yna--2020-02-13--(2nd LD) Moon says virus epidemic to end soon, declares refocusing on economic growth

`` COVID-19 will be terminated ( in South Korea ) before long , '' he said , using the official @ @ @ @ @ during the session held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( KCCI ) @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with CJ chairman's comments in last 4 paras)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in expressed confidence Thursday that South Korea will soon bring the novel coronavirus epidemic under control and stressed it is time to resume full-scale efforts to revitalize the economy, meeting with a group of local business leaders.
"COVID-19 will be terminated (in South Korea) before long," he said, using the official name of the disease, during the session held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Seoul.
Fortunately, he said, domestic quarantine management "appears to have entered a stable stage to some extent," although it is still too early to be complacent.
President Moon Jae-in (back, 3rd from R) holds a meeting with leaders of South Korea's conglomerates at the headquarters of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Seoul on Feb. 13, 2020. The KCCI head, Park Yong-man (back, 2nd from R), sat next to Moon. (Yonhap)
He emphasized that quarantine authorities here would continue their efforts to contain the virus "until the end."
The president voiced regret once again over the outbreak's negative impact on the country's economy, which he said had been showing clear indications of recovery.
"It's very regrettable that the ankle of the economy has been seized by the occurrence of the COVID-19 incident," Moon told the attendees including Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Gwang-mo, CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun and Park Yong-maan, chairman of the KCCI.
"Now, it's time for the government and business circles to join forces and revive the recovery trend of the economy," Moon said.
He pointed out that aggressive, forward-looking investment has served as a stepping stone toward revitalizing the economy and fostering innovative growth.
"The government will protect the safety of the people and companies at any cost," he stated, asking private firms to make the facility investments they had planned to before the viral outbreak.
He reaffirmed the government's resolve to ramp up its bid to create more jobs with massive investment projects and support private firms with "bold" tax incentives and regulatory reform.
President Moon Jae-in (front, L) shakes hands with CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun (front, R) at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Seoul on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
He took note of the global power of South Korea's businesses, especially CJ Group, which financed the Oscar-winning film "Parasite."
"It is a splendid achievement that has shown the excellence of the Korean Wave to the world once again," Moon said, referring to the homegrown film's winning of four awards at the 92nd Academy Awards.
Recently, Moon added, South Korean companies have given the people "hope" with their unceasing challenge and innovation.
The CJ chief agreed that the good news from Los Angeles is granting some comfort to South Koreans amid the virus epidemic, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kang Min-seok.
"It bodes well for the Republic of Korea," Lee was quoted as telling Moon after the president's opening remarks. "This crisis will be overcome in the near future."
Of course, he added, CJ Group is also suffering "various effects" from the viral outbreak, but he reaffirmed that it would go ahead with investments as planned.
He requested that the Moon administration provide plenty of support for the culture and contents industry as well as aviation, tourism and retail sectors.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--Samsung, LG vow support for subcontractors amid coronavirus woes

`` Confronted with this incident , I think ( we ) should have made preparations a bit earlier .
I @ @ @ @ @ We will try to overcome it speedily , '' Lee was quoted as saying during @ @ @ @ @ , which was joined by several other local business leaders .
They included SK Group @ @ @ @ @ Group Chairman Koo Gwang-mo and CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun , as well as Hyundai @ @ @ @ @ and Lotte Group Vice Chairman Hwang Kag-gyu .

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jae-yong, the de facto head of Samsung Group, said in a meeting with President Moon Jae-in on Thursday that the conglomerate will step up efforts to support its subcontractors hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
"Confronted with this incident, I think (we) should have made preparations a bit earlier. I feel my shoulders heavy. We will try to overcome it speedily," Lee was quoted as saying during a roundtable meeting with Moon, which was joined by several other local business leaders. They included SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Gwang-mo and CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, as well as Hyundai Motor Vice Chairman Yoon Yeo-chul and Lotte Group Vice Chairman Hwang Kag-gyu.
Moon hosted the meeting with business leaders at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Seoul in a bid to pool wisdom on ways to minimize the economic effects of the pandemic that began in China last December.
Lee pointed out the importance of China in the global manufacturing sector as the world's largest market together with the United States.
He cited "realistic difficulties" facing the IT industry in particular, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
"But a crisis has been all around and we can ride it out," he said. "The troubles of subcontractors are bigger (than those of Samsung)."
President Moon Jae-in (R) shakes hands with de facto Samsung Group head Lee Jae-yong ahead of a roundtable meeting at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Seoul on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Lee pledged painstaking measures for "substantive support" for them, adding his group will keep its word to expand innovation-based investment and create more jobs to help revitalize the country's economy.
Lee asked Moon to send a video message of encouragement to South Korean company workers and their families staying in China.
He also requested that the government temporarily relax restrictions related to the 52-hour workweek system, saying Samsung hopes to promote after-work meetings at nearby restaurants or bars to help reinvigorate domestic consumption.
The leader of LG Group also said it would broaden technology and manpower support for subcontractors.
"It's necessary to localize and diversify the supply of core materials and parts to rely less on a specific country," Koo told Moon, apparently referring to Japan. "We have keenly felt the importance of small and medium-sized subcontractors."
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--(LEAD) FAO denies VOA report about doubting N. Korea's claims of no new coronavirus outbreak

In the latest precautionary move , state media on Wednesday reported that the Presidium of the Supreme People 's Assembly @ @ @ @ @ emergency measure to lengthen the quarantine period from 15 days to 30 days , much @ @ @ @ @ presumed to be the incubation period of the virus .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with FAO's denial)
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Thursday denied a Voice of America (VOA) report that the U.N. agency doubts North Korea's claim that there are no cases of the new coronavirus in the communist nation.
VOA carried the report earlier in the day (Korean time), citing Bir Mandal, deputy representative of the FAO Office in Pyongyang. But the FAO flatly rejected it hours later, saying that the report was "a result of a hacked FAO Email account in DPRK."
DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The hacked account was "used to send a false news report to VOA Korea Service," Allan Dow, an Asia-Pacific regional communication officer based in Bangkok, said in an email to Yonhap News Agency.
"The hack was noticed almost immediately by FAO yesterday and the account was closed," he said.
Dow also told Yonhap by phone that the report is based on a "result of malicious hacking."
"All I want to say is he did not voice doubt ... That's not true," the official said.
North Korea has repeatedly claimed that there have been no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in its country, but Pyongyang has intensified its preventive efforts, including tightening its borders with China and strengthening quarantines for people arriving from the neighboring country.
In the latest precautionary move, state media on Wednesday reported that the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) adopted an emergency measure to lengthen the quarantine period from 15 days to 30 days, much longer than the 14 days presumed to be the incubation period of the virus.
North Korea is known to have weak medical infrastructure, which experts worry could make the country more susceptible to such a highly contagious virus.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--(LEAD) Hyundai Merchant's 2019 net losses narrow on increased sales

The South Korean shipper has been serving as a strategic partner for 2M Alliance operated by Maersk Line of Denmark @ @ @ @ @ Switzerland since April 2017 , but their partnership is set to expire in March .

(ATTN: ADDS stock prices in last para)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., South Korea's biggest shipping company by sales, said Thursday that its net losses narrowed in 2019 from a year earlier due to a rise in sales.
Net losses narrowed to 592 billion won (US$501 million) in 2019 from 790 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Operating losses also narrowed to 304 billion won in 2019 from 558.6 billion won a year ago. Sales rose 5.6 percent on-year to 5.51 trillion won in 2019, the company said.
Hyundai Merchant has been mired in operating losses since the second quarter of 2015.
A model of a ship at Hyundai Merchant Marine Co.'s main office in Seoul (Yonhap)
Hyundai Merchant said its business performance in 2019 was mainly driven by rationalizing its service network as well as maximizing utilization of five new very large crude carriers.
The shipper said its profitability could improve this year as a result of new cooperation with THE Alliance and the deployment of twelve 24,000-TEU, or twenty-foot equivalent unit, container ships.
Hyundai Merchant said it "will continue to secure global competitiveness through enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening cost-saving efforts and establishing customer-oriented solutions."
Hyundai Merchant has said its 12 container ships in the 24,000-TEU class are to operate in order starting in April on a route connecting Asia and Europe.
In April, Hyundai Merchant is set to join of THE Alliance, one of the world's top three shipping alliances along with 2M Alliance and Ocean Alliance.
The South Korean shipper has been serving as a strategic partner for 2M Alliance operated by Maersk Line of Denmark and Mediterranean Shipping Co. of Switzerland since April 2017, but their partnership is set to expire in March.
Shares in Hyundai Merchant fell 0.13 percent to 3,815 won on Thursday, outperforming the broader KOSPI's 0.24 percent decline.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--(2nd LD) Main opposition party to merge with 2 minor parties ahead of April elections

The LKP gave the green light to a proposal to merge with the New Conservative Party and Onward for Future @ @ @ @ @ for the merger is eyeing the launch of a new party on Monday .

