yna--2020-09-24--Hyundai Motor partners LG to unveil interior concept for future vehicles

The IONIQ Concept Cabin is designed to show that future Hyundai vehicles can be a mobility solution that reflects people @ @ @ @ @ large interior space and vast power supply capacity of electric vehicles ( EVs ) with @ @ @ @ @ to the companies .

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. and LG Electronics Inc. on Thursday unveiled an interior concept for future vehicles as the two South Korean firms join hands to showcase enhanced in-car experiences.
The IONIQ Concept Cabin is designed to show that future Hyundai vehicles can be a mobility solution that reflects people's lifestyles by integrating the large interior space and vast power supply capacity of electric vehicles (EVs) with home electronics technologies, according to the companies.
This photo provided by Hyundai Motor Co. shows the IONIQ Concept Cabin, an interior concept for future vehicles, which the automaker developed in collaboration with LG Electronics Inc. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The interior concept is equipped with various car electronics products, such as clothing and shoe care devices, as well as a capsule coffee machine.
The concept cabin also features the ceiling-mounted 77-inch flexible OLED screen from LG. Users can adjust the curvature of the display that also supports a split screen, allowing two people to enjoy different content simultaneously.
The concept cabin also has UV LED light for sanitization and a bar-type floor cleaning robot.
Hyundai, South Korea's top automaker, said it plans to offer such value-added experiences starting with its IONIQ 5 EV slated for launch early next year.
LG, a major home appliance manufacturer, has been trying to expand its presence in the mobility sector in recent years with its in-vehicle infotainment solutions. The company showcased its connected car platform at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.
This photo provided by LG Electronics Inc. shows a capsule coffee machine installed in the IONIQ Concept Cabin, an interior concept for future vehicles, which the electronics firm introduced in collaboration with South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--N.K. leader makes fewest public appearances this year amid antivirus efforts

It was lower than the annual average of 164 public appearances during his first five years in office and also @ @ @ @ @ of 93 times during the last three years .

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made the lowest number of public appearances this year since taking office as the country has been striving to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus, Seoul's unification ministry said Thursday.
According to a report by the ministry, Kim appeared in public on 39 occasions during the January-September period, the lowest since he took office after his father and late leader Kim Jong-il died in late 2011.
It was lower than the annual average of 164 public appearances during his first five years in office and also lower than the yearly average of 93 times during the last three years.
The decline comes as North Korea is on high alert in warding off an outbreak of COVID-19. Experts say his reduced public exposure this year might be due to his extra caution to avoid contracting the virus.
Kim had been out of the public view for weeks before emerging in early May, sparking speculation about his health and the possibility that he might be infected with the virus.
Despite fewer public activities, Kim has recently increased his appearances at major party meetings as the country was scrambling to recover from back-to-back typhoons and flooding, the report showed.
Kim has presided over 54 meetings of the Workers' Party since taking office. Of the total, he chaired 15 such meetings this year alone, the report showed.
Of the party meetings he attended, seven were related to antivirus efforts, with four sessions linked to the damage from typhoons and flooding, the report showed.
He also recently increased "field guidance" trips to areas hit by typhoons. He has visited affected regions five times since August.
Observers see his recently increased appearances at party meetings and on-site inspections as intended to highlight his image as a leader who cares for people suffering from the fallout from prolonged antivirus efforts, flooding and global sanctions.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C, front) inspects Kangbuk-ri, Kumchon County, North Hwanghae Province, which was rebuilt from damage caused by heavy rain and strong wind from Typhoon Bavi last month, in this undated photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 15, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Defense ministry confirms N. Korea shot missing S. Korean official to death

`` North Korea found the man in its waters and committed an act of brutality by shooting at him and @ @ @ @ @ to our military 's thorough analysis of diverse intelligence , '' the defense ministry said @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea shot a missing South Korean official to death and burned his body earlier this week, the defense ministry confirmed Thursday, condemning its "brutality" and calling for explanations and punishment for those responsible.
The 47-year-old official affiliated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries disappeared from the 500-ton boat before noon Monday while on duty aboard an inspection boat in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong.
"North Korea found the man in its waters and committed an act of brutality by shooting at him and burning his body, according to our military's thorough analysis of diverse intelligence," the defense ministry said in a statement.
"Our military strongly condemns such a brutal act and strongly urges the North to provide an explanation and punish those responsible," the statement read. "We also sternly warn North Korea that all responsibilities for this incident lie with it."
It is the first time since July 2008 that a South Korean civilian has been shot dead in North Korea. At that time, Park Wang-ja was shot and killed at the North's mountain resort of Kumgang while wandering into a restricted zone.
A high-speed boat of the South Korean Navy sails off South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island bordering North Korea in the Yellow Sea on July 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--S. Korean moviegoers less worried about coronavirus at cinemas

