter what kind of music I sing, I love to sing songs that people like," said the 33-year-old singer, adding that he did not intend to sing only classical music when he decided to take on this career path years ago.
"If I were given a chance, I would have participated in the recent smash-hit audition show 'Mr. Trot,'" he joked. "I would try a musical as well. I love all music genres."
Now he is preparing for an opera gala next month, with some crossover music. It is the first onstage performance for Kim since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I felt good and relaxed in the beginning, as this pandemic gave me a rare break," he said. "But now I've been thirsty for performance, singing in public."
The upcoming "Opera Carnival 2020," slated for July 11 at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, will be different from his previous shows filled with enthusiastic audience members because of social distancing.
"It might be less encouraging if there's less energy from the audience," he said. "I just hope they smile during my performance even though I can't see them because of their face masks."
Baritone Kim Joo-taek plays the role of Figaro in "Barber of Seville" at the Regio Theater of Parma in 2019 in this photo provided by Arts & Artists. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--N.K. leader's personal plane makes rare flight amid heightened tensions

Given the flight direction , some say its destination might have been Sinpo on the east coast , where North @ @ @ @ @ been building a new submarine .
It is estimated to be in the final stage @ @ @

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- An aircraft used by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un flew from Pyongyang to the eastern part of the country on Wednesday, an aviation tracker said, sparking speculation that the leader may reemerge into public view for possible military action amid heightened inter-Korean tensions.
The An-148 twin-engine jet was spotted flying northeastwards at around 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Aircraft Spot said. It said the plane's signals disappeared near North Hamgyong Province.
North Korea watchers have said that the Air Koryo plane has been used as Kim's personal aircraft in the past.
"The An-148 would be good for a short hop," a tracker operator told Yonhap News Agency, noting that Kim's other plane, IL-62, is made for longer-range trips though both are "configured to his luxurious needs."
"Honestly it's hard to tell who is aboard what plane, and when. But I did see that his An-148 flew in a north-easterly direction away from the region where his palace is," the operator said.
This image capture from Flightradar24 shows the flight route of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's personal plane on June 17, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The rare movement of Kim's personal plane comes after North Korea warned of military action against South Korea in protest over activists' anti-regime leafleting across the border.
While his powerful sister, Kim Yo-jong, has issued a series of blistering statements against the South, the leader has been absent from public view for more than a week.
Given the flight direction, some say its destination might have been Sinpo on the east coast, where North Korea is believed to have been building a new submarine. It is estimated to be in the final stage of construction.
The new submarine is believed to be a 3,000-ton class vessel and may be capable of carrying three submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
This photo provided by Aircraft Spots shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's personal plane, IL-62. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(LEAD) Unification minister offers to resign over worsened inter-Korean relations

Inter-Korean relations have recently fallen to one of the lowest points in years , as North Korea has taken a @ @ @ @ @ South Korea and threatened even military action in anger over activists ' sending of anti-Pyongyang @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with Cheong Wa Dae's response)
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Wednesday that he has offered to resign to take responsibility for failing to stably manage inter-Korean relations.
Kim said that he expressed his intent to resign to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae earlier in the day.
"I feel sorry for failing to live up to the demands and expectations of our people for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula," Kim told reporters during a hastily arranged briefing.
Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kang Min-seok told reporters that President Moon Jae-in will not immediately decide whether to approve the minister's resignation.
"The approval will be decided in a day or two, not today," he said.
Inter-Korean relations have recently fallen to one of the lowest points in years, as North Korea has taken a series of retaliatory steps against South Korea and threatened even military action in anger over activists' sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets.
On Tuesday, the North blew up a liaison office in its border town of Kaesong launched as a result of a summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in April 2018 to facilitate cross-border exchange and cooperation.
Earlier in the day, the North heightened tensions further, saying it has rejected South Korea's offer to send special envoys and will redeploy troops to two inter-Korean business zones near the border.
Kim, who previously headed a state-run think tank on North Korea, was appointed as unification minister in April last year.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--Support possible but SsangYong not subject to gov't support fund: KDB

`` We can not but come up with an alternative plan when the negotiation is being delayed , '' Choi @ @ @ @ @ not speak of a Plan B while there is no negotiations , but should ( @ @ @ @ @ up its acquisition , we will review all available options . ''
( END )

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- SsangYong Motor Co., the South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra, is not qualified for special support under a newly established government fund, South Korea's policy lender said Wednesday.
"The market stabilization fund for key industries is not designed to support companies with existing problems prior to the outbreak of the new coronavirus," Choi Dae-hyeon, vice chairman of Korea Development Bank (KDB), said in an online press conference.
Choi was referring to the new 40-trillion-won (US$32.9 billion) government fund to support key industries hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the airline and tourism industries.
The government has said such industries may also include automakers, but only those facing fresh problems caused by the pandemic.
SsangYong has long faced large annual losses with its latest attempt to crawl into the black apparently dashed by the new coronavirus that has sharply reduced demand at home and abroad.
Mahindra has said SsangYong needs new investors. Many believe the remarks hinted at the Indian carmaker giving up its control of SsangYong, but others also believe they were aimed at highlighting the need for support from Seoul.
"For us to support SsangYong, those in charge must show determination and also make responsible efforts," Choi said, adding the bank may discuss ways to support the troubled carmaker when and if such conditions are met.
Choi also said the bank will likely rollover its 90 billion-won loan to SsangYong, set to mature in July, saying it "will not retrieve outstanding loans as long as an agreement is reached with other related parties."
Regarding the apparently delayed acquisition of Asiana Airlines by HDC Hyundai Development Co., Choi said KDB may not extend the deadline for the proposed sale of the airline unless HDC shows sincerity.
"We asked to hold a face-to-face meeting to sincerely renegotiate the terms, but have not received any reply from HDC," he said.
HDC had agreed to purchase a 30.77 percent stake in Asiana for 2.5 trillion won by June 27, but later asked for a renegotiation, citing a sharp increase in the carrier's debt since the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
HDC requested such renegotiation be done via mail.
"We cannot but come up with an alternative plan when the negotiation is being delayed," Choi said. "We may not speak of a Plan B while there is no negotiations, but should (HDC) decide to give up its acquisition, we will review all available options."
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(2nd LD) N. Korea will pay price if it takes actual military action: defense ministry

`` These moves thwart two decades of efforts by South and North Korea to improve inter-Korean relations and to keep @ @ @ @ @ .
If the North actually takes such a move , it will certainly pay the @ @ @ @ @ Jeon Dong-jin , director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff , said .