(ATTN: Updates with new info in 3rd para)
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) approved a plan to merge with two minor parties on Thursday in a bid to integrate conservatives ahead of the April parliamentary elections.
The LKP gave the green light to a proposal to merge with the New Conservative Party and Onward for Future 4.0. A committee preparing for the merger is eyeing the launch of a new party on Monday.
"We push to merge with all parties, politicians and civic groups that uphold the Constitution and the principles of the free democracy and the market economy," the party said.
In November, LKP chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn announced an ambitious bid for conservative parties to join forces to seek a win in the April 15 elections.
The New Conservative Party was launched in early January by Rep. Yoo Seong-min and seven other lawmakers who defected from the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BP).
Onward for Future 4.0 was created by Rep. Lee Un-ju, a former BP lawmaker.
If the three parties merge, the number of their total lawmakers will rise to 115 in the 295-member National Assembly. The ruling Democratic Party controls 129 seats.
The conservative bloc in South Korean politics has been split, stung by the fallout of the 2017 ouster of scandal-ridden President Park Geun-hye, once a darling of the political right.
Hwang Kyo-ahn, chief of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, speaks at a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
The committee preparing for the merger decided to set the name of the envisioned party as the Party for Future Integration. The main color representing the party will be millennial pink.
"We've thought that it is important to show the new party will be created by integrating moderate and conservative forces," panel chief Park Hyung-jun said.
The election watchdog, meanwhile, approved the LKP's proposal to establish its affiliated satellite party that only targets parliamentary proportional representation (PR) seats.
The LKP's move is aimed at preventing the party from taking fewer PR seats as new election rules will change the method of distributing PR seats in a way that better reflects votes cast for parties.
The National Election Commission authorized the LKP to register the new party under the name of the Future Liberty Korea Party.
Previously, the watchdog rejected political parties' bid to set up a party having "proportional" in its name. The LKP wanted to establish the Proportional Liberty Korea Party.
Minor parties and politicians are also striving to survive in the April elections through a party merger or creation.
Ahn Cheol-soo, former presidential candidate, is preparing to launch a new party to shore up a pragmatic and middle-of-the-road politics. Ahn defected from the BP early this month.
The BP seeks to marry with the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) and the Daeanshin Party, a small party that broke away from the PDP to secure ballots from their support bases in the southwestern Jeolla province.
Members of a committee preparing to merge the main opposition Liberty Korea Party with two minor parties talk during their meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--KCC remains in red in Q4

KCC remains in red in Q4

Operating income for the October-December period was 17.4 billion won , down 7.9 percent from a year ago , the @ @ @ @ @ filing .
Sales fell 6.4 percent to 701.9 billion won .

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- KCC Corp. on Thursday reported its fourth-quarter net loss of 42 billion won (US$35.5 million), remaining in the red compared with a year ago.
Operating income for the October-December period was 17.4 billion won, down 7.9 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales fell 6.4 percent to 701.9 billion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange (KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--KCC remains in red in 2019

KCC remains in red in 2019

The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 133.6 billion won in operating profit for the year , @ @ @ @ @ the previous year .
Annual revenue fell 11.7 percent to 2.71 trillion won .

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- KCC Corp. on Thursday reported its 2019 net loss of 229.9 billion won (US$194.4 million), remaining in the red compared with the previous year.
The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 133.6 billion won in operating profit for the year, compared with 200.9 billion from the previous year. Annual revenue fell 11.7 percent to 2.71 trillion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange (KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--Hyundai Merchant's 2019 net losses narrow on increased sales

By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., South Korea's biggest shipping company by sales, said Thursday that its net losses narrowed in 2019 from a year earlier due to a rise in sales.
Net losses narrowed to 592 billion won (US$501 million) in 2019 from 790 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Operating losses also narrowed to 304 billion won in 2019 from 558.6 billion won a year ago. Sales rose 5.6 percent on-year to 5.51 trillion won in 2019, the company said.
Hyundai Merchant has been mired in operating losses since the second quarter of 2015.
A model of a ship at Hyundai Merchant Marine Co.'s main office in Seoul (Yonhap)
Hyundai Merchant said its business performance in 2019 was mainly driven by rationalizing its service network as well as maximizing utilization of five new very large crude carriers.
The shipper said its profitability could improve this year as a result of new cooperation with THE Alliance and the deployment of twelve 24,000-TEU, or twenty-foot equivalent unit, container ships.
Hyundai Merchant said it "will continue to secure global competitiveness through enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening cost-saving efforts and establishing customer-oriented solutions."
Hyundai Merchant has said its 12 container ships in the 24,000-TEU class are to operate in order starting in April on a route connecting Asia and Europe.
In April, Hyundai Merchant is set to join of THE Alliance, one of the world's top three shipping alliances along with 2M Alliance and Ocean Alliance.
The South Korean shipper has been serving as a strategic partner for 2M Alliance operated by Maersk Line of Denmark and Mediterranean Shipping Co. of Switzerland since April 2017, but their partnership is set to expire in March.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--(LEAD) Lotte to sell assets on widened losses; Emart logs weak earnings

`` We will resolve fundamental problems and make a tangible result as soon as possible ( through the restructuring efforts @ @ @ @ @ make all-out efforts to make the company one that 's welcomed by customers , employees @ @ @ @ @ term , '' Lotte Shopping Vice Chairman and CEO Kang Hee-tae said in the statement @

(ATTN: CHANGES headline and lead; COMBINES stories)
By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Lotte Shopping Co., the operator of South Korea's biggest department store chain, said Thursday it will sell assets after posting a loss for 2019, while the country's largest discount store chain operator, Emart Inc., reported weaker than expected earnings as well.
Lotte Shopping will sell 200, or 30 percent, of its 700 brick-and-mortar stores, including department stores, discount stores and supermarkets, across the country to shore up its falling profit and strengthen the e-commerce business, the company said in a statement.
This photo taken Feb. 10, 2020, shows the main entrance of the Lotte Department Store in Myeongdong, central Seoul, which resumed operations following a three-day shutdown after the 23rd confirmed coronavirus patient turned out to have visited the store on Feb. 2. (Yonhap)
The company didn't provide any fixed time frame for the asset sale plans.
"We will resolve fundamental problems and make a tangible result as soon as possible (through the restructuring efforts). And we will make all-out efforts to make the company one that's welcomed by customers, employees and shareholders in the long term," Lotte Shopping Vice Chairman and CEO Kang Hee-tae said in the statement.
To satisfy a changing appetite of customers, Lotte Shopping said it will provide "customized services to individual customers" by integrating strengths of its offline business and e-commerce business based on data of its 39 million customers.
Lotte Shopping's full-year net losses widened to 853.56 billion won in 2019 from 464.99 billion won a year earlier. Operating profit fell 28 percent to 427.91 billion won from 597 billion won during the same period, while sales fell 1.1 percent to 17.63 trillion won from 17.82 trillion won.
Emart Inc. also posted poor earnings results last year due to increased one-off costs.
Net profit plunged to 223.8 billion won last year from 478.6 billion won a year ago as increased corporate taxes and marketing costs cut into the bottom line, the company said.
Operating profit plunged 67 percent on-year to 150.7 billion won last year from 462.8 billion won. But sales rose 12 percent to 19.06 trillion won from 17.05 trillion won over the same period, it said.
In 2020, Emart aims to achieve 21 trillion won in sales by expanding its network of outlets, on which it will spend 845 billion won.
Meanwhile, Shinsegae Group, the parent firm of Emart, saw its net profit more than double to 598.17 billion won last year from 284.88 billion won a year ago helped by strong sales in the department store business.
Operating profit rose 18 percent to 468.16 billion won from 397.35 billion won, while sales climbed 23 percent to 6.39 trillion won from 5.19 trillion won.
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--Is Dongseo 2019 net income down 67.2 pct. to 79.9 bln won

SEOUL , Feb. 13 ( Yonhap ) -- Is Dongseo Co. on Thursday reported its 2019 net income of 79.9 @ @ @ @ @ 67.6 million ) , down 67.2 percent from a year earlier .

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Is Dongseo Co. on Thursday reported its 2019 net income of 79.9 billion won (US$ 67.6 million), down 67.2 percent from a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that operating income for the year fell 81.8 percent on-year to 69.3 billion won. Annual sales decreased 39.7 percent to 962.6 billion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--Is Dongseo Q4 net income down 50.6 pct. to 23.7 bln won

Operating profit for the October-December period was 17.8 billion won , down 84.2 percent from a year ago , the @ @ @ @ @ filing .
Revenue fell 37.4 percent to 196.3 billion won .