They cited that 77 percent of the surveyed people said local multiplexes have been complying well with distancing requirements .
@ @ @ @ @ cases related to movie theaters in South Korea , though a few COVID-19 patients have @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean moviegoers feel less concerned about possible coronavirus infections at cinemas due to tightened social distancing rules, a survey showed Thursday.
Three major multiplex chains, CGV, Lotte Cinema and Megabox, conducted a joint poll on 1,746 people who went to cinemas from Sept. 12-13, asking whether they feel anxious in a closed theater during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eighteen percent, or 321 people, said they had fears about coronavirus infections before seeing a film. But the percentage dropped to 8 percent, or 143 people, after they watched movies.
Insiders said virus preventive measures, such as lower seating capacity and checking for symptoms before entering theaters, have helped people feel more at ease at movie theaters.
They cited that 77 percent of the surveyed people said local multiplexes have been complying well with distancing requirements.
There have been no infection cases related to movie theaters in South Korea, though a few COVID-19 patients have visited cinemas.
The film industry has been hit hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic since February this year.
The number of moviegoers hit rock bottom in April with an all-time low of 970,000, while dozens of homegrown and foreign movies delayed their release schedules.
Total admissions were on a rise in the summer peak season, but the upturn was dragged down by a recent surge in new virus cases starting in mid-August.
In this file photo, taken on May 24, 2020, a movie theater in Seoul is nearly empty. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Sep. 24 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

(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--2020-09-24--(URGENT) Defense ministry demands N.K.'s explanation, punishment for those responsible over killing

(URGENT) Defense ministry demands N.K.'s explanation, punishment for those responsible over killing of S. Korean


yna--2020-09-24--(URGENT) Defense ministry warns all responsibility lies with N. Korea over killing of S. Korean citi

(URGENT) Defense ministry warns all responsibility lies with N. Korea over killing of S. Korean citizen


yna--2020-09-24--(URGENT) Defense ministry 'strongly condemns' N. Korea's deadly shooting of missing S. Korean citize

(URGENT) Defense ministry 'strongly condemns' N. Korea's deadly shooting of missing S. Korean citizen


yna--2020-09-24--(URGENT) Defense ministry confirms N. Korea shot missing S. Korean official to death


yna--2020-09-24--Agriculture ministry, Naver work together to offer info on 'virus-safe' restaurants

South Korea recently rolled out a new scheme , in which business owners with annual sales of 400 million won @ @ @ @ @ won ( US $ 855 ) each if they experienced any dent in sales since @ @ @ @ @ restaurants and cafes will receive 1.5 million won .

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's agricultural ministry said Thursday it has collaborated with the country's top online portal operator Naver Corp. to provide information on restaurants that follow guidelines on the prevention of the new coronavirus.
The government said earlier it will release data on restaurants that follow sanitary guidelines and induce people to dine out more without being excessively concerned about safety,
The new service offers locations of restaurants that have employees wear protective masks at all times and provide separate utensils for communal dishes and pots, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Sharing a dish provided simultaneously for a group is common practice in Korean culture, but the virus pandemic has made South Koreans opt for separate dishes.
The file photo taken Sept. 1, 2020, shows a closed restaurant in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
As of this week, around 12,000 restaurants nationwide were designated as safe establishments. The ministry plans to continue to increase the number of businesses that follow the sanitary guideline.
The restaurants will be updated on a weekly basis, according to the ministry.
South Korea has recently seen an uptick in the number of new coronavirus patients.
On Thursday, the country added 125 more COVID-19 cases, including 110 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,341, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The country's new daily infections had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally before briefly falling below 100.
The COVID-19 pandemic has weighed down the nation's economy, especially hurting the self-employed.
South Korea recently rolled out a new scheme, in which business owners with annual sales of 400 million won or less receive 1 million won (US$855) each if they experienced any dent in sales since the resurgence. Owners of restaurants and cafes will receive 1.5 million won.
The country's real gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 3.2 percent in the April-June period from the previous quarter, the biggest on-quarter drop since a 3.3 percent retreat posted in the last three months of 2008, the central bank data showed.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Asiana Airlines set to offer sightseeing flights next month

