Yonhap News Summary

The Seoul High Court commuted its jail sentence for Choi Soon-sil , who was known as Park 's confidante during @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , from the previous 20 years to 18 years in the retrial , which @ @ @ @ @ Court last August .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
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(LEAD) No discussions on possible location shift of THAAD launchers in S. Korea: defense ministry
SEOUL -- No discussions have taken place with the United States about the possibility of moving THAAD missile interceptor launchers away from their battery in central South Korea to other parts of the country, the defense ministry said Friday.
Earlier, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency hinted at the possibility of separating the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) unit's launchers in the central county of Seongju in order to secure greater flexibility in its operation.
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(3rd LD) S. Korea remains vigilant against coronavirus, no new cases for 3rd straight day
SEOUL -- No new cases of the novel coronavirus were reported in South Korea for the third consecutive day, but health authorities remain vigilant to monitor how the outbreak is unfolding in two neighboring Asian countries.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the number of confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus remains unchanged at 28, with seven of them having been released from hospitals after making full recoveries.
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(2nd LD) KLM offers apology for barring S. Koreans from using toilet
SEOUL -- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the national flag carrier of the Netherlands, offered a public apology Friday for not allowing South Korean passengers to use an on-board toilet due to concerns about the new coronavirus.
The incident occurred on a KLM flight to Incheon from Amsterdam on Monday when a crew member posted a note written in Korean on the door of the restroom, which read "Lavatory For Crew Members Only."
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Court reduces jail sentence of former president's confidante in retrial
SEOUL -- A longtime friend of jailed former President Park Geun-hye was sentenced to 18 years in prison in a retrial of her corruption case at a Seoul appellate court on Friday.
The Seoul High Court commuted its jail sentence for Choi Soon-sil, who was known as Park's confidante during her presidency from 2013 to 2017, from the previous 20 years to 18 years in the retrial, which was ordered by the Supreme Court last August.
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Bong Joon-ho's detailed directing works behind the scene
SEOUL -- Even before Bong Joon-ho grabbed four Oscars, including best picture and best director, for his black comedy masterpiece "Parasite," the South Korean auteur was not a new kid on the block.
With seven features on his directorial career, including "Parasite," he has earned a nickname of "Bongtail" at home and abroad, a combination of his family name and the English word "detail."
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(LEAD) BOK chief says will maintain ample liquidity
SEOUL -- The head of South Korea's central bank said Friday the country will continue to maintain ample liquidity to help minimize the fallout from the outbreak of the new coronavirus amid growing market expectations for a rate cut down the road.
"I believe now is the time when we need everyone's efforts to minimize the impact of this crisis," Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Lee Ju-yeol told a Seoul meeting hosted by Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki to review the impact of the outbreak.
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(LEAD) S. Korea to spare no efforts to minimize economic impact of coronavirus
SEOUL -- South Korea will spare no efforts to minimize the economic fallout of the new coronavirus and draw up additional measures to support an economic recovery, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Friday.
Hong made the remarks in a meeting with Bank of Korea Gov. Lee Ju-yeol on Friday to discuss how to cope with the economic impact of the virus, which was recently named COVID-19.
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(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Gov't vows to work with Japan to help S. Korean passengers on quarantined cruise ship

On Thursday , Japan announced it will allow passengers over age 80 to leave the ship if they test negative @ @ @ @ @ give priority to those with a chronic illness or staying in cabins without windows .
@ @ @ @ @ under isolation until the middle of next week .

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will consult with Japan to best reflect the wishes of its citizens locked inside a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo following onboard outbreaks of the new coronavirus, an official said Friday, after criticism it is not doing enough to protect them.
Fourteen South Koreans -- nine passengers and five crew members -- have remained inside the Diamond Princess since the ship was quarantined at Yokohama Port early last week after confirming the first infection of the COVID-19.
While none of them have contracted the disease, questions have arisen over the government's response to the situation, as opposed to the recent flight evacuations of some 700 nationals from the virus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan.
"We're going to check with them and will consult with Japanese authorities so as to best reflect the passengers' positions," a foreign ministry official told reporters in response to questions of whether the government will help the South Koreans get off the ship.
The official noted that any decision concerning the people onboard needs to be made in step with Japan's policy, given that the neighboring country holds jurisdiction over the cruise ship.
This photo shows the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship docked at Yokohama Port, south of Tokyo, on Feb. 14, 2020, after reporting cases of its passengers infected with the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
The officials also cited that other countries like the United States, Australia and Canada that have far more citizens aboard the ship have not stated any plans yet to move them out.
"The situation in Japan is different from Wuhan," he said. "We are monitoring how these other countries are doing."
On Thursday, Japan announced it will allow passengers over age 80 to leave the ship if they test negative for the virus and will give priority to those with a chronic illness or staying in cabins without windows. They will also be put under isolation until the middle of next week.
Of the South Korean passengers on the ship, six people are in their 60s and two others in their 70s, with one person a 30-something, according to the ministry.
Japan has reported 44 more confirmed cases of the virus on the ship as of Thursday, with the total number of infections reaching 218 out of nearly 3,500 people aboard.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(LEAD) No discussions on possible location shift of THAAD launchers in S. Korea: defense ministry

The THAAD deployment has been one of the most sensitive diplomatic issues for South Korea , as China has taken @ @ @ @ @ 's hosting of the battery .
Seoul and Washington have stressed that the system aims @ @ @ @ @ the growing missile threats posed by North Korea .

(ATTN: ADDS more comments, info in paras 4, 10-12)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- No discussions have taken place with the United States about the possibility of moving THAAD missile interceptor launchers away from their battery in central South Korea to other parts of the country, the defense ministry said Friday.
Earlier, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency hinted at the possibility of separating the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) unit's launchers in the central county of Seongju in order to secure greater flexibility in its operation.
It is part of the U.S. plan to upgrade its seven THAAD batteries and related training equipment deployed around the world, for which the U.S. government sought a US$1 billion budget for next year. One of the batteries is a full six-launcher THAAD unit installed in Seongju in 2017-2018.
The relocation idea would meet strong opposition from local residents, and could spark the ire of China, which has long railed against the THAAD deployment, saying that the system could be used to spy on the country and hurts its national security interests.
On Friday, Seoul's defense ministry spokesperson, Choi Hyun-soo, said that Seoul and Washington "have never discussed such a matter as moving (the battery or launchers) outside the Seongju base."
While noting that the Seoul government was "briefed by the U.S. side on its work to improve THAAD capabilities," the spokesperson simply said it "will take time before plans are realized." She did not elaborate.
U.S. Forces Korea was not immediately available for comments on the matter.
During a press briefing on the 2021 defense budget on Monday, U.S. missile agency director, Vice Adm. Jon Hill, said, "If you can separate the launchers away from the battery, that gives you a lot of flexibility on the peninsula.
"So you could put the battery further back, you can move the radar back, you can put the launchers forward, you can bring in additional launchers. And so that capability is not in a typical THAAD battery today," he said.
The defense ministry also dismissed speculation that the U.S. is to deploy more launchers in South Korea, saying that the move, if any such scheme existed, could not be pursued by the U.S. alone.
"Regarding USFK's THAAD system upgrades, the (South Korean) government has not been notified of any plan for additional launchers or interceptors. We also understand that the U.S. side does not have plans for further deployment," the ministry said in a release.
Any additional measure regarding the THAAD system in Seongju "is subject to prior discussions between South Korea and the U.S.," it added.
The THAAD deployment has been one of the most sensitive diplomatic issues for South Korea, as China has taken economic retaliatory measures for Seoul's hosting of the battery. Seoul and Washington have stressed that the system aims only to better cope with the growing missile threats posed by North Korea.
This photo, taken Sept. 12, 2017, shows a launcher of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system being positioned at a U.S. military base in Seongju, 300 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--3 minor opposition parties to merge for April 15 general elections

This will give the new party 28 parliamentary seats when the merger , slated for next Monday , takes effect @ @ @ @ @ known to be loyal to Ahn Cheol-soo , a former presidential candidate who is moving @ @ @ @ @ , leave the merged party , it would still be able to create a formal @ @ @ @ @ of the country 's unicameral parliament .
At least 20 lawmakers are required for a @ @ @ @ @ negotiating power .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Three minor opposition parties announced a plan to merge Friday in a widely expected move that comes two months before the April 15 general elections, paving the way for them to become the third-largest political bloc in South Korea in terms of parliamentary seats, at least for now.
The Bareunmirae Party (BMP) and the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) agreed to be united with the New Alternative Party, which has seven lawmakers. They decided to name their new grouping the "Democratic Unity Party," translated into English. Its official English name has not been announced yet.
The BMP is composed of 17 lawmakers and the PDP has four National Assembly seats.
This will give the new party 28 parliamentary seats when the merger, slated for next Monday, takes effect. Even if seven lawmakers known to be loyal to Ahn Cheol-soo, a former presidential candidate who is moving to create a new party, leave the merged party, it would still be able to create a formal negotiating body on the floor of the country's unicameral parliament. At least 20 lawmakers are required for a party here to have such negotiating power.
Rep. Park Joo-hyun of the Party for Democracy and Peace (L), Rep. Park Joo-sun of the Bareunmirae Party (C) and Rep. You Sung-yop of the New Alternative Party pose for photos after announcing the merger of their parties at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Members of new party, many of whom were elected largely on support from voters in the southwestern provinces of North and South Jeolla four years ago, would be able to join bargaining on the demarcation of election districts to be held during a provisional session of the National Assembly to open next week.
The party would be headed by three co-leaders: Sohn Hak-kyu of the BMP, Rep. Chung Dong-young of the PDP and Rep. You Sung-yop of the New Alternative Party.
The fate of the united party remains uncertain, however, as President Moon Jae-in and the ruling Democratic Party (DP) have been drawing overwhelming support from voters in Gwangju and South and North Jeolla, which are traditional strongholds of the nation's liberal forces, unlike four years earlier.
Some observers expect the newly merged party to seek an election coalition with the DP.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Senior judge acquitted in power abuse scandal

