yna--2020-06-18--U.S. lawmaker calls for increasing military, sanctions pressure on N. Korea

`` In addition , I think we need to really get tough on these sanctions with the countries that are @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We know that roughly 90 percent of the trade that goes on with @ @ @ @ @ .
China agreed to put U.N. sanctions on them .
And so we need to @ @ @ @ @ what can we do in the U.N. , what can we do to get China @ @ @ @ @ ''

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, June 17 (Yonhap) -- The United States needs to increase military and sanctions pressure on North Korea in response to its destruction of an inter-Korean liaison office earlier this week, a U.S. lawmaker said Wednesday.
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation, said countries are "cheating" on the international sanctions regime against North Korea and mentioned China as a key player in the overall program.
"As far as the United States, I think the best thing that we can do is, we need to talk about upping the ante, maybe start military, or efforts and campaigns again with South Korea and start those up," Yoho said during a virtual seminar hosted by the Association of Former Members of Congress, apparently referring to joint military exercises that have been scaled back to facilitate nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
"In addition, I think we need to really get tough on these sanctions with the countries that are cheating," he said. "We know that roughly 90 percent of the trade that goes on with North Korea comes from China. China agreed to put U.N. sanctions on them. And so we need to look at the agreement, what can we do in the U.N., what can we do to get China to be held accountable."
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) is seen on the right in this photo posted on his official Facebook page. (Yonhap)
The congressman was referring to allegations that China has helped North Korea evade punishing economic sanctions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China backed the latest resolutions imposing sanctions on Pyongyang.
Yoho said the North's demolition of the liaison office was a "slap in the face" to President Moon Jae-in, whose North Korea policy has centered on efforts to rebuild trust with the regime.
"I think it's going to drive a deeper wedge, and then President Moon will have to decide how much further he wants to bend over to help heal these relationships," the lawmaker said.
"And if he does that, it's going to weaken him in his own country. We're already starting to see that," he added.
Yoho also said the U.S. should work to "heal the rift" between South Korea and Japan because their trilateral relationship is among the strongest in the world.
"If that gets weakened, it's going to play into the hands of Kim Jong-un, and also China," he said, referring to the North Korean leader.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on June 18)

Following the demolition Tuesday of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong , North Korea on Wednesday declared it would break @ @ @ @ @ between South and North Korea signed in 2018 .
Pyongyang threatened to redeploy troops to @ @ @ @ @ a tourism resort on Mt .
Kumgang and the Demilitarized Zone ( DMZ ) .
@ @ @ @ @ will resume military drills on the West Sea and dispatch its own propaganda leaflets to @ @ @ @ @ are nothing but blackmail to turn the clock back to the tense relations from before @ @ @ @ @ Declaration in 2000 .

No time to go wobbly
Following the demolition Tuesday of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, North Korea on Wednesday declared it would break the Sept. 19 military agreement between South and North Korea signed in 2018. Pyongyang threatened to redeploy troops to the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a tourism resort on Mt. Kumgang and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It also warned that it will resume military drills on the West Sea and dispatch its own propaganda leaflets to South Korea. Such threats are nothing but blackmail to turn the clock back to the tense relations from before the June 15th South-North Joint Declaration in 2000.
North Korea's offensive didn't stop there. Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and vice director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, attacked President Moon Jae-in with unimaginable insults. Pyongyang even reminded Seoul of its earlier threat to "turn South Korea into a sea of fire" and exposed the Moon administration's confidential attempt to send an envoy to Pyongyang to address heightened tensions.
The North's behavior is shattering the trust both sides have built over the last three years. Pyongyang may have expected Seoul to move to offer aid to the cash-strapped country and help improve the deadlocked North-U.S. relations. That was a serious miscalculation. The more hostile the North becomes, the faster the door to economic aid and normalization of U.S.-North ties shuts. North Korea must return to dialogue with South Korea if it really wants to survive a converging crisis of international sanctions and the Covid-19 outbreak.
The Moon administration should not be paralyzed by a fear of the collapse of the peace process it has worked to establish. The history of inter-Korean exchanges since the July 4 South-North Joint Communiqué in 1972 shows that North Korea demands talks when South Korea deals with it sternly. Fortunately, the Blue House has demonstrated a hard-line stance — albeit belatedly — to the insulting warnings from North Korea.
The Ministry of National Defense warned of a heavy price North Korea may pay if it puts into action a threat to break the military agreement. Yet it would have been better if the ministry had vowed to react to the North's provocations in proportion to their intensity. That could help get trust from the public and prevent North Korea from making any misjudgments.
Our Defense Ministry should get ready for any possible provocations from across the border. Also, the government must hold Pyongyang accountable for the detonation of the liaison office, which cost 17 billion won ($14 million) to build. If our government brushes it off, it will leave a bad precedent in inter-Korean exchanges because the same thing can happen even after South Korea should upgrade North Korean railways in the future.
Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul tendered his resignation Wednesday in a gesture of responsibility, making clear that a dovish position alone can hardly produce good results in these extremely challenging times.
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on June 18)

By extension , Pyongyang 's recent threats against Seoul seem designed to test the alliance between South Korea and the @ @ @ @ @ the allies .
A prolonged deadlock in defense cost-sharing talks between Seoul and Washington , @ @ @ @ @ downsize the US forces stationed here , could have led North Korea to believe there @ @ @ @ @ wedge between them .

Firm response
Pyongyang's moves to heighten tensions strengthen the case for tighter sanctions
North Korea demolished a liaison office shared with South Korea on Tuesday in response to President Moon Jae-in's appeal to abide by previous agreements between the two sides and refrain from heightening tensions on the peninsula.
The office, which suspended operations in January due to concerns over the novel coronavirus, was set up in September 2018 in the northern border town of Kaesong to facilitate inter-Korean exchanges amid a reconciliatory mood fostered by a string of summits between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
The demolition of the liaison office was a slap in the face for Moon, who called on the North a day earlier to leave the door for dialogue open. He said his government would make "incessant" efforts to carry out his summit deals with Kim.
Moon also suggested that South and North Korea push for joint projects they could undertake on their own, instead of waiting for a breakthrough in stalled nuclear talks between the US and the North.
Tuesday's action made a mockery of the Moon government's efforts to placate Pyongyang's anger over leaflets critical of the repressive regime flown by North Korean defectors across the border into the North.
Earlier in the day, the General Staff Department of the North's Korean People's Army said it would send troops "into the zones that had been demilitarized under the North-South agreement, turn the front line into a fortress and further heighten vigilance" against the South.
Pyongyang's latest moves followed a statement issued Saturday by the North Korean leader's increasingly powerful sister, Kim Yo-jong, which warned of the next step in making Seoul pay a dear price for failing to stop defectors from flying anti-North leaflets across the border.
Earlier last week, the North cut off all communication between the two Koreas, vowing to deal with the South as an "enemy."
It is becoming apparent that the recalcitrant regime is using the leaflet issue as a pretext for its premeditated attempt to heighten tensions on the peninsula.
Pyongyang rebuffed the Moon administration's recent moves to stop the sending of leaflets, including planned legislation to block it, as too late in coming.
The North appears to be increasing pressure on the South to reopen major lucrative cross-border projects at risk of violating US-led international sanctions imposed on the totalitarian state for its nuclear and ballistic missile tests.
Despite its eagerness to reconcile with Pyongyang, the Moon administration has hesitated to do so, as this would anger Washington, which has insisted on inter-Korean economic cooperation proceeding in step with significant progress in denuclearizing the North.
The remarks from Moon on Monday sparked speculation that he might be ready to pay more heed to the North's call for the resumption of cross-border projects.
By extension, Pyongyang's recent threats against Seoul seem designed to test the alliance between South Korea and the US and widen gaps between the allies. A prolonged deadlock in defense cost-sharing talks between Seoul and Washington, which might cause Trump to downsize the US forces stationed here, could have led North Korea to believe there was room to drive a wedge between them.
What should be noted is that Pyongyang's attempt to intensify tensions on the peninsula might also be aimed at containing internal discontent over mounting economic difficulties caused by the prolonged international sanctions coupled with the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Some North Korea experts forecast that the impoverished state will see its foreign currency reserves depleted in a couple of years if global sanctions remain in place.
This means that tightening sanctions against the North could result in getting it to take sincere steps toward denuclearization.
Hours after North Korea demolished the liaison office, South Korea's presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, warned of a strong response if North Korea further worsens the situation. The unusually strong warning from the Moon administration, issued after an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, should have come sooner.
Seoul needs to cope with Pyongyang's return to a provocative mode based on clear and constant principles, so the Kim regime recognizes that any provocative acts down the road will incur a proportional response and severe consequences.
A North Korean official handling inter-Korean affairs said last week there would be "remorseful and painful times ahead" for South Korea.
The Moon government should maintain a firm stance to ensure it is the North that suffers more, unless it changes course.
(END)