(ATTN: ADDS military readiness in last 4 paras)
By Choi Soo-hyang and Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military warned Wednesday that North Korea will "pay the price" if it launches military action against the South.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff statement came hours after North Korea said it will redeploy troops to an inter-Korean industrial park in the western border town of Kaesong and the Mount Kumgang joint tourism zone on the east coast.
The North also said it will restore guard posts removed from the Demilitarized Zone separating the two sides and resume all kinds of regular military exercises near the inter-Korean border in an apparent move to abolish a military tension-reduction deal signed in 2018.
"These moves thwart two decades of efforts by South and North Korea to improve inter-Korean relations and to keep peace on the Korean Peninsula. If the North actually takes such a move, it will certainly pay the price for it," Jeon Dong-jin, director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.
Earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's powerful sister, Kim Yo-jong, threatened to scrap the deal altogether in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by activists here.
The younger Kim said Seoul should get ready for the "scrapping of the North-South agreement in military field which is hardly of any value" if it fails to take corresponding steps for the leaflet campaigns.
After a series of statements ratcheting up tensions on the peninsula, the North blew up an inter-Koran joint liaison office in the western border town of Kaesong on Tuesday.
"Regarding the current security situation, our military is closely monitoring the North Korean military moves round-the-clock and maintains a staunch readiness posture. We will continue to make efforts to manage the situation stably to prevent this from escalating into a military crisis," Jeon said.
As North Korea upgraded its guard duty level to "top class combat duty system" for front-line troops, the South Korean and U.S. authorities have also beefed up their surveillance and readiness posture, according to JCS officers.
It is the first time since 2013 that North Korea said it heightened the alert to the highest level, which means that troops are in full gear to be ready for combat operations.
South Korea has been operating such assets as ballistic missile early warning radar and Aegis-equipped destroyers, and the U.S. flew EP-3E and RC-12X surveillance aircraft on an apparent mission to monitor the North, according to sources.
"No unusual movements have been detected as of now. But we have been in a full posture against any eventualities," a JCS officer said.
South Korean Marines patrol a perimeter fence on Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea just south of the Northern Limit Line, the inter-Korean maritime border, on June 16, 2020. South Korea's military said it is ready to respond to any North Korean provocation after Pyongyang blew up the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong earlier in the day. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--S. Korea to levy tax on cryptocurrency: finance minister

The government `` has continued to realign its tax system to reflect changes in market conditions , but it is @ @ @ @ @ list of taxable items and types of tax this year , '' Finance Minister Hong @ @ @ @ @ the parliamentary finance committee .

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to impose tax on cryptocurrency, the country's finance minister said Wednesday, adding that his ministry will announce the details next month.
The government "has continued to realign its tax system to reflect changes in market conditions, but it is especially working to refine its list of taxable items and types of tax this year," Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said while speaking before the parliamentary finance committee.
In the past years, cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin and ethereum, have rapidly gained popularity among South Korean investors hoping to make quick money.
Earlier, the finance ministry said it has been considering imposing a 20 percent tax on income from cryptocurrency transactions, raising speculation that it may categorize gains from cryptocurrency trading as other income, not capital gains.
Currently, other income includes gains resulting from lectures, lottery purchases and prizes.
In November last year, South Korea's tax agency imposed 80.3 billion won (US$66 million) in withholding tax on Bithumb Korea, the country's largest cryptocurrency exchange.
The finance minister also said his ministry will actively seek to deal with the new tax environment, such as digital tax, adding that the country has been taking part in global discussions over a new digital tax.
Imposing a digital tax may increase the country's tax revenue from foreign firms, but it may expose local firms to overseas taxation as well, he noted.
"Personally, I believe a digital tax needs to be imposed as a new type of tax, and the government too is considering moving in that direction," said the minister, who is also the vice prime minister for economy.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--Ex-President Park's aide asks for leniency in retrial of 'white list' case

An appeals court had sentenced Kim to 18 months in prison for power abuse in the so-called white list scandal @ @ @ @ @ ordered the Seoul High Court in February to review its earlier ruling , saying his @ @ @ @ @ not constitute an extortion .

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded a four-year prison sentence for Kim Ki-choon, former chief of staff to ousted President Park Geun-hye, for allegedly abusing his power during Park's rule to favor conservative groups, in a retrial of his case at the Seoul High Court.
Kim was indicted for pressuring the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), a business lobby group, into providing 6.9 billion won (US$5.8 million) to 33 pro-government organizations between 2014 and 2016.
An appeals court had sentenced Kim to 18 months in prison for power abuse in the so-called white list scandal. But the Supreme Court ordered the Seoul High Court in February to review its earlier ruling, saying his pressure on the FKI did not constitute an extortion.
Demanding the four-year sentence for the 82-year-old Kim in his retrial, prosecutors said briefly that the white list case's constitutional meaning and social impact have already been proven by the Supreme Court's ruling.
Kim Ki-choon (R), who served as presidential chief of staff during the previous Park Geun-hye government, arrives at the Seoul High Court on June 17, 2020, to attend a retrial of the white list case. (Yonhap)
Kim had already spent 562 days behind bars after being convicted of drafting a blacklist of artists critical of the conservative Park government and was released from prison last December after being imprisoned for an additional 425 days in connection with the white list scandal.
During the retrial, Kim's lawyers appealed for leniency from the court, saying the support for conservative organizations was in accordance with the government's policy decisions and was not gravely unlawful nor severely criticized.
The lawyers also brought attention to Kim's old age and frail health, as well as to his prolonged imprisonment in the past. Kim himself asked for a lenient ruling from the judges after expressing his respect for their hard work.
In the same retrial, prosecutors also demanded a prison term of three years for Hyun Ki-hwan, former senior presidential secretary for political affairs, over his alleged involvement in the white list scandal.
Prosecutors had also demanded a three-year jail term for Cho Yoon-sun, another former senior presidential secretary for political affairs who had also served as Park's culture minister, in an earlier retrial of the white list case.
The appellate court's sentencing hearing for the three is slated for June 26.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(LEAD) N. Korea placed explosives inside liaison office right after Kim Yo-jong's statement: sources

In response , Seoul 's defense ministry said the North will `` pay the price '' if it carries out @ @ @ @ @ that the military is in a full posture to deal with any eventualities .

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 6-7)
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea appears to have begun preparations to destroy the inter-Korean liaison office building by placing explosives immediately after leader Kim Jong-un's sister issued a warning, military sources said Wednesday.
On Saturday night, some unusual movements were detected around the liaison office in the North's border town of Kaesong, such as vehicles moving around, according to the sources.
It was right after leader Kim's influential sister Kim Yo-jong issued a statement saying, "Before long, a tragic scene of the useless north-south joint liaison office completely collapsed would be seen."
Then on Tuesday, North Korea took action by blowing up the liaison office, a symbol of inter-Korean reconciliation and a result of the Panmunjom Declaration signed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un on April 27, 2018.
"North Korea seems to have placed explosives inside to blow up the building," a source said.
Rep. Min Hong-chul of the ruling Democratic Party also cited defense ministry officials saying that small flames from equipment were seen inside the building from around Sunday.
"The building is a steel structure. For its complete explosion, steel beams should be cut in advance," the lawmaker said.
The regime has threatened to take other steps, including dispatching troops to the now-shuttered Kaesong complex, as well as the Mount Kumgang tourist zone on the east coast.
It also vowed to restore guard posts removed from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and resume all kinds of regular military exercises in violation of the inter-Korean Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) signed in September 2018.
In response, Seoul's defense ministry said the North will "pay the price" if it carries out such provocative moves, stressing that the military is in a full posture to deal with any eventualities.
This photo, released by the Korean Central News Agency on June 17, 2020, shows the explosion of the inter-Korean liaison office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong at around 2:50 p.m. on June 16, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(Yonhap Interview) Prolific opera singer Kim Joo-taek eyes diversified portfolio