`` Asiana has come up with the idea of special flights for passengers eager to take to the skies , @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We hope the COVID-19 outbreak will come to an end as soon as @ @ @ @ @ can take air trips without any misgivings . ''

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean air carrier Asiana Airlines Inc. said Thursday it will offer domestic sightseeing flights to pandemic-weary air passengers next month.
The "flights to nowhere" -- air travel purely for the purpose of the journey, not the destination -- will be offered on Oct. 24 and 25, said Asiana, the smaller of South Korea's two full-service airlines.
The nearly two-hour journey will take place on an Asiana A380 superjumbo passenger jet that has been grounded in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The sightseeing flights will take off from and land in Incheon International Airport, flying over Gangneung and Pohang on the east coast, Gimhae close to the southeastern port of Busan and the southernmost resort island of Jeju.
This image, provided by Asiana Airlines Inc. on Sept. 24, 2020, shows an ad for its envisioned sightseeing flights. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Fares range from 205,000 won (US$175.5) for economy class to 305,000 won for the business class suite, with only 310 seats offered due to social distancing rules, about 185 shy of the available seats.
In-flight meals will be provided to all passengers, together with an amenity kit, 50 percent discount coupons for domestic routes and mileage points.
"Asiana has come up with the idea of special flights for passengers eager to take to the skies," an airline official said. "We hope the COVID-19 outbreak will come to an end as soon as possible, so that anyone can take air trips without any misgivings."
Asiana will become the first local airline to launch sightseeing flights for general passengers. On Friday, low-cost carrier Air Busan offered a domestic sightseeing flight for 60 university students majoring in aerotourism.
A day later, Tigerair Taiwan flew a sightseeing flight from Taipei to the skies over South Korea's Jeju island with 120 passengers on board.
The coronavirus pandemic has pounded airlines across the world, sending demand for international air travel hitting the skids.
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Cardinals' Kim Kwang-hyun named to All-Rookie 2nd Team

And Kim has thrived in the more familiar role as the starter , with a 2-0 record and a 1.36 @ @ @ @ @ 33 innings .
Overall , he has a 1.59 ERA in 34 innings , the @ @ @ @ @ least 30 innings pitched .
Opponents are hitting just .187/.248/.325 against Kim .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- The St. Louis Cardinals' South Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun has been named to the All-Rookie Second Team by Major League Baseball (MLB).
The left-hander was one of five starters to be selected for the second team by MLB Pipeline on Wednesday (U.S. local time).
Kim spent 13 years with the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) before signing a two-year deal with the Cardinals in December. The 32-year-old began the season as the closer, and after notching one save on Opening Day on July 24, Kim moved to the rotation decimated by injuries.
In this Getty Images file photo from Sept. 19, 2020, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the bottom of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. (Yonhap)
And Kim has thrived in the more familiar role as the starter, with a 2-0 record and a 1.36 ERA in six starts covering 33 innings. Overall, he has a 1.59 ERA in 34 innings, the lowest among starters with at least 30 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .187/.248/.325 against Kim.
Kim will make his final regular season start Thursday in St. Louis against the Milwaukee Brewers. He won't have enough innings to qualify for the ERA title but has pitched his way into the Rookie of the Year conversations.
In this Associated Press file photo from Sept. 19, 2020, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals follows through on a delivery during the bottom of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Samsung Heavy gets nod for ammonia-fueled ships from Lloyd's Register

The A-Max tankers refer to 85,000 to 125,000-deadweight-tonnage oil tankers , which are in the highest demand and most economically @ @ @ @ @ , the company said .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries Co. said Thursday that it has received the go-ahead for its ammonia-powered ships from Lloyd's Register, a British quality assurance and risk management company.
Samsung Heavy Industries plans to commercialize the ammonia-propelled A-Max tanker by 2024 by developing an independently ammonia fuel supply system and detailed design for the ships, the company said in an emailed statement.
The A-Max tankers refer to 85,000 to 125,000-deadweight-tonnage oil tankers, which are in the highest demand and most economically feasible among other oil tankers, the company said.
DWTs are a measure of the combined weight of cargo, fuel, fresh water, ballast water, provisions, passengers and crew that a ship can carry.
This photo offered by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. shows an A-Max oil tanker. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Last July, another South Korean shipbuilder, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., obtained approval for its ammonia-powered ships from Lloyd's Register.
Hyundai Mipo Dockyard aims to commercialize the ammonia-propelled ships by 2025 in cooperation with global engine maker MAN Energy Sol.
Ammonia has been attracting the attention of global shipbuilders as eco-friendly ship fuel that does not emit carbon dioxide when it is burned.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects ammonia to be one of the main fuels for ships in 2060, according to a report.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted mandatory steps to cut emissions of carbon dioxide from ships by more than 30 percent by 2025 compared with 2008 and 70 percent by 2050.
This year, the IMO lowered the sulfur cap on fuel content from 3.5 percent to 0.5 percent.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--South Korea to resume flights with Vietnam, Russia