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

`` It is very important to contain sporadic cluster infections .
If the virus outbreak re-emerges , we will cope @ @ @ @ @ that minimizes its fallout , '' Yoon Tae-ho , a senior health official , said @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 16-17)
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new virus cases rose by the most in three weeks Thursday, as cluster infections have continued to swell in the greater Seoul area and outside the capital.
Health authorities warned of a potential second wave of the virus outbreak and tougher anti-infection measures nationwide.
The country added 59 new cases, including 51 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,257, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
It marked the highest daily tally since May 28, when the country reported 79 additional cases. The tally also marked a sharp rise from 43 reported the previous day.
A citizen buys facial masks at a pharmacy in Jongno, central Seoul, on June 18, 2020, as South Korea began to allow people to purchase up to 10 masks per week under a state-led rationing program. (Yonhap)
Of the locally transmitted cases, 39 were reported in the densely populated Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas. Seven cases were reported in Daejeon, 164 kilometers south of Seoul, spawning new concerns about mass infections outside the capital area.
Cases tied to a church and a door-to-door retailer in Daejeon reached 25 as of noon, up 10 cases from the previous day, according to the KCDC.
Health authorities said they are bracing for the possibility of a protracted pandemic and a potential second wave of mass infections.
"It is very important to contain sporadic cluster infections. If the virus outbreak re-emerges, we will cope with COVID-19 in a way that minimizes its fallout," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health official, said in a briefing.
The official said health authorities may consider imposing tougher infection preventive measures, currently in place in the Seoul metropolitan area, across the country, should virus outbreaks not be contained at manageable levels.
The Seoul metropolitan area has accounted for most of the newly added cases this month. The country has been gripped by multiple and sporadic cluster infections since it relaxed strict social distancing on May 6.
South Korea eased stringent social distancing in early May on the back of the flattened virus curve.
High school seniors wearing masks take a nationwide scholastic aptitude mock test at Sangam High School in western Seoul on June 18, 2020, amid the new coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
But a continued rise in cluster infections forced health authorities to indefinitely extend toughened infection preventive measures in the greater Seoul area this week following a two-week implementation.
A door-to-door business establishment in southern Seoul has emerged as a new hotbed for community spread. Cases traced to the door-to-door retailer reached 180 as of noon, up four from a day earlier.
Cases connected to a day care center for seniors in northeastern Seoul rose by three to 38. Those linked to small churches in the bigger Seoul came to 119, up two cases from a day ago.
"If the virus continues to spread through gatherings in cramped spaces, there is a high possibility that the outbreak could fan out across the nation," KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Joon-wook said in a briefing.
The capital city also reported a COVID-19 case from a teacher at an English institution in southern Seoul, sparking more concern over cluster infections in the region. The infection was not added to the official daily tally yet.
A mechanic who visited the government complex in central Seoul last week also tested positive for the virus earlier in the day, forcing the building to shut down its cafeteria.
The country, meanwhile, reported eight additional imported cases, raising the total number of such cases to 1,379. Imported cases grew by a double-digit number for the third straight day Wednesday.
It reported one additional death, bringing the total death toll to 280. The fatality rate was 2.28 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,800, up 26 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 1,145,712 tests since Jan. 3.
This photo, taken on June 18, 2020, shows Chung-Ang University Hospital in southern Seoul, which closed part of its building after a coronavirus patient visited the hospital the previous day. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Military brass calls for firm readiness posture amid serious security situation

During the meeting that was held in part via teleconference , the country 's military leadership lauded officers and troops @ @ @ @ @ controlling the coronavirus outbreak .
They said that the same speed and determination is being @ @ @ @ @ ready to counter any provocations by the North .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top Army and Navy brass on Thursday called on troops to maintain a firm military posture to handle the serious security situation facing the country.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Suh Wook and his naval counterpart, Adm. Boo Suk-jong, chaired respective senior commanders' meetings during the day, with both ordering frontline units to be fully prepared for any developments that may arise.
Top South Korean Army brass, including Chief of Staff Suh Wook, attend a meeting of top commanders in Seoul on June 18, 2020. The South Korean Army, which provided this photo, said leaders discussed key defense issues facing the country. (Yonhap)
Inter-Korean tensions have reached high levels as North Korea threatened to thwart all joint projects and launch military action against what it called an enemy, citing the South's failure to stop defectors from launching leaflets criticizing its leader.
On Tuesday, the North blew up the inter-Korean liaison office in the border town of Kaesong, a symbol of reconciliation and an achievement of the Panmunjom Declaration by President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018.
"The recent spike in military tensions has made clear the importance of readiness and high degree of discipline during serious times," the four-star general said. All Army generals who command units larger than brigades and divisions took part in the gathering.
This stance was echoed by the chief of naval operation who said sailors should be mentally prepared to defend with the firm belief they can win any encounter.
Boo said that all commands must be ready to respond swiftly and decisively to any threats.
"Every commander must be prepared and needs to check the readiness of subordinate units," the admiral said.
During the meeting that was held in part via teleconference, the country's military leadership lauded officers and troops for the effort put into controlling the coronavirus outbreak. They said that the same speed and determination is being called for to get troops ready to counter any provocations by the North.
Navy Chief of Operation Adm. Boo Suk-jong (rear) and other senior naval officers salute the national flag ahead of the 2020 commanders meeting in Seoul, in this photo provided by the Navy. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Newly assigned American airman tests positive for coronavirus; total at 35

`` USFK health professionals determined there was limited contact tracing due to the airman and all others on the chartered @ @ @ @ @ quarantined ; thorough cleaning of his quarantine room has been completed , '' it said @ @ @ @

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- An American service member newly assigned to South Korea has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday.
The latest COVID-19 case brought the total number of infections among the USFK population to 35.
The airman arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, Monday on a U.S. government-chartered flight, and was put in mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
After receiving the test result, he was moved to an isolation facility.
"USFK health professionals determined there was limited contact tracing due to the airman and all others on the chartered flight being tested and immediately quarantined; thorough cleaning of his quarantine room has been completed," it said in a release.
Including the latest case, two active duty service members are currently confirmed positive for the novel virus, the U.S. military said, adding that it "remains at a high level of readiness."
All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea from overseas are tested for COVID-19 and then quarantined for 14 days.
In this February file photo, provided by the U.S. Forces Korea, a military guard at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, checks the temperature of a driver to screen entrants to the compound for the novel coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--N.K. may carry out 'Christmas gift' provocation around November's U.S. presidential election: expert

Last year , the North threatened to carry out an unspecified provocative act as a `` Christmas gift '' to @ @ @ @ @ stalled nuclear negotiations , spurring speculation that it could be a new intercontinental ballistic missile @ @ @ @ @ similar testing of strategic weapons .
But the North did not put the threat into @ @

By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea could carry out a major "Christmas gift" provocation around the time of November's U.S. presidential election unless the current tensions are properly dealt with, an expert said Thursday.
Last year, the North threatened to carry out an unspecified provocative act as a "Christmas gift" to the U.S. in protest of stalled nuclear negotiations, spurring speculation that it could be a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch or similar testing of strategic weapons. But the North did not put the threat into action.
In recent weeks the North has been sharply ratcheting up tensions in anger over propaganda leaflets defectors in the South send across the border to criticize leader Kim Jong-un. The North has blown up an inter-Korean liaison office and threatened a series of military actions.
"If we do not handle the current inter-Korean tensions well, North Korea may send its 'Christmas gift' that it mentioned last year," Lee Jung-chul, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Soongsil University, said during a security forum in Seoul.
Lee said that the government should try to prevent the tensions from escalating further, pointing out that a land mine incident at the Demilitarized Zone in 2015 led to the North's fifth nuclear test.
"We are at a crossroads that puts our government's competency in diplomacy and inter-Korean political affairs to the test."
He also said that the two special envoys South Korea offered to send to the North were not the most suitable choices.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong said the North rejected South Korea's offer to send special envoys, naming National Security Director Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon.
"North Korea thinks these two are partially responsible for the breakdown of the Hanoi negotiations," Lee said, referring to the no-deal summit between the U.S. and the North in the Vietnamese capital in February last year. "The offer wouldn't have appealed to Kim Yo-jong."
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Seoul requests WTO to open panel on trade row with Tokyo