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- When he was a little boy, Kim Joo-taek, known as Julian Kim abroad, used to sing famous trot songs -- a genre of popular music in Korea -- of big-name singers like Na Hoon-a in front of his grandparents and their friends. His talented voice and soulful sound attracted rave responses from his senior fans.
"I have loved trot music since I was a child, and I loved to sing these old school songs to my grandparents," Kim said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency. "When people praised my performance, saying, 'You were good at singing,' I was so pleased and happy."
This photo by Arts & Artists shows baritone Kim Joo-taek. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
But it was not easy for the versatile boy to find out his mission in his childhood. Born to a mother who was a classical singer, he was good at everything related to music.
"I started playing the piano when I was 5, and I did pretty well. And I learned the violin and drums, too," said the baritone singer. "But I didn't like practicing these musical instruments eight hours a day for a five-minute performance."
But he did not get tired of singing for a whole day and chose to carve out a career as a classical vocalist around the age of 13, remembering the pleasure of singing in public when he was a child.
He made the right choice. He soon rose to become a mainstream opera singer in Italy after graduating from Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music in Milan, one of most renowned music schools in Europe, with flying colors.
He has starred in major opera productions at big theaters, like the Rome Opera House, the Fenice Opera House in Venice and the Theater of San Carlo in Naples, since making his debut with the role of Figaro in "Barber of Seville" at the Pergolesi Theater in Jesi, northeastern Italy, in 2009.
"An opera is the art of everything, like singing, costume, stage settings, directing and lighting," he said. "And the human voice that comes out of the music played by an orchestra thrills me."
But the seasoned opera singer does not set limits on his singing portfolio. He appeared in the crossover vocal audition show "Phantom Singer" on JTBC in 2017 and gained widespread public recognition in his home country.
His four-member team, Miraclass, which finished second in the show and has had a series of concerts in Korea, has made the prolific vocalist far busier.
"No matter what kind of music I sing, I love to sing songs that people like," said the 33-year-old singer, adding that he did not intend to sing only classical music when he decided to take on this career path years ago.
"If I were given a chance, I would have participated in the recent smash-hit audition show 'Mr. Trot,'" he joked. "I would try a musical as well. I love all music genres."
Now he is preparing for an opera gala next month, with some crossover music. It is the first onstage performance for Kim since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I felt good and relaxed in the beginning, as this pandemic gave me a rare break," he said. "But now I've been thirsty for performance, singing in public."
The upcoming "Opera Carnival 2020," slated for July 11 at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, will be different from his previous shows filled with enthusiastic audience members because of social distancing.
"It might be less encouraging if there's less energy from the audience," he said. "I just hope they smile during my performance even though I can't see them because of their face masks."
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(LEAD) KAI aims to export first Korean-made helicopter to Indonesia

`` We are stepping up efforts to sign a deal to export the Surion ( KUH-1 ) transport utility helicopter @ @ @ @ @ many business opportunities in Indonesia as it was the first country that purchased the KT-1 @ @ @ @ @ '' KAI Vice President and General Manager Lee Bong-keun told reporters on the sidelines of @ @ @ @ @ Sacheon , 440 kilometers south of Seoul .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline and lead; REWRITES throughout)
By Choi Kyong-ae
SACHEON, South Korea, June 17 (Yonhap) -- Korea Aerospace Industries Co. (KAI), South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, aims to export the first Korean-made helicopter to Indonesia, a company executive said Wednesday.
KAI has exported 16 T-50 advanced trainer jets and 20 KT-1 basic trainer jets to Indonesia in total. It has not achieved any deal from overseas to export a Korean-made helicopter.
"We are stepping up efforts to sign a deal to export the Surion (KUH-1) transport utility helicopter to Indonesia. We see many business opportunities in Indonesia as it was the first country that purchased the KT-1 and the T-50 planes," KAI Vice President and General Manager Lee Bong-keun told reporters on the sidelines of a promotional event held in Sacheon, 440 kilometers south of Seoul.
This photo taken on Feb. 6, 2020, and provided by Korea Aerospace Industries Co. shows a Surion (KUH-1) helicopter delivered to the police. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
KAI is also targeting winning additional deals in Malaysia, Columbia and Peru as they have shown much interest in its aircraft products, Lee said.
"Malaysia is planning to approve a five-year economic development plan, which includes a large-scale aircraft purchase program, in October, though the approval is likely to be affected by the new coronavirus outbreak," he said.
Earlier in the day, KAI signed an agreement with the South Gyeongsang provincial government and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK) to help Korean companies hire foreigners from the 16 countries under the HRDK's employment permit system (EPS), KAI said in a statement.
Under the EPS system, workers from the 16 nations that have purchased Korean-made aircraft will be given equal treatment in terms of wages and other benefits at Korean companies, the statement said.
The 16 countries include China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines.
Ambassadors and officials from the 16 countries attended the promotional event held at KAI's headquarters here. KAI focused on promoting the Surion helicopter.
Asked if Indonesia has an interest in purchasing the Surion helicopter, Puji Basuki, first secretary of the Indonesian Embassy in Korea, said his country will see if it can use the helicopter either for the military or a public purpose after receiving a proposal from Korea.
H.E. Abida Islam, Bangladeshi ambassador to Korea, said the country will consider placing an order for the KT-1 planes.
KAI has exported a total of 148 trainer jets worth US$3.1 billion -- 64 T-50 advanced trainer jets worth $2.4 billion and 84 KT-1 basic trainer jets worth $700 million -- to countries such as Indonesia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, Peru and the Philippines since its foundation in 1999.
In the January-March period, KAI's net profit jumped 87 percent to 79.5 billion won (US$65 million) from 42.5 billion won in the year-ago period.
Payments from the Seoul government for the Korean fighter jet project were made in the first quarter, and the Thai government's payments for part of the total cost of eight exported T-50TH advanced jet trainers were also reflected in the bottom line, KAI said.
Operating profits soared 98 percent to 66.1 billion won in the first quarter from 33.4 billion won a year ago. Sales rose 31 percent to 827.7 billion won from 630.9 billion won during the same period.
This file photo taken on Dec. 6, 2020, shows a T-50 advanced trainer jet flying in the sky during the Soaring Eagle air combat training held in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--K-pop band Monsta X to perform for Time magazine's online event

Monsta X made huge strides in the U.S. market earlier this year , with its first English-language record , `` @ @ @ @ @ reaching as high as No .
5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in February @

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- K-pop boy band Monsta X will give a special performance for an online event hosted by American weekly Time magazine, the group's agency said Wednesday.
The six-piece group will appear on the magazine's Time100 Talks event later in the day as the sole music act of the online event, according to Starship Entertainment.
Time100 Talks is an online talk series that convenes leaders from various disciplines from across the world to spotlight solutions to urgent global problems.
Monday's speakers include former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Japanese pro tennis star Naomi Osaka, Indian actor and advocate Ayushmann Khurrana and Sinovation Ventures Chairman and CEO Kai-Fu Lee.
Monsta X made huge strides in the U.S. market earlier this year, with its first English-language record, "All About Luv," reaching as high as No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in February.
The group became the third K-pop act ever, after BTS and SuperM, to make the top five on Billboard's album chart. Monsta X released its eighth Korean EP album "Fantasia X" last month.
This file photo provided by Starship Entertainment shows boy band Monsta X posing for photos during a media showcase for the group's new EP record, "Fantasia X," in Seoul on May 26, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(5th LD) N.K. to redeploy troops to Kaesong, Mount Kumgang areas, rejects Seoul's offer for envoys