Flights linking Incheon , west of Seoul , with Vietnamese and Russian cities will start this and next month , @ @ @ @ @ foreign ministries , helping businesspeople having a hard time due to months of disruptions in @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Thursday it has agreed with Vietnam and Russia to resume flights following months of suspension over the new coronavirus outbreak.
Flights linking Incheon, west of Seoul, with Vietnamese and Russian cities will start this and next month, according to the land and foreign ministries, helping businesspeople having a hard time due to months of disruptions in international travel.
Under an agreement with Vietnam, flights connecting Incheon with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will operate twice per week, starting this week, officials said.
Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, will resume the Incheon-Ho Chi Minh route Friday and the Hanoi route Tuesday, respectively.
South Korea and Russia also agreed to reopen the Incheon-Moscow route after Sept. 27, the land ministry said. The flights linking the two nations have been suspended since March.
Russia's Aeroflot will resume its weekly Saturday flight from Incheon to Moscow starting on Oct. 3 and Korean Air will operate a flight every Friday from Oct. 9. The two companies will alternate flights from Moscow to Incheon once a week.
"The government will continue with efforts to restore suspended international flights," a land ministry official said.
This photo, taken on Aug. 16, 2020, shows the nearly empty terminal for international flights at Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main gateway west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Kiwoom's Kim Ha-seong joins 20-20 club, sets KBO steals record

It gave him 26 home runs and 20 steals for the season , putting him in the 20-20 club for @ @ @ @ @ career .
It 's the 51st 20-20 season in KBO history .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- The Kiwoom Heroes' infielder Kim Ha-seong stole his 20th base of the year on Thursday for his second season with at least 20 home runs and 20 steals.
Against the SK Wyverns in a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Kim stole second base in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Kim Ha-seong of the Kiwoom Heroes celebrates his two-run home run against the Kia Tigers in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
It gave him 26 home runs and 20 steals for the season, putting him in the 20-20 club for the second time in his career. It's the 51st 20-20 season in KBO history.
The steal was also Kim's 20th straight swipe without getting caught this season. It's a new KBO record for most consecutive steal without getting thrown out from the beginning of a season.
The league record for most steals without getting caught, regardless of the starting point, is 29, set by former Haitai Tigers star Lee Jong-beom from May 18 to June 28 in 1997.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(5th LD) N. Korea shoots S. Korean official to death at sea, burns his body: defense ministry

`` At around 9:40 p.m. , the North Korean soldiers aboard their vessel shot him before pouring oil over his @ @ @ @ @ at around 10 p.m. , '' the JCS official said , adding that the act @ @ @ @ @ done in accordance with `` orders from its superior authority . ''