The trade row has been causing more damage to Tokyo 's exports than the other way around .
South Korea @ @ @ @ @ 6.9 percent to US $ 28 billion in 2019 from a year earlier .
Its @ @ @ @ @ a wider margin of 12.9 percent to $ 47 billion .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has requested the World Trade Organization (WTO) to open a dispute-settlement panel to deal with Japan's export curbs against its Asian neighbor, which have been in effect since July, the trade ministry here said Thursday.
The move came around two weeks after Seoul, disappointed by lack of progress in the feud, said it would reopen its complaint against Tokyo's export restrictions at the WTO
Last year, Seoul had dropped its WTO complaint against Tokyo's export restrictions in a goodwill gesture to seek a breakthrough in the trade row that started with the latter's abrupt ban on shipping key materials to its neighbor in July 2019.
The industrial materials -- photoresist, etching gas and fluorinated polyimide -- are critical for the chip and display industries, the two industrial backbones of Asia's No. 4 economy.
South Korea believes Japan's export curbs are merely retaliation against a Seoul court's ruling that ordered Japanese firms to compensate victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the peninsula.
Despite South Korea's repeated calls to resolve the issue, Japan has been slow in lifting the curbs.
Japan removed South Korea from its list of trusted partners last year, prompting Seoul to take a tit-for-tat measure.
Seoul in May renewed its call for Tokyo to lift export regulations against its neighbor by the end of that month, calling for Japan to make joint efforts to overcome the economic fallout from the new coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea earlier said the process at the WTO is aimed at staving off the uncertainties over the global supply chain for companies of both nations and "proving the unlawfulness and unjustness" of Japan's actions.
The trade row has been causing more damage to Tokyo's exports than the other way around. South Korea's exports to Japan slipped 6.9 percent to US$28 billion in 2019 from a year earlier. Its imports from Japan fell at a wider margin of 12.9 percent to $47 billion.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Reticent KBO manager expresses rare excitement over healthy lineup

`` I am sending him down , not because he played poorly , but because I think it 's best @ @ @ @ @ future and for our team 's future , '' Her explained .
`` It 'd @ @ @ @ @ have an extra player like that .
But I just felt it 'd be better @ @ @ @ @ more games in the minors .
Getting into games is the best practice . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- On his way to ballpark on Thursday, Lotte Giants' manager Her Mun-hoe walked with an extra spring in his step, knowing that he'd have a fully, healthy lineup for the first time in a month.
Second baseman An Chi-hong will return Thursday against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, after missing the past three days with a left hamstring injury. Versatile utility man Jung Hoon came back to the lineup Wednesday after being sidelined for over a month with an oblique injury.
In this file photo from May 24, 2020, An Chi-hong of the Lotte Giants celebrates his RBI single against the Kiwoom Heroes during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Jung went 2-for-4 to raise his batting average to .382. Though An hasn't yet taken off -- with a .266 batting average and two home runs in 35 games -- he can offer some gap power from the fifth or sixth spot in the lineup.
With their presence, the Giants will be able to field a lineup that produced a 5-0 start to the season last month.
Her, a soft-spoken skipper who rarely displays emotion, said he was "really happy" to have everyone back.
"I felt excited coming to the ballpark today. It's going to be fun having these guys back in the lineup," Her said, though his typically monotone voice didn't give off much. "We may or may not win the game today, but this is still the lineup that can strike fear into opposing clubs. I just hope we will remain healthy the rest of the season."
With An being activated, infielder Kim Min-su was sent back down to the minor league after two games with the KBO club. Kim mostly held his own at the plate, batting 2-for-6 with a steal.
"I am sending him down, not because he played poorly, but because I think it's best that way for his own future and for our team's future," Her explained. "It'd be nice for me to have an extra player like that. But I just felt it'd be better for him to keep playing more games in the minors. Getting into games is the best practice."
In this file photo from June 11, 2020, Lotte Giants' manager Her Mun-hoe celebrates a sacrifice fly by Dixon Machado during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the Hanwha Eagles at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Gov't urges schools, students to settle tuition refund row, reaffirms 'no cash support' stance

The official 's remark came as a growing number of students are asking universities to refund part of their tuition @ @ @ @ @ a violation of their `` right to learn '' as schools shifted to remote learning @ @ @ @ @ infected more than 12,000 here .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's education ministry on Thursday urged universities and students to mutually resolve the latter's growing call for tuition refunds amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
"(The ministry) feels regretful that students cannot attend in-person classes due to the new coronavirus. (It) also sympathizes with universities whose budgets have been hit by quarantine measures, remote classes and a drop in the number of foreign students," a key ministry official told reporters in briefing.
"(But) the tuition issue is something that universities and students should solve through communication ... The ministry will do its best to provide reasonable alternatives to help resolve the difficulties of both sides."
The official reaffirmed the ministry's stance on not providing support in the form of cash payouts, adding that schools should also take measures of their own to improve the situation.
The ministry plans to receive documents from universities and review their financial status before providing support measures. It is expected to encourage schools to refund tuition by prioritizing support measures for schools that have chosen to do so.
Students at Yonsei University, located in the western Seoul ward of Seodaemun, hold a rally on campus on June 18, 2020, demanding the school to refund part of their tuition. (Yonhap)
The official's remark came as a growing number of students are asking universities to refund part of their tuition for what they claimed was a violation of their "right to learn" as schools shifted to remote learning amid the pandemic that has infected more than 12,000 here.
One student advocacy group is looking for participants for a class-action lawsuit seeking tuition refunds.
Students at Seoul-based Yonsei University held a press conference on Thursday, demanding the school partially refund tuition and "provide practical measures to compensate students who (suffered) a violation of their right to learn."
But most universities maintain that it is nearly impossible to cough up tuition, citing a rise in pandemic-related costs for setting up online classes and running disinfection and quarantine programs on campus.
In a rare case, Seoul-based Konkuk University has announced plans for a tuition cut in the fall semester.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Trading of Samsung Heavy's preferred stocks halted again after 14-fold jump in 13 sessions

Preference shares usually pay higher dividends than common stocks .
Holders of such shares have the right to receive dividends @ @ @ @ @ but have no right to vote at shareholders ' meetings .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- Trading of preference shares in Samsung Heavy Industries Co., a major shipyard, was again suspended on the Seoul bourse on Thursday after a 14-fold rise in 13 sessions.
Samsung Heavy's preferred stocks closed at 744,000 won (US$612) on Wednesday, up from 54,500 won on June 1. Over the same period, common shares in Samsung Heavy advanced 30 percent to 6,470 won from 4,980 won.
This file photo provided by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. shows a shuttle tanker designed for oil transport from an offshore oil field. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Trading of Samsung Heavy's preferred stocks was also suspended on June 9 and June 12 due to their abnormal rise.
Preference shares usually pay higher dividends than common stocks. Holders of such shares have the right to receive dividends ahead of ordinary shareholders, but have no right to vote at shareholders' meetings.
Shares in local shipbuilders, like Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. and Samsung Heavy Industries, traded sharply higher on the back of news that they signed a preliminary deal to build about 100 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers from Qatar released on June 2.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Appellate court rejects citizens' damage suit against ousted ex-president

`` It can not be defined as fact that all the nationals suffered mentally to the extent that they need @ @ @ @ @ ) each plaintiff has to prove his or her case individually , but there is @ @ @ @ @ make the case ) , '' the court said .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- An appellate court on Thursday turned down a damage suit filed against former President Park Geun-hye by thousands of ordinary citizens who argued that they suffered mental distress from the power abuse and corruption scandal centering on the former leader.
Upholding the lower court's initial rejection of the suit in May last year, the Seoul High Court again dismissed the case filed by around 4,400 citizens.
The suit was filed in January 2017, a month after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach Park, who faced accusations of corruption and abuse of power. Park was finally ousted from presidency in March 2017. The suit demanded financial compensation of 500,000 won (US$413) per person for the mental distress and damage inflicted by the scandal.
"Even if national and social interests were violated by (Park's) acts, the reaction and relevance to (such) crimes against public interest could vary for each person," the appellate court said, dismissing the suit.
"It cannot be defined as fact that all the nationals suffered mentally to the extent that they need compensation ... (given that) each plaintiff has to prove his or her case individually, but there isn't any evidence (to make the case)," the court said.
Defending against the case, Park's side has previously denounced the suit as "political propaganda," not a proper civil suit, demanding the case's dismissal.
Park is now serving a combined 32-year prison term that includes 25 years for abuse of power and corruption and five years for illegally accepting off-the-book funds from the chiefs of the National Intelligence Service.
Another two years stem from her conviction linked with illegal meddling in a party nomination process ahead of the 2016 general elections.
Park's corruption sentence is currently under retrial at an appellate court after the top court ordered a review of the case last August.
This image provided by Yonhap News TV shows ousted President Park Geun-hye. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Park Soo-keun's 'Roadside Vendors' sold for 470 mln won at auction

Seoul Auction said that the 1963 painting by Park , which was in the U.S. until recently , was sold @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- "Roadside Vendors," a 1960s painting by Park Soo-keun (1914-1965), one of South Korea's most celebrated modern art painters, has been sold for 470 million won (US$388,430) at an auction in Seoul, an auctioneer said Thursday.
Seoul Auction said that the 1963 painting by Park, which was in the U.S. until recently, was sold at its auction event held Wednesday.
The bidding price for the painting, revealed for the first time in South Korea on Wednesday, started at 350 million won. Its estimated value initially ranged as high as 700 million won.
Among the other sold pieces was "Dialogue" by renowned South Korean artist Lee Ufan, which went for 610 million won. Abstract master Kim Whan-ki's "Buddha" was sold for 320 million won.
This image of South Korean painter Park Soo-keun's 1963 painting "Roadside Vendors" was provided by Seoul Auction on June 18, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--KBO club manager fights temptation to tinker with lineup