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Is Dongseo Co. on Thursday reported its fourth-quarter net income of 23.7 billion won (US$ 20 million), down 50.6 percent from a year earlier.
Operating profit for the October-December period was 17.8 billion won, down 84.2 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue fell 37.4 percent to 196.3 billion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--NSC discusses S. Korea's peace plan for Munich security forum

In the weekly standing committee meeting of the National Security Council ( NSC ) , they discussed a strategy related @ @ @ @ @ conference to open in Munich on Friday .
South Korea will be represented by Foreign @ @ @ @ @ is expected to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the sidelines @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top security officials agreed Thursday to use the upcoming security forum in Germany to drum up international support for the Korea peace process, Cheong Wa Dae said.
In the weekly standing committee meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), they discussed a strategy related to participation in the three-day conference to open in Munich on Friday. South Korea will be represented by Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. She is expected to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the sidelines of the annual event.
The NSC officials "decided to make efforts for the expansion of the international community's cooperation and support for our government's push for the Korean Peninsula peace process," Cheong Wa Dae said.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha leaves for Munich, Germany, to attend an international security forum on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
The participants also reviewed ways to bolster partnerships with Southeast Asian nations in the national defense field. South Korea had a special group summit with the 10 ASEAN member states last year, setting its sights on "New Southern Policy 2.0."
They checked the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic and relevant moves by major countries, Cheong Wa Dae said.
The presidential office usually releases a brief summary of regular NSC sessions with no specifics, apparently due to the sensitivity of pending issues related to national security. Thursday's meeting was presided over by Chung Eui-yong, director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office. The presidential office does not reveal the list of other attendees.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--(LEAD) Korea Aerospace 2019 net more than doubles on KF-X project

`` To achieve the sales goal , we will focus on receiving orders of the TA-50 lead-in fighter trainer from @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said .

(ATTN: REWRITES throughout)
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) said Thursday its net income more than doubled in 2019 from a year earlier, helped by a local project that replaces aging fighter jets in the Air Force.
KAI, the country's sole aircraft manufacturer, reported a net profit of 130 billion won (US$109 million) last year, compared with a profit of 55.5 billion won a year ago, the company said in a statement.
"On top of the KF-X project, the company delivered eight T-50 TH advanced trainer jets to Thailand in July last year," a company spokeswoman said.
Operating profit jumped 88 percent to 275.2 billion won last year from the previous year's 146.4 billion won. Sales rose 11 percent to 3.1 trillion won from 2.79 trillion won during the same period, the statement said.
In 2020, KAI aims to achieve 3.3 trillion won in sales by winning orders worth 4.2 trillion won.
"To achieve the sales goal, we will focus on receiving orders of the TA-50 lead-in fighter trainer from the Korean military this year," she said.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--(4th LD) S. Korea set to release more virus patients, no new cases reported

Despite there being no confirmed cases in the last two days , the KCDC said it is not right to @ @ @ @ @ the novel coronavirus has been slowing .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; UPDATES figures in paras 2-3; ADDS more info in paras 11,17, 2nd photo)
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported no new novel coronavirus cases on Thursday, leaving the total unchanged at 28, and more patients are likely to be released soon following seven earlier discharges.
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the number of people being checked for the COVID-19 virus under quarantine came to 562, down from 785 the previous day, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
South Korean health authorities disinfect streets to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in Seoul on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
The country has tested 6,483 people for the new coronavirus since Jan. 3, with 5,921 testing negative.
The KCDC said 21 patients currently being treated for the virus at hospitals are in a stable condition. One of them is receiving oxygen therapy but is not in a severe condition, it added.
The KCDC said more patients could be discharged from hospital soon.
So far, South Korea has released seven coronavirus patients. The KCDC said the seven had no underlying diseases that could have affected their treatment. They stayed in hospital for an average of 13 days.
The KCDC said all 147 evacuees who arrived in Seoul from the Chinese city of Wuhan on Wednesday tested negative for the potentially fatal illness.
Among them, five evacuees -- three South Koreans and two Chinese nationals -- showed symptoms of the novel coronavirus upon their arrival and were transferred to a hospital, but they tested negative for the virus, health authorities said.
The evacuees, comprising South Korean nationals, their Chinese spouses and family members, are currently staying at a temporary shelter in Icheon, 80 kilometers southeast of Seoul, where they need to be monitored for 14 days, the virus' incubation period.
Jung Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), gives a briefing on domestic coronavirus infections at the KCDC headquarters in Cheongju, 137 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
The KCDC said the country will double its supply of coronavirus test kits and will be able to test 10,000 people a day by the end of this month.
The KCDC added South Korea has so far spent more than 1 billion won (US$850,000) on diagnostic tests for the novel coronavirus.
South Korea also announced a protocol for coronavirus treatment as recommended by its clinical task force.
Under the proposed protocol, doctors can give the anti-HIV medication Kaletra twice a day to elderly patients and those who show severe symptoms of the coronavirus. South Korea's third patient was released from a hospital Wednesday after being administered with Kaletra.
The drug can be replaced with Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, both used to treat malaria, according to the task force.
Despite there being no confirmed cases in the last two days, the KCDC said it is not right to say that the spread of the novel coronavirus has been slowing.
"There are still people who are coming from China and people who are showing symptoms of the virus," said Jung Eun-kyeong, chief of the KCDC. "There is still a possibility that we could see some coronavirus patients."
Globally, more than 60,000 people have been infected by the virus as of Thursday and over 1,300 have died, mostly in China's Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak. The number of infections surged after China decided to use a new method of diagnosis.
South Korea's health authorities disinfect seats at a gymnasium in Suwon, south of Seoul, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea has been beefing up its effort to stem the spread of the virus. Starting Wednesday, strict quarantine screening has been enforced against entrants from Hong Kong and Macao, in addition to mainland China.
Passengers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are now required to use separate arrival counters at international airports across the country and must write a special quarantine report, filling out health questionnaires to check whether they have a fever or respiratory problems.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--Moon to meet Bong Joon-ho at Cheong Wa Dae next week

The president plans to hold a luncheon meeting with Bong on Feb. 20 with related details yet to be fixed @ @ @ @ @ of the dark comedy and thriller movie about social problems from the gap between rich @ @ @ @ @ well , according to the official who requested anonymity .

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in has invited Bong Joon-ho, director of the film "Parasite," to Cheong Wa Dae next week in celebration and recognition of his Oscar honors, an aide to Moon said Thursday.
The president plans to hold a luncheon meeting with Bong on Feb. 20 with related details yet to be fixed, including whether the cast of the dark comedy and thriller movie about social problems from the gap between rich and poor will attend as well, according to the official who requested anonymity.
Bong's movie bagged four prizes at the 92nd Academy Awards earlier this week, including best picture and director.
This file photo shows Director Bong Joon-ho of the South Korean movie "Parasite," posing after winning Oscar awards in Los Angeles, Feb. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
Bong is scheduled to hold a press conference here a day before meeting with Moon.
Cheong Wa Dae has already delivered Moon's congratulatory message to Bong for the Oscar haul, which he described as the fruit of the accumulated efforts of all who have made movies in South Korea over the past 100 years.
"I am very happy that South Korean movies are now able to begin a new 100 years standing in comparison to world movies," Moon wrote.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--Supreme Court approves not-guilty verdict for 111 conscientious objectors

For instance , one of the believers , surnamed Park , inherited his religious belief from his parents , both @ @ @ @ @ , and has faithfully engaged in evangelism and voluntary services since receiving baptism by immersion @ @ @ @ @ court said .
Park has consistently argued that he refuses to serve in the military @ @ @ @ @ is against his religious beliefs .
He also expressed a willingness to undertake alternative service @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top court on Thursday acquitted more than 110 believers of a non-mainstream Christian sect who were indicted for rejecting mandatory military service for religious reasons.
The Supreme Court upheld lower courts' not-guilty verdicts for 111 Jehovah's Witnesses who were charged with refusing to serve in the military in violation of the Military Service Act, saying their conscientious objection was justifiable.
It is the first time the Supreme Court has confirmed a not-guilty verdict for conscientious objectors after it ruled in November 2018 that religious and conscientious beliefs are to be considered valid reasons for refusing the military service mandate.
At that time, the top court said that punishing conscientious objectors for refusing the conscription on grounds of religious faith is an excessive constraint on an individual's freedom of conscience. It also said that a person's religious belief must be deep, firm and true to be recognized as true conscience. Under the judicial guideline, local courts have carefully examined the religious views of conscientious objectors with dubious records of religious activity.
The Supreme Court said it approved the acquittal of the 111 Jehovah's Witnesses, noting they have persistently conducted religious activities regardless of their military obligation.
For instance, one of the believers, surnamed Park, inherited his religious belief from his parents, both believers in the Christian sect, and has faithfully engaged in evangelism and voluntary services since receiving baptism by immersion in August 2010, the court said. Park has consistently argued that he refuses to serve in the military because using weapons of destruction is against his religious beliefs. He also expressed a willingness to undertake alternative service outside the military.
Park was sentenced by a district court to 18 months' imprisonment before being acquitted by an appellate court following the 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court.
In June 2018, the Constitutional Court also recognized for the first time the need for alternative service for conscientious objectors.
Since the 1950s, around 19,000 conscientious objectors, most of them associated with the Jehovah's Witnesses, have been arrested and served jail terms of 18 months for rejecting conscription.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--Hanjin heiress proposes ex-SK exec as conglomerate's new chief

Cho Hyun-ah , 45 , the eldest daughter of late Hanjin Group and Korean Air Lines Co. Chairman Cho Yang-ho @ @ @ @ @ local activist fund Korea Corporate Governance Improvement ( KCGI ) and midsized builder Bando Engineering @ @ @ @ @ aim to replace the current leadership headed by her younger brother Won-tae , chairman of @ @ @ @ @ unit Korean Air Lines Co. , with a professional manager .