(ATTN: ADDS remarks by defense minister in paras 19-20)
By Oh Seok-min and Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea shot and killed a South Korean official drifting at sea before dousing his body with oil and setting it on fire, the defense ministry said Thursday, prompting the country to erupt in outrage and casting a pall over the already frayed inter-Korean ties.
The 47-year-old official affiliated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries disappeared from the 499-ton boat before noon Monday while on duty aboard an inspection boat in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong.
"North Korea found the man in its waters and committed an act of brutality by shooting at him and burning his body, according to our military's thorough analysis of diverse intelligence," the defense ministry said in a statement.
"Our military strongly condemns such a brutal act and strongly urges the North to provide an explanation and punish those responsible," the statement read. "We also sternly warn North Korea that all responsibilities for this incident lie with it."
It is the first time since July 2008 that a South Korean civilian has been shot dead in North Korea. At that time, Park Wang-ja was shot and killed at the North's mountain resort of Kumgang while wandering into a restricted zone.
President Moon Jae-in expressed deep regret, calling the killing a "shocking incident that cannot be tolerated for any reason."
"The North Korean authorities should take responsible measures regarding the case," Moon said, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok, urging the military to further tighten its defense posture to protect the lives and safety of the people.
Moon's office earlier issued a statement to condemn the killing and demanded the North apologize.
Defense Minister Suh Wook also denounced "the unpardonable atrocities," and vowed efforts to prevent such an incident from happening again.
The case is expected to further deteriorate inter-Korean relations that have already been frayed badly, as the North angrily protested propaganda leaflets flying in from the South and blew up an inter-Korean liaison office building in June.
A high-speed boat of the South Korean Navy sails off South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island bordering North Korea in the Yellow Sea on July 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
According to officials of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missing official is presumed to have jumped into the sea Monday in a suspected attempt to defect to the North and had drifted into North Korean waters.
The ministry earlier said that colleagues of the fisheries official found his shoes on the boat and reported his disappearance to the Coast Guard. But an intensive search operation failed to find him.
Upon spotting the individual at sea at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, sailors of a North Korean vessel put gas masks on and questioned him from a distance while leaving him in the waters. The South Korean was wearing a life jacket and relying on an unidentified floating item.
He was found in waters about 3 to 4 kilometers north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto inter-Korean maritime border, near Deungsangot, or Deungsan Cape, and the location was about 38 kilometers from where he went missing, according to the JCS.
During the questioning, the South Korean official appears to have expressed his desire to defect to the North, according to a JCS official.
"At around 9:40 p.m., the North Korean soldiers aboard their vessel shot him before pouring oil over his body and setting it aflame at around 10 p.m.," the JCS official said, adding that the act was believed to have been done in accordance with "orders from its superior authority."
South Korean surveillance equipment set up on Yeonpyeong Island also captured flames Tuesday night, which were later confirmed to have been from the North's burning of the body.
"We judge that North Korea appears to have done such acts against humanity of unconditionally shooting an individual as part of its COVID-19 quarantine guidelines, the official said.
Defense Minister Suh said the flames of the fire were visible for about 40 minutes and North Korea is presumed to have thrown the body into the sea.
"(Parts of) the body appear to be (adrift) in the waters," Suh said at a meeting of the parliamentary defense committee.
North Korea has made all-out efforts to stave off the new coronavirus, though Pyongyang claims there has not been a single case there. The country closed its border with China in January and implemented the maximum emergency level against the virus in July.
Earlier this month, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams said that North Korea deployed special operations forces near its border with China and issued shoot-to-kill orders against those crossing the border. It has yet to be confirmed if the same orders are in place for cases near the inter-Korean border areas, military officials here said.
On Wednesday, South Korea sent a message to North Korea over the case via the communication channel between the U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) and North Korea, but the North has not given any response, according to another official.
The unification ministry also denounced the killing as an inhumane act dampening peace efforts.
"We strongly condemn the North Korean military's shooting of an unarmed civilian and the burning of his body as an inhumane act that cannot be justified for any reason," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, said in a press briefing.
Ahn Young-ho, chief directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reads a statement in Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020, on North Korea's killing of a South Korean citizen. (Yonhap)
Despite the shocking killing, the case does not appear to constitute a violation of an inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement signed on Sept. 19, 2018, which calls for halting all hostile acts against each other, officials said.
Under the pact, named the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), the two Koreas also agreed to set the maritime buffer zone, which spans around 135 kilometers in the Yellow Sea and around 80 km in the East Sea, to reduce tensions and prevent accidental clashes.
"True, the incident took place within the zone, but the agreement does not regulate each side's use of small firearms. It was about the suspension of artillery firings," the official said.
The JCS official said there is circumstantial evidence that the official tried to defect to the North.
"We see high possibilities of his voluntary border crossing, as he wore a life jacket and took off his shoes before leaving the boat, and our intelligence indicates that he expressed such an intention to the North Korean side," the official said. "Investigation is under way into his exact motives and other circumstances."
The fisheries official had served in his post since 2012 and was well aware of the geographical features in the Yellow Sea region, such as the sea current, another official said.
The ill-fated official had financial problems and once considered filing for bankruptcy due to debt, according to his colleagues. He, a father of two, reportedly divorced months ago.
Authorities launched an investigation of his colleagues and are searching the vessel "to secure items, if any, that belong to the official there to find any clues about the incident," according to a Coast Guard official.
This photo, released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 26, 2020, shows an emergency politburo meeting of the Workers' Party under way over the new coronavirus. At the center is North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The KCNA said Kim adopted a decision to shift to a "maximum emergency system" against the coronavirus in the meeting. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Slain S. Korean official left no indication of attempt to defect to North

