yna--2020-04-04--U.S. senators urge Trump administration to strengthen N.K. sanctions enforcement

`` Yet , U.S. engagement and leadership at the United Nations regarding sanctions violations and the pace of unilateral U.S. @ @ @ @ @ sanctions has diminished considerably .
Therefore , we urge you to continue to make clear @ @ @ @ @ United States policy remains to seek denuclearization of the DPRK , '' it added , @ @ @ @ @ its official name , the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea .

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, April 3 (Yonhap) -- Two U.S. senators have urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to step up enforcement of sanctions on North Korea.
In a letter dated March 31, Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) said North Korea poses a "growing threat" amid stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Gardner, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, asked that the secretaries "urgently prioritize resources" to strengthen enforcement of U.S. and U.N. sanctions on North Korea while ensuring that humanitarian aid can reach the North Korean people.
This EPA file photo shows Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ). (Yonhap)
"We note with regret that nearly two years since Trump-Kim 'summit diplomacy' began, North Korea continues to refuse to enter working level talks with the United States while nevertheless continuing to test missiles and produce fissile material," said the letter posted on the senators' respective websites.
"Yet, U.S. engagement and leadership at the United Nations regarding sanctions violations and the pace of unilateral U.S. designations of entities violating DPRK sanctions has diminished considerably. Therefore, we urge you to continue to make clear that the ultimate objective of United States policy remains to seek denuclearization of the DPRK," it added, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The senators said the Treasury's recent designation of two Chinese actors in connection with North Korea's malicious cyber-related activity was a positive step but "not commensurate" with the scale of Pyongyang's cyber-enabled sanctions evasion.
The two called for regular designations that would deter increasingly sophisticated cyber-crime and sanctions evasion activities.
This AFP file photo shows Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO). (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, the senators also said they were "disturbed" by news reports that an upcoming report by a panel of experts to the U.N. Security Council North Korea sanctions committee points to North Korea's illegal coal exports and refined petroleum imports via ship-to-ship transfers between North Korean-flagged vessels and Chinese barges.
"This systematic facilitation of illegal transactions, in violation of international law, must be addressed in order for U.N. sanctions to achieve their purpose," the letter said. "The United States cannot continue to stand silent -- or be complicit -- as the sanctions regime erodes."
Washington should increase pressure on China and Russia, including through secondary sanctions if necessary, to add pressure on North Korea to negotiate its denuclearization, the senators said.
They urged the secretaries to also work with the Department of Justice to impose criminal penalties against North Korea's enablers in China and elsewhere.
On North Korea's repeated short-range missile launches, the senators said the administration was sending a "dangerous signal" by doing "little to hold North Korea to account."
"Without the administration's strong and continued condemnation of these launches and additional deterrent
measures from the United States and with our allies and partners, North Korea will continue to
expand its ballistic missile capabilities," they wrote.
"Permitting further short- and medium-range testing enables the continued development of technologies required for long-range missile systems which are detrimental to U.S national security and that of our allies."
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-04-03--(4th LD) S. Korea's virus infections top 10,000 as cluster, imported cases rise

The 86 new cases of COVID-19 , detected Thursday and slightly down from 89 new cases a day earlier , @ @ @ @ @ cases to 10,062 and marked the 22nd consecutive day that new infections have hovered around @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) .