Lim Seong-geun , a senior justice at the Seoul High Court , was indicted in March last year for meddling @ @ @ @ @ and 2016 .
He faced charges of abuse of power and obstruction of another person @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Friday acquitted another high-level judge implicated in a scandal involving alleged power abuses in the judiciary.
Lim Seong-geun, a senior justice at the Seoul High Court, was indicted in March last year for meddling in several trials between 2015 and 2016. He faced charges of abuse of power and obstruction of another person's exercise of right.
The Seoul Central District Court acknowledged that his interference in cases is "an unconstitutional behavior that infringes on the independence of judges" but ruled that the acts do not constitute the crimes charged.
"The defendant's intervention in trials is an illegal act using his senior position," the court said. "It amounts to a case that can be subject to disciplinary measures but not an abuse of authority."
Lim is one of scores of justices either prosecuted or disciplined for unfairly influencing sensitive trials and oppressing progressive judges under the previous Park Geun-hye administration.
Among them is former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae, who was arrested in January 2019 and awaits trial on charges including abuse of power. He was later released on bail.
Earlier this year, four senior justices involved in the scandal were cleared of similar charges.
This undated file photo shows judge Lim Seong-geun, who was cleared of power abuse charges on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Lim was indicted for having exerted his influence in 2015 on a libel suit filed by the government against a Japanese journalist who questioned then-President Park's whereabouts during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.
He allegedly pressured the judge to state during a hearing that the report by Tatsuya Kato of Japan's Sankei Shimbun was fraudulent. Kato was found not guilty.
Lim also allegedly requested a judge rewrite a sentencing statement on left-leaning lawyers charged with illegal demonstrations and stepped in to mitigate penalties on two professional baseball players involved in illegal overseas gambling.
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--(LEAD) Seoul shares close higher on eased outbreak concerns

`` The tremble in global stock markets on the previous day was due to the continued spread of the new @ @ @ @ @ positively viewed a drop in the number of confirmed and suspected cases .
Risk-taking behaviors @ @ @ @ @ a spike in the number of infected people and further spread of the virus in @ @ @ @ @ , '' NH Investment & Securities analyst Noh Dong-kil said .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields, photo)
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed higher Friday as investors became more open to risk-taking following a three-day hiatus in new coronavirus infection cases here. The Korean won fell slightly against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 10.63 points, or 0.48 percent, to close at 2,243.59. Trading volume was moderate at 589 million shares worth some 6.1 trillion won (US$5.15 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 490 to 335.
The index rebounded after opening lower on overnight losses on Wall Street that apparently came in the face of a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus infection cases in China.
This photo taken Feb. 14, 2020, shows the trading room at a KEB Hana Bank branch in Seoul. (Yonhap)
"The tremble in global stock markets on the previous day was due to the continued spread of the new coronavirus. Stocks markets had positively viewed a drop in the number of confirmed and suspected cases. Risk-taking behaviors weakened on the news of a spike in the number of infected people and further spread of the virus in Japan and the United States," NH Investment & Securities analyst Noh Dong-kil said.
China has so far reported over 60,000 confirmed cases with more than 10,000 cases added just overnight on Thursday, largely due to its fresh inclusion of suspected patients based only on their initial test results.
"The number of new confirmed cases released by China's Hubei Province today is 4,823, confirming that the number announced the day before was an one-off event. The World Health Organization shared a similar view. The U.S. stock market pared earlier losses following the WHO announcement," Noh added.
The Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.43 percent to close at 29,423.31 Thursday (U.S. time).
South Korea has reported 28 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, but no new case since Tuesday.
Foreign investors scooped up a net 93.6 billion worth of local shares while institutions dumped a net 108.4 billion won. Retail investors sold a net 1.3 billion won.
Large caps closed mixed.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics surged 1.81 percent to 61,800 won, with No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix spiking 2.45 percent to 104,500 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics lost 0.19 percent to 529,000 won while steel giant POSCO slipped 0.68 percent to 219,500 won.
Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor added 0.38 percent to 133,500 won, but top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis slipped 0.84 percent to 237,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,183.0 won against the dollar, down 0.20 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys gained 5.5 basis points to 1.330 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond added 5.0 basis points to 1.454 percent.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--S. Korean Bond Yields on Feb. 14, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Feb. 14, 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--2020-02-14--Court reduces jail sentence of former president's confidante in retrial

The 64-year-old Choi was convicted on charges of exploiting her ties with the former president and forcing 50 business conglomerates @ @ @ @ @ billion won to two nonprofit foundations she controlled .
She allegedly meddled in various state @ @ @ @ @ confidential government files even though she held no official position or authority in the Park @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- A longtime friend of jailed former President Park Geun-hye was sentenced to 18 years in prison in a retrial of her corruption case at a Seoul appellate court on Friday.
The Seoul High Court commuted its jail sentence for Choi Soon-sil, who was known as Park's confidante during her presidency from 2013 to 2017, from the previous 20 years to 18 years in the retrial, which was ordered by the Supreme Court last August.
In February 2018, Choi was sentenced by the same Seoul appellate court to 20 years in prison, a fine of 20 billion won (US$16.9 million) and a forfeit of 7 billion won for a string of corruption charges linked to a massive influence-peddling scandal that forced Park from office in early 2017.
This undated file photo shows Choi Soon-sil, an old friend of former President Park Geun-hye. (Yonhap)
The 64-year-old Choi was convicted on charges of exploiting her ties with the former president and forcing 50 business conglomerates to pay a combined 77.4 billion won to two nonprofit foundations she controlled. She allegedly meddled in various state affairs and gained access to confidential government files even though she held no official position or authority in the Park government.
But the Supreme Court sent Choi's case back to the Seoul High Court in August last year, saying she should be considered not guilty of some of the coercion charges.
In the previous retrial hearing last month, prosecutors demanded a prison term of 25 years, a fine of 30 billion won and a forfeit of 7.05 billion won.
Throughout her retrial, Choi pleaded not guilty, arguing that all the charges were fabricated under the pressure of public opinion.
In its new verdict, the Seoul High Court reduced her jail term by two years and slashed her forfeit to 6.3 billion won, while keeping her fine unchanged.
The corruption scandal surrounding Choi was brought to light in October 2016 when local cable network JTBC unveiled her tablet PC, indicating that she had meddled in state affairs using her ties with Park.
Park allegedly allowed Choi to gain access to drafts of presidential speeches and edit them, some of which were classified as confidential.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Woongjin Coway 2019 net profit down 5 pct. to 332.2 bln won

The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 458.3 billion won in operating profit for the year , @ @ @ @ @ the previous year .
Annual revenue rose 11.5 percent to 3.01 trillion won .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Woongjin Coway Co. on Friday reported its 2019 net income of 332.2 billion won (US$ 280.8 million), down 5 percent from a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 458.3 billion won in operating profit for the year, compared with 519.8 billion from the previous year. Annual revenue rose 11.5 percent to 3.01 trillion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Woongjin Coway Q4 net profit down 72.4 pct. to 19.3 bln won

The company said in a regulatory filing that operating income for the October-December period fell 65.4 percent on-year to 44.6 @ @ @ @ @ 11.7 percent to 794.6 billion won .