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- The heiress of South Korea's Hanjin Group, widely known for the "nut rage" incident in 2014, on Thursday proposed a former SK Group executive as a professional manager to lead the airline-focused conglomerate amid an escalating family feud over the throne of the conglomerate.
Cho Hyun-ah, 45, the eldest daughter of late Hanjin Group and Korean Air Lines Co. Chairman Cho Yang-ho, has recently partnered with local activist fund Korea Corporate Governance Improvement (KCGI) and midsized builder Bando Engineering & Construction Co. with an aim to replace the current leadership headed by her younger brother Won-tae, chairman of Hanjin Group and its flagship unit Korean Air Lines Co., with a professional manager.
This composite file photo shows (from L) Hanjin Group heiress Cho Hyun-ah, KCGI CEO Kang Sung-boo and Bando Engineering & Construction Co. Chairman Kwon Hong-sa. (Yonhap)
They have argued that inviting a professional manager will help improve the group's management, financial status and shareholder value.
In the statement released through their leading legal counsel, they recommended Kim Shin-bae, who served as executive vice chairman at SK Group and president at SK Telecom Co., as the professional manager of Hanjin Group.
They said they have made a proposal that is "the first step to normalize" Hanjin Group ahead of a shareholders meeting of Hanjin KAL, the holding company of the group, on March 25.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-13--LG 2019 net profit down 41.2 pct. to 1.1 tln won

The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 1.02 trillion won in operating profit for the year , @ @ @ @ @ .
Annual revenue fell 15.1 percent to 6.57 trillion won .

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- LG Corp. on Thursday reported its 2019 net income of 1.1 trillion won (US$ 935.7 million), down 41.2 percent from a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 1.02 trillion won in operating profit for the year, compared with 1.82 trillion on-year. Annual revenue fell 15.1 percent to 6.57 trillion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(LEAD) No new coronavirus infections reported for 3rd straight day, cases unchanged at 28

Passengers from mainland China , Hong Kong and Macao are now required to use separate arrival counters at international airports @ @ @ @ @ write a special quarantine report , filling out health questionnaires to check whether they have @ @ @ @ @ .
They must also download a mobile application to report their health status every day @

(ATTN: ADDS more info from 4th para, photo)
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Friday reported no new novel coronavirus case for the third consecutive day, with the number of cases remaining unchanged at 28, according to health authorities.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said a total of seven patients have been released from hospitals after fully recovering from the COVID-19 virus.
The number of people who have tested negative for the virus reached 6,134 as of early Friday, with another 692 undergoing tests for possible infection, the KCDC said.
Tourists from China, Hong Kong and Macao install an application on their smartphones that the health ministry has released to help people check if they have coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, with the help of airport officials at the arrival gate of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Feb. 13, 2020. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
The KCDC said 21 patients currently being treated for the virus at hospitals are in stable condition. One of them is receiving oxygen therapy for pneumonia but is not in critical condition, it added.
The public health agency earlier said more patients could be discharged from hospitals soon.
South Korea has been beefing up its efforts to stem the spread of the virus. Starting Wednesday, strict quarantine screening has been enforced against entrants from Hong Kong and Macao, in addition to mainland China.
Passengers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are now required to use separate arrival counters at international airports across the country and must write a special quarantine report, filling out health questionnaires to check whether they have a fever or respiratory problems. They must also download a mobile application to report their health status every day.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--N. Korean newspaper reports on spike in new coronavirus infections, death toll in China

In a separate article , the paper said that the Chinese authorities are beefing up efforts to stem the spread @ @ @ @ @ an additional 2,600 medical staff to Wuhan , the epicenter of the virus that has @ @ @ @ @ in China alone .

By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper on Friday reported about a recent spike in new coronavirus infections and the death toll in China as Pyongyang is making an all-out effort to prevent the flow of the highly contagious virus from its neighboring country.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, carried a series of articles providing details on latest developments on the spread of the COVID-19 that originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
"China confirmed 15,152 new coronavirus infection on Wednesday alone with 254 people losing their lives," the paper said in an article.
In a separate article, the paper said that the Chinese authorities are beefing up efforts to stem the spread of the virus by deploying an additional 2,600 medical staff to Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus that has killed more than 1,500 people in China alone.
North Korea has not reported any confirmed infections but it has intensified preventive efforts by tightening borders with China and beefing up quarantine for those coming from the virus-hit neighboring country.
North Korea earlier extended the quarantine period for at-risk people from 15 days to 30 days, much longer than the 14 days presumed to be the incubation period of the virus.
Pyongyang recently said that it has dispatched around 500 workers to the country's border with China to help preventive efforts against the virus. It has also obligated citizens to wear face masks when using the subway in its capital city.
Experts worry that the North appears very vulnerable to such viruses as it lacks medical supplies and the infrastructure necessary to diagnose and treat people. Concerns are growing that once the virus enters the country, its spread could go out of control.
The United States voiced concerns about vulnerability of North Korean people, stressing its support for aid agencies seeking to help contain the spread of the deadly virus in the communist state.
"The United States is deeply concerned about the vulnerability of the North Korean people to a coronavirus outbreak," the State Department said in a press statement posted on its website Thursday.
"We strongly support and encourage the work of U.S. and international aid and health organizations to counter and contain the spread of coronavirus in the DPRK. The United States is ready and prepared to expeditiously facilitate the approval of assistance from these organizations," it added.
DPRK is the acronym of the North's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
North Korea announces an emergency measure to lengthen the quarantine period for people suspected of having been infected by the novel coronavirus from around 15 days at present to 30 days, in this news footage captured from the state-run Korean Central Television on Feb. 12, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--No new coronavirus infections reported for 3rd straight day, cases unchanged at 28

The number of people who have tested negative for the virus reached 6,134 as of early Friday , with another @ @ @ @ @ infection , the KCDC said .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Friday reported no new novel coronavirus case for the third consecutive day, with the number of cases remaining unchanged at 28, according to health authorities.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said a total of seven patients have been released from hospitals after fully recovering from the COVID-19 virus.
The number of people who have tested negative for the virus reached 6,134 as of early Friday, with another 692 undergoing tests for possible infection, the KCDC said.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(URGENT) No new coronavirus infections reported for 3rd straight day, cases unchanged at 28

(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--2020-02-14--Signs of economic recovery grow, but coronavirus impact may weigh on economy

However , the nation 's economy is expected to face uncertainties because it is still difficult to gauge how broadly @ @ @ @ @ recently dubbed COVID-19 , will spread , the report said .

SEJONG, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Expectations of an economic recovery grew as industrial production and facility investment rose, but the impact of the coronavirus epidemic in China is likely to weigh on the Korean economy, a government report showed Friday.
The finance ministry said market sentiment improved as economic indicators rose and prices of memory chips, one of South Korea's key export items, posted a modest gain in January.
However, the nation's economy is expected to face uncertainties because it is still difficult to gauge how broadly the virus, which was recently dubbed COVID-19, will spread, the report said.
"The government will make its utmost efforts to minimize the economic impact of the virus, while putting its top priority to regain an economic recovery momentum," the ministry said its monthly economic assessment report.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance's "Green Book" (Yonhap)
The report -- called the "Green Book" -- is based on a set of the latest indicators of output, exports, consumption and corporate investment, which serves as a snapshot of the economy's performance in recent months.
South Korea's economy suffered its weakest annual growth in a decade last year, hit by a lengthy U.S.-China trade war and a cyclical slump in the memory chip sector.
South Korea's exports fell 10.3 percent on-year in 2019 to $542.4 billion, according to government data.
The nation's economy is expected to grow 2.4 percent this year, following last year's 2 percent expansion, on the back of an anticipated recovery in the memory chip sector and a series of policy measures.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Samsung's vertically-folding smartphone goes on sale in S. Korea

Due to limited volume , they predicted that not all retailers in South Korea will have the Galaxy Z Flip @ @ @ @ @ are not likely to wait long as they did it for the Galaxy Fold .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co.'s new foldable smartphone hit the shelves in South Korea on Friday as the world's largest smartphone maker aims to popularize the foldable form factor in the market.
Sales of the Galaxy Z Flip started at 9 a.m. at local online and offline stores, according to Samsung and local mobile carriers.
Industry insiders expect 20,000 Galaxy Z Flip smartphones to be distributed to local vendors in the first week -- a nearly 10-fold increase from the initial volume of the Galaxy Fold, Samsung's first foldable smartphone, launched last year.
Due to limited volume, they predicted that not all retailers in South Korea will have the Galaxy Z Flip in stock, but customers are not likely to wait long as they did it for the Galaxy Fold.
This photo provided by SK Telecom Co. on Feb. 14, 2020, shows a model posing for a photo with Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Z Flip smartphones. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Samsung hopes the Galaxy Z Flip will attract more customers who are interested in foldable smartphones.
The Galaxy Z Flip, which bends in half vertically, is priced at 1.65 million won (US$1,395) in South Korea, roughly 700,000 won cheaper than the Galaxy Fold's launch price.
A limited edition of the Galaxy Z Flip, in collaboration with U.S. fashion brand Thom Browne, comes with a price tag of 2.97 million won. It will be launched next Friday.
Local analysts predicted that Samsung may sell 3 million units of the Galaxy Z Flip globally this year.
The Galaxy Z Flip uses the industry's first ultrathin glass cover on top of the OLED screen, making it more durable and scratch resistant compared with plastic displays.
It comes with a 6.7-inch foldable main display and a 1.1-inch cover display on the front of the handset that allows users to check the time and notifications.
In this photo taken on Feb. 12, 2020, models present Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Z Fold (front, R) and Galaxy S20 smartphones at a store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Seoul stocks open lower on Wall Street losses