`` The recent speeches made by the South Korean chief executive should have reflected his apology , repentance and firm @ @ @ @ @ of similar occurrences .
But his speech was full of excuses and spurious rhetoric to @ @ @ @ @ without any mention of the means and the end , '' she said .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 23-24)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Wednesday it has rejected South Korea's offer to send special envoys and will redeploy troops to two inter-Korean business zones near the border, unrelentingly ratcheting up tensions a day after blowing up a joint liaison office.
The North's disclosure of its rejection of the special envoy proposal shows the regime has no intention to defuse tensions through dialogue and will carry out a series of measures it has threatened to take in anger over propaganda leaflets criticizing its leader.
The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also issued a harshly worded statement lambasting South Korean President Moon Jae-in for failing to apologize for such leafleting and accusing him of "pro-U.S. flunkeyism."
The moments of inter-Korean liaison office being destroyed Youtube https://youtu.be/3kLbpECOUhU
South Korea reacted angrily to the North's moves, with the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae slamming the North Korean leader's sister, Kim Yo-jong, for her "rude" and "senseless" criticism and warning it will no longer tolerate such "indiscreet" words and acts.
It also denounced the North's disclosure of its special envoy offer as an "unprecedentedly senseless act."
The defense ministry warned that the North will pay the price if it actually takes military action, and the unification ministry expressed "strong regret" over the North's plan to send troops to the joint economic zones.
The exchange of threats and warnings marked a new high in tensions, aggravated dramatically by the North's blowing up of an inter-Korean liaison office building Tuesday, and deepened fears that the situation could spiral out of control into accidental clashes.
Earlier, the General Staff of the North's Korean People's Army said it will send troops to the now-shuttered inter-Korean industrial complex in its border city of Kaesong and the Mount Kumgang tourist zone on the east coast -- two key symbols of inter-Korean reconciliation.
The North also said it will restore guard posts removed from the Demilitarized Zone separating the two sides and resume "all kinds of regular military exercises" near the inter-Korean border in an apparent move to abolish a military tension-reduction deal signed in 2018.
"Units of the regiment level and necessary firepower sub-units with defense mission will be deployed in the Mount Kumgang tourist area and the Kaesong Industrial Zone," a spokesperson of the General Staff said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"Civil police posts that had been withdrawn from the Demilitarized Zone under the north-south agreement in the military field will be set up again to strengthen the guard over the front line," it said.
The inter-Korean liaison office in North Korea's border city of Kaesong is blown up by the North on June 16, 2020, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
North Korea has taken a series of retaliatory action against South Korea, denouncing the sending of leaflets criticizing its leadership and regime by defectors and other activists as an act that breaches inter-Korean agreements.
Pyongyang has vowed to deal with South Korea as an "enemy" and cut off all cross-border communication lines, and threatened to take other measures, including military action. It has also threatened to dismantle a now-shuttered joint industrial park in Kaesong and scrap the 2018 military deal the two Koreas signed to reduce cross-border tensions.
In a surprise move, North Korea blew up the inter-Korean joint liaison office.
In response, South Korea expressed "strong regret" and warned of a "strong response" if the North takes measures further aggravating the situation.
Up until then, the South appeared to be trying to exercise restraint, but what prompted it to erupt in anger was the blistering statement that the North Korean leader's sister issued to blast President Moon and his speech delivered Monday to mark the 20th anniversary of the first-ever inter-Korean summit in 2000.
She called the speech "sickening," "brazen-faced" and full of self-defense and deep-rooted toadyism intended to avoid responsibility without making an apology over the leafleting issue. She also called Moon "an impudent man" with "disgusting behavior," accusing him of being subservient to the United States.
"The recent speeches made by the South Korean chief executive should have reflected his apology, repentance and firm pledge to prevent the recurrence of similar occurrences. But his speech was full of excuses and spurious rhetoric to get rid of responsibility, without any mention of the means and the end," she said.
"It is truly sophism full of shamelessness and impudence," she added. "Now they are trying to shift the responsibility for the results of their own making on to us. This is literally a brazen-faced and preposterous act."
Blowing up inter-Korean relations: What is N. Korea aiming at? Youtube https://youtu.be/nGLpweCw6OQ
Moon's office strongly bristled at the statement.
"It is a senseless act to disparage (Moon's speech earlier this week) in a very rude tone without understanding its purpose at all," Yoon Do-han, Cheong Wa Dae's senior secretary for public communication, said.
"We won't tolerate any more of North Korea's indiscreet rhetoric and acts, which fundamentally harm the mutual trust the leaders of the two sides have built so far," he said. "We hope the North side will have basic courtesy."
Lambasting Seoul's reactions to the North's demolition of the joint liaison office, the KCNA revived the bellicose expression "setting Seoul on fire," which surfaced in the past at times of high cross-border enmity.
"Wrong words and actions are bound to bring ensuing result. It can be the story of setting Seoul on fire that was raised long ago or more horrible threats," the news agency said in a commentary.
Inter-Korean relations have been mostly stalled since a second summit between the North's leader and U.S. President Donald Trump ended without an agreement in February last year due to differences over how to exchange sanctions relief and denuclearization measures.
In Washington, the State Department urged the North to refrain from "further counterproductive actions."
"The United States fully supports the ROK's efforts on inter-Korean relations and urges the DPRK to refrain from further counterproductive actions," a State Department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency, using the acronyms for the official names of South Korea, the Republic of Korea, and North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"We are aware that North Korea destroyed the liaison office in Kaesong and remain in close coordination with our Republic of Korea allies," a senior U.S. government official told Yonhap earlier.
Yoon Do-han, senior presidential secretary for public communication, issues a strong warning against North Korea's rude remarks on the South Korean leadership and provocations, at the presidential office in Seoul on June 17, 2020, one day after the North blew up the inter-Korean liaison office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong. (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The North 's disclosure of its rejection of the special envoy proposal shows the regime has no intention to defuse @ @ @ @ @ carry out a series of measures it has threatened to take in anger over propaganda @ @ @ @ @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
----------------
(4th LD) N.K. to redeploy troops to Kaesong, Mount Kumgang areas, rejects Seoul's offer for envoys
SEOUL -- North Korea said Wednesday it has rejected South Korea's offer to send special envoys and will redeploy troops to two inter-Korean business zones near the border, unrelentingly ratcheting up tensions a day after blowing up a joint liaison office.
The North's disclosure of its rejection of the special envoy proposal shows the regime has no intention to defuse tensions through dialogue and will carry out a series of measures it has threatened to take in anger over propaganda leaflets criticizing its leader.
----------------
(3rd LD) Cheong Wa Dae hits back at N. Korea's 'rude, senseless' criticism of Moon
SEOUL -- The office of President Moon Jae-in strongly condemned the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday for her "rude and senseless" criticism of Moon and warned that it won't tolerate the North's unreasonable words and acts anymore.
"It is a senseless act to disparage (Moon's speech earlier this week) in a very rude tone without understanding its purpose at all," Yoon Do-han, Cheong Wa Dae's senior secretary for public communication, said in a war of words between the two Koreas.
----------------
Moon meets former unification ministers to discuss N. Korea
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in held a luncheon meeting Wednesday with a group of former unification ministers to discuss deepening troubles in inter-Korean ties, his office said.
During the two-hour meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Moon listened to their opinions on South-North relations, according to Cheong Wa Dae deputy spokesman Yoon Jae-kwan.
----------------
Unification minister offers to resign over worsened inter-Korean relations
SEOUL -- Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Wednesday that he has offered to resign to take responsibility for failing to stably manage inter-Korean relations.
Kim said that he expressed his intent to resign to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae earlier in the day.
"I feel sorry for failing to live up to the demands and expectations of our people for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula," Kim told reporters during a hastily arranged briefing.
----------------
(3rd LD) More cluster infections looming, virus outbreaks tipped to stretch into summer
SEOUL -- Despite strenuous efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, South Korea is bracing for yet more cluster infections in the greater Seoul and other areas, and health authorities warned Wednesday that the spread of COVID-19 may stretch even into the summer.
The country reported 43 new cases, including 31 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,198, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
----------------
S. Korea to conduct tests of COVID-19 vaccine, treatment candidates on monkeys this month
SEOUL -- South Korea will test treatment and vaccine candidates against the new coronavirus on monkeys this month, the science ministry said Wednesday.
Two experimental treatments and one vaccine candidate against the novel coronavirus under development by unidentified firms or research organizations will be tested on monkeys as part of the government-supported animal testing model, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
----------------
S. Korean religious activists call for legislation banning discrimination against minorities
SEOUL -- A human rights advocacy group for minorities demanded Wednesday the government enact legislation to protect the country's minorities from hatred and discrimination.
In a press conference held in downtown Seoul, the group urged the country to acknowledge persistent racial discrimination against migrant workers and other minorities.
----------------
Samsung regains top spot in Southeast Asian smartphone market in Q1: report
SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics Co. recaptured the top spot in the Southeast Asian smartphone market in the first quarter of the year by edging out its Chinese rivals, a report showed Wednesday.
Samsung's market share in Southeast Asia stood at 18.9 percent in the January-March period, according to market tracker Counterpoint Research, outperforming Chinese phone maker Oppo by 0.2 percentage point.
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks slightly up despite escalating inter-Korean tensions
SEOUL -- South Korean shares finished a tad higher Wednesday as investors bet that the escalating tensions between two Koreas would have a limited impact on the financial markets. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
After a choppy session, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 3.00 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 2,141.05. Trading volume was high at about 915 million shares worth some 15.2 trillion won (US$12.5 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 495 to 356.
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--Vice FM discusses worsening pandemic in Latin America with mission chiefs