Though the Heroes said Park is banged up , it 's probably his pride that is hurt more than his @ @ @ @ @ man ranked last among all qualified hitters with a .197 batting average when he was @ @ @ @ @ .
Park batted in the No .
2 spot in his most recent five games @ @ @ @ @ lift some pressure off his shoulders , but Lee stayed in the third spot .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- Kiwoom Heroes' manager Son Hyuk is blessed with one of South Korean baseball's most complete hitters in his lineup. And he admitted Thursday he's been fighting the urge to mess with him and change what's not broken.
Outfielder Lee Jung-hoo, who's batting an outstanding .379/.446/.634 in 38 games this season, ranks third in batting average, second in on-base percentage and fourth in slugging percentage in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). He has already matched his career high with six home runs, and is well on his way to shatter his previous personal best in slugging percentage and doubles.
In this file photo from June 13, 2020, Lee Jung-hoo of the Kiwoom Heroes watches his two-run home run against the NC Dinos in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Lee has started in 37 of 38 games so far, and all but one of those 37 starts have come in the No. 3 spot in the order. And with the usual cleanup Park Byung-ho off the active roster with wrist and knee pains, Son said he has thought about inserting Lee into the cleanup spot.
"He's been doing such a great job from his current spot. And if I move him around, he may not hit as well," Son said during his pregame media session before hosting the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "I think I'll keep him in the third spot. Guys around him in the lineup have also been hitting well."
Though the Heroes said Park is banged up, it's probably his pride that is hurt more than his body. The two-time 50-homer man ranked last among all qualified hitters with a .197 batting average when he was deactivated before Wednesday's game. Park batted in the No. 2 spot in his most recent five games, as Son tried to lift some pressure off his shoulders, but Lee stayed in the third spot.
And in the first game without Park, Lee came through with his first career walk-off hit Wednesday night, with his ninth-inning double securing a 4-3 victory over the Giants.
As great as the hit was, Son said he was even more impressed with Lee's patience and poise, saying the fourth-year outfielder doesn't usually chase pitches even in pressure situations.
One other thing about Lee that amazes his manager: that uncanny ability to, as Hall of Famer Willier Keeler once said, hit 'em where they ain't.
"He has such unbelievable hand-eye coordination," Son gushed. "It's remarkable how he always seems to hit the ball to spots away from fielders."
In this file photo from June 13, 2020, Lee Jung-hoo of the Kiwoom Heroes (L) hits his manager Son Hyuk in the chest as part of his celebration of a two-run home run against the NC Dinos in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Lee, who is listed as 78 kilograms in the official league media guide, added a few extra kilograms of muscle over the offseason in a conscious effort to hit with more power. He is known to weigh about 85 kilograms now.
If Lee had remained the same type of contact hitter with limited power in a slender body, he would still be an All-Star. Son praised Lee's work ethic to try to challenge himself instead of settling.
"I believe players should all try to expand their game and attempt new things," Son said. "If they're successful, it will allow them to take the next step. If not, then they can figure out how to make the most of what they already have."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--NSC members discuss N. Korea issue, check S. Korea's military posture

Earlier this week , the North destroyed an inter-Korean joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong , which @ @ @ @ @ bilateral communication channel .
It also threatened to redeploy troops in the Kaesong and Mount @ @ @ @ @ two Koreas used to operate economic projects together .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top security officials had discussions Thursday on heightened tensions with North Korea during their weekly National Security Council (NSC) meeting, Cheong Wa Dae said.
The NSC's standing committee session was chaired by Chung Eui-yong, director of national security at the presidential office.
Its members "discussed recent security situations involving North Korea and especially checked our military's surveillance and defense posture," Cheong Wa Dae said.
They reaffirmed Seoul's position that inter-Korean agreements should be implemented at any cost and agreed to continue efforts to stop tensions from further escalating on the peninsula, it added.
It gave no other details including the list of attendees in the three-paragraph press release.
Earlier this week, the North destroyed an inter-Korean joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong, which had served as a key bilateral communication channel. It also threatened to redeploy troops in the Kaesong and Mount Kumgang areas, where the two Koreas used to operate economic projects together.
Pyongyang cited the Moon Jae-in administration's failure to prevent activists here from sending anti-North propaganda leaflets across the border, despite repeated warnings, for its actions.
Chung Eui-yong, director of national security at Cheong Wa Dae, in a file photo (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

All but one of the 25 cases were locally transmitted .
Eleven were linked to a day care center for @ @ @ @ @ ward of Dobong , which raised the number of related cases to 38 , according @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.
-----------------
(LEAD) Moon to hold virtual summit with EU leaders on June 30
SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold a virtual summit with European Union leaders late this month mainly on the novel coronavirus and the Korean Peninsula issue, Moon's office announced Thursday.
Moon is scheduled to have the session with EU Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the afternoon of June 30 (Seoul time), according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
-----------------
(LEAD) Regulator allows Apple to draw up measures to correct anti-competitive practices
SEOUL -- South Korea's antitrust regulator said Thursday that it has decided to allow Apple Korea to map out a set of measures to address its anti-competitive business practices here, a move that could end a dispute over its alleged violation of competition law.
The Fair Trade Commission said it will review detailed corrective measures crafted by Apple Korea and decide whether to approve them.
-----------------
(3rd LD) Drug safety agency revokes permit for Medytox's botulinum toxin products
SEOUL -- South Korea's drug safety watchdog said Thursday it has decided to revoke the permit of the country's first botulinum toxin products by Medytox for using an unapproved ingredient and fabricating related documents.
The three Meditoxin products -- which come in bottles of 50 units, 100 units and 150 units -- will be permanently removed from domestic shelves starting on June 25, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
-----------------
ADB expects S. Koran economy to contract 1 pct this year amid pandemic
SEOUL -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday sharply revised down its 2020 growth estimate for South Korea, along with that for the entire Asian region, expecting Asia's fourth-largest economy to shrink 1 percent from a year earlier.
The revision marks a turnaround from a 1.3 percent on-year growth forecast in April. Last year, the Korean economy expanded 2 percent.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul city adds 25 new coronavirus cases, persisting infections raise fears in metropolitan area
SEOUL -- Amid heightened alert over new coronavirus infections in the metropolitan area, the number of new cases reported in South Korea's capital increased by 25 on Thursday, due mostly to a sharp rise in infections traced to a facility for the elderly.
All but one of the 25 cases were locally transmitted. Eleven were linked to a day care center for senior citizens in the northeastern ward of Dobong, which raised the number of related cases to 38, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
-----------------
Moon to hold virtual summit with EU leaders on June 30
SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold a virtual summit with European Union leaders late this month mainly on the novel coronavirus and the Korean Peninsula issue, Moon's office announced Thursday.
Moon is scheduled to have the session with EU Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the afternoon of June 30 (Seoul time), according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
-----------------
(2nd LD) New virus cases at 3-week high, greater Seoul gripped by more cluster infections
SEOUL -- South Korea's new virus cases rose by the most in three weeks Thursday, as cluster infections have continued to swell in the greater Seoul area and outside the capital.
Health authorities warned of a potential second wave of the virus outbreak and tougher anti-infection measures nationwide.
-----------------
Korean Air, Asiana extend mileage expiration by 1 year amid pandemic
SEOUL -- Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc. -- South Korea's two largest airlines -- said Thursday they will extend mileage points, set to expire this year, by one year amid the new coronavirus outbreak.
The two carriers made the decision as the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected passenger travel due to reduced routes and entry restrictions this year.
-----------------
Seoul stocks snap 2-day winning streak amid spreading coronavirus concerns
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed lower Thursday, ending a two-session gaining streak, on investor concerns over a second wave of new coronavirus infections in the world's two largest economies. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 7.57 points, or 0.35 percent, to close at 2,133.48. Trading volume was moderate at about 754 million shares worth some 10.8 trillion won (US$8.9 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 523 to 331.
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--(2nd LD) Seoul city adds 25 new coronavirus cases, persisting infections raise fears in metropolitan

(2nd LD) Seoul city adds 25 new coronavirus cases, persisting infections raise fears in metropolitan area