The weak start came after the U.S. stock market closed in negative terrain amid renewed fears of coronavirus outbreak , @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 additional cases overnight .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened slightly lower Friday, apparently taking a cue from overnight losses on Wall Street.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 3.38 points, or 0.15 percent, to 2,229.58 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The weak start came after the U.S. stock market closed in negative terrain amid renewed fears of coronavirus outbreak, triggered by China reporting over 10,000 additional cases overnight.
The Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.43 percent to close at 29,423.31.
In Seoul, large caps were mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.16 percent, but top chemical maker LG Chem jumped 1.46 percent, with top portal operator Naver advancing 0.27 percent.
Leading automaker Hyundai Motor slipped 0.38 percent, while its smaller affiliate Kia Motors shed 0.24 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,184.55 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.75 won from the previous session's close.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Cambodia says it repatriated all N. Korean workers: U.N. report

As of Dec. 22 last year , all North Korean workers in Cambodia were repatriated , Cambodia reported to the @ @ @ @ @ according to the report by the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Cambodia has repatriated all North Korean workers in compliance with U.N. sanctions aimed at cutting off Pyongyang's revenue from labor exports, a U.N. Security Council committee report showed Friday.
As of Dec. 22 last year, all North Korean workers in Cambodia were repatriated, Cambodia reported to the council late last month, according to the report by the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee on North Korea.
Authorities in Cambodia "found that 115 North Korean workers were working in Phnom Penh and in Siem Reap Province" and all workers have been sent back home, the report said.
The report said Cambodia has shut down all businesses run by North Koreans including restaurants and museums, disclosing the names of 11 companies and 8 restaurants.
Cambodia also decided in late November not to extend the visas of North Korean nationals who worked in the country.
All member states of the United Nations were required to repatriate any North Koreans earning income in their jurisdiction by the end of last year under Security Council Resolution 2397.
People assumed to be North Korean overseas laborers prepare to return home at Beijing Capital International Airport on Dec. 21, 2019, one day ahead of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2397 deadline, which calls on member states to repatriate all North Koreans earning income in their jurisdictions. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--BTS to premiere new album's main track on Jimmy Fallon show

Appearing on a special episode of the show by broadcaster NBC on Feb. 24 ( U.S. time ) , the @ @ @ @ @ track of `` Map of the Soul : 7 , '' slated for official release @ @ @ @ @ to an SNS announcement by the TV show .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- K-pop superband BTS will stage the debut performance of its upcoming album's main track on late night U.S. TV show, "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," this month, the show has announced.
Appearing on a special episode of the show by broadcaster NBC on Feb. 24 (U.S. time), the septet will premiere the lead track of "Map of the Soul: 7," slated for official release on Feb. 21, according to an SNS announcement by the TV show.
The special show will feature BTS' interview with the show host as well as the band members' tour of symbolic spots in New York.
The show organizer earlier called on fans to submit questions for BTS with a hash tag, #FallonAsksBTS, which trended at number one on Twitter worldwide.
This marks the band's second appearance on the show after the band staged its mega-hit song "IDOL" on the show in September 2018.
Last month, the band unveiled its debut performance of "Black Swan," a track off the upcoming new album, on the CBS show, "The Late Late Show with James Corden," electrifying its fans across the globe.
This photo of BTS is provided by Andrew Lipovsky and NBC through Big Hit Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Hyundai teases EV concept ahead of Geneva motor show

Hyundai has applied the new design language to the face-lifted model of the sixth-generation Grandeur that was launched in November @ @ @ @ @ sedan launched in March last year .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. on Friday released a teaser of the Prophecy, an all-electric concept, ahead of its planned debut at next month's Geneva motor show.
The Prophecy adopts the carmaker's next-generation design direction, Sensuous Sportiness, which is defined by the harmony among four fundamental elements in vehicle design -- proportion, architecture, styling and technology -- Hyundai Motor said in a statement.
Details about the new electric model will be unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show that opens at Palexpo, Switzerland, on March 7 and runs through March 17, it said.
Hyundai has applied the new design language to the face-lifted model of the sixth-generation Grandeur that was launched in November 2016 and the new Sonata sedan launched in March last year.
This teaser image provided by Hyundai Motor shows the Prophecy, an all-electric concept, to be unveiled at the Geneva motor show next month. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


Friday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Feb. 14 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


KOSPI 2,232.71 DN 0.25 points (open)


KOSDAQ 687.23 DN 0.38 points (open)


yna--2020-02-14--Dollar opens at 1,184.0 won UP from 1,182.8 won


yna--2020-02-14--Veterans minister to visit U.S., Canada to mark 70th anniv. of Korean War

President Moon Jae-in said last year the memorial wall will be established by 2022 to `` honor the noble sacrifices @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Korean War veteran and help the sublime value of the alliance '' between the @ @ @ @ @ etched on the hearts of both peoples . ''

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Veterans Affairs Minister Park Sam-deuk will visit the United States and Canada next week to discuss cooperation in memorial projects for Korean War veterans on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict, his office said Friday.
During the eight-day trip that will kick off Sunday, Park will meet with U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie and Canadian Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said.
While in the U.S., Park will deliver 2 billion won (US$1.69 million) to fund the establishment of a memorial wall in Washington to "convey sincere appreciation to the ultimate sacrifice of U.S. veterans who fought in the Korean War."
The wall will be built in West Potomac Park, where the Korean War Veterans Memorial is located, with the names of some 36,000 American veterans who fought in the 1950-53 war etched on it.
The ministry plans to provide more funds for the estimated $25 million project next year when the design of the structure is finalized, it said.
President Moon Jae-in said last year the memorial wall will be established by 2022 to "honor the noble sacrifices of each and every fallen U.S. Korean War veteran and help the sublime value of the alliance" between the two countries become "deeply etched on the hearts of both peoples."
This file photo, taken on June 21, 2010, shows the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington ahead of the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 conflict. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(Spring Training) Blue Jays' pitching coach wants Ryu Hyun-jin to feel 'comfortable' in his 1st camp

`` ( I 've been ) just talking to people in the Dodger organization , ( trying to ) understand @ @ @ @ @ and what kind of routine he 's used to , '' Walker said , as @ @ @ @ @ first workout at TD Ballpark in Dunedin , Florida .
`` He 's a veteran @ @ @ @ @ been around .
So you want to make sure he 's comfortable doing his thing @ @ @ @ @ learn from him exactly what he 's like and then when the time comes , @ @ @ @ @ But for now , it 's just getting him as comfortable as possible , as @ @ @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
DUNEDIN, United States, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- Ryu Hyun-jin has arrived at his first spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays as an established veteran who doesn't need much in the way of instruction.
That leaves pitching coach Pete Walker with little to do -- at least for now -- other than to make sure the South Korean pitcher settles in nicely with his new surroundings.
"Not really anything right now," Walker told reporters Thursday when asked if he was going to approach Ryu, a former Los Angeles Dodger, with ideas for changes.
Toronto Blue Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker watches his players at work at a facility near TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
"(I've been) just talking to people in the Dodger organization, (trying to) understand what he likes to do and what kind of routine he's used to," Walker said, as pitchers and catchers had their first workout at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. "He's a veteran pitcher, and he's been around. So you want to make sure he's comfortable doing his thing. We're going to learn from him exactly what he's like and then when the time comes, we'll make suggestions. But for now, it's just getting him as comfortable as possible, as soon as possible."
Ryu pitched for the Dodgers from 2013 to 2019, punctuating that run with the National League (NL) ERA title and the runner-up finish in the NL Cy Young Award voting in his final year in LA. The Jays signed the free agent to a four-year, US$80 million contract, the largest deal for a pitcher in franchise history.
Expectations are admittedly high for Ryu, who, barring injuries during spring training, will immediately become the Jays' new No. 1 starter.
And with that comes some much needed stability for the Blue Jays, who went through a team-record 21 starters in 2019, en route to a 67-95 record.
"You get starters that are consistently taking the ball and going deep in the game, then you put everybody in better positions," Walker said. "Your defense thrives off that kind of guy, and it gives you a real good feeling that you're going to win a ball game that day. Hopefully, that carries over to the other guys."
Walker, a former Blue Jays pitcher himself, said Ryu is someone who "just knows how to pitch."
Toronto Blue Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (C) speaks with his pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin (R) during Ryu's bullpen session at a facility near TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
"He changes speeds well and effectively uses his fastball. Has a great breaking ball," Walker said. "In this day and age, there are so many pitchers that are reliant on power. He knows how to finesse a guy and still beat him with a heater at times."
The coach added that Ryu's methodical approach to his game can rub off on his young pitching staff, calling the pitcher "a pro."
"You can just watch him go about his work and watch his side session," Walker said. "You can tell he has a game plan, and he knows what he wants to do each time he gets the ball. It's good for younger pitchers to go see him work."
Switching teams is only part of the change for Ryu. He'll be moving from the NL West to the American League East, a division that often packs more offensive punch than any other division in baseball. Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays' home, is much more of a hitters' park than Dodger Stadium.
But Walker isn't too concerned about Ryu, since he has a "tremendous changeup" that the coach thinks will be the equalizer.
"It's new faces he's going to be facing consistently, and they have to make the adjustments as well," Walker said. "He knows how to change speeds and keep guys off balance."
Toronto Blue Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (R) watches his pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin during Ryu's bullpen session at a facility near TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ryu had his first bullpen session Thursday, making 33 pitches with Walker watching from behind the mound. The coach didn't make a big deal out of the first one -- "We're not going to get too concerned about bullpens early with anybody," he said -- and he liked how Ryu looked comfortable throwing the ball.
"Our priority is to make sure he's in peak form throughout the year," Walker added. "We're doing research and finding out what kind of program he's had in the past, and making sure he's comfortable with it and kind of stick to that plan. What's worked in the past, we want to continue that."
As important as on-field results may be, Walker said he wants Ryu to get to know his teammates better during camp, especially catchers.
"The biggest challenge, coming to the new team, is making sure catchers are on the same page," he said. "We have an idea of what he likes to do. For (catchers) to get comfortable with him is always important. That's pretty much what spring trainings are for."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--U.S. voices deep concern over vulnerability of N.K. people to coronavirus outbreak