(ATTN: ADDS latest info in 5th paras)
SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's coronavirus cases topped 10,000 on Friday amid a slowdown in new infections, but Seoul and the surrounding areas reported a continued rise in virus infections due to a steady rise in mass infections and imported cases.
The 86 new cases of COVID-19, detected Thursday and slightly down from 89 new cases a day earlier, brought the country's total cases to 10,062 and marked the 22nd consecutive day that new infections have hovered around 100 or fewer additional cases, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has surpassed 10,000 since the coronavirus was first detected in the country on Jan. 20.
The country's death toll rose by five to 174, with more than half of fatalities being patients aged 80 or older, the KCDC said.
Three more deaths were reported Friday, including a doctor who practiced in the southeastern city of Daegu, but they have not yet been added to the official tally.
A group of South Koreans arrives at Incheon airport, west of Seoul, on April 3, 2020, as they return home from new coronavirus-hit Morocco on a special flight that the North African nation arranged to transport medical items from South Korea. The 105 evacuees will be put under a 14-day isolation. (Yonhap)
A total of 42 additional cases were reported in Seoul and the surrounding region that includes Gyeonggi Province and the western port city of Incheon, bringing the total to 1,119 in the area, it said.
The number of daily new cases in the metropolitan area has continued to increase mainly due to cluster infections at major general hospitals and churches and imported cases.
Seoul reported 18 new cases, bringing the total to 506, partly due to cluster transmission at a church in the Guro district that has emerged as a hot spot of infections in the capital city. At least 37 people from the church have tested positive for the virus.
Gyeonggi Province reported 23 additional COVID-19 cases after a total of 26 people, up five from a day earlier, tested positive for the virus at Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital.
Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the nation's two worst-affected regions, reported nine and five new cases, respectively, the KCDC said. The total number of cases reported in Daegu and the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province reached 6,734 and 1,309, respectively.
It marked the first time in 45 days that Daegu, the epicenter of the outbreak here, had reported a single-digit increase in confirmed cases.
Of the 86 new infections, 38 were imported cases, according to the KCDC. Twenty-two of them were detected at quarantine checkpoints.
The country's total number of imported cases increased to 647, the KCDC said. Of them, 595 are South Korean nationals and 52 are foreigners.
This photo, provided by the Seoul city government, shows taxi drivers in protective gear who have been exclusively transporting passengers from abroad at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, since March 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
A total of 5,626 people entered South Korea on Thursday, with more than 70 percent of them South Korean nationals, the KCDC said. It marked the first time the number of entrants was below 6,000.
More than 4,200 South Korean nationals have returned home from 31 countries amid the virus pandemic. About 500 Koreans returned from Italy earlier this week.
Among around 200 returnees from Italy on the second chartered flight Thursday, 20 had symptoms of the virus, with one of them testing positive, the KCDC said.
To stem new coronavirus cases coming from abroad, South Korea has required all arrivals to self-quarantine for two weeks since Wednesday.
Visitors without local addresses are to stay in government-designated facilities at their own expense. All people in isolation must install a mobile app that allows authorities to monitor them in real time and ensure they are following the rules.
"Entrants who test positive for the virus will be transferred to government-designated facilities or hospitals for the treatment and those who test negative will be put under self-isolation for 14 days," said KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong.
Earlier in the day, a local doctor infected with COVID-19 died, marking the first death of a medical worker from the virus.
The 59-year-old medical practitioner in Daegu was confirmed to have the virus on March 19 and had been undergoing treatment at a hospital there, according to the city's health authorities.
"There should be more studies conducted to determine the exact cause of his death," Jeong said, adding that he might have contracted the illness while treating a COVID-19 patient at his clinic.
A medical worker looks tired after completing a shift for the service of people infected with the new coronavirus at a hospital in the southeastern city of Daegu, the epicenter of South Korea's COVID-19 virus outbreak, on April 3, 2020.
In the face of community spread of the virus, South Korea has been also pushing for an extensive 15-day social distancing campaign since March 22, which ends Sunday.
Citizens are strongly urged to stay home, except for essential needs or jobs. The government has also strongly recommended people suspend religious gatherings, indoor sports activities, and visits to nightclubs and other entertainment venues.
"It is important that people continue to practice intensive social distancing throughout the weekend and avoid gatherings at closed locations," Yoon Tae-ho, director general for public health policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said in a briefing.
The KCDC also cautioned against public saunas and bathhouses, saying that people should keep a distance from others at the locations.
On Tuesday, the country pushed back the new school year to April 9, with the introduction of online classes. The opening of kindergartens and child care centers has been delayed indefinitely.
The KCDC said 193 more people have fully recovered and been released from quarantine, bringing the total number of cured people to 6,021.
As of Thursday, 3,867 were receiving treatment, down from 3,979 the previous day, according to the KCDC.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-03--N.K. propaganda outlet calls recent launches 'self-defensive'

`` The more the South Korean military misleads the public over our self-defensive exercises , the more its identity as @ @ @ @ @ the situation on the Korean Peninsula will be highlighted , '' he said .

SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean propaganda outlet lashed out at South Korea on Friday for what it called an attempt to mislead the public over its recent "self-defensive" firing drills.
North Korea fired two projectiles, which Seoul said were short-range ballistic missiles, toward the East Sea on Sunday, marking the fourth major weapons test this year. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches were "very inappropriate" and called for an immediate halt.
In an interview with Uriminzokkiri TV, an editor of the North's main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, sharply criticized the South Korean military.
"The more the South Korean military misleads the public over our self-defensive exercises, the more its identity as the main culprit who aggravated the situation on the Korean Peninsula will be highlighted," he said.
Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, issued a statement calling President Moon Jae-in's office "gangster-like" and "foolish" for complaining about Pyongyang's projectile launches.
She said the firings were an "action for self-defense" that was "not aimed to threaten anybody."
This photo, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 30, 2020, shows the North testing "super-large" multiple rocket launchers the previous day. The report came one day after South Korea's military said the North fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-03--(LEAD) S. Korea, Germany vow cooperation in fighting coronavirus