In the video talks , Lee called for efforts to make sure the nationals are provided with necessary assistance , @ @ @ @ @ of preventive measures and receiving help if they want to return home .
He also @ @ @ @ @ continue their support for businesspeople .

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho held a videoconference with South Korean diplomatic mission chiefs in Latin America to discuss ways to ensure the health and safety of the country's citizens in the region facing a worsening of the coronavirus outbreak, the ministry said Wednesday.
The videoconference, attended by ambassadors to Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile and Peru, came as the COVID-19 outbreaks in those countries are getting more serious. The World Health Organization has announced the Latin American region is a new epicenter of the virus outbreak after China.
In the video talks, Lee called for efforts to make sure the nationals are provided with necessary assistance, such as being properly informed of preventive measures and receiving help if they want to return home. He also called for the missions to continue their support for businesspeople.
About 48,000 South Korean nationals live in Sao Paulo, 23,000 in Argentina, 12,000 in Mexico and 5,500 in Guatemala. The tallies for the rest of the countries stand at from a few hundreds to a couple of thousands.
According to the ministry, 1,050 South Koreans from 22 countries in Latin America have returned home since the countries closed borders and went under lockdowns over the pandemic.
Brazil is the second after the United States globally in terms of infection caseloads and deaths. It has reported more than 923,180 infections, with over 45,240 fatalities. Peru, whose infection cases are third-highest after Brazil and Mexico, has around 10,000 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, according to news reports.
This photo, provided by Seoul's foreign ministry on June 17, 2020, captures a videoconference between Seoul officials and the head of South Korean missions in Latin America, presided over by Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho (L), to discuss the coronavirus pandemic. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--Moon meets former unification ministers to discuss N. Korea

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul , Seoul 's point man on Pyongyang , announced a decision to step down to take @ @ @ @ @ improve relations between the two sides .
He also cited the need to create the @ @ @ @ @ Seoul-Pyongyang ties .

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in held a luncheon meeting Wednesday with a group of former unification ministers to discuss deepening troubles in inter-Korean ties, his office said.
During the two-hour meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Moon listened to their opinions on South-North relations, according to Cheong Wa Dae deputy spokesman Yoon Jae-kwan.
Luncheon attendees included Lim Dong-won, Park Jae-kyu, Jeong Se-hyun and Lee Jong-seok, who at different times led the ministry handling Seoul-Pyongyang relations. Also present were Moon Chung-in, a special security adviser to the president, former lawmaker Park Jie-won and Koh Yu-hwan, head of the Korea Institute for National Unification.
Yoon did not provide details of their discussions, and the schedule of the luncheon was not announced in advance.
President Moon Jae-in in a file photo (Yonhap)
The session came as the North is escalating tensions on the peninsula with a string of threats and provocative steps, including the demolition of a joint liaison office in its border city of Kaesong.
Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, Seoul's point man on Pyongyang, announced a decision to step down to take responsibility for the failure to improve relations between the two sides. He also cited the need to create the mood for a turnaround in Seoul-Pyongyang ties.
Speaking to reporters, a Cheong Wa Dae official would not confirm whether or when Moon will accept his resignation offer.
"We will let you know as soon as a decision is made," the official said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(LEAD) Doosan Infracore rallies on hope for new investor

Sales of Doosan Infracore 's excavators started rising in April in China on the back of a rebound in the @ @ @ @ @ demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic , a turnaround from a fall in the first @ @ @ @ @ compared with the same period .

By Nam Kwang-sik
(ATTN: UPDATES share prices in para 4; ADDS details in paras 9-12)
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- Shares in Doosan Infracore Co., the construction equipment affiliate of South Korea's cash-short Doosan Group, traded higher for a second day on Wednesday as its parent is seeking to sell a stake in the company.
On Tuesday, Doosan Infracore soared by the daily permissible limit of 29.86 percent to close at 7,480 won (US$6.16), hitting a 52-week high as retail investors bet that the stake sale will boost Doosan Infracore's value going forward.
Doosan Group said earlier it will dispose of a 36.27 percent stake in Doosan Infracore held by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co.
The country's largest construction equipment maker closed at 8,010 won, up 7.09 percent from the previous session, after rising as high as to 8,340 won.
This photo shows the headquarters of South Korea's 15th-largest conglomerate, Doosan Group, on June 16, 2020. The ailing group will reportedly sell its core construction equipment manufacturing arm, Doosan Infracore Co., as part of its self-rescue measures. (Yonhap)
The sale of Doosan Infracore is as part of Doosan Group's self-rescue measures worth some 3 trillion won.
Market watchers said the deal could fetch between 600 to 800 billion won. Credit Suisse will reportedly arrange the deal as a sales manager.
Observers, however, have been pessimistic about the sale of the stake in Doosan Infracore, maintaining their investment recommendations at "HOLD," which means there are no positive leads to move up share prices.
They predicted it will be difficult for the group to find a buyer for Doosan Infracore in the near future due to a lack of viable investors.
Doosan Infracore will benefit from a rebound in the Chinese excavator market in the current quarter, market watchers said.
"Increased sales of excavators in China will help improve Doosan Infracore's earnings in the April-June period," said Kim Hong-kyung, an analyst at DB Financial Investment Co.
Sales of Doosan Infracore's excavators started rising in April in China on the back of a rebound in the Chinese property market and delayed demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a turnaround from a fall in the first three months of the year compared with the same period.
Its sales of excavators came to 3,239 units in April, up 80 percent from a year earlier, and nearly doubled in May to 2,166 units.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--(LEAD) Seoul stocks slightly up despite escalating inter-Korean tensions