`` We strongly support and encourage the work of U.S. and international aid and health organizations to counter and contain @ @ @ @ @ the DPRK .
The United States is ready and prepared to expeditiously facilitate the approval @ @ @ @ @ , '' it added .

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- The United States is "deeply concerned" about the vulnerability of the North Korean people to the new coronavirus, the State Department said Thursday, stressing its support for aid agencies seeking to help contain the spread of the deadly virus in the communist state.
Pyongyang has yet to report any confirmed case of COVID-19 that first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December, amid speculation that it may have difficulty testing or treating its citizens due to a lack of medical supplies.
"The United States is deeply concerned about the vulnerability of the North Korean people to a coronavirus outbreak," the State Department said in a press statement posted on its website Thursday.
"We strongly support and encourage the work of U.S. and international aid and health organizations to counter and contain the spread of coronavirus in the DPRK. The United States is ready and prepared to expeditiously facilitate the approval of assistance from these organizations," it added.
DPRK stands for the North's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The death toll of the virus in China alone has topped 1,300, with the country's confirmed cases exceeding 59,800.
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on Feb. 14)

The Blue House is reportedly mulling an end to the General Status of Military Information Agreement ( Gsomia ) with @ @ @ @ @ year , the military intelligence-sharing deal was nearly terminated as a result of Japan 's @ @ @ @ @ rulings for compensation for wartime forced labor .
In the face of strong U.S. opposition @ @ @ @ @ concerns about the deterioration of Seoul-Tokyo relations — the Moon Jae-in administration withheld the termination @ @ @ @ @ was suspending the effect of the termination notification as `` the agreement can be discarded @ @ @ @ @

The worst option of all
The Blue House is reportedly mulling an end to the General Status of Military Information Agreement (Gsomia) with Japan. In November last year, the military intelligence-sharing deal was nearly terminated as a result of Japan's economic retaliations for Korean court rulings for compensation for wartime forced labor. In the face of strong U.S. opposition — and because of deepening concerns about the deterioration of Seoul-Tokyo relations — the Moon Jae-in administration withheld the termination card. It said it was suspending the effect of the termination notification as "the agreement can be discarded at the time."
Nevertheless, the Moon administration is poised to push for the discontinuation of Gsomia. Despite the JoongAng Ilbo's report Tuesday about such a surprising change of mind ahead of the April 15 parliamentary elections, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not deny it, saying that the suspension was only provisional.
As we repeatedly stressed, a scrapping of the military pact is the worst option of all, as it backfired already. The government chose the option to pressure the United States to persuade Japan to ease its sanctions on exports to Korea. But the results were the opposite. Washington expressed strong dissatisfaction toward Seoul instead of convincing Tokyo to lift sanctions.
What worries us most is Washington's reaction after Seoul pulls the plug on Gsomia. Despite the nuanced wording, the United States and Japan will be disappointed at the revival of the idea. Despite a lull in denuclearization talks, a crisis could revisit the peninsula anytime. It is not wise for the government to take a dangerous step in such a situation.
The Seoul-Tokyo ties, which showed some signs of improvement after a summit in December, will certainly get worse. Japan will likely take further retaliatory measures against Korea, which will help freeze the relations and damage our economy.
If the government brings Gsomia to an end, it creates a serious loophole in our security given the competitive military information assets Japan has — such as satellites, Aegis destroyers, ground-based radar and Awacs aircraft. It does not make sense for the government to end Gsomia. If it aims to rally support ahead of the election by fueling anti-Japan sentiment, it is a wrong choice.
The Moon administration must not put an end to the deal. It must tackle Japan's unfair export restrictions in other ways. If it nevertheless takes the wrong path, that is same as risking our security for domestic political gains.
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Feb. 14)

(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Feb. 14)

Of course , the core problem is that Trump has little incentive to resume the stalled negotiations with Pyongyang .
@ @ @ @ @ maintain the status quo as far as the North 's nuclear disarmament is concerned .
@ @ @ @ @ is not willing to actively engage with the North ; nor is he ready to @ @ @ @ @ denuclearization of the recalcitrant country .

Dimming prospects of talks
: Trump puts nuclear negotiations on backburner
The denuclearization dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington is expected to remain deadlocked until the November U.S. presidential election. The long-term hiatus in nuclear disarmament negotiations between the two countries will be inevitable as President Donald Trump has put top priority on his re-election.
It is understandable that Trump can now ill afford to spend much time and energy on the nuclear issue due to his strenuous efforts to extend his term for another four years. He has shifted his focus to domestic issues to boost his re-election bid, especially after he was acquitted of impeachment charges Feb. 5.
Unfortunately, the nuclear talks have now been put on the backburner. Trump has oftentimes boasted about Pyongyang's moratorium on nuclear and ICBM tests as a major foreign policy achievement after he held the historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June 2018. But the negotiations hit a snag following the Hanoi summit in February 2019 due to differences over the scope of denuclearization and reciprocal sanctions relief.
A recent realignment of Trump's nuclear negotiation team has also cast a dark cloud over prospects for the North's denuclearization. Stephen Biegun, who led negotiations with Pyongyang as special representative for North Korea, has been promoted to deputy secretary of state. His promotion may have an adverse effect on the nuclear talks because he has to deal with many other issues with other countries around the globe.
Last month, Mark Lambert, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea, was also assigned to a new position. This week, Alex Wong, the deputy U.S. special representative for the North, was tapped as a representative to the United Nations. Their departure is seen as a setback to the team dealing with North Korea. It is feared to weaken the team's negotiating capacity, prolonging the current impasse in the talks.
Of course, the core problem is that Trump has little incentive to resume the stalled negotiations with Pyongyang. He seems to prefer to maintain the status quo as far as the North's nuclear disarmament is concerned. In other words, he is not willing to actively engage with the North; nor is he ready to risk betting on the complete denuclearization of the recalcitrant country.
According to media reports, Trump made clear that he would not have another summit with Kim before the presidential election. He made no mention of North Korea during his State of the Union address, indicating his diminished interest in the denuclearization talks.
Chairman Kim is certainly well aware of Trump's policy shift. Kim has already threatened to take a new path unless the U.S. gives up its maximum pressure and sanctions against the North. He even warned of a new strategic weapons test. Against this backdrop, Pyongyang has returned to its "byeongjin" policy of simultaneously pursuing its nuclear weapons program and economic development.
The prolonged stalemate will deal a blow to President Moon Jae-in's policy of active engagement with the North. It remains to be seen whether Moon can keep the dialogue momentum not only for inter-Korean reconciliation but also for the North's denuclearization.
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on Feb. 14)

But Moon says nothing about this situation , even after the full text of the indictment was revealed .
He @ @ @ @ @ be indifferent .
Probably he thinks that as long as the ruling party wins the @ @ @ @ @ be able to brush all of the suspicions under the carpet , whatever critics say @ @ @ @ @ is exercising his right to silence does not sound like an exaggeration .