`` The German government , led by the chancellor 's office , has expressed hope for the dispatch of a @ @ @ @ @ it could look at the Korean situation and experience here as quickly as possible , @ @ @ @ @ said .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with meeting results; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea shared its experience in fighting the coronavirus pandemic with Germany via a teleconference on Friday, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
During the two-hour session, South Korean officials explained the country's anti-virus program, characterized by fast tracking, testing, quarantine and treatment, on the back of its advanced medical and communications infrastructure.
The nation's containment efforts have recently gained international recognition due to a slowdown in new COVID-19 cases and a relatively low fatality rate.
The officials stressed that Seoul is willing to share its experience and successful response model with the international community.
German officials expressed interest in various technologies used by South Korea, and highly evaluated its effective handling of the virus while balancing protection of privacy and quarantine, according to the ministry.
"The two sides shared the understanding on the seriousness of the current situation and vowed to strengthen joint efforts against COVID-19 by sharing experiences and cooperating in responses," the ministry said in a release.
First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young led Seoul's delegation for the video-linked session, while the German side was headed by a senior foreign policy aide to the chancellor.
Germany had wanted to send a delegation to take a first-hand look at South Korea's containment efforts.
"The German government, led by the chancellor's office, has expressed hope for the dispatch of a delegation. It hoped that it could look at the Korean situation and experience here as quickly as possible," a ministry official earlier said.
"But we have decided to first hold the videoconference as (South Korea's) quarantine authorities are overwhelmed now," he added.
As of Friday, the total number of coronavirus infections in South Korea was tallied at 10,062, with 174 deaths. As of Thursday, Germany's COVID-19 caseload stood at 80,499, with 990 deaths, according to a media report.
A tourist from Europe undergoes a COVID-19 test at a temporary walk-through test center outside Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on March 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-03--S. Korean diplomat charged with sexual assault in New Zealand: report

The diplomat is suspected of assaulting a staff member at the South Korean Embassy in Wellington three times in late @ @ @ @ @ New Zealand Herald .
The warrant was issued on Feb. 28 .

SEOUL, April 3 (Yonhap) -- A New Zealand court has issued an arrest warrant for a South Korean diplomat on charges of sexual assault, a media report said Friday.
The diplomat is suspected of assaulting a staff member at the South Korean Embassy in Wellington three times in late 2017, according to the New Zealand Herald. The warrant was issued on Feb. 28.
The diplomat denied any wrongdoing during the embassy's internal probe, the report said.
He left the embassy in 2018 and is now working as consul general in an Asian country.
Officials at the embassy in Wellington said Seoul's foreign ministry has disciplined him with reduced pay, according to the report.
The foreign ministry declined to confirm the allegations against the diplomat, citing privacy reasons.
A foreign ministry official said the government decided not to cooperate with the New Zealand authorities' request for arrest, considering diplomatic immunity and other circumstances.
"Yet we want to stress that the foreign ministry is strictly implementing a no-tolerance principle for sexual crimes and misdeeds," the official said.
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--Moon calls on religious groups to comply with extended social distancing drive

`` We are at a critical juncture with the new coronavirus outbreak , either going into stable condition or spreading @ @ @ @ @ you to join us in social distancing by holding online worship services and family worship @ @ @ @ @ Moon said in a Facebook post .

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in called Saturday for religious groups to comply with the extended nationwide social distancing drive by avoiding face-to-face worship services so as to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.
The government announced earlier in the day the continuation of the aggressive social distancing campaign for another two weeks, until April 19, amid few signs of the virus outbreak letting up.
"We are at a critical juncture with the new coronavirus outbreak, either going into stable condition or spreading again. We earnestly ask you to join us in social distancing by holding online worship services and family worship at this time," Moon said in a Facebook post.
Health authorities have particularly warned against mass gatherings, which can easily cause a cluster infection, as in the cases of a minor religious sect in the southern city of Daegu and of a few other churches.
Moon cited cluster infections as a key factor that prevents the overall curve from moving downwards, saying that religious gatherings are susceptible to a cluster outbreak.
"The reason why the number of newly confirmed patients dropped one day and went up again the next is because there was a cluster infection at that time," he said.
To overcome the pandemic, Moon reinforced the call to take part in the social distancing drive.
"We must stop the cluster infection at all costs. If the same things keep happening again, not only the medical personnel but the whole country will be exhausted."
He expressed thanks to major Catholic and Buddhist communities, such as the Jogye Order of the Korean Buddhism and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul, for suspending all worship services. He also thanked many Protestant churches for their decisions to hold their Easter services online.
On Saturday, South Korea's infection caseload reached 10,156, with 177 deaths.
This image shows the Facebook post by President Moon Jae-in calling for religious groups to join the extended social distancing drive to stem the COVID-19 outbreak, on April 4, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--(LEAD) American citizen working for USFK tests positive for coronavirus, total at 18