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Woongjin Coway Co. on Friday reported its fourth-quarter net profit of 19.3 billion won (US$ 16.3 million), down 72.4 percent from a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that operating income for the October-December period fell 65.4 percent on-year to 44.6 billion won. Sales increased 11.7 percent to 794.6 billion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Seoul shares close higher on eased outbreak concerns

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed higher Friday as investors became more open to risk-taking following a three-day hiatus in new coronavirus infection cases here. The Korean won fell slightly against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 10.63 points, or 0.48 percent, to close at 2,243.59. Trading volume was moderate at 589 million shares worth some 6.1 trillion won (US$5.15 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 490 to 335.
The index rebounded after opening lower on overnight losses on Wall Street that apparently came in the face of a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus infection cases in China.
"The tremble in global stock markets on the previous day was due to the continued spread of the new coronavirus. Stocks markets had positively viewed a drop in the number of confirmed and suspected cases. Risk-taking behaviors weakened on the news of a spike in the number of infected people and further spread of the virus in Japan and the United States," NH Investment & Securities analyst Noh Dong-kil said.
China has so far reported over 60,000 confirmed cases with more than 10,000 cases added just overnight on Thursday, largely due to its fresh inclusion of suspected patients based only on their initial test results.
"The number of new confirmed cases released by China's Hubei Province today is 4,823, confirming that the number announced the day before was an one-off event. The World Health Organization shared a similar view. The U.S. stock market pared earlier losses following the WHO announcement," Noh added.
The Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.43 percent to close at 29,423.31 Thursday (U.S. time).
South Korea has reported 28 confirmed cases of the COVID-19, but no new case since Tuesday.
Foreign investors scooped up a net 93.6 billion worth of local shares while institutions dumped a net 108.4 billion won. Retail investors sold a net 1.3 billion won.
Large caps closed mixed.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics surged 1.81 percent to 61,800 won, with No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix spiking 2.45 percent to 104,500 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics lost 0.19 percent to 529,000 won while steel giant POSCO slipped 0.68 percent to 219,500 won.
Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor added 0.38 percent to 133,500 won, but top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis slipped 0.84 percent to 237,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,183.0 won against the dollar, down 0.20 won from the previous session's close.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Summary of external news of North Korea this week

`` While Kim did not specify what this new weapon would be , recent engine testing suggests North Korea may @ @ @ @ @ even more capable ICBM design that could enhance Kim 's ability to threaten our homeland @ @ @ @ @ , '' O'Shaughnessy said .
( END )

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of external news of North Korea this week.
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U.S. official in Seoul for working group talks on N. Korea
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. State Department official involved in nuclear talks with North Korea arrived in South Korea on Sunday for a meeting of a bilateral policy coordination working group on the communist regime.
Alex Wong, U.S. deputy special representative for North Korea, is expected to meet with his South Korean counterpart, Rhee Dong-yeol, director general at the foreign ministry's Korean Peninsula Peace Regime bureau, for the working group talks Monday, according to foreign ministry officials.
He could also pay a courtesy call on Lee Do-hoon, the South's chief nuclear negotiator, and meet with other government officials here until he returns Wednesday.
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S. Korea, U.S. hold working group talks on N. Korea
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean officials briefed their U.S. counterparts Monday on Seoul's push to expand exchanges with North Korea, such as allowing individual trips to the communist nation, as they held a "working group" meeting to coordinate policy on Pyongyang, officials said.
U.S. officials, led by U.S. Deputy Special Representative for North Korea Alex Wong, expressed understanding of Seoul's position during the closed-door meeting with South Korean officials led by Rhee Dong-yeol, direct general at the foreign ministry's Korean Peninsula peace regime bureau, officials said.
Wong arrived in Seoul on Sunday for the talks.
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Trump does not want another summit with Kim before election: CNN
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump told his advisers that he does not want another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before the November presidential election, CNN quoted two sources as saying Monday.
The report comes as denuclearization negotiations between the two countries have stalled since the unfruitful second summit between Trump and Kim in February 2019.
"And as Trump focuses on his re-election campaign his appetite to engage on the issue has waned," CNN reported, citing the sources.
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U.S. flies patrol plane on apparent mission to monitor N. Korea
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. maritime surveillance plane has flown over South Korea this week, an aviation tracker said Tuesday, in the latest in a series of U.S. surveillance operations apparently aimed at monitoring North Korea.
According to Aircraft Spots, a P-3C plane of the U.S. Navy was spotted over South Korea on Monday.
The operation came just days after North Korea quietly marked the 72nd anniversary of its army's founding without a military parade.
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N. Korea exported $370 mln in coal in violation of sanctions last year: report
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korea exported some US$370 million worth of coal last year in violation of United Nations sanctions, a U.N. panel of experts was quoted as saying in a draft report Monday.
The transactions were largely carried out via illicit ship-to-ship transfers between North Korean vessels and Chinese barges, according to a report that is to be submitted to the U.N. Security Council committee overseeing North Korea sanctions implementation, Reuters said.
U.N. Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from exporting coal and other minerals that could be used to generate revenue for the regime's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
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Deputy nuke envoys of S. Korea, U.S. hold talks on N.K. dialogue, peninsula security
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- The deputy nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States held consultations in Seoul on Tuesday, officials said, amid joint efforts to resume stalled nuclear talks with North Korea.
Lee Moon-hee, director general at the foreign ministry's North Korean nuclear affairs bureau, met U.S. Deputy Special Representative for North Korea Alex Wong, foreign ministry officials said.
The meeting came a day after Wong held a "working group" session with Rhee Dong-yeol, director general at the ministry's Korean Peninsula peace regime bureau, to coordinate policy on Pyongyang.
------------
Trump plans to name No. 2 N.K. envoy as representative to U.N.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump plans to nominate the No. 2 U.S. envoy for North Korea as a representative to the United Nations, the White House said Tuesday.
Alex Wong, currently the deputy U.S. special representative for North Korea, has been tapped to serve as the U.S. alternative representative for special political affairs at the global body, with the rank of ambassador, the White House said in a press release.
The planned nomination adds to uncertainty about the future of denuclearization negotiations between the United States and North Korea, which have stalled since an unfruitful summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in February 2019.
------------
Trump open to summit with Kim if it produces deal: O'Brien
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump is open to having another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un but only if it will lead to a nuclear deal, his national security adviser said Tuesday.
Robert O'Brien told an audience at the Atlantic Council think tank that the president has been clear about that and will act independently of any political considerations.
O'Brien spoke a day after CNN reported that Trump has told his advisers he does not want another summit with Kim before the November presidential election in the United States. The view within the administration is that the risks of resuming denuclearization talks far outweigh the potential benefits, it said.
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U.S. Treasury says it will continue to use financial sanctions against N. Korea
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Treasury Department will continue to focus on applying financial sanctions against North Korea, according to the agency's budget request for fiscal year 2021.
In the budget proposal published on the Treasury's website this week, the department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence outlined its efforts last year to support the administration's efforts to achieve the final and fully verified denuclearization of North Korea.
TFI said that in fiscal year 2019 it sanctioned more than 20 individuals, entities and vessels linked to North Korea.
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U.S. voices deep concern over vulnerability of N.K. people to coronavirus outbreak
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- The United States is "deeply concerned" about the vulnerability of the North Korean people to the new coronavirus, the State Department said Thursday, stressing its support for aid agencies seeking to help contain the spread of the deadly virus in the communist state.
Pyongyang has yet to report any confirmed case of COVID-19 that first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December, amid speculation that it may have difficulty testing or treating its citizens due to a lack of medical supplies.
"The United States is deeply concerned about the vulnerability of the North Korean people to a coronavirus outbreak," the State Department said in a press statement posted on its website Thursday.
------------
U.S. commander says N. Korea may be ready to flight-test advanced ICBM
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea may be prepared to test-fire an advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to threaten the U.S. mainland, the U.S. northern commander has said, citing rocket engine tests Pyongyang conducted in December.
Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, commander of the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, made the remark in a statement submitted for a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Thursday, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's earlier warning of a "new strategic weapon" and a "shocking actual action."
"While Kim did not specify what this new weapon would be, recent engine testing suggests North Korea may be prepared to flight-test an even more capable ICBM design that could enhance Kim's ability to threaten our homeland during a crisis or conflict," O'Shaughnessy said.
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Summary of inter-Korean news this week