Time to explain
: Calls rising for Moon to enunciate position on election-meddling indictment
Since a newspaper revealed the indictment of 13 figures involved in Cheong Wa Dae's suspected meddling in the Ulsan mayoral election, calls for a direct explanation from President Moon Jae-in are mounting.
The Professors' Solidarity for Freedom and Justice, which has about 6,000 members from 377 colleges and universities across the country, urged Moon on Tuesday to clarify his position on the election intervention suspicions.
"The president must enunciate his position regarding this grave issue unless he is either pursuing convenient justice or trying to keep selected promises," they said in a statement.
"If he does not, we cannot but think that the president is exercising his right to refuse to testify against himself," they said. "But the right to silence as a suspect must be exercised after he steps down from the presidential post."
A day earlier, Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea, a group of 475 conservative lawyers, argued in a statement, "If President Moon is found to have interfered in the Ulsan mayoral election, it is an impeachable offense." It condemned the current regime for trying to annihilate the rule of law.
A lawyer who belongs to Lawyers for Democratic Society, a group of progressive lawyers supportive of Moon, criticized him over the election meddling allegations.
"It is 'strange and wicked' that pro-democracy protesters of the past (who have taken power) are dreaming of dictatorship while prosecutors appear to fight back an anti-democracy force," she posted on a social networking service. "The person who must make a responsible remark about this surreal reality holds his lips tight, waiting for the public criticism to subside."
She added that the indictment was "obvious grounds for the impeachment and criminal punishment of the president."
Criticisms of the Moon administration are coming from other parts of his support base, too.
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, a progressive civic group, criticized the Justice Ministry's decision not to disclose the indictment, calling it "unconvincing." They said that "whether to disclose it or not is not a matter to be judged by a mere minister."
Dozens of anonymous judges reportedly criticized Cheong Wa Dae's rebuff of a search warrant in connection with the election-meddling investigations on an internal online bulletin board set up by a member of a group of pro-Moon judges.
The indictment says that presidential secretaries were mobilized to help Song Cheol-ho, Moon's 30-year associate, get elected as Ulsan mayor in June 2018. The word "president" was mentioned 35 times in the indictment.
It says that, upon an order from Cheong Wa Dae, police investigated allegations surrounding Song's election rival, then Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon of the opposition party, to pour cold water on Kim's approval rating as the front-runner.
Police updated Cheong Wa Dae on the investigations on 21 occasions, including six times to the state affairs planning and monitoring office, which reports directly to the president. The president could hardly be unaware of the situation.
Presidential secretaries did Song a favor by working out policies that hampered Kim's election pledges while effectively backing up his campaign promises. Cheong Wa Dae even attempted to discourage one of Song's intraparty competitors from running in the party primary by offering a position in public office in return for giving up in the nomination race.
With news media reporting on this, the president broke up the investigation teams through a newly appointed justice minister, who then refused to disclose the indictment. Nevertheless, criticism has not subsided.
But Moon says nothing about this situation, even after the full text of the indictment was revealed. He seems determined to pretend to be indifferent. Probably he thinks that as long as the ruling party wins the general election, he will be able to brush all of the suspicions under the carpet, whatever critics say. The comment that he is exercising his right to silence does not sound like an exaggeration.
For more than a month, Cheong Wa Dae has refused to hand over the documents to the prosecution, which requested them according to a search warrant. The presidential secretary in charge of discipline in public offices has not resigned yet, even after being indicted for faking an internship certificate for the son of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.
The lawyer of Lawyers for Democratic Society, who lamented the surreal situation, posted: "The person (Moon) makes no response whatsoever. Is this country a monarchy or a constitutional monarchy?"
Moon must clarify his position directly.
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(5th LD) S. Korea remains vigilant against coronavirus, no new cases for 3rd straight day

China 's Hubei province -- the capital of which is Wuhan , where the outbreak started in December -- announced @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 in just over the previous 24 hours .
Japan reported its first death , @ @ @ @ @ Kong as the only countries outside of China where a person has died from the @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with minor edits in paras 8, 12, 17-19; CHANGES top photo)
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- No new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in South Korea for the third consecutive day on Friday, but health authorities remained vigilant to monitor how the outbreak is unfolding in two neighboring Asian countries.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus remains unchanged at 28, with seven of them having been released from hospitals after making full recoveries.
Another 21 patients currently being treated for the virus at hospitals are in stable condition, the health agency said. Only one of them is receiving oxygen therapy for pneumonia but is not in critical condition, it added.
The KCDC said the number of people who have tested negative for the virus reached 6,679 as of late Friday, sharply up from 6,134 earlier in the day. Another 535 are undergoing tests for possible infection.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, chief of the KCDC, said in a regular briefing that the authorities will closely monitor the situation as the virus is still spreading in China, and there are confirmed cases in Japan that had no epidemiological correlations.
Lotte Group employees in protective suits disinfect a traditional market in Songpa Ward in southeastern Seoul on Feb. 14, 2020, in this photo provided by the retail and trading giant. Many small-time merchants have raised concerns that COVID-19 fear is seriously hurting their businesses as fewer people leave their homes to shop. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
China's Hubei province -- the capital of which is Wuhan, where the outbreak started in December -- announced nearly 5,000 new cases for COVID-19 in just over the previous 24 hours. Japan reported its first death, joining the Philippines and Hong Kong as the only countries outside of China where a person has died from the coronavirus.
The authorities further said it is premature to judge whether a global epidemic is peaking, as the number of cases in mainland China spiked overnight.
"New cases in China increased after Hubei province revised its method for counting infections," said Kim Gang-lip, deputy head of the central disaster headquarters. The official claimed that while South Korea seems to be managing the virus, there are still many risks that need to be monitored closely.
Health authorities also said a fine of up to 3 million won (US$2,530) can be levied on those who have clearly violated protocols regarding self-quarantine, Kim said.
The comments came after reports that the country's 15th confirmed COVID-19 patient dined with a family member three days after he was diagnosed with the virus. The relative later became the 20th confirmed case.
Those who are under self-isolation measures are required to eat by themselves and must stay in isolation as much as possible, the KCDC said.
All South Koreans who are being held in two quarantine facilities south of Seoul after being evacuated from Wuhan on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 will be released from isolation this weekend as scheduled, although two of the 701 people are still being treated after being infected.
They all tested negative for the virus two consecutive times after staying in temporary accommodations for 14 days, the disease's known incubation period, the KCDC said.
Meanwhile, a one-year-old evacuee tested negative for the virus after showing a very mild fever, according to the agency. The infant is among the 147 people who were evacuated to South Korea on the third chartered flight.
South Korea has been beefing up its efforts to stem the spread of the virus. Starting Wednesday, strict quarantine screening has been enforced against entrants from Hong Kong and Macao, in addition to mainland China.
Passengers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are now required to use separate arrival counters at international airports across the country and must write a special quarantine report, filling out health questionnaires to check whether they have a fever or respiratory problems.
The government said 5,427 people were processed by separate counters on the first day, with 4,936 being checked on Thursday.
A total of 3,987 people from the regions downloaded a mobile self-diagnosis application on the first day alone so they can report their health status in real time to authorities. Health officials said others who have not downloaded the app will personally be contacted by local authorities to check on their health status.
The app requires all users to input whether or not they have a fever, cough or soar throat every day for up to two weeks.
A notice calling for students to refrain from unnecessary misunderstanding or fear of students, researchers and professors from China amid the coronavirus crisis is posted at the entrance to a library at Seoul National University in Seoul on Feb. 14, 2020. The notice carries the phrase "Wuhan Jiayou (cheer up), China Cheer up." (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--S. Korean, Canadian FMs agree on efforts to boost bilateral economic ties

The meeting was the first on the official schedule for Kang at the Munich Security Conference .
She is expected @ @ @ @ @ bilateral meetings , including one with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo .

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- The foreign ministers of South Korea and Canada agreed Friday to make efforts to expand bilateral economic cooperation and bolster exchanges of high-level officials.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Canadian counterpart Francois-Philippe Champagne held talks in Munich on the sidelines of a three-day security forum that opened Friday, according to the foreign ministry.
The top diplomats agreed to increase exchanges of high-level personnel and encourage the industrial sectors of both nations to promote cooperation in trade and investment.
The meeting was the first on the official schedule for Kang at the Munich Security Conference. She is expected to hold a series of bilateral meetings, including one with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Seoul's top diplomat also requested Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's participation in the second P4G summit to be hosted by South Korea in June.
P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, a public-private initiative to tackle climate change and other sustainable development challenges.
The foreign ministers also discussed the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and global responses to the spread of the new coronavirus, dubbed COVID-19, the government said.
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (R) and her Canadian counterpart Francois-Philippe Champagne shake hands ahead of their bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of a security forum in Munich on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(LEAD) N. Korean newspaper reports on spike in new coronavirus infections, death toll in China

In a separate article , the paper said that the Chinese authorities are beefing up efforts to stem the spread @ @ @ @ @ an additional 2,600 medical staff to Wuhan , the epicenter of the virus that has @ @ @ @ @ in China alone .