Some of the creditors had even filed for court orders to seize his salary , the colleague said .
It @ @ @ @ @ official may have come under psychological pressure after receiving a notice of salary seizure from @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean fisheries official who was shot dead by North Korea earlier this week after going missing at sea left no indication of an attempt to defect to the North, the Coast Guard said Thursday.
North Korea shot and killed the 47-year-old official affiliated with the oceans ministry at sea before burning his body, Seoul's defense ministry said. He went missing from an inspection boat on Monday while on duty in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong.
The ministry said he is presumed to have jumped into the sea in a suspected attempt to defect to the North and had drifted into North Korean waters.
In a press briefing, the Coast Guard said that it has not found his mobile phone or a will in the 499-ton vessel. Other personal belongings, such as his wallet and clothes, were retrieved.
According to his colleagues, the missing official never talked about defection or shown any interest in the North.
The maritime police did not rule out the possibility that he may have attempted defection as the official was well aware of the sea current and is known to suffer financial problems.
A high-speed boat of the South Korean Navy sails off South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island bordering North Korea in the Yellow Sea on July 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
The official, whose identity was withheld, divorced four months ago and had reportedly borrowed money from many of his fellow officials, according to his colleagues.
According to one of his colleagues, the official's debt had exceeded 20 million won (US$17,000) after he borrowed several million won each from a number of fellow officials.
Some of the creditors had even filed for court orders to seize his salary, the colleague said. It was also known that the official may have come under psychological pressure after receiving a notice of salary seizure from the court.
"I was told that he would file for bankruptcy, so I gave up my loan. I had also heard that he borrowed money from private lenders," the colleague said.
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(LEAD) Rival parties denounce North's fatal shooting of S. Korean official

`` The North Korean military 's action of intentionally shooting an unarmed civilian who was drifting on the sea and @ @ @ @ @ an act of brutality that is unpardonable under any circumstance , '' Rep. Lee Nak-yon @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party ( DP ) , was quoted as saying by the party .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout; CHANGES headline)
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Rival political parties on Thursday expressed strong regrets over the North Korean military's fatal shooting of a South Korean official, denouncing it as "unpardonable brutality."
"The North Korean military's action of intentionally shooting an unarmed civilian who was drifting on the sea and then burning the body constitutes an act of brutality that is unpardonable under any circumstance," Rep. Lee Nak-yon, leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), was quoted as saying by the party.
The remarks were made after Lee and other party officials received a briefing on the incident from Vice Defense Minister Park Jae-min at the National Assembly.
Lee also expressed "strong regrets" over the fatal shooting of the South Korean government employee.
Vice Defense Minister Park Jae-min (C) gives a briefing on North Korea's recent killing of a South Korean civilian to Democratic Party officials at the National Assembly in Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the 47-year-old man, who worked for the oceans ministry's unit for fisheries inspection, disappeared while on duty aboard an inspection boat in waters near the western sea border with North Korea on Monday.
The next day, he was found drifting on the sea by a North Korean vessel. The ministry said there is circumstantial evidence that he tried to defect to the North.
Later that day, however, the North Korean military shot him to death on the sea and burned his body there, the ministry said, citing intelligence.
"The latest incident squarely runs afoul of the spirit of the Panmunjom Declaration and the Pyongyang Joint Declaration," Lee said, referring to the agreements signed between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018.
It also dashed the South Korean people's hopes for a better inter-Korean relationship and a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, he added.
"The DP strongly demands an apology for the act against humanity as well as punishment for those who are responsible," the party chairman said.
Lee also called on the government to promptly inform the public of the details of the incident and come up with measures to curb any North Korean threats toward South Korean nationals in the border areas.
A high-speed boat of the South Korean Navy sails off South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island near North Korea in the Yellow Sea on July 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
The main opposition People Power Party's interim leader Kim Chong-in also vented his fury over the incident.
"I cannot help but feel enormously furious over the savage behavior of North Korea," Kim said in a meeting of the top party council earlier in the day.
"The government needs to be bold toward North Korea as it deals with the incident and thoroughly disclose the whole process of the incident," he also said.
The opposition party leader also directed criticism at Moon for his video speech at the 75th session of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday. The president, in the speech, called for international support for South Korea's push to declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, which remains as a ceasefire.
"I cannot help feeling it very irresponsible," Kim commented, adding that the North hasn't changed at all.
People Power Party's interim leader Kim Chong-in (R) attends a party meeting on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(4th LD) N. Korea shoots S. Korean official to death at sea, burns his body: defense ministry