Summary of inter-Korean news this week

`` We will continue to seek ways to expand cross-border relations in the fields of tourism , which North Korea @ @ @ @ @ and railways and roads that connect land and sea , as well as the two @ @ @ @ @ Zone and border areas , '' Kim told a forum in the eastern provincial county @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of inter-Korean news this week.
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Unification minister reaffirms need to push for inter-Korean exchanges
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul on Sunday reaffirmed the need to push for inter-Korean cooperation in railways, roads and tourism, as South Korea seeks to expand cross-border exchanges as part of efforts to continue its engagement with North Korea.
"We will continue to seek ways to expand cross-border relations in the fields of tourism, which North Korea has been focusing on, and railways and roads that connect land and sea, as well as the two Koreas, in the Demilitarized Zone and border areas," Kim told a forum in the eastern provincial county of PyeongChang.
PyeongChang hosted the Winter Olympic Games in early 2018, an event that paved the way for detente between Seoul and Pyongyang that eventually led to a series of historic inter-Korean summits and summit talks between the North and the United States.
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Individual tourism to N. Korea not subject to consultations with U.S.: ministry
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's push to allow its citizens to go on tours to North Korea on an individual basis is not subject to consultations with the United States as such tourism is not banned under U.N. sanctions, the unification ministry said Monday.
South Korea and the U.S. held a "working-level" meeting in Seoul on Monday to coordinate their policy toward North Korea at which such issues as individual trips to the North were expected to be addressed. Deputy Special Representative for North Korea Policy Alex Wong arrived in Seoul for the meeting Sunday.
Seoul has worked on allowing individual trips to the North to move stalled inter-Korean relations forward amid a protracted stalemate in denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Seoul says that such trips do not violate global sanctions.
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Seoul stresses need to reopen Kaesong complex
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- The shuttered inter-Korean industrial complex in North Korea's border city of Kaesong must reopen to help bring lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula, the unification ministry said Monday, marking the fourth anniversary of the closure of the factory park.
In 2016, Seoul closed the Kaesong Industrial Complex in retaliation against the North's fourth nuclear test. Efforts to resume the complex since then have made little progress amid a protracted stalemate in denuclearization talks.
"The government maintains the position that it is certainly necessary to resume the Kaesong Industrial Complex as a means to improve inter-Korean relations and to build lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, said in a regular press briefing.
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High-profile N. Korean defector to run in S. Korea's spring election: party
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016, plans to run in the April 15 general elections here as a member of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), a party official announced Monday.
Kim Hyong-o, head of the LKP's election candidate selection panel, said Thae has joined the conservative party for a race in a Seoul constituency and not in pursuit of a National Assembly seat from proportional representation.
"I think he would probably be the first North Korean defector" who is engaged in an electoral competition in a South Korean constituency, Kim said.
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N.K. denounces S. Korea's main opposition party for recruiting defector for elections
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean propaganda outlet lashed out at South Korea's main opposition party on Thursday over its decision to enlist a North Korean defector, known for his appearance at a U.S. State of the Union address, ahead of April's general elections.
Last month, the Liberty Korea Party (LKP) announced its decision to recruit Ji Seong-ho as one of the new faces who will run for the April 15 parliamentary elections. Ji is known for his surprise appearance at U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech in 2018.
As Trump introduced Ji during the address, Ji triumphantly held up his crutches, drawing a standing ovation. He is believed to have lost an arm and a leg in a train accident in 1996 when he passed out on a railway due to starvation after attempting to steal coal. He defected to the South in 2006.
(END)


yna--2020-02-14--Key developments on North Korea this week

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- The following are key developments regarding North Korea this week.
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Feb. 8 -- N. Korea marks founding anniversary of armed forces in low-key manner
10 -- S. Korea, U.S. hold working group talks on N. Korea
-- CNN reports Trump does not want another summit with Kim before election
11 -- N. Korea's premier visits quarantine headquarters amid no confirmed cases of coronavirus
-- White House says Trump plans to name No. 2 N.K. envoy as representative to U.N.
13 -- U.S. voices deep concern over vulnerability of N.K. people to coronavirus outbreak
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--First group of 366 Wuhan evacuees released after 2 weeks in quarantine

The KCDC said that as a precautionary measure , all evacuees have been told to carefully check themselves for signs @ @ @ @ @ developments to medical authorities .
They are to be issued a medical certificate saying they @ @ @ @ @ virus and will be contacted 2-3 times per day to see how they are getting @ @ @ @ @ quarantine .

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- The first group of 366 South Koreans evacuated from Wuhan, China, has been released after two weeks of quarantine with all testing negative for the novel coronavirus, the public health agency said Saturday.
The evacuees arrived in the country on Jan. 31, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. They were airlifted out of the central Chinese city that is thought to be the epicenter of the viral outbreak on a special chartered flight.
Since the first case of the virus was reported in the country on Jan. 21, Seoul confirmed 28 cases, with seven people who were infected being released from hospitals after making full recoveries. Others being treated are also in stable condition with none being seriously ill.
Of the total, 193 evacuees had been kept in isolation in Asan, 90 kilometers south of Seoul, and 173 stayed in Jincheon, 91 kilometers southeast of the capital. All were discouraged from meeting others in the facilities for fear of person-to-person transmission with no outside visitors allowed.
The KCDC said that they had been carefully monitored by medical personnel around the clock with the final tests carried out on all evacuees turning up negative for the COVID-19 virus.
Of the 701 people airlifted in the first two flights, only two were infected, with none of the 147 people brought back this week on the third chartered flight testing positive for the illness so far.
The KCDC said that as a precautionary measure, all evacuees have been told to carefully check themselves for signs of illness and report any developments to medical authorities. They are to be issued a medical certificate saying they have been checked for the virus and will be contacted 2-3 times per day to see how they are getting along after being released from quarantine.
A car is sprayed with disinfectant as it leaves the National Human Resources Development Center in Jincheon, 91 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Feb. 4, 2020. The public facility housed South Korean evacuees airlifted out of Wuhan, China. (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--(URGENT) 173 Wuhan evacuees released from Jincheon facility after 2 weeks in quarantine


yna--2020-02-15--No new coronavirus infection reported for 4th straight day; cases unchanged at 28

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

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Saturday reported no additional novel coronavirus case for the fourth day in a row, with the total number of cases tallied remaining unchanged at 28, according to public health authorities.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said a total of seven patients have been released from hospitals after fully recovering from the COVID-19 virus.
The number of people who have tested negative for the virus reached 6,853 as of early Saturday, with another 638 undergoing tests for possible infection, the KCDC said.
The KCDC said 21 patients currently being treated for the virus at hospitals are in stable condition.
The public health agency earlier said more patients will be discharged from hospitals soon after undergoing final screenings.
South Korea has been beefing up its efforts to stem the spread of the virus. Starting Wednesday, strict quarantine screening has been enforced against entrants from Hong Kong and Macao, in addition to mainland China.
Passengers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao are now required to use separate arrival counters at international airports across the country and must write a special quarantine report, filling out health questionnaires to check whether they have a fever or respiratory problems. They must also download a mobile application to report their health status every day.
Lotte Group employees in protective suits disinfect a traditional market in Songpa Ward in southeastern Seoul on Feb. 14, 2020, in this photo provided by the retail and trading giant. Many small-scale merchants have raised concerns that COVID-19 fear is seriously hurting their businesses as fewer people leave their homes to shop. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--(URGENT) 193 Wuhan evacuees released from Asan facility after 2 weeks in quarantine


yna--2020-02-15--(URGENT) No new coronavirus infection reported for 4th straight day; cases unchanged at 28


yna--2020-02-15--Seoul stocks expected to advance next week on chip market recovery

`` This was largely due to China 's health authorities expanding the scope of people infected with the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ number of confirmed cases is due to a change in the criterion for diagnosis , @ @ @ @ @ preference for safer assets , '' Noh added .

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks will likely continue their upward movement next week largely led by tech gains, despite the lingering effects of the new coronavirus outbreak, local analysts said Saturday.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,243.59 Friday, up 1.4 percent from a week earlier.
"Major stocks markets in Asia faced increased fluctuations this week due to the spread of the coronavirus," NH Investment & Securities analyst Noh Dong-kil said, noting the number of confirmed cases in China jumped by more than 10,000 to over 60,000 on Thursday.
"This was largely due to China's health authorities expanding the scope of people infected with the virus. As the increase in the number of confirmed cases is due to a change in the criterion for diagnosis, investors will likely abandon their preference for safer assets," Noh added.
The analyst also noted when the country faced the SARS outbreak in 2003, the KOSPI began to rebound a month before the number of infection cases reached its peak.
"The Chinese government and experts believe the peak will be reached in late February. There is little possibility the stock market will give up its advances so far," he said.
Instead, the local market will likely get a further boost from improved outlooks for the global chip market, Noh insisted.
"The KOSPI may experience some fluctuations but will likely maintain its upward movement on the global economic recovery and expected rise in profit for chipmakers," he said.
South Korea's exports had dropped for 14 consecutive months as of January, partly due to low global prices of semiconductors that account for nearly one quarter of the country's overall exports.
Foreign investors were net sellers this week, dumping a net 244.7 billion won (US$206.8 million) worth of local shares. Institutions sold a net 134 billion won while individuals purchased a net 256 billion won.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--Mobile carriers beef up VR content amid 5G expansion

The three -- SK Telecom Co. , KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- commercialized 5G telecommunication last year and @ @ @ @ @ more 5G subscribers .
Taking advantage of 5G 's high speed and low latency , @ @ @ @ @ VR content for various sectors -- from entertainment and education -- to stimulate the market @