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 8-9)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper on Friday reported about a recent spike in new coronavirus infections and the death toll in China as Pyongyang is making an all-out effort to prevent the flow of the highly contagious virus from its neighboring country.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, carried a series of articles providing details on latest developments on the spread of the COVID-19 that originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
"China confirmed 15,152 new coronavirus infection on Wednesday alone with 254 people losing their lives," the paper said in an article.
In a separate article, the paper said that the Chinese authorities are beefing up efforts to stem the spread of the virus by deploying an additional 2,600 medical staff to Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus that has killed more than 1,500 people in China alone.
North Korea has not reported any confirmed infections but it has intensified preventive efforts by tightening borders with China and beefing up quarantine for those coming from the virus-hit neighboring country.
North Korea earlier extended the quarantine period for at-risk people from 15 days to 30 days, much longer than the 14 days presumed to be the incubation period of the virus.
Pyongyang recently said that it has dispatched around 500 workers to the country's border with China to help preventive efforts against the virus. It has also obligated citizens to wear face masks when using the subway in its capital city.
In a separate report, North Korea said it has published information booklets on the virus in a bid to prevent its outbreak.
The Health Education Institute, a propaganda organ in the country's public health sector, recently completed publishing the guidelines and will distribute the materials to factories, schools, hospitals and other facilities across the nation.
Experts worry that the North appears very vulnerable to such viruses as it lacks medical supplies and the infrastructure necessary to diagnose and treat people. Concerns are growing that once the virus enters the country, its spread could go out of control.
The United States voiced concerns about vulnerability of North Korean people, stressing its support for aid agencies seeking to help contain the spread of the deadly virus in the communist state.
"The United States is deeply concerned about the vulnerability of the North Korean people to a coronavirus outbreak," the State Department said in a press statement posted on its website Thursday.
"We strongly support and encourage the work of U.S. and international aid and health organizations to counter and contain the spread of coronavirus in the DPRK. The United States is ready and prepared to expeditiously facilitate the approval of assistance from these organizations," it added.
DPRK is the acronym of the North's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
North Korea announces an emergency measure to lengthen the quarantine period for people suspected of having been infected by the novel coronavirus from around 15 days at present to 30 days, in this news footage captured from the state-run Korean Central Television on Feb. 12, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Doosan Heavy 2019 net losses narrow on equity gains

Infracore posted improved annual results on strong sales of construction equipment engines in China and emerging markets , while Bobcat @ @ @ @ @ higher demand for construction equipment in the U.S. market , he said .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., South Korea's leading plant builder, said Friday its net losses sharply narrowed in 2019 from a year earlier helped by shareholding gains from its affiliates.
Net losses narrowed to 104.37 billion won (US$88 million) last year from 421.73 billion won a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing.
"Increased equity gains from Doosan Infracore and Doosan Bobcat helped reduce on-year net losses last year," a Doosan spokesman said over the phone.
Infracore posted improved annual results on strong sales of construction equipment engines in China and emerging markets, while Bobcat's earnings were helped by higher demand for construction equipment in the U.S. market, he said.
Operating profit rose 7.3 percent to 1.08 trillion won in 2019 from 1 trillion won a year earlier. Sales climbed 6.1 percent to 15.66 trillion won from 14.76 trillion won during the same period.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(4th LD) S. Korea remains vigilant against coronavirus, no new cases for 3rd straight day

(ATTN: UPDATES with the latest tally in 4th para and more info in 14th para; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- No new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in South Korea for the third consecutive day, but health authorities remain vigilant to monitor how the outbreak is unfolding in two neighboring Asian countries.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus remains unchanged at 28, with seven of them having been released from hospitals after making full recoveries.
Another 21 patients currently being treated for the virus at hospitals are in stable condition, the health agency said. Only one of them is receiving oxygen therapy for pneumonia but is not in critical condition, it added.
The KCDC said the number of people who have tested negative for the virus reached 6,679 as of late Friday, sharply up from 6,134 earlier in the day. Another 535 are undergoing tests for possible infection.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, chief of the KCDC, said in a regular briefing that the authorities will closely monitor the situation as the virus is still spreading in China, and there are confirmed cases in Japan that had no epidemiological correlations.
This photo provided by hypermarket chain operator Homeplus Co. shows disinfection work being done at one of its outlets on Jan. 14, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
China's Hubei province -- the capital of which is Wuhan, where the outbreak started in December -- announced nearly 5,000 new cases for COVID-19 in just over the previous 24 hours. Japan reported its first death, joining the Philippines and Hong Kong as the only countries outside of China where a person has died from the coronavirus.
The authorities further said it is premature to judge whether a global epidemic is peaking, as the number of cases in mainland China spiked overnight.
"New cases in China increased after Hubei province revised its method for counting infections," said Kim Gang-lip, deputy head of the central disaster headquarters.
Health authorities also said a fine of up to 3 million won (US$2,530) can be levied on those who have clearly violated protocols regarding self-quarantine, Kim said.
The comments came after reports that the country's 15th confirmed COVID-19 patient dined with a family member three days after he was diagnosed with the virus. The relative later became the 20th confirmed case.
Those who are under self-isolation measures are required to eat by themselves and must stay in isolation as much as possible, the KCDC said.
All of the 701 South Koreans who are being held in two quarantine facilities south of Seoul after being evacuated from Wuhan will be released from isolation this weekend as scheduled.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), gives a briefing on domestic coronavirus infections at the KCDC headquarters in Cheongju, 137 kilometers south of Seoul, on Feb. 14, 2020, as 28 people have contracted the virus, named COVID-19, in the country so far. No additional cases have been reported in the country since Feb. 11. (Yonhap)
They all tested negative for the virus two consecutive times after staying in temporary accommodations for 14 days, the disease's known incubation period, the KCDC said.
Meanwhile, a one-year-old evacuee tested negative for the virus after showing a very mild fever, according to the agency. The infant is among the 147 people who were evacuated to South Korea on the third chartered flight.
South Korea has been beefing up its efforts to stem the spread of the virus. Starting Wednesday, strict quarantine screening has been enforced against entrants from Hong Kong and Macao, in addition to mainland China.
Passengers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are now required to use separate arrival counters at international airports across the country and must write a special quarantine report, filling out health questionnaires to check whether they have a fever or respiratory problems.
A total of 2,700 people from the regions have so far downloaded a mobile application to report their health status every day, the authorities said. Others who have failed to download the app will personally be contacted by local authorities to check on their health status.
A notice calling for students to refrain from unnecessary misunderstanding or fear of students, researchers and professors from China amid the coronavirus crisis is posted at the entrance to a library at Seoul National University in Seoul on Feb. 14, 2020. The notice carries the phrase "Wuhan Jiayou (cheer up), China Cheer up." (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Hyundai Mobis names outside director for shareholders' rights

In an interview with Yonhap News Agency in October last year , Neumann said Elliott provided some of the right @ @ @ @ @ from his perspective , the U.S. fund looked like it was taking `` a very @ @ @ @ @ asked Hyundai Mobis to pay 2.5 trillion won ( US $ 2.1 billion ) in @ @ @ @ @ firm 's earnings results for 2018 .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Mobis Co., South Korea's biggest auto parts maker and a key affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, on Friday named an outside director dedicated to enhancing shareholder value.
Hyundai Mobis' board of directors has appointed financial expert Jang Young-woo, a former head of UBS financial firm in Seoul, as an outside director in charge of protecting shareholders' rights and interests, the company said in a statement.
His appointment is subject to approval at a shareholders meeting scheduled on March 18.
The board has reappointed Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman as executive director to help the carmaker eastablish a presence in the future mobility markets under his leadership, the statement said.
Hyundai Mobis, de facto holding company of the world's fifth-biggest carmaker, also extended the term of former Opel Chief Executive Karl-Thomas Neumann as an outside director by three years.
In March last year, the company invited Neumann and U.S. financial expert Brian D. Jones to join its board following a row with U.S. activist hedge fund Elliott Management over its dividend plans and board member appointments in 2018. Jones will serve as an outside director for two years to come.
Elliott's attacks made Hyundai Motor Group drop its attempt to overhaul its governance structure, a move that could help Chung Euisun take over the country's second-biggest conglomerate from his father, Chairman Chung Mong-koo.
In an interview with Yonhap News Agency in October last year, Neumann said Elliott provided some of the right influence and input, but from his perspective, the U.S. fund looked like it was taking "a very radical approach" given it asked Hyundai Mobis to pay 2.5 trillion won (US$2.1 billion) in dividends in 2019 for the firm's earnings results for 2018.
It was far higher than the combined 1.1 trillion won in dividends offered by the company in early 2019 for the following three years.
In January, Elliott reportedly sold all its stakes -- 2.9 percent of Hyundai Motor, 2.1 percent of Kia Motors and 2.6 percent of Hyundai Mobis -- 20 months after it purchased them for 1.05 trillion won,
On Friday, Hyundai Mobis' board agreed to adopt the electronic voting system at a shareholders' meeting to give all shareholders the rights to vote on the company's management decisions.
In other plans to boost shareholder value, the country's biggest auto parts maker plans to buy back 330 billion won worth of treasury shares this year and cancel 62.5 billion won worth of stocks.
Last year, Hyundai Mobis announced it will pay out dividends, buy back shares and cancel stocks that are valued at overall 2.6 trillion won for three years to come.
For 2019, its net profit jumped 22 percent on-year to 2.29 trillion won from 1.89 trillion won. It earns 90 percent of its overall auto parts sales from Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)