(ATTN: ADDS details in para 5)
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- Amid heightened alert over new coronavirus infections in the metropolitan area, the number of new cases reported in South Korea's capital increased by 25 on Thursday, due mostly to a sharp rise in infections traced to a facility for the elderly.
All but one of the 25 cases were locally transmitted. Eleven were linked to a day care center for senior citizens in the northeastern ward of Dobong, which raised the number of related cases to 38, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Two of the cases were linked to a door-to-door health product seller whose target customers were the elderly. The company has emerged as one of the biggest infection clusters in the capital, with 180 related cases identified nationally.
Three cases were linked to a mass infection cluster at small churches and religious meetings in the metropolitan area, while one was traced to a table tennis club in western Seoul.
A hospital visitor is seen near the entrance of Chungang Univ. Hospital in the southern Seoul ward of Dongjak on June 18, 2020. The hospital has temporarily closed after a coronavirus patient visited one of its facilities. (Yonhap)
In addition to the cases confirmed by the KCDC, sporadic infections were reported across the city, including a lecturer at an English language institute in the southern Seoul ward of Seocho.
The persistent infections related to the day care center and the health product seller have put health authorities on alert, as most of the patients are the elderly, who are likely to suffer more from the infectious virus.
The country's average mortality rate of new coronavirus patients stand at 2.28, but the figures rise for elderly patients. The mortality rate is 9.91 percent for those in their 70s and 25.69 percent for those in their 80s or older.
South Korea in total added 59 cases, the most in three weeks, bringing the country's COVID-19 caseload to 12,257, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This photo, from June 12, 2020, shows the interior of a day care facility for the elderly in the northeastern Seoul ward of Dobong. More than 30 new coronavirus infections have been reported in relation to the facility.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--(LEAD) Seoul stocks snap 2-day winning streak amid spreading coronavirus concerns

Seven states in the U.S. , including Texas , Florida and Oklahoma , posted record highs in either daily or @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday ( U.S. time ) .
The increase fueled fears that the U.S. may consider @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed lower Thursday, ending a two-session gaining streak, on investor concerns over a second wave of new coronavirus infections in the world's two largest economies. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 7.57 points, or 0.35 percent, to close at 2,133.48. Trading volume was moderate at about 754 million shares worth some 10.8 trillion won (US$8.9 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 523 to 331.
The drop was mainly attributed to growing investor concerns over the rising COVID-19 tolls in the United States and China.
"The index is likely to remain in the current situation of fluctuating near the 2,200-level, until concerns regarding a second wave of the COVID-19 ease out," Samsung Securities analyst Seo Jung-hun said.
Investors' growing appetite for profit-taking after two winning sessions also kept the index from exceeding the 2,200-level, he added.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank trading room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) down 7.57 points, or 0.35 percent, to close at 2,133.48 on June 18, 2020, while the Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar. (Yonhap)
Seven states in the U.S., including Texas, Florida and Oklahoma, posted record highs in either daily or weekly average new infections on Wednesday (U.S. time). The increase fueled fears that the U.S. may consider reintroducing economic lockdowns.
Virus-related tallies also flared in China's capital city this week. The communist state is said to have suspended more than 60 percent of flights to Beijing, while closing down schools and tightening social distancing measures.
Escalating inter-Korean tensions added to investor concerns.
Foreigners sold a net 87.2 billion won, while retail investors purchased a net 149 billion won. Institutions offloaded a net 27.8 billion won.
Large caps traded mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics retreated 0.19 percent to 52,300 won, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix dipped 0.69 percent to 86,200 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics fell 1.70 percent to 810,000 won, with leading chemical maker LG Chem slipping 0.10 percent to 491,000 won.
Internet giant Kakao climbed 0.19 percent to 263,500 won.
The local currency closed at 1,208.00 won against the U.S. dollar, up 5.90 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 3.2 basis points to 0.842 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond slipped 4.2 basis points to 1.105 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Two foreigners test positive for virus days after arrival in Yangju

Yangju 's municipal authorities said they have completed disinfection of the two foreigners ' residences and are looking for anyone @ @ @ @ @ with them .

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- Two foreigners living in Yangju, a Gyeonggi Province city about 50 kilometers north of Seoul, tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, days after arriving here from Pakistan and the Philippines, respectively, municipal authorities said.
The Pakistani, a man in his 20s, and the Filipino, a woman in her 30s, entered South Korea via Incheon International Airport on Monday and Wednesday, respectively, they noted.
Both of them took the COVID-19 test at the Yangju Community Health Center, while they didn't exhibit any symptoms of the infectious disease.
In this file photo, taken on May 27, 2020, quarantine officials check passengers' temperatures at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Under the compulsory quarantine measures, all entrants from overseas -- both Koreans and foreigners -- are now obliged to self-isolate at their residences or government-designated facilities for 14 days.
Yangju's municipal authorities said they have completed disinfection of the two foreigners' residences and are looking for anyone who had come into contact with them.
On Thursday, South Korea reported 59 new cases, including eight imported ones, raising the total caseload to 12,257, according to government data.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--S. Korean Bond Yields on Jun. 18, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Jun. 18, 2020

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


yna--2020-06-18--Abstract painter Choi Wook-kyung's pop art influence, experimentation revisited

In an era when the field was dominated by political and populist art , Choi dug deeper into the realm @ @ @ @ @ the works of Willem de Kooning , Mark Rothko and Robert Motherwell in America , @ @ @ @ @ signaling timely intercultural exchange between South Korea and the U.S .

By Chang Dong-woo
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean painter Choi Wook-kyung (1940-1985) in a sense represented a unique amalgamation of abstract expressionism of her home country and the United States.
In an era when the field was dominated by political and populist art, Choi dug deeper into the realm of abstract expressionism after studying the works of Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko and Robert Motherwell in America, leaving behind a legacy of signaling timely intercultural exchange between South Korea and the U.S.
Choi, whose hallmarks consisted of bold colors and complimentary contrast, also shined as a rare female talent in the Korean art world then occupied mainly by men.
Kukje Gallery, one of South Korea's leading art galleries located in central Seoul, opened a solo exhibition on Choi on Thursday focusing on her smaller yet groundbreaking experimental works from the 1960s through 1975.
The exhibition was held to celebrate the reopening of the gallery's main K1 building following a two-year renovation period.
This image provided by Kukje Gallery on June 18, 2020, shows an untitled 1960s abstract painting by South Korean artist Choi Wook-kyung on display in an exhibition on Choi at the art gallery in Seoul from June 18-July 31. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The exhibit is divided mainly into two halls. The first gallery showcases Choi's signature use of color and abstraction as well as her innovative approach to collage.
According to curators, the first gallery encompasses a body of small paintings that serve as an extension of the diverse experimentation the artist undertook with the formal characteristics of black and white mediums.
Evoking Willem de Kooning's brushwork and Robert Motherwell's abstract yet meditative pictorial planes, collages, exhibited in tandem with the paintings in the first gallery, display the influence of pop art.
Among the first selection are works incorporating newspaper clippings and other media, which allowed for an artistic response to the pressing social issues during her time.
This image provided by Kukje Gallery on June 18, 2020, shows an untitled 1960s abstract painting by South Korean artist Choi Wook-kyung on display in an exhibition on Choi at the art gallery in Seoul from June 18-July 31. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Curators said that this demonstrated "the artist's strong commitment to personal expression and social commentary through brave exploration of form and content."
The second gallery space features a comprehensive selection of Choi's drawings and prints showcasing her broad use of mediums, including ink, charcoal, conte and paper, while also displaying her frequent use of abstract lines and self-written texts on the paintings.
The ink drawings evoke the works of abstract expressionist Franz Kline, whose signature use of broad black strokes against a white background introduced a unique strain of gestural abstraction, as well as East Asian calligraphy.
Noteworthy in the second selection is the implementation of language, or text, on the canvas, attributed to Choi's interest in writing, as she authored multiple essays and published a collection of poems.
This image provided by Kukje Gallery on June 18, 2020, shows "The Raven of Death and Resurrection," a 1975 abstract painting by South Korean artist Choi Wook-kyung on display in an exhibition on Choi at the art gallery in Seoul from June 18-July 31. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Being a female South Korean art student studying in America, Choi was in a unique situation to pursue undiscovered and exploratory paths in creating art, according to Kukje curators.
"Being caught between her ambition to reach beyond culturally specific movements in Korea and the social protest against patriarchy and racism in the United States, coupled with Choi's position as a foreigner and a woman, made it imperative that she confront the crux of such pressing themes by charting undiscovered paths and new genres," curators said.
The exhibition on Choi runs until July 31.
This image provided by Kukje Gallery on June 18, 2020, shows an untitled 1960s abstract painting by South Korean artist Choi Wook-kyung on display in an exhibition on Choi at the art gallery in Seoul from June 18-July 31. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--(LEAD) Regulator allows Apple to draw up measures to correct anti-competitive practices

`` We do n't believe we have done anything wrong but are happy to put this process behind us so @ @ @ @ @ even more for our customers and communities , '' Apple Korea said in a statement @