(ATTN: ADDS messages from President Moon, defense chief in paras 6-9; TRIMS)
By Oh Seok-min and Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea shot and killed a South Korean official drifting at sea before dousing his body with oil and setting it on fire, the defense ministry said Thursday, prompting the country to erupt in outrage and casting a pall over the already frayed inter-Korean ties.
The 47-year-old official affiliated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries disappeared from the 499-ton boat before noon Monday while on duty aboard an inspection boat in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong.
"North Korea found the man in its waters and committed an act of brutality by shooting at him and burning his body, according to our military's thorough analysis of diverse intelligence," the defense ministry said in a statement.
"Our military strongly condemns such a brutal act and strongly urges the North to provide an explanation and punish those responsible," the statement read. "We also sternly warn North Korea that all responsibilities for this incident lie with it."
It is the first time since July 2008 that a South Korean civilian has been shot dead in North Korea. At that time, Park Wang-ja was shot and killed at the North's mountain resort of Kumgang while wandering into a restricted zone.
President Moon Jae-in expressed deep regret, calling the killing a "shocking incident that cannot be tolerated for any reason."
"The North Korean authorities should take responsible measures regarding the case," Moon said, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok, urging the military to further tighten its defense posture to protect the lives and safety of the people.
Moon's office earlier issued a statement to condemn the killing and demanded the North apologize.
Defense Minister Suh Wook also denounced "the unpardonable atrocities," and vowed efforts to prevent such an incident from happening again.
The case is expected to further deteriorate inter-Korean relations that have already been frayed badly, as the North angrily protested propaganda leaflets flying in from the South and blew up an inter-Korean liaison office building in June.
A high-speed boat of the South Korean Navy sails off South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island bordering North Korea in the Yellow Sea on July 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
According to officials of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missing official is presumed to have jumped into the sea Monday in a suspected attempt to defect to the North and had drifted into North Korean waters.
The ministry earlier said that colleagues of the fisheries official found his shoes on the boat and reported his disappearance to the Coast Guard. But an intensive search operation failed to find him.
Upon spotting the individual at sea at around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, sailors of a North Korean vessel put gas masks on and questioned him from a distance while leaving him in the waters. The South Korean was wearing a life jacket and relying on an unidentified floating item.
He was found in waters about 3 to 4 kilometers north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto inter-Korean maritime border, near Deungsangot, or Deungsan Cape, and the location was about 38 kilometers from where he went missing, according to the JCS.
During the questioning, the South Korean official appears to have expressed his desire to defect to the North, according to a JCS official.
"At around 9:40 p.m., the North Korean soldiers aboard their vessel shot him before pouring oil over his body and setting it aflame at around 10 p.m.," the JCS official said, adding that the act was believed to have been done in accordance with "orders from its superior authority."
South Korean surveillance equipment set up on Yeonpyeong Island also captured flames Tuesday night, which were later confirmed to have been from the North's burning of the body.
"We judge that North Korea appears to have done such acts against humanity of unconditionally shooting an individual as part of its COVID-19 quarantine guidelines," the official said.
North Korea has made all-out efforts to stave off the new coronavirus, though Pyongyang claims there has not been a single case there. The country closed its border with China in January and implemented the maximum emergency level against the virus in July.
Earlier this month, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams said that North Korea deployed special operations forces near its border with China and issued shoot-to-kill orders against those crossing the border. It has yet to be confirmed if the same orders are in place for cases near the inter-Korean border areas, military officials here said.
On Wednesday, South Korea sent a message to North Korea over the case via the communication channel between the U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) and North Korea, but the North has not given any response, according to another official.
The unification ministry also denounced the killing as an inhumane act dampening peace efforts.
"We strongly condemn the North Korean military's shooting of an unarmed civilian and the burning of his body as an inhumane act that cannot be justified for any reason," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, said in a press briefing.
Ahn Young-ho, chief directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reads a statement in Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020, on North Korea's killing of a South Korean citizen. (Yonhap)
Despite the shocking killing, the case does not appear to constitute a violation of an inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement signed on Sept. 19, 2018, which calls for halting all hostile acts against each other, officials said.
Under the pact, named the Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA), the two Koreas also agreed to set the maritime buffer zone, which spans around 135 kilometers in the Yellow Sea and around 80 km in the East Sea, to reduce tensions and prevent accidental clashes.
"True, the incident took place within the zone, but the agreement does not regulate each side's use of small firearms. It was about the suspension of artillery firings," the official said.
The JCS official said there is circumstantial evidence that the official tried to defect to the North.
"We see high possibilities of his voluntary border crossing, as he wore a life jacket and took off his shoes before leaving the boat, and our intelligence indicates that he expressed such an intention to the North Korean side," the official said. "Investigation is under way into his exact motives and other circumstances."
The fisheries official had served in his post since 2012 and was well aware of the geographical features in the Yellow Sea region, such as the sea current, another official said.
The ill-fated official had financial problems and once considered filing for bankruptcy due to debt, according to his colleagues. He, a father of two, reportedly divorced months ago.
Authorities launched an investigation of his colleagues and are searching the vessel "to secure items, if any, that belong to the official there to find any clues about the incident," according to a Coast Guard official.
This photo, released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 26, 2020, shows an emergency politburo meeting of the Workers' Party under way over the new coronavirus. At the center is North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The KCNA said Kim adopted a decision to shift to a "maximum emergency system" against the coronavirus in the meeting. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(2nd LD) Some conservative groups call off Oct. 3 rallies amid virus scare