The civilian contractor working at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek , some 70 kilometers south of Seoul , is currently @ @ @ @ @ residence , according to USFK .
He last visited the base on Wednesday , and @ @ @ @ @ U.S. authorities are conducting contact tracing to determine whether anyone else may have been exposed @ @ @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead with latest info; ADDS more details in paras 2-4)
SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- An American employee of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) tested positive for the coronavirus Saturday, bringing the total number of USFK-related infections to 18, the military said.
The civilian contractor working at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, is currently in isolation at his off-base residence, according to USFK. He last visited the base on Wednesday, and the South Korean and the U.S. authorities are conducting contact tracing to determine whether anyone else may have been exposed, USFK said.
It marked the second straight day that a COVID-19 case was confirmed at the air base near Camp Humphreys, where the USFK's headquarters is located.
After reporting the first patient on Friday, USFK shut down part of the Osan base, as the military brought its Health Protection Condition Levels (HPCON) a notch higher to "Charlie Plus" or "C+" for the base.
Across the peninsula, the military remains at a level of "high" risk, and USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams declared a public health emergency to issue related guidance and enforce compliance.
Seen here is a gate of the U.S. base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said in a tweet on March 8, 2020, that the U.S. Department of the Army has ordered its soldiers and their families to stop movement to and from South Korea amid concerns over the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--U.S. flies spy plane over Korean Peninsula after N.K. missile launches

This type of aircraft has been detected often here , with the last known flight being made early last month @ @ @ @ @ types of spy planes .
On Sunday and Tuesday , the Navy 's EP-3E was @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. surveillance aircraft has flown over South Korea, an aviation tracker said Saturday, on an apparent mission to monitor North Korea following its successive major weapons tests.
The U.S. Air Force's RC-135W Rivet Joint was spotted in skies above Gyeonggi Province near the capital city of Seoul and the eastern province of Gangwon, Aircraft Spots tweeted.
This type of aircraft has been detected often here, with the last known flight being made early last month, along with several other types of spy planes. On Sunday and Tuesday, the Navy's EP-3E was spotted over the peninsula.
Their operations came as North Korea resumed missile launches in March after a four-month hiatus. The latest and fourth round so far this year took place on March 28, when it fired two short-range projectiles from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan toward the East Sea.
The communist country has moved to beef up self-defense capabilities amid stalled denuclearization talks with the U.S.
On Monday, North Korea said it has no interest in dialogue and pledged to go its own way in protest against U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's call for continued international pressure on Pyongyang.
This image, captured from the website of the U.S. Air Force, shows a RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance plane. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--(2nd LD) S. Korea reports 94 more coronavirus infection cases, total now at 10,156

Visitors without a local address are allowed to stay in government-designated facilities at their own expense .
All people in @ @ @ @ @ app that allows authorities to monitor them in real time and ensure they are following @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional information, reports of government extending its social distancing campaign in paras 15-24)
SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 94 more cases of new coronavirus infections Saturday, one day after its total breached the 10,000 mark.
The 94 additional cases put the total at 10,156, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The country's death toll came to 177, with three more coronavirus deaths added Friday.
More than half of all fatalities here so far have involved patients aged 80 years or older, according to the KCDC.
Of 94 new cases, 27 were reported in the southeastern city of Daegu, which became the epicenter of the virus following a mass infection of people linked to a church of the Shincheonji religious sect in February.
So far, 6,761 people have been diagnosed with the respiratory disease in the city located some 300 kilometers from Seoul, with an additional 1,310 people diagnosed with the virus in the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province.
Seoul saw its total infection cases rise by 22 to 528 on Friday, with Gyeonggi Province surrounding the capital city also reporting 23 new cases, bringing its total to 562.
The country also continued to see a rise in the number of imported cases, with 41 new infection cases detected in people coming from abroad.
The total number of imported cases now stands at 688, according to the KCDC. Of them, 57 were foreigners.
South Korea enhanced its screening of people arriving from other countries amid a steady increase in the number of imported cases.
It has since Wednesday asked all those arriving from other countries to place themselves under two-week self-quarantine.
Visitors without a local address are allowed to stay in government-designated facilities at their own expense. All people in isolation must install a mobile app that allows authorities to monitor them in real time and ensure they are following the rules.
As of Saturday, South Korea has clinically tested 455,032 people for COVID-19.
Of the total 10,156 diagnosed, 6,325 people have so far been released after full recoveries, up 304 from Friday, according to the KCDC.
Forty-nine virus patients were in critical condition as of Saturday, while 31 others were in "serious" condition, according to the KCDC.
The center said it has added smokers to the list of high-risk groups in dealing with the respiratory disease.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (2nd from R) speaks in a meeting held in Seoul on April 4, 2020, to discuss government measures against the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, the government said it has decided to extend its social distancing drive for another two weeks until April 19.
"The second social distancing campaign seeks to enhance screening of people arriving from overseas countries while better managing high-risk facilities such as nursing homes, mental hospitals and churches," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told a press briefing.
The government-initiated campaign was first introduced on March 22. It prohibits mass gatherings while also advising people to voluntarily keep their distance from others whenever possible.
As of Saturday, 82.7 percent of all infection cases here were related to cluster infections, according to the KCDC.
"We have no choice but to continue an intense social distancing drive for some time in the future," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said earlier in a government meeting that led to the two-week extension of the social distancing drive.
The government postponed the start of the new school year for a third time this week.
Students in grades 9 and 12 will return to school Thursday but only via online classes. The rest will follow suit on April 16, also through online classes.
"It is better to prevent infection than being cured after infection, and enduring the necessary cost is better than having to face unendurable chaos," the prime minister has said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--USFK reports another virus case, total at 18