(ATTN: UPDATES with Apple's statement in paras 8-9)
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's antitrust regulator said Thursday that it has decided to allow Apple Korea to map out a set of measures to address its anti-competitive business practices here, a move that could end a dispute over its alleged violation of competition law.
The Fair Trade Commission said it will review detailed corrective measures crafted by Apple Korea and decide whether to approve them.
Under the law, an applicant is required to state a correction scheme necessary to restore competition practices or to improve business practices, and to remedy or prevent damage to consumers and other business entities.
As part of corrective measures, Apple Korea has proposed holding consultations with South Korean mobile phone carriers to reduce their burden and share the cost related to advertisements.
Apple Korea is accused of having required the country's three mobile operators -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- to pay the cost of television advertisements and warranty service for its iPhones.
The commission has said Apple holds a clear advantage over local mobile carriers and that handing over the cost of advertisements is only another means to squeeze the profits of the carriers.
Apple Korea has also proposed coming up with measures to ease other unfair business practices with the mobile phone carriers and to create a fund meant for mutual benefits of relevant parties, including consumers.
Apple Korea welcomed the commission's decision.
"We don't believe we have done anything wrong but are happy to put this process behind us so we can focus on doing even more for our customers and communities," Apple Korea said in a statement.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-18--Seoul stocks snap 2-day winning streak amid spreading coronavirus concerns

SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed lower Thursday, ending a two-session gaining streak, on investor concerns over a second wave of new coronavirus infections in the world's two largest economies. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 7.57 points, or 0.35 percent, to close at 2,133.48. Trading volume was moderate at about 754 million shares worth some 10.8 trillion won (US$8.9 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 523 to 331.
The drop was mainly attributed to growing investor concerns over the rising COVID-19 tolls in the United States and China.
"The index is likely to remain in the current situation of fluctuating near the 2,200-level, until concerns regarding a second wave of the COVID-19 ease out," Samsung Securities analyst Seo Jung-hun said.
Investors' growing appetite for profit-taking after two winning sessions also kept the index from exceeding the 2,200-level, he added.
Seven states in the U.S., including Texas, Florida and Oklahoma, posted record highs in either daily or weekly average new infections on Wednesday (U.S. time). The increase fueled fears that the U.S. may consider reintroducing economic lockdowns.
Virus-related tallies also flared in China's capital city this week. The communist state is said to have suspended more than 60 percent of flights to Beijing, while closing down schools and tightening social distancing measures.
Escalating inter-Korean tensions added to investor concerns.
Foreigners sold a net 87.2 billion won, while retail investors purchased a net 149 billion won. Institutions offloaded a net 27.8 billion won.
Large caps traded mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics retreated 0.19 percent to 52,300 won, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix dipped 0.69 percent to 86,200 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics fell 1.70 percent to 810,000 won, with leading chemical maker LG Chem slipping 0.10 percent to 491,000 won.
Internet giant Kakao climbed 0.19 percent to 263,500 won.
The local currency closed at 1,208.00 won against the U.S. dollar, up 5.90 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--S. Korea on cusp of erasing gains in virus fight, new cases still on higher plateau

But a series of sporadic cluster infections in Seoul area soon emerged , putting great strains on the country 's @ @ @ @ @ to a church and a door-to-door retailer in Daejeon reached 25 as of Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ day , according to the KCDC .

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's virus fight is dragging on, with a steady rise in new virus cases and untraceable infections, along with a spike in imported cases. Health authorities warned of another possible wave of infections.
The country added 49 new cases on Friday, including 32 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,306, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of new daily COVID-19 cases marks a slight slowdown from a three-week high of 59 a day earlier.
Of the locally transmitted cases, 26 were reported in the densely populated Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas, around half of the country's 50-million population lives.
The Seoul metropolitan area accounted for most of the newly added virus cases this month.
The country has seen an uptick in the number of infections outside of the capital region as well as in imported cases.
Six cases were reported in Daejeon, some 160 kilometers south of Seoul, stoking concerns that community spread may further accelerate outside the greater Seoul area.
The country reported 17 additional imported cases, raising the total number of such cases to 1,396.
A student wearing a protective mask takes a mock college entrance exam at a high school located in western Seoul on June 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
In early May, the country eased its strict social distancing due to the flattened virus curve. The number of new daily cases peaked in late February at more than 900.
But a series of sporadic cluster infections in Seoul area soon emerged, putting great strains on the country's virus fight. Cases tied to a church and a door-to-door retailer in Daejeon reached 25 as of Thursday, up 10 from the previous day, according to the KCDC.
Infections in the greater Seoul area also showed no clear signs of a slowdown.
Cases traced to the door-to-door retailer reached 180 as of Thursday. Patients linked to small churches in the Seoul area came to 119.
Health authorities thus imposed tougher infection preventive measures in the region in late May for two weeks, which was later extended indefinitely as cluster infections, along with asymptomatic, "silent" virus spreaders, increased.
Health authorities said that the country may roll back to strict distancing in daily life if the number of new cases falls back to single digits.
There were no additional deaths, keeping the total death toll to 280.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,835, up 35 from the previous day.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--(URGENT) 35 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,83

(URGENT) 35 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,835: KCDC


yna--2020-06-19--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional virus death, death toll now at 280: KCDC


yna--2020-06-19--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 49 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 12,306: KCDC


yna--2020-06-19--BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' becomes No. 1 sold album in Japan during H1

`` Map of the Soul : 7 , '' the septet 's studio album released in February , has sold @ @ @ @ @ date to become the best-selling album so far in 2020 , Oricon reported .

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- K-pop group BTS was the biggest seller of music in album format in Japan during the first half of 2020, according to Japan's main music sales tracker Friday.
"Map of the Soul: 7," the septet's studio album released in February, has sold 429,009 copies in Japan to date to become the best-selling album so far in 2020, Oricon reported.
BTS was trailed by Japanese acts, King Gnu and Johnny's West, selling 389,449 and 220,508 copies of albums, respectively.
According to Big Hit Entertainment, BTS' label-management agency, the K-pop act was the first foreign artist to top the albums sales chart for the January-June period after Michael Jackson with "Thriller" in 1984.
BTS also became the first male artist to have conquered the list after J-pop band SMAP in 2017.
The septet plans to release the Japanese-language version of its latest release, titled "Map of the Soul: 7 - The Journey," on July 15. The group will put out a prerelease single, "Stay Gold," on Friday.
On Sunday, BTS held a paid-online streaming concert, "Bang Bang Con: The Live," drawing some 756,000 viewers from across 107 countries or regions. The event marked the world's biggest paid online music event in terms of viewership.
This photo, provided by Big Hit Entertainment, shows a highlight from K-pop band BTS' online concert "Bang Bang Con: The Live," held June 14, 2020. The event drew around 756,000 viewers across the globe, according to the company. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--Young KBO catcher appreciative of veteran's willing assistance

Park is in the midst of a career season himself .
Park hit his team-leading eighth home run of the @ @ @ @ @ with knee issues in that same game .
He also leads the club with 29 @ @ @ @ @ the presence of more proven run producers like Park Byung-ho and Kim Ha-seong on the @ @ @ @ @ also batting .336/.398/.619 , all career highs .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- For the 22-year-old catcher Joo Hyo-sang, having two veteran backstops above him on the Kiwoom Heroes' depth chart is both a curse and a blessing.
It's a curse because Joo, in his fifth Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season, hasn't been getting much playing time behind Park Dong-won and Lee Ji-young. But it's also a blessing because Joo gets to pick the brains of the two players who've been there and done that.
Joo Hyo-sang of the Kiwoom Heroes watches his game-winning double in the bottom of the 10th inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on June 18, 2020, in this photo provided by the Heroes. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Joo got a rare plate appearance Thursday, coming off the bench in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 2-2 game against the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Joo capitalized on that opportunity by smacking a walk-off double that clinched a 3-2 win.
It was only Joo's fourth at-bat of the season in his seventh game, and he only got into the game because Park has been out since Tuesday with a knee injury and the Heroes needed a backup to Lee. Joo was called up from the Futures League, the KBO's minor league, on Wednesday.
The Heroes selected Joo in their 2016 territorial draft -- a system where clubs pick prospects within their region -- but the Seoul High School product has yet to live up to expectations. He has never appeared in more than 80 games in a season, and carried a lifetime batting average of .207 into this season.
Joo said he harbors no bitterness over his lack of playing time.
"I am not playing because I am not yet good enough," Joo said matter-of-factly Thursday, after the excitement of his first career walk-off hit wore off. "I am not mad about that at well. It comes down to my ability."
And in his attempt to get better, he has been watching Park and Lee closely.
"I keep an eye on how they call games, and what pitches they ask for in certain situations," Joo said. "I also watch them closely at the plate."
In this file photo, from May 17, 2020, Joo Hyo-sang (L) and Cho Sang-woo of the Kiwoom Heroes bump fists after closing out a 9-4 victory over the LG Twins in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Joo said Park, 30, has taken him under his wing, even as the youngster is trying to steal his job.
"I am really grateful for his help. Even though I am supposed to be his competition, he's really taken good care of me," Joo said. "He has answered literally every question I've asked him, even some of the technical stuff."
Park is in the midst of a career season himself. Park hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season Tuesday before getting pulled with knee issues in that same game. He also leads the club with 29 RBIs, a surprise given the presence of more proven run producers like Park Byung-ho and Kim Ha-seong on the team. Park Dong-won is also batting .336/.398/.619, all career highs.
"I often ask him how he's been able to hit so well this year," Joo said of the fellow catcher. "I want to know what he's thinking at the plate."
Joo's career will take a bit of a pause after this season, as he's scheduled to begin his mandatory military service. But instead of going into combat duties, Joo plans to apply for a spot on the military club in the Futures League, Sangmu.
Joo said he wants to make the most of the time he has left with the Heroes this year.
"I am trying not to get caught up in numbers too much, and I don't want to have any regrets," Joo said. "And that was my mindset in the 10th inning today. I wanted to just swing the bat and not have any regrets afterward."
Joo Hyo-sang of the Kiwoom Heroes (C) celebrates with his teammates after hitting a game-winning double in the bottom of the 10th inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on June 18, 2020, in this photo provided by the Heroes. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--Hanwha Q Cells wins patent infringement suit in Germany

Jeong also said Q Cells will continue to take all necessary actions , including direct litigation , as well as @ @ @ @ @ when its rights are violated by another party in other regions .