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's three major mobile carriers are beefing up their virtually reality (VR) content and related services, industry insiders said Saturday, as they aim to attract more customers amid their 5G expansion.
The three -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- commercialized 5G telecommunication last year and have been focusing on securing more 5G subscribers. Taking advantage of 5G's high speed and low latency, they are now rolling out VR content for various sectors -- from entertainment and education -- to stimulate the market.
SK Telecom said it has joined with local online game giant Nexon Co. and VR game developer Pixelity Games Inc. and started beta testing for a VR game called "Crazy World VR." Under the deal, SK Telecom and Pixelity will cooperate on game development, while Nexon will allow them to use popular characters from its online games.
This photo provided by SK Telecom Co. on Feb. 13, 2020, shows models presenting the virtual reality game "Crazy World VR." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The country's largest mobile carrier also said it has partnered with psychiatry specialists at Yongin Severance Hospital to develop a VR video program named "Mindfulness Exercise" that aims to relieve stress in workers in their 30s and 40s.
With education technology startup Marvrus Inc., SK Telecom said it has developed a VR-based language learning app called "Speakit."
"To expand and pioneer the VR service market, we are cooperating with various companies from development to marketing," said Jeon Jin-soo, head of the 5GX service business division at SK Telecom.
KT said it will start the industry's first 8K commercial VR streaming service next month.
The company has been offering its 4K wireless standalone VR media service, Super VR, with various VR content since July. KT said its upcoming 8K VR streaming service combines its 5G network technology and Silicon Valley-based startup AlcaCruz Inc.'s streaming solution.
This photo provided by KT Corp. on Feb. 13, 2020, shows models demonstrating KT's virtual reality (VR) service, Super VR. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
To provide better 8K VR content, KT joined forces with VR content creator AVA Entertainment Co. They will together aim to produce 100 8K VR videos, with content ranging from K-Pop to South Korea's traditional culture, by the end of this year.
LG Uplus has been offering a VR version of hit educational comic book series "Why?" since last week. The company also announced earlier this week that it has joined hands with the KBS Symphony Orchestra to create 5G-only VR content.
LG Uplus signed a partnership with Google last year under which the two sides will collaborate on VR content creation and global distribution.
South Korea's No. 3 mobile carrier last month expanded its partnership with Google, working with it in the field augmented reality (AR) content.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--S. Korean cinemas draw record 220 mln spectators in 2019

Having sold 16.28 million tickets , `` Extreme Job '' was the most watched title in South Korea in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ film `` Avengers : Endgame '' with 13.93 million in ticket sales , Walt Disney @ @ @ @ @ with 13.37 million , Hollywood animation `` Aladdin '' with 12.55 million and finally the @ @ @ @ @ Parasite '' with 10.09 million , according to the report .

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- A record 220 million spectators visited movie theaters in South Korea last year, helping a record five films garner more than 10 million viewers each, a report showed Saturday.
According to a report on the South Korean movie industry in 2019 published by the Korean Film Council, the country's movie theaters received a total of 226.68 million spectators last year, up 4.8 percent from a year earlier and the most in Korean cinema history.
Combined revenues by the film industry came to 1.9 trillion won (US$1.6 billion) last year, up 5.5 percent on-year and the highest number on record as well.
On the back of the increased inflow of spectators, a record five titles, led by Korean comedy cop film "Extreme Job," topped the milestone of 10 million spectators, the report showed.
Having sold 16.28 million tickets, "Extreme Job" was the most watched title in South Korea in 2019, followed by American superhero film "Avengers: Endgame" with 13.93 million in ticket sales, Walt Disney animation "Frozen 2" with 13.37 million, Hollywood animation "Aladdin" with 12.55 million and finally the Oscar-winning Korean black comedy "Parasite" with 10.09 million, according to the report.
Korean films accounted for 51 percent of all ticket sales recorded last year, and their combined revenue came to a record high 970.8 billion won.
South Korea also retained its world No. 1 status in terms of the average number of annual visits to movie theaters.
The average South Korean watched 4.37 movies in theaters last year, the highest number worldwide, followed by No. 2 Iceland, where the corresponding number came to 4.32.
The average earning rate by the 45 Korean commercial films released in 2019 swung to the black from red ink in 2018, but it was single-handedly due to the unusually strong commercial success of "Extreme Job."
The average earning rate by the 45 Korean films stood at 5.9 percent, a turnaround from minus 4.8 percent in 2018.
But excluding the strong performance of "Extreme Job," the average earning rate of the remaining 44 films came to minus 8.1 percent, the report showed.
Korean indie and art films, however, had a bad year in 2019, drawing a combined 8.1 million spectators, down 5.6 percent from a year earlier. Indie and art films accounted for only 3.6 percent of the total moviegoers last year, the lowest figure in five years, the report also showed.
This image from "Extreme Job" was provided by CJ Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on Feb. 15)

In her column titled `` Boycott the DP , '' Lim criticized the ruling party for failing to live up @ @ @ @ @ wake of the removal of former President Park Geun-hye , due to its determination to @ @ @ @ @ Moon Jae-in 's term .
She does not name anyone or speak slanderously .
The @ @ @ @ @ for filing a criminal complaint against her for violating election laws .

The arrogance threshold
Under the Constitution of Korea, every citizen has the freedom of expression. Article 21 stipulates the freedom of press and publication as well as the freedom of assembly. Any form of censorship that can hamper free expression is outlawed.
The Democratic Party (DP) filed a criminal complaint against Korea University Professor Lim Mi-ri and a newspaper for carrying a critical column, which seriously undermines this democratic principle. The ruling party ended up withdrawing the complaint following a public backlash.
But it publicly questioned Lim's motivation for her column, claiming the professor used to work for Ahn Cheol-soo. It did not issue an apology or express regret for its wrongful act.
Such behavior raises questions about its eligibility as a ruling party — or any kind of political party with a duty to uphold constitutional values. The press is a forum for people of diverse voices and feelings to share their opinions on various social issues to advance democracy. The people's voice must be heard to prevent the powerful from dominating.
The DP should be ashamed for undermining constitutional values instead of defending freedom of the press and the people's right to express themselves in a democracy.
In her column titled "Boycott the DP," Lim criticized the ruling party for failing to live up to public expectations in the wake of the removal of former President Park Geun-hye, due to its determination to hold onto power beyond President Moon Jae-in's term. She does not name anyone or speak slanderously. The DP has manifested its arrogance for filing a criminal complaint against her for violating election laws.
The move could be seen as an attempt to silence any anti-government voices among intellectuals. Such censorship can only be thinkable in military or authoritarian regimes.
Members of the party demanded the withdrawal of the complaint and reminded the powers that be that the public was very sensitive about arrogance in power. The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, one of the biggest supporters of the Moon government, issued a statement lambasting the party for impairing freedom of expression.
The right to free expression does not excuse slander or defamation on an individual or an organization. The DP must go back to its humble start when it promised unity and communication with the people.
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Feb. 15)

(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Feb. 15)

For this reason , Thae may succeed in appealing to conservative voters who value security more than inter-Korean reconciliation .
@ @ @ @ @ he promised to work for the unification of the divided nation if elected .
As @ @ @ @ @ win could give inspiration to the nearly 40,000 defectors from the impoverished North .
It @ @ @ @ @ North Koreans suffering under the dictatorship .
Furthermore his possible election may serve as a @ @ @ @ @ Koreas toward unification .

Defector's ambitious bid
: Thae declares candidacy in general election
A high-profile North Korean defector has announced his bid to run in the upcoming April 15 general election. Thae Yong-ho, a former ranking North Korean diplomat, said Tuesday that he will run in a constituency in Seoul for the election. His announcement came one day after he joined the main conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).
His candidacy is drawing lots of attention as he is the first North Korean defector to run in an election here. A defector from the North served as a legislator under the proportional representation system between 2012 and 2016. He is Cho Myong-chol, a former professor at Kim Il-sung University, who defected to South Korea in 1994.
Thae, if successful, will emerge as a popularly-elected lawmaker. Therefore his ambitious bid for a National Assembly seat carries significant meaning. Running in any election is a challenge for anyone here in the South. It is all the more challenging for anyone from the North. It is particularly difficult for defectors to woo voters because of a lack of a support base.
Yet, considering his vigorous activities since his defection to the South in 2016, Thae may stand a high chance of winning the race on the ticket of the LKP. He worked as a researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy from 2017 to 2018.
He has basked in the media spotlight for his efforts to reveal the true picture of the brutal North Korean regime. He has repeatedly pointed out that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will never give up his nuclear arsenal. He has warned of risks involving denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington.
For this reason, Thae may succeed in appealing to conservative voters who value security more than inter-Korean reconciliation. Announcing his election bid, he promised to work for the unification of the divided nation if elected. As he said, his potential win could give inspiration to the nearly 40,000 defectors from the impoverished North. It could also give hope to North Koreans suffering under the dictatorship. Furthermore his possible election may serve as a catalyst for moving the two Koreas toward unification.
The LKP recruited Thae as part of its efforts to expand its conservative support base in the run-up to the elections. So this is seen as a strategic move to promote conservative causes in a showdown with the liberal Moon Jae-in government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).
However, the LKP should be careful not to escalate ideological confrontation with the ruling camp by fielding Thae as a candidate. The conflict between the left and right has already reached a dangerous point which could hamper fair competition among rival candidates.
Under this situation, Thae and his party had better go beyond narrow-minded ideologies and promote universal values including freedom and human rights. Otherwise, they may fail to win the hearts and minds of voters. They also must present policies to root out discrimination against North Korean defectors and better protect their rights. It is also necessary to present new visions for unification with the North and peace on the peninsula.
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on Feb. 15)