After reporting the first patient on Friday , USFK shut down part of the Osan base , as the military @ @ @ @ @ Levels ( HPCON ) a notch higher to `` Charlie Plus '' or `` C+ @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) reported another coronavirus case from its air base in the city of Pyeongtaek on Saturday, bringing the total number of USFK-related infections to 18.
It marked the second straight day that a COVID-19 case was confirmed at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, near Camp Humphreys, where the USFK's headquarters is located, USFK said in a Facebook post.
Other details were not immediately available.
"Contact tracing and thorough cleaning are occurring now," it noted.
After reporting the first patient on Friday, USFK shut down part of the Osan base, as the military brought its Health Protection Condition Levels (HPCON) a notch higher to "Charlie Plus" or "C+" for the base.
Across the peninsula, the military remains at a level of "high" risk, and USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams declared a public health emergency to issue related guidance and enforce compliance.
Seen here is a gate of the U.S. base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said in a tweet on March 8, 2020, that the U.S. Department of the Army has ordered its soldiers and their families to stop movement to and from South Korea amid concerns over the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--(2nd LD) Seoul extends social distancing drive for 2 weeks amid continued spread of virus

`` The country has maintained a social distancing drive since its first COVID-19 case , and as the result of @ @ @ @ @ weeks before that was aimed at enabling students to return to school , the country @ @ @ @ @ environment from infection than those of the United States or Europe , '' Prime Minister @ @ @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS 11th para to correct that the number of daily infections in South Korea peaked late February, instead of mid-March as previously sent; ADDS photos)
SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Saturday decided to extend its social distancing campaign for another two weeks amid a slowing but still continuing spread of the new coronavirus.
The decision came in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who insisted the country had no choice but to maintain a high-level social distancing drive "for some time."
"We have no choice but to continue an intense social distancing drive for some time in the future," the prime minister said in the meeting held earlier in Seoul.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo (L) speaks in a press briefing held in Seoul on April 4, 2020, to explain the outcome of a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun that decided to extend the government's social distancing campaign for another two weeks until April 19 against the spread of the new coronavirus that has so far infected 10,156 people in South Korea. (Yonhap)
People have been advised to keep a social distance of at least 2 meters from each other since South Korea reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Jan. 20.
The government intensified the drive two weeks earlier, forcing all major public facilities, including schools and private gyms, to shut down at least until this Sunday to help prevent clusters of infections.
Under the renewed government drive, the people will be advised to avoid public gatherings, including church services, until at least April 19.
"The country has maintained a social distancing drive since its first COVID-19 case, and as the result of an enhanced drive from two weeks before that was aimed at enabling students to return to school, the country now has a much safer environment from infection than those of the United States or Europe," Prime Minister Chung said earlier.
The government insisted the effectiveness of social distancing in preventing infection "has clearly been confirmed."
However, "the condition is still very serious, so we cannot but extend the social distancing campaign," it said.
It added the number of daily new infection cases needed to drop to below 50 for it to consider an end to the social distancing drive.
The number of daily infection cases has recently remained at around 100 after peaking at 813 on Feb. 29.
In this photo, taken April 4, 2020, job applicants are seen taking a test in an open field in Ansan, 40 kilometers south of Seoul, amid the government's social distancing campaign that strongly advises people to avoid crowds whenever possible. (Yonhap)
South Korea confirmed 94 new infection cases on Friday to put its total at 10,156. The country reported its first confirmed case on Jan. 20.
"It is better to prevent infection than being cured after infection, and enduring the necessary cost is better than having to face unendurable chaos," the prime minister said.
The government has three times pushed back the start of the new school year, originally set to start March 2.
Students will begin to return to school on Thursday, but only through online classes.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

1864 -- Heungseon Daewongun , father of King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty , becomes de facto ruler as his @ @ @ @ @ 12 .
He implemented ambitious reform measures , purging certain families from top posts that @ @ @ @ @ long time and replacing them with non-partisan officials .
He also removed shrines nationwide that @ @ @ @ @ and ancestral worship in local communities but were often used as bases for partisan movements @ @ @ @ @ only 47 considered as exemplary academic towers survived .
He promoted an isolation policy towards @ @ @ @ @ opposed by his daughter-in-law Empress Myeongseong .
Criticism of his reform measures continued , and @ @ @ @ @ power in 1873 .
He later returned to power but only briefly .