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Q Cells, a South Korean solar cells and modules manufacturer, said Friday that it has won a patent infringement suit in Germany in a case that could boost its presence in the European country.
The Regional Court of Düsseldorf in Germany has ruled that three companies -- JinkoSolar GmbH, REC Solar EMEA GmbH and LONGi Solar Technologie GmbH -- breached Hanwha Q Cells' intellectual property rights by unlawfully incorporating Hanwha Q Cells' patented passivation technology into their solar cells.
The technology can significantly increase the efficiency of solar cells, according to Hanwha Q Cells.
This undated photo provided by Hanwha Q Cells shows the company's plant in Jincheon, 90 kilometers south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The court ruled that the three accused companies are legally obliged to take measures to recall the patent-infringing products distributed since January 30, 2019, from distribution channels.
It also granted a claim for destruction of patent-infringing products in possession of JinkoSolar, REC and LONGi Solar.
Daniel Jeong, chief technology officer of Q CELLS, welcomed the court decision.
"We are pleased that the Regional Court of Düsseldorf has confirmed what we knew to be true all along," Jeong said in a comment provided by the company.
Jeong also said Q Cells will continue to take all necessary actions, including direct litigation, as well as industry dialogue, if and when its rights are violated by another party in other regions.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--Seoul city to postpone opening of public swimming pools amid pandemic

But the plan was put on hold amid a continued rise in infections in the capital .
The fact that @ @ @ @ @ most frequent visitors prompted the city government to take a cautious approach .

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- With new coronavirus infections continuing to break out in South Korea's capital, swimming at public pools may not be possible this summer.
The Seoul metropolitan government on Friday announced plans to tentatively postpone the opening of swimming pools and water sports facilities by the Han River.
The city government had initially planned to open five of the eight swimming pools and facility zones by the river in late June and run them for roughly two months.
But the plan was put on hold amid a continued rise in infections in the capital. The fact that children are one of the most frequent visitors prompted the city government to take a cautious approach.
The city government plans to review the plan and announce its final decision next month.
On Thursday, South Korea added 59 new coronavirus cases, bringing its total COVID-19 caseload to 12,257, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of the total, 25 cases were reported in Seoul.
As part of efforts to contain the infectious virus, the government has extended toughened infection preventive measures in the greater Seoul area until further notice.
Visitors swim at a public pool in the eastern Seoul ward of Gwangjin on July 7, 2019. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--S. Korea's overseas direct investment drops in Q1 over pandemic

The value of investments made by South Korean companies came to US $ 12.62 billion in the first quarter , @ @ @ @ @ the same quarter last year , according to the data compiled by the Ministry of @ @ @ @

SEJONG, June 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's overseas direct investment dropped 15.3 percent on year in the first quarter of this year, as the coronavirus pandemic weighed on investment flows around the world, data showed Friday.
The value of investments made by South Korean companies came to US$12.62 billion in the first quarter, compared with $14.91 for the same quarter last year, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
South Korean companies invested $3.58 billion in the United States in the first quarter, down 7.1 percent on year.
The U.S. accounted for the largest share of South Korea's overseas investments at 28.4 percent.
South Korea's direct investment in China, where the pandemic originated, plunged 56.7 percent on-year to $730 million in the first quarter, according to the data.
By sector, investments made by South Korean financial and insurance companies slipped 31.3 percent on-year to $3.6 billion in the first quarter.
Manufacturing firms' combined investments plunged 55.4 percent on year to $2.6 billion in the quarter, according to the ministry.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--Seoul stocks open lower amid virus fears, NK risks

The index 's loss was largely attributed to the growing investor concerns over the high infection toll in major economies @ @ @ @ @ countered economic recovery hopes .

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares opened lower Friday amid concerns over a recent rise in new coronavirus infection cases here and abroad, with lingering inter-Korean tensions further spooking investors.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 8.06 points, or 0.38 percent, to 2,125.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The index's loss was largely attributed to the growing investor concerns over the high infection toll in major economies and at home, which countered economic recovery hopes.
The lingering tensions between the two Koreas also remain a negative factor for investor sentiment.
Pyongyang blew up a jointly built liaison office in its border town of Kaesong earlier this week.
Most large caps traded lower.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.96 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slipped 1.28 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics dropped 2.22 percent, while leading chemical maker LG Chem gained 0.41 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,213.75 won against the U.S. dollar, down 5.75 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--Lotte, Shilla to begin domestic sales of duty-free products next week

The customs office decided in late April to permit domestic sales of duty-free goods that were in stock for more @ @ @ @ @ effort to prop up the segment that has been hit hard by the new coronavirus @

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's two leading duty-free operators will begin to sell duty-free products through local retail channels next week as the government has decided to temporarily permit such sales to help the pandemic-hit sector, company officials said Friday.
Industry leader Lotte Duty Free and its rival, Shilla Duty Free, plan to release duty-free items at its local retail channels and via an online sales platform, respectively, next week.
The customs office decided in late April to permit domestic sales of duty-free goods that were in stock for more than six months in an effort to prop up the segment that has been hit hard by the new coronavirus.
Only a few customers are spotted at duty-free stores at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, in this photo taken May 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
Duty-free products hit local shelves for the first time early this month as No. 3 player Shinsegae International Inc. sold luxury duty-free items on its online shopping mall.
Duty-free operators have faced a slump as the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted air travel.
Duty-free stores saw their combined sales fall below the 1 trillion-won (US$824 million) mark for the first time in four years in April, according to industry data.
No. 2 player Shilla Duty Free plans to open an online channel next week to handle domestic sales of duty-free products. It will sell duty-free items of masstige brands at relatively affordable prices.
Lotte Duty Free plans to sell luxury foreign duty-free goods at eight department stores and discount malls in line with a state-led sales festival that kicks off next Friday.
The country's customs office earlier estimated that local duty-free operators may be able to secure some 160 billion won in cash with the eased sales rule.
Cosmetics, perfume, liquor and food will be excluded from the list of duty-free products to be sold at retail channels, due mainly to those products' shelf lives.
This photo, taken on May 27, 2020, shows duty-free shops at Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main gateway west of Seoul, where the number of customers has sharply fallen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--Nuclear envoys of S. Korea, U.S. meet amid N.K. tensions

Their meeting came as tensions are running high on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison @ @ @ @ @ troops to border areas to protest the sending of propaganda leaflets by defectors into the @ @

WASHINGTON, June 18 (Yonhap) -- The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States met in Washington on Thursday, a diplomatic source said, after North Korea threatened to take military action against the South.
Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and his U.S. counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, held talks at an undisclosed location earlier in the day, the source said on condition of anonymity.
Their meeting came as tensions are running high on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office and threatened to redeploy troops to border areas to protest the sending of propaganda leaflets by defectors into the North.
Lee arrived in the U.S. capital unannounced Wednesday, leading to speculation that he may have been sent as a special envoy by the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae.
He refused to answer reporters' questions about the purpose of his visit or whom he will be meeting.
Possible interlocutors were thought to include National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and Biegun, who doubles as the U.S. special representative for North Korea.
The State Department has expressed its disappointment at North Korea's recent actions to sever ties with the South and urged the communist country to refrain from "further counterproductive actions."
This file photo shows Lee Do-hoon (L), special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and his U.S. counterpart, Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--(LEAD) In memoir, Bolton says nuclear diplomacy with N. Korea was S. Korea's 'creation'

After Bolton told reporters that there was `` no doubt '' of a violation , Trump made his thoughts known @ @ @ @ @ `` North Korea fired off some small weapons , which disturbed some of my people @ @ @ @ @ not me .
I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me @ @ @ @ @ he called Swampman Joe Biden a low IQ individual , & worse .
Perhaps that @ @ @ @ @ ? ''