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

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


Saturday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Feb. 15 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-02-15--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- Taxi drivers face more challenges in 2020 amid emergence of riding platform services ( Kyunghyang Shinmun ) @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus-related fake contents ( Kookmin Daily ) -- Technology under development to separately operate THAAD @ @ @ @ @ ( Donga llbo ) -- Druking gets prison term ( Seoul Shinmun ) -- Gov't @ @ @ @ @ sale of hedge funds without enough explanation ( Segye Times ) -- Japan 's quarantine @ @ @ @ @ outbreak ( Chosun Ilbo ) -- Checking process for possible coronavirus at hospitals needs to @ @ @ @ @ ) -- Gov't to strengthen measures to prevent sale of hedge funds without enough explanation @ @ @ @ @ of shared kitchen becoming popular among small restaurants ( Hankook Ilbo ) -- 4,037 South @ @ @ @ @ other reasons in 2019 ( Maeil Business Newspaper ) -- Retail investors suffer 1 tln @ @ @ @ @ in hedge funds sold without enough explanation ( Korea Economic Daily )

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on Feb. 15.
Korean-language dailies
-- Taxi drivers face more challenges in 2020 amid emergence of riding platform services (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- IT firms to handle coronavirus-related fake contents (Kookmin Daily)
-- Technology under development to separately operate THAAD missile launchers and their battery (Donga llbo)
-- Druking gets prison term (Seoul Shinmun)
-- Gov't to mend system to prevent sale of hedge funds without enough explanation (Segye Times)
-- Japan's quarantine system highly vulnerable to coronavirus outbreak (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Checking process for possible coronavirus at hospitals needs to be improved (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Gov't to strengthen measures to prevent sale of hedge funds without enough explanation (Hankyoreh)
-- Idea of shared kitchen becoming popular among small restaurants (Hankook Ilbo)
-- 4,037 South Koreans emigrate for education, other reasons in 2019 (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- Retail investors suffer 1 tln won in loss from investments in hedge funds sold without enough explanation (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- Thaad item in Trump's new budget alarms Seoul (Korea JoongAng Daily)
-- Japan cruise ship virus cases jump to 218 (Korea Herald)
-- THAAD controversy resurfaces as US seeks to extend range (Korea Times)
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--S. Korea, U.S., Japan to hold trilateral foreign ministers' talks in Munich

They could also discuss ongoing efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus , which has not only posed @ @ @ @ @ but also caused disruptions to global supply chains that are feared to chip away at @ @ @ @

By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan are set to hold trilateral talks on the margins of a security forum in Germany on Saturday, amid joint efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea and promote stability in the Middle East.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her U.S. and Japanese counterparts -- Mike Pompeo and Toshimitsu Motegi -- will meet in the morning on the sidelines of the annual three-day Munich Security Conference in Munich, which will run through Sunday.
The three are expected to exchange views on cooperation in resuming stalled nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang and addressing tensions in the Middle East, which stemmed from confrontation between the U.S. and Iran.
They could also discuss ongoing efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which has not only posed health risks to their citizens but also caused disruptions to global supply chains that are feared to chip away at the global economy.
Kang, Pompeo and Motegi last held a trilateral meeting in San Francisco last month.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (L) and her U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Mike Pompeo (C) and Toshimitsu Motegi, pose for a photo before their talks in San Francisco on Jan. 14, 2020, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Also in Munich, Kang and Motegi will hold bilateral talks to discuss a wide range of pending issues, including joint efforts to address a protracted row over Japan's export restrictions and its wartime forced labor.
Kang is likely to renew Seoul's calls to retract Tokyo's export curbs seen as political retaliation for 2018 Supreme Court rulings that ordered Japanese firms to compensate victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonization of the Korean Peninsula.
Seoul has recently stressed the "temporary" nature of its November decision to put off the expiry of a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan in an apparent move to pressure Japan to retract its export curbs amid little progress in related government talks.
In response to Tokyo's export curbs, Seoul announced in August that it would withdraw from the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). But it reversed the pullout decision, albeit temporarily, in the face of opposition from Washington, the two countries' shared ally.
Kang and Motegi could also touch on the issue of 14 South Koreans currently aboard a Japanese cruise ship in Yokohama, which was quarantined earlier this month after the coronavirus was detected in a person who disembarked from the ship in Hong Kong last month.
Kang and Pompeo could also meet bilaterally, though their meeting schedule has yet to be finalized.
If their talks take place, the two sides may discuss ongoing negotiations over the sharing of the cost for stationing 28,500 American troops in South Korea.
They could also discuss Seoul's push for individual trips to the North and other inter-Korean cooperation projects as part of efforts to enhance cross-border relations and help resume stalled nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--Railcars seen at Yongbyon, inbound shipment of radioactive material unlikely: U.S. think tank

Negotiations between the sides have stalled since the U.S. rejected the offer , with CNN reporting earlier this week that @ @ @ @ @ he does not want another summit with Kim before the U.S. presidential election in November @

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Recent satellite imagery shows the presence of specialized railcars at North Korea's main nuclear complex, a U.S. think tank said, downplaying any association with the inbound shipment of radioactive material.
In an article published earlier this week, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said there were three specialized railcars at the Yongbyon nuclear facility in satellite imagery it obtained Monday.
Those railcars have previously been associated with the movement of radioactive material and were last spotted by the think tank in November, it said.
"The size and number of the casks observed on the railcars suggest the outbound shipment of irradiated liquid or solid waste, disassembled but contaminated equipment or, potentially, the movement of fissile materials," the article said. "A less likely alternative is the inbound shipment of radioactive material."
What the image does suggest is that the facility remains active and would need to be part of any denuclearization agreement between the United States and North Korea, the think tank added.
North Korea offered to dismantle the complex in exchange for major sanctions relief at the February 2019 summit between its leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Negotiations between the sides have stalled since the U.S. rejected the offer, with CNN reporting earlier this week that Trump has told his advisers he does not want another summit with Kim before the U.S. presidential election in November.
CSIS said it is unclear whether the presence of the railcars is a "carefully calibrated move" by North Korea to "maneuver international diplomatic tensions" or related to the regime's warnings in recent weeks of an unwanted "Christmas gift" or a "new strategic weapon."
This EPA file photo shows the Yongbyon nuclear facility in North Korea. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--700 Korean evacuees to be released from two-week quarantine

They were declared free of the virus in the final test on Thursday and permitted to go home , according @ @ @ @ @ Interior and Safety .
The do not require follow-up medical checks after discharge , the @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- Seven hundred South Koreans repatriated from a Chinese city at the center of the new coronavirus outbreak are set to be released from quarantine in two provincial towns on Saturday and Sunday.
They have stayed in isolation at two state-run facilities in Asan and Jincheon, both about 90 kilometers south of Seoul, for more than two weeks, the estimated incubation period of COVID-19.
They were declared free of the virus in the final test on Thursday and permitted to go home, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The do not require follow-up medical checks after discharge, the ministry said.
The Asan compound has accommodated 527 people, with 173 in Jincheon.
On Saturday, a total of 366 evacuees who arrived from the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Jan. 31 -- 193 in Asan and 173 in Jincheon -- will be freed.
The following day, the Asan facility will free 333 people who arrived on Feb. 1 and a non-evacuee who has been there to take care of his two children.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Interior and Safety Minister Chin Young plan to attend farewell ceremonies there.
The government will mobilize 37 buses to transport them to major locations near their homes, officials said.
The ministry added that 111 civil servants, who supported them at the facilities, will also be released on Sunday and Monday after completing disinfection and waste disposal.
This undated file photo shows the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, about 90 kilometers south of Seoul, where 173 South Koreans evacuated from Wuhan, a Chinese city at the center of the new coronavirus outbreak, were quarantined. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--(Spring Training) Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin joined by personal trainer in camp

Ryu said he and Kim started working together in South Korea weeks before he reported to camp in Dunedin , @ @ @ @ @ .
And after watching Ryu go through his stretching and fielding drills , Kim said @ @ @ @ @ his client was physically .