April 5
1860 -- Choi Je-u establishes Donghak (eastern studies), an indigenous Korean religion that integrated ideas of Christianity, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, as well as promoting humanitarian values.
It also developed into a movement of farmers against the feudal system and corrupt bureaucrats of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The movement started in South Jeolla Province as the rural economy deteriorated from heavy taxes and the removal of large amounts of rice from the country by the Japanese. Donghak opposed the intrusion of Western culture and promoted Korean theories, such as "pungsu," divination based on topography, and "innaecheon," a belief that an individual is equal to heaven. Choi was later executed on charges of deceiving the public with false religious theories.
1864 -- Heungseon Daewongun, father of King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty, becomes de facto ruler as his son takes power at age 12. He implemented ambitious reform measures, purging certain families from top posts that they had occupied for a long time and replacing them with non-partisan officials. He also removed shrines nationwide that had been built for education and ancestral worship in local communities but were often used as bases for partisan movements. Among 600 shrines, only 47 considered as exemplary academic towers survived. He promoted an isolation policy towards Western countries, which was opposed by his daughter-in-law Empress Myeongseong. Criticism of his reform measures continued, and he was driven out of power in 1873. He later returned to power but only briefly.
1949 -- Arbor Day is established in South Korea.
1961 -- South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Greece.
2009 -- North Korea fires a long-range rocket, which it says carries the "communications satellite Kwangmyongsong-2." The North claimed the satellite successfully entered into orbit.
But South Korea and the United States said that the North failed to put the satellite into orbit after its three-stage rocket, along with its payload, fell into the Pacific Ocean.
2018 -- An F-15K Slam Eagle crashes in Chilgok, North Gyeongsang Province, on its way back to the Daegu Air Base after an hourlong mission, killing the two pilots. It was the first crash involving the fighter jet since 2006.
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--(LEAD) Seoul extends social distancing drive for 2 weeks amid continued spread of virus

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead to highlight 2-week extension of social distancing campaign; UPDATES with more details, minor changes throughout)
SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Saturday decided to extend its social distancing campaign for another two weeks amid a slowing but still continuing spread of the new coronavirus.
The decision came in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who insisted the country had no choice but to maintain a high-level social distancing drive "for some time."
"We have no choice but to continue an intense social distancing drive for some time in the future," the prime minister said in the meeting held earlier in Seoul.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) enters the venue of a meeting in Seoul on April 4, 2020, to discuss government steps against the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Yonhap)
People have been advised to keep a social distance of at least 2 meters from each other since South Korea reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Jan. 20.
The government intensified the drive two weeks earlier, forcing all major public facilities, including schools and private gyms, to shut down at least until this Sunday to help prevent clusters of infections.
Under the renewed government drive, the people will be advised to avoid public gatherings, including church services, until at least April 19.
"The country has maintained a social distancing drive since its first COVID-19 case, and as the result of an enhanced drive from two weeks before that was aimed at enabling students to return to school, the country now has a much safer environment from infection than those of the United States or Europe," Prime Minister Chung said earlier.
The government insisted the effectiveness of social distancing in preventing infection "has clearly been confirmed."
However, "the condition is still very serious, so we cannot but extend the social distancing campaign," it said.
It added the number of daily new infection cases needed to drop to below 50 for it to consider an end to the social distancing drive.
The number of daily infection cases has recently remained at around 100 after peaking at over 800 in mid-March.
South Korea confirmed 94 new infection cases on Friday to put its total at 10,156. The country reported its first confirmed case on Jan. 20.
"It is better to prevent infection than being cured after infection, and enduring the necessary cost is better than having to face unendurable chaos," the prime minister said.
The government has three times pushed back the start of the new school year, originally set to start March 2.
Students will begin to return to school on Thursday, but only through online classes.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--(URGENT) Gov't extends social distancing campaign for 2 weeks until April 19

(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--2020-04-04--(LEAD) S. Korea reports 94 more coronavirus infection cases, total now at 10,156