SEOUL , June 17 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean shares finished a tad higher Wednesday as investors bet that @ @ @ @ @ Koreas would have a limited impact on the financial markets .
The Korean won fell @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares finished a tad higher Wednesday as investors bet that the escalating tensions between two Koreas would have a limited impact on the financial markets. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
After a choppy session, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 3.00 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 2,141.05. Trading volume was high at about 915 million shares worth some 15.2 trillion won (US$12.5 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 495 to 356.
Foreigners sold a net 113 billion won, and institutions offloaded a net 81.6 billion won. Individuals bought a net 205 billion won.
Electronic signboards at the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) up 3.00 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 2,141.05 on June 17, 2020, while the Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar. (Yonhap)
Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Wednesday ridiculed Moon's speech on inter-Korean relations, calling it "shameless sophistry." Moon's office struck back, saying that her "rude and senseless" rhetoric would not be tolerated.
The exchanges of strongly worded statements came a day after Pyongyang blew up the inter-Korean liaison office building, established in its border town of Kaesong in 2018, as a token of reconciliatory efforts.
"The North Korean issue may cause some disturbances that require caution, but the level of uncertainties seems to be limited," said Bookook Securities analyst Lee Won.
The stimulus policy moves by China and the United States are likely to have a stronger influence on the local stock markets, he added.
Large caps closed mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics climbed 0.19 percent to 52,200 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix gained 1.64 percent to 86,800 won.
Internet giant Naver advanced 3.08 percent to 251,000 won, while top automaker Hyundai Motor lost 0.99 percent to 100,500 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics fell 0.24 percent to 824,000 won, while leading chemical maker LG Chem added 0.82 percent to 491,500 won.
The local currency closed at 1,213.90 won against the U.S. dollar, down 6.70 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 1.4 basis points to 0.874 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond gained 1.6 basis points to 1.147 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-17--S. Korean Bond Yields on Jun. 17, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Jun. 17, 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--2020-06-17--S. Korean graphic novel on 'comfort women' nominated for U.S. awards

The 2019 graphic novel on `` comfort women '' by Kim Keum-suk was nominated for best writer/artist , best reality-based @ @ @ @ @ for this year 's Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards , according to the Literature Translation @ @ @ @

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- "Grass," a South Korean graphic novel on the topic of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, received multiple nominations at a prestigious U.S. comic book industry award, according to a literary translation organization Wednesday.
The 2019 graphic novel on "comfort women" by Kim Keum-suk was nominated for best writer/artist, best reality-based work and best Asian work for this year's Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, according to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea.
Comfort women is a euphemism for women who were forced to work in Japanese front-line brothels during World War II when Korea was a Japanese colony.
"Grass" is a semi-biographical work inspired by the experiences of survivor Lee Ok-seon, based on interviews with Lee. Winners will be announced next month after online voting by American comic book industry representatives.
Referred to as the Academy Awards of the U.S. comic industry, the annual awards were founded in 1988 to honor Will Eisner, a pioneer of the U.S. graphic novel industry.
The cover image of "Grass," a 2019 graphic novel on Japan's wartime sexual slavery, by Kim Keum-suk, provided by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--N.K. paper warns next step could go 'far beyond imagination'

`` It is just the beginning , '' the Rodong Sinmun , the organ of the North 's ruling party @ @ @ @ @ destruction of the liaison office .
`` The explosive sound of justice that will continue @ @ @ @ @ far beyond the imagination of those who make a noise about what could unfold .
@

By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper said Thursday that this week's demolition of an inter-Korean liaison office was just the beginning, warning there could be additional retaliatory steps against South Korea that could go "far beyond imagination."
North Korea has been lashing out at South Korea almost daily in recent weeks over anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets flown from the South. It has vowed to deal with Seoul as an enemy, cut off cross-border communication lines and even blew up a joint liaison office earlier this week.
"It is just the beginning," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, said of Tuesday's destruction of the liaison office. "The explosive sound of justice that will continue to come out could go far beyond the imagination of those who make a noise about what could unfold."
"Our military's patience has run out," the paper added. "The military's announcement that it is mulling a detailed military action plan should be taken seriously."
This photo, released by the Korean Central News Agency on June 17, 2020, shows the explosion of the inter-Korean liaison office in the North Korean border town of Kaesong at around 2:50 p.m. on June 16. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
After the liaison office was destroyed, the North's military further heightened tensions Wednesday by saying that it plans to send troops to the now-shuttered joint industrial complex in the western border town of Kaesong and the Mount Kumgang tourism zone on the east coast.
The North also said it will restore guard posts removed from the Demilitarized Zone separating the two sides and resume "all kinds of regular military exercises" near the inter-Korean border in an apparent move to abolish a military tension-reduction deal signed in 2018.
The Rodong Sinmun blamed South Korea for causing havoc in inter-Korean relations by failing to prevent leaflet-sending, saying that it was the South that abandoned "trust and promise" and that the North would not discuss inter-Korean relations with Seoul anymore.
The paper also said its people are ready to join large-scale campaigns of sending leaflets into what it calls a country "which is home to human scum," apparently referring to North Korean defectors who have flown anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North.
The North, however, did not release any new official statements on Thursday morning amid concern the communist nation could be quietly preparing to carry out threatened military action, including redeploying troops to the border economic zones.
On Wednesday, an aviation tracker said that an aircraft used by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un flew from Pyongyang to the eastern part of the country, sparking speculation that he could have gone to the east coast for provocative events, such as the launching of a new ballistic missile submarine.
South Korea's military has warned the North will "pay the price" if it takes military action.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--New virus cases at 3-week high, greater Seoul gripped by more cluster infections