By Yoo Jee-ho
DUNEDIN, United States, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Toronto Blue Jays' South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin was joined in spring training by his new personal trainer on Friday.
Kim Byung-gon, who has previously worked with the South Korean ball club LG Twins, will be on the Jays' payroll. He'll work with Ryu and also help out his teammates during the season.
Trainer Kim Byung-gon works on Toronto Blue Jays' pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin at Player Development Complex outside TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ryu said he and Kim started working together in South Korea weeks before he reported to camp in Dunedin, Florida, earlier this week. And after watching Ryu go through his stretching and fielding drills, Kim said he was happy with where his client was physically.
"It's been a couple of weeks since I last saw him, and he's in great shape now," Kim said. "In about two to three weeks, he should get close to 100 percent."
As spring training progresses, the focus will be on improving Ryu's strength and stamina, Kim added.
"Technically, he's already an accomplished athlete," Kim said. "We're now trying to prevent injuries, with a focus on his shoulder, elbow and hips."
Ryu's history of injuries -- on shoulder, elbow, neck, hip and hamstring -- is well documented, and Ryu had a heavy workload in 2019. His 182 2/3 innings were the most since 192 innings he tossed as a big league rookie in 2013.
"I am here to help Hyun-jin maintain his form and spend the entire season without injuries," Kim said. "He's become a lot stronger over the years, and I think that is why he's been so good on the mound."
Kim Byung-gon, personal trainer for Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays, speaks to reporters outside the clubhouse at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--(Spring Training) Ryu Hyun-jin wants to lead Blue Jays by example

`` We have a lot of veterans on this team other than myself , and my focus is on doing @ @ @ @ @ do , '' Ryu said after his non-throwing workout on Friday at Player Development Complex @ @ @ @ @ in Dunedin , Florida .
`` It wo n't just be me helping out guys @ @ @ @ @ for each other . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
DUNEDIN, United States, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Nearing his 33rd birthday, Ryu Hyun-jin is one of the oldest players at the Toronto Blue Jays' spring training this month in Florida.
He may not be a natural leader, but the South Korean left-hander understands his words and deeds as one of the team's veterans can carry a lot of weight.
Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays catches the ball during his fielding drill at Player Development Complex, outside TD Ballpark, in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
The sense of responsibility hasn't quite hit him yet -- admittedly, this was only Ryu's second official day at camp -- but Ryu appeared ready to embrace the role of a clubhouse leader.
"We have a lot of veterans on this team other than myself, and my focus is on doing things I am supposed to do," Ryu said after his non-throwing workout on Friday at Player Development Complex, near TD Ballpark, in Dunedin, Florida. "It won't just be me helping out guys. We should all pull for each other."
Case in point: as the players boarded the team bus to head to the training complex, Ryu found himsef seated in front of Japanese rookie Shun Yamaguichi. Ryu is only four months older than the Japanese right-hander, but has seven more years of major league experience. When Yamaguchi started peppering Ryu with questions, the South Korean pitcher was more than happy to answer.
They got to talking about their spring workload, and when Yamaguchi said he plans to get to 100 pitches in the coming days, Ryu told him, in no uncertain terms, that was way too much at this time of the year in the majors.
"This reminded me of the time I came to the majors for the first time," Ryu said. "I decided I should be helping him out a lot."
Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays fields a groundball during his defense drill at Player Development Complex, outside TD Ballpark, in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Yamaguchi himself brings impressive credentials from the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), as the reigning Central League leader in wins and strikeouts with the Yomiuri Giants. He signed a two-year deal via posting, but he will be battling for a fifth spot in the starting rotation, with a chance that he could end up in the bullpen.
Ryu, on the other hand, is virtually guaranteed to be the Opening Day starter on March 26 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, against the Boston Red Sox.
Earlier in the day, the Jays' general manager Ross Atkins said it's "hard to see a scenario where it's not Ryu" starting the first game of the season. The pitcher himself didn't buy the hype on Friday and said, "I think it's premature to be talking about starting on the Opening Day. I'll be gradually increasing my workload and I think we'll find out in March."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--(Spring Training) Ryu Hyun-jin's energy 'rubs off' on Blue Jays: general manager

`` He makes people feel really comfortable .
One of the things I really love and really attracted us to @ @ @ @ @ loves to compete and how much he loves the game , '' Atkins said .
@ @ @ @ @ about him as a teammate , it 's clear that he enjoys this environment and @ @ @ @ @ rubs off on young players and that was a very attractive aspect about him .
@

By Yoo Jee-ho
DUNEDINE, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- What Ryu Hyun-jin can offer the Toronto Blue Jays as a bona fide No. 1 starter on the mound seems obvious.
And to hear Ross Atkins, the club's general manager, tell it, the South Korean left-hander can do just as much, if not more, in the clubhouse when he's around his teammates.
"If he repeats what he did last year, obviously that's a massive impact," Atkins said Friday of the reigning National League (NL) ERA champion and the NL Cy Young Award runner-up.
The Toronto Blue Jays' general manager, Ross Atkins, speaks to reporters outside the clubhouse at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
"I think there's the potential for him to really influence this team in a lot of ways," Atkins added in his media availability at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. "His athleticism, his strike throwing, his competitiveness, the way he goes about his preparation, his personality and the energy he brings into the clubhouse."
Before giving Ryu a four-year deal worth US$80 million, Atkins did research into Ryu not just as a pitcher but as a presence among his teammates.
"He makes people feel really comfortable. One of the things I really love and really attracted us to Ryu is how much he loves to compete and how much he loves the game," Atkins said. "The things we heard about him as a teammate, it's clear that he enjoys this environment and embraces it. That really rubs off on young players and that was a very attractive aspect about him."
The Blue Jays needed 21 starters to get through a 67-95 season in 2019. With Ryu and other new starters, Tanner Roark and Chase Anderson, in the fold, Toronto should have more stability with its rotation in 2020.
As the highest-paid pitcher in franchise history, Ryu will most likely get the Opening Day nod come March 26.
"It's going to be hard to see a scenario where it's not Ryu," Atkins said. "He's been great. He really seems to be acclimating well. We're really excited to have him here. He's obviously been a big point of our offseason. He is an incredible personality."
Atkins also pointed out that having an international star like Ryu on the Blue Jays means a great deal to a city as diverse as Toronto.
"He really complements our roster, our organization and our city exceptionally well," the executive said. "We have an incredible Korean community in Toronto. It's a great community already and I am glad we've added him to it."
The Toronto Blue Jays' general manager, Ross Atkins (C), speaks to reporters outside the clubhouse at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-15--(Spring Training) Ex-KBO star Andy Burns credits S. Korean experience for success in U.S.

`` For me , it 's ( about ) staying focused on the process and then taking care of what @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` It 's a great opportunity here .
There are great players @ @ @ @ @ think there are high expectations .
My only goal is to show up here and @ @ @ @ @ I can everyday to help the team win . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
DUNEDIN, United States, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Andy Burns was born in South Carolina and split his first professional season in 2011 in British Columbia and in Florida.
His minor league stops include Arizona, New Hampshire and Michigan, but it's the time he spent in South Korea, from 2017 to 2018, that he feels has had the biggest impact on his career.
The 29-year-old second baseman arrived at the Toronto Blue Jays' spring training on Friday as a non-roster invitee. He'll have to fight his way to make the Jays' big league roster for the second time.
To do that, Burns will try to apply lessons he learned from his two seasons with the Lotte Giants in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
Andy Burns of the Toronto Blue Jays poses for photos outside the clubhouse at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Honestly, everything that I do from a hitting standpoint now is what I learned over in Korea," Burns told Yonhap News Agency on Friday inside the clubhouse at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. "I don't think I'd be where I am at today without the experience that I had with Lotte. I had the best minor league season that I've ever had last year. A lot of that, I credit to what I learned over in Korea."
In his first KBO season in 2017, Burns, who appeared in 10 games for the Jays the previous year, batted .303 with 15 home runs and 57 RBIs. He also emerged as a fan favorite in the famously fickle Giants' fan base in Busan, some 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, thanks to his hustle on both ends.
Then, in 2018, Burns had 23 home runs and 64 RBIs, along with a .268 batting average.
The following year, Burns rejoined the Blue Jays, the team that drafted him in the 11th round of the 2011 draft, and indeed had his best minor league season with Triple-A Buffalo -- a .275/.364/.470 line with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs.
In this file photo from Oct. 13, 2017, Andy Burns of the Lotte Giants hits a single against the NC Dinos in Game 4 of the Korea Baseball Organization first round playoff series at Masan Stadium in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
And he finds himself competing for playing time in a crowded infield that features a talented young core, which includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio. Those three are virtual locks for big league positions, and Joe Panik, former Gold Glove-winning second baseman for the San Francisco Giants, is in the mix alongside a utility-type player like Brandon Drury.
It's an uphill battle for Burns, to be sure, but the well-traveled veteran isn't looking that far ahead.
"For me, it's (about) staying focused on the process and then taking care of what I can control," he said. "It's a great opportunity here. There are great players in this clubhouse and I think there are high expectations. My only goal is to show up here and compete, and do what I can everyday to help the team win."
If he can't make it back to the majors down the road, then a return to the KBO is "absolutely" a possibility for Burns.
"I loved my time in Korea. It's a place that will always be close to my heart," he said. "If the opportunity to go back there arises, I am always open to going back. But I am focusing on being here with Toronto. It's the priority right now. Let's take it day by day and see what happens."
In this file photo from Oct. 13, 2017, Andy Burns (R) and Shin Bon-ki of the Lotte Giants celebrate their 7-1 victory over the NC Dinos in Game 4 of the Korea Baseball Organization first round playoff series at Masan Stadium in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Number of foreign residents in Korea tops 2.5 million