(ATTN: UPDATES with more reports on memoir in paras 8-18)
By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, June 18 (Yonhap) -- Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton has written in his upcoming memoir that the 2018 diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea were South Korea's "creation," more than a serious strategy on the part of Washington or Pyongyang, CNN reported Thursday.
In his book, "The Room Where It Happened," which is due to be published next week, Bolton writes extensively about his disagreements with Trump before, during and after his first summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June 2018, according to the news channel.
"The whole diplomatic fandango was South Korea's creation," Bolton was quoted as writing, "relating more to its 'unification' agenda than serious strategy on Kim's part or ours."
Bolton also claimed that Trump was "desperate to have the meeting at any price" and that Kim had him "hooked" at the Singapore summit.
This AFP photo shows then U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton looking on as President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on May 9, 2018. (Yonhap)
According to The New York Times, the former adviser also mocks a series of decisions by Trump. The decision to meet Kim in Singapore was a "foolish mistake," he writes, and Trump's desire to invite Kim to the White House was "a potential disaster of enormous magnitude."
In another article, The New York Times quoted Bolton as writing that Trump "spent weeks" fixated on trying to give Kim an autographed copy of Elton John's "Rocket Man" on CD.
Trump also wanted Kim to know that he used the nickname "Rocket Man" for the North Korean leader as a term of endearment, according to the paper.
According to Fox News, Bolton wrote that North Korea's short-range missile launches in May 2019 represented a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, but it was also "entirely possible for the launches to violate the resolutions without violating Kim's pledge to Trump, which involved only ICBM launches."
"It was equally true that Trump looked foolish for not understanding that Kim had, in effect, sold him the Brooklyn Bridge with that pledge, but we were never able to shake Trump's faith he had scored a coup in getting it," Bolton was quoted as writing.
After Bolton told reporters that there was "no doubt" of a violation, Trump made his thoughts known on Twitter, writing, "North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me. I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me, & also smiled when he called Swampman Joe Biden a low IQ individual, & worse. Perhaps that's sending me a signal?"
Bolton, however, also credited Trump on some counts.
"When Pompeo told Trump that North Korea wanted 'security guarantees' before denuclearization, Trump responded, 'This 'trust building' is horsesh--,' the smartest thing on Pyongyang he had said in months," Fox News quoted the memoir as saying. It did not state which of the three Trump-Kim meetings Bolton was referring to.
Bolton wrote that Pompeo was correct to add, "It's all an effort to weaken the sanctions, a standard delaying tactic."
Trump declared that the summit would be a "success no matter what."
"We just need to put on more sanctions, including on China for opening up the border. Kim is full of sh--, we have three hundred more sanctions we can impose on Friday," he said, according to Fox News' account of the memoir.
The book also depicted Pompeo's efforts to stop Trump from pulling U.S. troops out of various countries, including in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula, The Washington Post reported.
"Pompeo said he feared Trump was back to leaving the Peninsula entirely," Bolton wrote of the aftermath of one summit.
Trump took to Twitter to attack Bolton over his claims.
"When Wacko John Bolton went on Deface the Nation and so stupidly said that he looked at the 'Libyan Model' for North Korea, all hell broke out," he tweeted Thursday, referring to Bolton's April 2018 interview on the CBS show, "Face the Nation."
The Libya model centers on getting North Korea to first surrender its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and then receive concessions in return.
"Kim Jong Un, who we were getting along with very well, went 'ballistic,' just like his missiles -- and rightfully so," Trump continued. "He didn't want Bolton anywhere near him. Bolton's dumbest of all statements set us back very badly with North Korea, even now.
"I asked him, 'what the hell were you thinking?'" Trump added. "He had no answer and just apologized. That was early on, I should have fired him right then & there!"
Bolton left the administration in September after clashing with Trump on multiple policy issues, including North Korea.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--Four Korean War veterans laid to rest 70 yrs after outbreak of conflict

SEOUL , June 19 ( Yonhap ) -- Remains of four veterans , who were killed during the 1950-53 Korean @ @ @ @ @ a national cemetery Friday , seven decades after the outbreak of the conflict , the @ @ @

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- Remains of four veterans, who were killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, were buried at a national cemetery Friday, seven decades after the outbreak of the conflict, the Army said.
The burial ceremony took place at Daejeon National Cemetery, 160 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the military.
The remains of three of the veterans were found on Arrowhead Ridge in Cheorwon, inside the Demilitarized Zone, under a war remains excavation project South Korea launched last year following a bilateral military accord with the North.
Pyongyang was supposed to take part the joint project but has not responded to calls to begin the work.
The remains of the other soldier were found in the eastern county of Inje, according to the military.
"We will follow our predecessors' patriotism and military spirit, and continue to preserve lasting peace in South Korea," Army Chief of Staff Gen. Suh Wook said.
In this file photo, released by the defense ministry on May 8, 2020, soldiers excavate remains believed to be from a South Korean soldier killed in the 1950-53 Korean War at Arrowhead Ridge in the central section of the Demilitarized Zone in Cheorwon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--Relief pitcher trying to control pitches and mind in KBO after minor league stint

Also in that span , Yang has lowered his ERA all the way down to 3.38 , with just one @ @ @ @ @ .
He did n't give up a hit or a walk in five of his @ @ @ @ @ while also picking up two relief wins along the way .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- With each base hit and free pass he gave up, Kiwoom Heroes' reliever Yang Hyun was gradually losing his confidence on the mound.
For the early part of the 2020 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season, it was difficult to believe this was the same right-hander who posted a 1.99 ERA over 40 2/3 innings in 2019. Now in his age-28 season, Yang was supposed to take another step forward as a key member of the Heroes' bullpen this year.
Yang Hyun of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the Lotte Giants in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on June 17, 2020, in this photo provided by the Heroes. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
But after posting a 6.14 ERA in his eight games, covering 7 1/3 innings, Yang was demoted to the Futures League, the KBO's minor league. And instead of sulking, Yang used that time to get his act together.
"When I got sent down, I focused on pitching with more confidence and fixing my control," Yang said Thursday before the Heroes hosted the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "I felt the main reason for my early struggles was my lack of control, and that in turn led to the loss of some confidence."
Yang walked three batters in his first 7 1/3 innings in May before the demotion. Since being called up at the beginning of June, Yang has issued just one walk in 8 2/3 innings.
Also in that span, Yang has lowered his ERA all the way down to 3.38, with just one earned run allowed this month. He didn't give up a hit or a walk in five of his eight appearances in June, while also picking up two relief wins along the way.
In this file photo from June 2, 2020, Yang Hyun (L) and Lee Ji-young of the Kiwoom Heroes chat after their 15-3 victory over the Hanwha Eagles in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
For the season, Yang already has three wins, after recording just two wins combined over the past four seasons. Pitching wins are often dependent upon factors outside pitchers' control, and Yang admitted he has been "lucky" to be credited with so many wins already.
Yang observed that the ball seems to be jumping off the bat more than last year, even though the KBO has said the same ball that led to a significant downturn in offensive numbers in 2019 is in play in 2020.
"I'd be lying if I said the ball hasn't affected me this year," Yang said, adding that the ball feels the same coming out of his hand. "I think the ball travels farther than last year even when hitters don't hit it in the sweet spot."
Asked what he needs to do to survive in this pitching environment, Yang said succinctly, "I have to pitch with pinpoint control."
Yang Hyun of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the Lotte Giants in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on June 16, 2020, in this photo provided by the Heroes. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-19--Samsung to supply 5G network equipment to Canadian telco

Samsung has been trying to expand its 5G equipment customer pool recently .
The company has inked four 5G equipment @ @ @ @ @ months in countries such as the United States , Canada and New Zealand .

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea's leading tech firm, on Friday said it has been selected as the 5G network infrastructure supplier for Canadian telecommunications giant Telus Corp.
This is Samsung's second 5G equipment supply deal in Canada following its agreement with Videotron Ltd. in December.
"Deploying a 5G network for Telus exhibits Samsung's ongoing global commitment to advancing a new era in 5G expansion," Samsung said.
Samsung has been trying to expand its 5G equipment customer pool recently. The company has inked four 5G equipment contracts in the last seven months in countries such as the United States, Canada and New Zealand.
A visitor walks past Samsung Electronics Co.'s 5G network exhibition booth at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, the United States, on Jan. 8, 2019. (Yonhap)
With the U.S. pressuring China's Huawei Technologies Co., the world's top 5G equipment supplier, over security reasons, industry observers predicted that Samsung may further expand its presence in the 5G equipment market.
According to market tracker IHS Markit, Huawei was the leading player in the global 5G equipment market last year with a 26.2 percent share, followed by Sweden's Ericsson with 23.4 percent and Samsung with 23.3 percent.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


Friday's weather forecast

SEOUL , June 19 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .

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


KOSDAQ 743.35 UP 6.02 points (open)


KOSPI 2,153.09 UP 19.61 points (open)


yna--2020-06-19--Dollar opens at 1,212.5 won UP from 1,208.7 won