Health authorities said the new scheme could be expanded across the nation if the daily number of new cases does @ @ @ @ @ warned the spread of the virus may stretch into the summer .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new virus cases rose by the most in three weeks Thursday, as cluster infections have continued to swell in the greater Seoul area and outside the capital.
The country added 59 new cases, including 51 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,257, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
It marked the highest daily tally since May 28, when the country reported 79 additional cases. The tally also marked a sharp rise from 43 reported the previous day.
Of the locally transmitted cases, 39 were reported in the densely populated Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas. Seven cases were reported in Daejeon, 164 kilometers south of Seoul, spawning new concerns about mass infections outside the capital area.
Health workers prepare to conduct coronavirus tests at a screening site in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, on June 17, 2020.
Adding to concerns, imported cases are also on the rise. Eight additional imported cases were newly identified, raising the total number of such cases to 1,379.
The Seoul metropolitan area has accounted for most of the newly added cases this month. The country has been gripped by multiple and sporadic cluster infections since it relaxed strict social distancing on May 6.
South Korea eased stringent social distancing in early May on the back of the flattened virus curve.
But a continued rise in cluster infections forced health authorities to indefinitely extend toughened infection preventive measures in the greater Seoul area this week following a two-week implementation.
Health authorities said the new scheme could be expanded across the nation if the daily number of new cases does not fall sharply. It warned the spread of the virus may stretch into the summer.
A door-to-door business establishment in southern Seoul has emerged as a new hotbed for community spread. Cases traced to the door-to-door retailer reached 176 as of noon Wednesday.
Cases linked to a sports facility in western Seoul came to 67. Those connected to a day care center for seniors in northeastern Seoul reached 34.
High school seniors at Sangam High School in western Seoul wait to take a nationwide scholastic aptitude mock test on June 18, 2020, amid the new coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
The country, meanwhile, reported one more additional death, bringing the total death toll to 280. The fatality rate was 2.28 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,800, up 26 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 1,145,712 tests since Jan. 3.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Without gate revenue during pandemic, KBO clubs nearing breaking point

SEOUL , June 18 ( Yonhap ) -- When the 2020 professional baseball season in South Korea opened on May @ @ @ @ @ stands due to coronavirus concerns , the initial hope was that teams would be able @ @ @ @ @ a month or so .
The number of cases had been falling steadily to the @ @ @ @ @ enough for pro sports to begin , and if the level could be maintained for @ @ @ @ @ then surely it would be safe for spectators to start attending games .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- When the 2020 professional baseball season in South Korea opened on May 5 without fans in the stands due to coronavirus concerns, the initial hope was that teams would be able to open their gates within a month or so. The number of cases had been falling steadily to the point where it became safe enough for pro sports to begin, and if the level could be maintained for a few more weeks, then surely it would be safe for spectators to start attending games.
A recent spike in new COVID-19 cases in Seoul and surrounding regions forced the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and its clubs to shelve any talks of selling tickets. Having fans back in June is out of the question.
With that, teams are nearing a breaking point when it comes to their finances.
In this file photo from June 3, 2020, the Kia Tigers take on the Lotte Giants during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game without fans at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Unlike in Major League Baseball (MLB), where club owners and the players' union have been squabbling over player salaries for weeks while trying to begin the new season, there has been no discussion of a pay cut for players in the KBO.
But according to one club official, teams may have to take drastic measures if they don't start letting fans in by July.
"Last year, we made about 180 million won (US$147,925) from gates per home game on average, and obviously we've made zero this year," the official said, requesting anonymity. He added that gate receipts typically account for one-third of his team's revenue.
"We've been paying our players and employees in full. But if we keep playing without fans in July, a lot of teams will run into extremely serious trouble," he said. "They may have to take out a loan to pay salaries."
KBO clubs are owned and operated major corporations such as Samsung, LG, SK and Lotte. Those companies typically provide grants for their baseball clubs, but during the nationwide economic downturn brought on by the pandemic, companies may cut down on their grants this year and teams will have to figure out ways to be less dependent on their companies.
This file photo from May 31, 2020, shows dolls standing in place of fans at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the Samsung Lions and the NC Dinos. (Yonhap)
There has been growing discontent among baseball fans that it made no sense for water parks and beaches to open while baseball stadiums remained closed, even though KBO clubs have all vowed to take stringent quarantine and distancing measures.
KBO league officials and clubs won't air their grievances on the record over that situation, considering the optics during the pandemic. But the above club official did say, "I just think it's ridiculous that baseball fans aren't allowed to attend games when water parks are open for business."
A marketing official with another team said he has spoken with other clubs' marketing executives, and the concerns about the bottom line are real.
This file photo from May 28, 2020, shows empty seats at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the SK Wyverns and the Doosan Bears. (Yonhap)
"It's not just the teams. People running concession stands have paid their rents and they aren't making any money," the marketing official added. "Local businesses around baseball stadiums are all suffering."
When or if the gates do open, KBO teams will start selling about 20 percent of their seats at first, and then gradually increase that number. Even those small crowds will provide a huge relief, team officials say.
Fans would only be able to book their tickets using credit cards, which would make it easy for health authorities to trace contacts in case of positive COVID-19 cases.
In this file photo from May 31, 2020, cheerleaders for the Doosan Bears perform on a stage in front of empty seats at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the Bears and the Lotte Giants. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--(URGENT) 26 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,80

(URGENT) 26 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,800: KCDC


yna--2020-06-18--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 1 more virus death, death toll now at 280: KCDC


yna--2020-06-18--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 59 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 12,257: KCDC


yna--2020-06-18--Moon's approval rating down 4.6 pct points amid inter-Korean tensions

The poll results came as North Korea destroyed a joint liaison office , established in accordance with the 2018 Panmunjom @ @ @ @ @ the communist nation 's leader Kim Jong-un following their summit at the border village .
@ @ @ @ @ strong-worded statements condemning each other .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in's approval rating has declined to 53.6 percent, the lowest in about three months, a poll showed Thursday amid escalating tensions between the two Koreas.
In a phone survey of 1,507 people nationwide, aged 18 or older, conducted from Monday to Wednesday, his approval fell 4.6 percentage points from last week, Realmeter said.
It marks the lowest since the fourth week of March when it stood at 52.6 percent.
The proportion of those disapproving of his leadership rose 4.1 percentage points to 41.1 percent. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
The poll results came as North Korea destroyed a joint liaison office, established in accordance with the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration issued by Moon and the communist nation's leader Kim Jong-un following their summit at the border village. The two sides then exchanged strong-worded statements condemning each other.
A majority of respondents took a dim view of the ruling Democratic Party's push for the National Assembly's ratification of the summit agreement.
Asked about whether lawmakers' formal approval would help improve Seoul-Pyongyang relations, 51.6 percent were pessimistic, while 39.2 percent expressed support, according to Realmeter.
President Moon Jae-in (R) talks with a group of former unification ministers at Cheong Wa Dae before a luncheon on June 17, 2020, in this photo provided by Moon's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Seoul stocks open lower on virus fears, inter-Korean tensions

The weak start came one day after North Korea again lashed out at the South , threatening to soon redeploy @ @ @ @ @ the border previously occupied by South Korean businesspeople and tourists .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares opened lower Thursday amid growing investor concerns over the escalating tensions between the two Koreas and a resurgence in new coronavirus infection cases in major economies, including the United States.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 15.57 points, or 0.73 percent, to 2,125.48 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The weak start came one day after North Korea again lashed out at the South, threatening to soon redeploy troops to two locations near the border previously occupied by South Korean businesspeople and tourists.
Pyongyang earlier blew up a jointly built and occupied liaison office in its border town of Kaesong, one of the two locations.
The KOSPI's rough start also follows overnight losses on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 170.37 points, or 0.65 percent, to close at 26,119.61 on Tuesday (U.S. time).
A U.S. report said at least nine states in the U.S. reported new daily highs for new coronavirus cases.
Large caps traded mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.77 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slipped 1.27 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics dropped 0.97 percent, while leading chemical maker LG Chem lost 1.42 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,217.20 won against the U.S. dollar, down 3.30 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Mobile shopping hits record high in Q1, food services continue to rise: report