The academic world usually classifies a nation as a multicultural society , if its percentage of foreigners is in excess @ @ @ @ @ the criteria , South Korea now appears to be on the threshold of becoming a @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The number of foreigners staying in South Korea increased nearly 7 percent last year, topping 2.5 million for the first time, government data showed Monday.
According to data released by the Ministry of Justice, 2,524,656 foreigners were residing in the country as of the end of 2019, marking a rise of 6.6 percent from a year earlier and a 3.7 percent on-month increase.
The nation's foreign population exceeded 1 million in August 2007 and 2 million in June 2016.
The foreign population of over 2.5 million accounts for 4.9 percent of the nation's total population, which was 51.64 million as of 2018.
The academic world usually classifies a nation as a multicultural society, if its percentage of foreigners is in excess of 5 percent. By the criteria, South Korea now appears to be on the threshold of becoming a multicultural society.
This file photo taken Oct. 13, 2018, shows a street parade of foreign residents in South Korea during an international festival in Seoul's Itaewon district. (Yonhap)
The ministry noted 68.6 percent, or 1,731,803, of the foreign residents are long-term stayers registered with authorities, with the remaining 31.4 percent short-term stayers.
By nationality, Chinese nationals, including 701,098 ethnic Koreans, formed the largest group of foreign nationals, accounting for 43.6 percent, or 1,101,782, of the foreign population, it said.
Vietnamese came next with 224,518 residents, followed by Thais (209,909), Americans (156,982), Japanese (86,196), Uzbeks (75,320), Filipinos (62,398), Russians (61,427), Indonesians (48,854), Mongolians (48,185) and Cambodians (47,565).
Illegal stayers increased 9.9 percent on-year to 390,281 last year, with their ratio in the entire foreign population edging up 0.5 percentage point to 15.5 percent.
The number of foreign students studying here increased 12.1 percent to 180,131. In 2018, the corresponding increase rate was 18.9 percent. Students from China totaled 71,719, followed by Vietnam (57,539) and Uzbekistan (10,499).
By region, Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul had the largest foreign population of 414,318, followed by Seoul (281,876), South Chungcheong Province and Sejong (76,375), South Gyeongsang Province (76,123), Incheon (72,259), North Gyeongsang Province (58,119) and Busan (45,999).
Last year, the number of refugee applicants in South Korea decreased 4.5 percent from the previous year to 15,452, the ministry said.
From 1994 to last December, there were 64,358 refugee applicants. Of the 28,600 applicants screened by authorities, 1,022 were recognized as refugees and 2,217 were granted humanitarian stay permits.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Preferred stocks stay bullish amid high market volatility

The strong performance of preferred stocks was attributed mainly to their high dividend rates .
The prices of preferred shares @ @ @ @ @ of common stocks due to the lack of voting rights , but holders can bask @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The prices of South Korea's preferred stocks have remained bullish this year despite greater market volatility due to the new coronavirus scare, data showed Monday.
The price index for preferred shares of the top 20 market-cap companies had climbed 9.11 percent this year as of Friday, according to the data from the Korea Exchange.
The figure far outperforms the 2.09 percent gain in the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and the 3.15 percent rise in the KOSPI 200 index over the cited period.
Of the 20 companies, 15 saw the prices of their preferred stocks increase at a faster clip than those of common shares.
The preferred shares of Samsung SDI Co., a major electric vehicle (EV) battery maker in South Korea, posted the biggest price growth, surging 80.4 percent, with prices of its common stocks rising 42.8 percent.
The preferred stocks of top-cap Samsung Electronics Co. increased 16.1 percent during the period, compared with a 10.8 percent hike in its common share prices.
The strong performance of preferred stocks was attributed mainly to their high dividend rates. The prices of preferred shares are usually lower than those of common stocks due to the lack of voting rights, but holders can bask in higher dividends.
The average dividend rate for the preferred shares of 11 firms that had announced dividend policies as of Friday was 2.9 percent, compared with the median 1.7 percent rate for their common shares.
A market analyst said the COVID-19 virus outbreak has reduced investors' risk appetite amid downgraded corporate earnings outlooks, forcing them to seek stable sources of income.
As of early Monday, South Korea had reported a total of 30 confirmed cases of the novel virus, with seven patients released from quarantine after making full recoveries.
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--UN officials discuss support for President Moon's vision for DMZ mine removal

After the 2018 inter-Korean agreement for a joint excavation project inside the zone , the two Koreas removed mines and @ @ @ @ @ But North Korea has not been responsive to the South 's call for an official @ @ @ @ @ leading Seoul to do it alone .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- Officials of a U.N. anti-mine agency discussed ways to support South Korean President Moon Jae-in's vision for removing mines inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas, the United Nations Command (UNC) has said.
In a Facebook post updated on Friday, the UNC said its staff attended a director-level meeting of the U.N. Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Geneva last week and engaged with international mine action groups to discuss "support to President Moon Jae-in's vision for demining efforts in the DMZ."
Last year, Moon proposed the transformation of the DMZ into an international peace zone as part of efforts to promote peace on the peninsula and suggested that U.N. member states take part in eliminating about 380,000 anti-personnel mines laid in the zone.
In his address at the U.N. General Assembly in September, Moon noted that cooperation with the international community including UNMAS will expedite the removal work, which is expected to take 15 years if conducted by South Korean troops alone, and will have greater significance for creating the "international" peace zone.
During the meeting, the officials also provided an update on operations to recover war remains inside the DMZ, according to the UNC.
South Korea has carried out operations to remove mines and recover the remains of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War inside the DMZ in cooperation with the UNC.
After the 2018 inter-Korean agreement for a joint excavation project inside the zone, the two Koreas removed mines and explosives as preliminary steps. But North Korea has not been responsive to the South's call for an official launch of the project, leading Seoul to do it alone.
South Korean troops remove land mines at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near Chorwon, Gangwon Province, on Oct. 2, 2018, in this Joint Press Corps photo. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Last episode of 'Crash Landing On You' sets tvN's record high rating

The 16-episode series tells a story about an heiress of a big-name fashion business in the South who crash lands @ @ @ @ @ a North Korean soldier after she is blown there by a windstorm while paragliding .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The romantic comedy "Crash Landing On You" ended its two-month run Sunday with the highest viewership for the cable channel tvN's drama series.
The final episode of the series starring A-listers Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin marked 21.7 percent in nationwide viewership, according to data released Monday by Nielson Korea.
It surpassed the 20.5 percent record set by the channel's 2016 hit series "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" as the most-viewed tvN drama.
The 16-episode series tells a story about an heiress of a big-name fashion business in the South who crash lands in North Korea and meets a North Korean soldier after she is blown there by a windstorm while paragliding.
Despite controversy for depicting North Korea as a normal country, the on-screen chemistry of two of the country's hottest stars, Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, helped the drama win rave reviews, especially from female fans.
A scene from "Crash Landing On You" provided by tvN (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--S. Korea reports 1 more case of novel coronavirus, total now at 30

The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 408 as of early Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ people for COVID-19 since Jan. 3 , with 7,733 testing negative and nine people having @ @ @ @ @ making full recoveries .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday identified another case of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 30, with the latest two cases' infection routes being unknown.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the country's latest patient is the 68-year-old wife of the 29th patient who tested positive for the virus Sunday.
The 82-year-old man is not known to have been in contact with the country's other virus-confirmed patients or recently traveled abroad.
The KCDC is struggling to find out how the couple contracted the virus amid concerns that the virus could spread rapidly among the general public.
The country considers testing those who suffer from unknown causes of pneumonia for potential COVID-19 virus.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 408 as of early Monday. South Korea has screened 8,171 people for COVID-19 since Jan. 3, with 7,733 testing negative and nine people having been discharged from quarantine after making full recoveries.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--LG Chem retains 4th place in world's most valuable chemicals brand ranking

Brand Finance said on its website that aside from determining overall brand value , it evaluates the relative strength of @ @ @ @ @ of metrics on marketing investment , stakeholder equity and business performance .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean chemical giant LG Chem Ltd. retained fourth place in a ranking of the world's most valuable chemicals brands, a British corporate valuation consultancy has said.
LG Chem's brand value is estimated at US$3.5 billion in the Brand Finance Chemicals 25 2020 ranking, compared with $3.33 billion in 2019, Brand Finance said in its annual report released in January.
Brand Finance said on its website that aside from determining overall brand value, it evaluates the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics on marketing investment, stakeholder equity and business performance.
The hike came amid robust sales in LG Chem's mainstay battery business.
LG Chem is one of global market leaders in the EV battery sector.
LG Chem has supplied batteries for more than 2.7 million electric vehicles, including those of GM, Ford, Renault, Volvo, Audi, Volkswagen and Daimler, as well as South Korea's largest carmaker, Hyundai Motor Co., and its smaller affiliate, Kia Motors Corp.
German giant BASF defended its title as the world's most valuable chemicals brand.
BASF was followed by U.S. chemical giant Dow Chemical Co. and Saudi Arabian petrochemicals giant SABIC, according to Brand Finance.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)