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details, additional information in paras 9, 15-20; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 94 more cases of new coronavirus infections Saturday, one day after its total breached the 10,000 mark.
The 94 additional cases put the total at 10,156, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The country's death toll came to 177, with three more coronavirus deaths added Friday.
More than half of all fatalities here so far have involved patients aged 80 years or older, according to the KCDC.
Of 94 new cases, 27 were reported in the southeastern city of Daegu, which became the epicenter of the virus following a mass infection of people linked to a church of the Shincheonji religious sect in February.
So far, 6,761 people have been diagnosed with the respiratory disease in the city located some 300 kilometers from Seoul, with an additional 1,310 people diagnosed with the virus in the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province.
Seoul saw its total infection cases rise by 22 to 528 on Friday, with Gyeonggi Province surrounding the capital city also reporting 23 new cases, bringing its total to 562.
The country also continued to see a rise in the number of imported cases, with 41 new infection cases detected in people coming from abroad.
The total number of imported cases now stands at 688, according to the KCDC. Of them, 57 were foreigners.
South Korea enhanced its screening of people arriving from other countries amid a steady increase in the number of imported cases.
It has since Wednesday asked all those arriving from other countries to place themselves under two-week self-quarantine.
Visitors without a local address are allowed to stay in government-designated facilities at their own expense. All people in isolation must install a mobile app that allows authorities to monitor them in real time and ensure they are following the rules.
As of Saturday, South Korea has clinically tested 455,032 people for COVID-19.
Of the total 10,156 diagnosed, 6,325 people have so far been released after full recoveries, up 304 from Friday, according to the KCDC.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (2nd from R) speaks in a meeting held in Seoul on April 4, 2020, to discuss government measures against the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Amid a steady decline in the number of daily infection cases, Seoul was expected to extend its social distancing drive that has forced all major public facilities to shut down since March 22.
"We have no choice but to continue an intense social distancing drive for some time in the future," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a meeting held earlier in the day to discuss measures against the new coronavirus outbreak.
The government has three times postponed the start of the new school year to prevent mass infections in schools.
The social distancing campaign prohibits all mass gatherings, including church services, while also advising people to voluntarily keep their distance from others by staying home unless necessary.
"It is better to prevent infection than being cured after infection, and enduring the necessary cost is better than having to face unendurable chaos," the prime minister said.
Details of the latest disease prevention measures were set to be released later in the day.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--S. Korea reports 94 more coronavirus infection cases, total now at 10,156

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 94 more cases of new coronavirus infections Saturday, one day after its total breached the 10,000 mark.
The 94 additional cases put the total at 10,156, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The country's death toll came to 177, with three more coronavirus deaths added Friday.
More than half of all fatalities here so far have involved patients aged 80 years or older, according to the KCDC.
Of 94 new cases, 27 were reported in the southeastern city of Daegu, which became the epicenter of the virus following a mass infection of people linked to a church of the Shincheonji religious sect in February.
So far, 6,761 people have been diagnosed with the respiratory disease in the city located some 300 kilometers from Seoul, with an additional 1,310 people diagnosed with the virus in the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province.
Seoul saw its total infection cases rise by 22 to 528 on Friday, with Gyeonggi Province surrounding the capital city also reporting 23 new cases, bringing its total to 562.
The country also continued to see a rise in the number of imported cases, with 41 new infection cases detected in people coming from abroad.
The total number of imported cases now stands at 688, according to the KCDC.
South Korea has enhanced its screening of people arriving from other countries amid a steady increase in the number of imported cases.
It has since Wednesday asked all those arriving from other countries to place themselves under two-week self-quarantine.
Visitors without a local address are allowed to stay in government-designated facilities at their own expense. All people in isolation must install a mobile app that allows authorities to monitor them in real time and ensure they are following the rules.
As of Saturday, South Korea has clinically tested 455,032 people for COVID-19.
Of the total 10,156 diagnosed, 6,325 people have so far been released after full recoveries, up 304 from Friday, according to the KCDC.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--(URGENT) S. Korea releases 304 coronavirus patients after full recovery, total cured people at 6,325


yna--2020-04-04--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 3 more coronavirus fatalities, death toll at 177


yna--2020-04-04--(URGENT) S. Korea adds 94 more cases to new coronavirus outbreak, total now at 10,156


yna--2020-04-04--Popular spring blossom festivals canceled over coronavirus fears

It has closed off the road , the main venue of the festival behind the National Assembly Building in Yeouido @ @ @ @ @ .
Visitors are banned from entering the site until April 10 , and vehicles until @ @ @

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- Streets and villages famous for spring blossom festivals have been blocked or shut down for the coming weeks as part of a nationwide social distancing campaign in the midst of the protracted novel coronavirus outbreak.
Yeongdeungpo District in western Seoul has decided to cancel the annual Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival this year, one of the most well-known flower festivals in Seoul.
People enjoy cherry blossoms on Yeouido in Seoul on April 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
It has closed off the road, the main venue of the festival behind the National Assembly Building in Yeouido, for about a week. Visitors are banned from entering the site until April 10, and vehicles until April 11.
Public bus stops on the street will be also closed for this weekend, while parking lots of Yeouido Hangang Park will be barricaded during the weekend.
Officials said they took the precautionary steps against possible mass infections of COVID-19 as the area with beautiful flowers in full blossom attracts a number of people every spring.
More than 5.2 million people visited the area to enjoy cherry blossoms last year.
Seokchon Lake Park in Songpa Ward in eastern Seoul will be shut down until April 12, while walking trails by Yangjaecheon, a stream that flows through the southern part of Seoul, will be barred up for the weekend.
At the same time, provincial governments have been moving swiftly to close off tourists attractions and cancel spring festivals.
On the southern resort island of Jeju, rape flowers on central Noksan Road will be plowed up earlier than annually scheduled to prevent mass visiting by tourists.
The road is one of the most beautiful scenic roads in the country, with massive rape flowers and cherry blossoms lining the 10 kilometer road.
About 20 spring festivals have been canceled and 66 events have been put off since February on Jeju Island alone, according to the government of Jeju.
This undated file photo shows Noksan Road on Jeju Island. (Yonhap)
Samcheok city on the east coast will also remove a rape flower field to prevent further infection in the region.
It made the decision because a number of tourists are still coming to enjoy the flowers despite the cancellation of the blossom festival in the region.
The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in South Korea topped 10,000 on Friday. The government has kept asking its people to stay at home and avoid public gatherings.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--S. Korean stocks likely to see volatile sessions next week