The total value of food delivery service transactions was only 500 billion won in the first quarter of 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ trillion won in the first quarter , with 94.3 percent of purchases made through mobile @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- Purchases made through mobile gadgets like smartphones in South Korea reached a record high in the first quarter of the year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, a report showed Thursday.
The total value of mobile shopping transactions reached a fresh high of 24.79 trillion won (US$20.3 billion) in the January-March period, up 280 billion won from three months earlier, according to an e-commerce report from market researcher DMC Media.
In contrast, overall online shopping purchases dropped slightly after touching a peak in the fourth quarter of last year. The value of online shopping transactions reached 36.84 trillion won in the first quarter, down from 37.41 trillion won three months earlier, the report showed.
By product, online food-related services have expanded sharply in recent years, DMC Media said.
This composite image created by Yonhap News TV shows online shopping. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The percentage of food products out of all online shopping transactions was 12.3 percent in the first quarter, up 3.8 percentage points from three years ago.
In particular, the portion of the food delivery service nearly quadrupled from three years earlier. It accounted for 9.4 percent of online shopping transactions in the first quarter.
The total value of food delivery service transactions was only 500 billion won in the first quarter of 2017, but it jumped to 3.5 trillion won in the first quarter, with 94.3 percent of purchases made through mobile devices, the report said.
Due to social distancing measures sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, online purchases for agriculture, fishery, furniture, books and automobile products in the first quarter reached their highest level in three years, the report showed.
However, online purchases related to culture and leisure services dropped sharply, with their total transaction value dropping to 200 billion won in the first quarter from 600 billion won in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Meanwhile, a report from market tracker Nielsen KoreaClick showed that Coupang was the most used mobile e-commerce platform in South Korea as of April.
More than 15 million consumers made their purchases on Coupang through their mobile devices, followed by 11Street with 9.88 million and Danggeun Market with 7.97 million.
Coupang was also the top online retailer in the first quarter in terms of consumer purchase value with a 24.6 percent market share, followed by Gmarket with 19.7 percent and 11Street with 15.9 percent.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Retail giants' Q2 profits tipped to more than halve over pandemic: poll

The combined operating profits of Lotte Shopping Co. , Shinsegae Inc. , E-Mart Inc. and Hyundai Department Store Co. are @ @ @ @ @ won ( US $ 50 million ) in the April-June period , compared with 180.4 @ @ @ @ @ , according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax , the financial news arm of Yonhap @ @ @

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major retailers are expected to see their operating profits more than halve in the second quarter amid the new coronavirus pandemic, a poll showed Thursday.
The combined operating profits of Lotte Shopping Co., Shinsegae Inc., E-Mart Inc. and Hyundai Department Store Co. are estimated to be 60.3 billion won (US$50 million) in the April-June period, compared with 180.4 billion won a year earlier, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency.
This photo, taken on April 3, 2020, shows Lotte Department Store in Seoul's central Jung Ward. (Yonhap)
The retail sector has been the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic as people refrain from visiting offline stores to avoid infection risks.
Analysts said the bleak earnings outlook comes mainly because the retail groups' duty-free operations have suffered an industrywide slump due to a fall in air travel demand.
Industry leader Lotte Shopping, an operator of Lotte Department Store, is projected to log an operating profit of 44.1 billion won in the second quarter, down 42 percent from a year ago.
"Lotte Shopping's flagship business saw its sales grow slowly. The restructuring of its brick-and-mortar stores generated one-off costs," Cha Jae-hun, an analyst at DB Financial Investment, said.
No. 2 player Shinsegae is estimated to post an operating profit of 7.4 billion won, down 89 percent from the previous year. E-Mart, the country's biggest discount store chain run by Shinsegae, is forecast to post an operating loss of 20.6 billion won.
Smaller rival Hyundai Department Store is expected to report a 42 percent decline in operating profit to 29.4 billion won.
This photo, taken on May 27, 2020, shows duty-free shops at Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main gateway west of Seoul, where the number of customers has sharply fallen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)
Analysts said the retail giants are likely to see some recovery in the department store business as people's "revenge" spending will increase sales of luxury items amid a protracted pandemic.
But it may take more time for duty-free operators to rebound as the virus outbreak has disrupted global air travel.
South Korean duty-free operators began to temporarily close some of their outlets on the southern tourist island of Jeju and in several cities in June in line with a drastic fall in visitors.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Kia unveils renderings of new Carnival minivan

At the rear , the side character line trails into the back and merges with the rear lamp graphics .
@ @ @ @ @ of a fastback look , ending at the trunk lid , it said .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-biggest carmaker, unveiled renderings of its all-new Carnival minivan on Thursday ahead of its domestic launch in the third quarter.
The fourth-generation Carnival comes with a dynamic radiator grille and a bold side character line that runs the length of the car, the company said in a statement.
At the rear, the side character line trails into the back and merges with the rear lamp graphics. The roof has a bit of a fastback look, ending at the trunk lid, it said.
Kia did not provide further details on the new Carnival model.
The Carnival is one of Kia's bestselling models, and over 2 million Carnival units have been sold in global markets since its debut in 1998.
This rendering, provided by Kia Motors on June 18, 2020, shows the all-new Carnival minivan to be released in the domestic market in the third quarter. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


Thursday's weather forecast

SEOUL , June 18 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


KOSDAQ 738.11 UP 2.71 points (open)


KOSPI 2,134.35 DN 6.70 points (open)


yna--2020-06-18--Dollar opens at 1,216.2 won UP from 1,214.0 won


yna--2020-06-18--S. Korea's nuclear envoy arrives in U.S. amid N.K. tensions

The State Department has expressed its disappointment at North Korea 's recent actions to sever ties with the South and @ @ @ @ @ refrain from `` further counterproductive actions '' in response to its demolition of an inter-Korean @ @ @ @ @ .

WASHINGTON, June 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top nuclear envoy arrived in Washington on Wednesday for talks with U.S. officials as North Korea has been ratcheting up tensions with a series of angry actions against Seoul, including the blowing up of an inter-Korean liaison office.
Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, was seen arriving at Dulles International Airport in footage aired by Korean broadcaster KBS.
His visit was unannounced, leading to speculation that he may have been sent as a special envoy by the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae.
Lee refused to answer reporters' questions about the purpose of his visit or whom he will be meeting.
Possible interlocutors include National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who doubles as the U.S. special representative for North Korea.
The State Department has expressed its disappointment at North Korea's recent actions to sever ties with the South and urged the communist country to refrain from "further counterproductive actions" in response to its demolition of an inter-Korean liaison office earlier this week.
Tensions are running high as North Korea has threatened to take military action against the South, including redeploying troops to disarmed border areas.
Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Drug safety agency revokes permit for Medytox's 3 botulinum toxin products

SEOUL , June 18 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea 's drug safety watchdog on Thursday revoked the permit for @ @ @ @ @ by Medytox , the country 's leading player , to produce and sell them as @ @ @ @ @ unapproved ingredient and the company fabricated related documents .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's drug safety watchdog on Thursday revoked the permit for three botulinum toxin products produced by Medytox, the country's leading player, to produce and sell them as they were made using an unapproved ingredient and the company fabricated related documents.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also ordered Medytox to recall the three botulinum toxin products, which come in bottles of 50 units, 100 units and 150 units of Meditoxin.
The botulinum toxin products are effective in treating various muscle spasms, overactive muscle diseases and facial wrinkles.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)