The analyst highlighted the need for additional stimulus measures , saying the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak may expand down @ @ @ @ @ cut in exports to the U.S. and Europe , which have become the new epicenters @ @ @ @ @ originated in China late last year .

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks are expected to remain range-bound next week but begin to show upward movements on first quarter earnings and global efforts to minimize the fallout from the new coronavirus outbreak, analysts said Saturday.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 1,725.44 on Friday, up 7.71 points, or 0.4 percent, from a week earlier.
The index plunged by more than 4 percent on Wednesday as foreign investors continued massive selling of local shares.
Foreigners remained net sellers all throughout the week and for 22 consecutive sessions since March 5.
They dumped a net 1.99 trillion won (US$1.62 billion) worth of local shares this week, while institutions sold a net 409.3 billion won. Retail investors purchased a net 2.35 trillion won.
The local stock market will continue to be affected by the new coronavirus pandemic, with its direction to be determined by the extent of the virus outbreak in major economies, including the United States, along with first quarter earnings results, analysts said.
"The stock market rebounded this week despite net selling by foreign investors for 21 consecutive sessions as of Thursday. This was largely the outcome of global policy measures that came in by the hour," Hana Financial Investment analyst Kim Yong-gu said.
"Next week, the market will pay close attention to first quarter earnings, starting with that of Samsung Electronics, which are due Tuesday," Kim added.
The analyst noted a drop in earnings may be inevitable amid the new coronavirus pandemic, but said better-than-anticipated results will likely keep the stock market from taking another dive.
Kim said recent conditions indicate "the stock market will likely make a gradual, upward movement, instead of W-shaped ups and downs."
Park Seok-hyun, an analyst at KTB Investment & Securities, agreed it will take time for the local market to recover.
"The economic indicators of South Korea and China in March turned out to be better than expected, but are still not strong enough to suggest a V-shaped recovery," said Park.
The analyst highlighted the need for additional stimulus measures, saying the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak may expand down the road due to a cut in exports to the U.S. and Europe, which have become the new epicenters of the novel coronavirus that originated in China late last year.
South Korea's exports, in terms of value, slipped 0.2 percent on-year in March, which marked a turnaround from a 4.5 percent on-year gain the month before but still a big improvement when considering a 10.3 percent plunge in 2019. In terms of volume, the country's exports jumped 13.1 percent last month, the sharpest on-year increase in 17 months.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-04--PM says extension of 'strict' social distancing inevitable to stem virus

`` The country has maintained a social distancing drive since its first COVID-19 case , and as the result of @ @ @ @ @ weeks before that was aimed at enabling the students to return to school , the @ @ @ @ @ safer environment from infection than those of the United States or Europe , '' Chung @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's prime minister on Saturday hinted at an extension of government steps aimed at ending the spread of the new coronavirus, saying the country has no choice but to maintain a high-level social distancing drive.
"We have no choice but to continue an intense social distancing drive for some time in the future," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a meeting held in Seoul to discuss measures against the new coronavirus outbreak.
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) enters the venue of a meeting in Seoul on April 4, 2020, to discuss government steps against the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Chung's remarks came shortly before the government was set to announce the details of its latest prevention measures, which have widely been expected to include an extension of the social distancing drive.
The people have been advised to keep a social distance of at least 2 meters from each other since South Korea reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Jan. 20.
The government intensified the drive two weeks earlier, forcing all major public facilities, including schools and private gyms, to shut down at least until this Sunday to help prevent clusters of infections.
"The country has maintained a social distancing drive since its first COVID-19 case, and as the result of an enhanced drive from two weeks before that was aimed at enabling the students to return to school, the country now has a much safer environment from infection than those of the United States or Europe," Chung said in the meeting.
The government pushed back the start of the new school year for a third time on Tuesday, signaling an extension of the enhanced social distancing drive.
"It is better to prevent infection than being cured after infection, and enduring the necessary cost is better than having to face unendurable chaos," the prime minister said.
Details of the latest government measures were set to be announced later in the day by the health minister.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)