An organization that Kim leads has submitted a report to the police on holding a car parade that starts at @ @ @ @ @ passes through Gwanghwamun en route to Seocho Police Station in southern Seoul .
The group @ @ @ @ @ part in the event scheduled for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 3 , @ @ @ @ @ here .

(ATTN: ADDS poll results in paras 10-12; UPDATES figure in para 14)
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Leaders of some conservative groups that planned to stage mass anti-government rallies in central Seoul next month called off the plan Thursday, urging other conservative groups to follow suit.
The group leaders, including former Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Moon-soo, said they will not be holding the rallies that were scheduled to take place in Gwanghwamun on Oct. 3.
While asking other right-wing organizations to follow their decision, they said they will hold other forms of events to "express their anger" against the government, such as a car parade.
An organization that Kim leads has submitted a report to the police on holding a car parade that starts at Yeouido in western Seoul and passes through Gwanghwamun en route to Seocho Police Station in southern Seoul. The group said 200 cars will take part in the event scheduled for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 3, which is a national holiday here.
Kim said the car parade will be held within "legal boundaries," saying the cars will move in groups of nine. The organization will file an administrative suit against the police if they officially ban the session, he added.
The leaders of some conservative organizations hold a press conference in front of the National Assembly in western Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020. They said they will cancel anti-government rallies scheduled for Oct. 3. (Yonhap)
The South Korean government has vowed a stern response against the mass rallies after an earlier round of rallies on Aug. 15 was blamed for a resurgence in new coronavirus cases here.
Earlier this week, President Moon Jae-in said the government will have zero tolerance against all acts hampering the antivirus fight, calling such protests and fake news "anti-social crimes."
On Thursday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also stressed that the government will not permit any modified forms of mass rallies after some main opposition party members suggested holding "drive-thru" rallies instead of mass outdoor protests.
The Seoul city government has extended its ban on rallies of 10 or more people by nearly a month to Oct. 11, while some bus companies that offer rides for people going to rallies said they will not run buses for rally participants.
The public also appeared to back the government's stance.
A poll of 500 adults, conducted by Realmeter and commissioned by broadcaster TBS, showed that 70.9 percent said the Oct. 3 rallies should be banned, while 23.6 percent said the freedom to hold rallies should be protected.
The poll had a confidence level of 95 percent with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
In the file photo taken Aug. 15, 2020, thousands of people take part in anti-government rallies organized by conservative groups in Gwanghwamun in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
Thousands of people, including elderly participants who are more vulnerable to the infectious virus, took to the streets of Gwanghwamun in anti-government rallies organized by conservative groups.
The country's daily infections spiked to three-digit figures after the mid-August rallies, with 626 cases identified in relation to them as of Thursday noon, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Among the cases are police officers who were dispatched to manage the rally site, as well as hundreds who were infected through chain transmissions.
Despite Thursday's press conference and the government's continued request to call off rallies, a key organization that led the Aug. 15 rallies said it will push ahead with the Oct. 3 rallies.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--S. Korea blocks access to 'Digital Prison' website

`` While freedom of expression needs to be fully protected , acts that undermine the legal system should not be @ @ @ @ @ under the Korea Communications Standards Commission ( KCSC ) said in a statement .
`` @ @ @ @ @ Prison could lead to double punishment or falsely accused victims . ''

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's internet censorship body on Thursday decided to block public access to a controversial doxing website that discloses personal information of alleged sex offenders and pedophiles over concerns of false accusations.
The "Digital Prison" website was created earlier this year after public anger mounted over high-profile sex abuse cases that were not properly dealt with under the current judiciary system.
The site came under intense scrutiny after a 20-year-old South Korean university student, whose personal details were made public on the site, was found dead in an apparent suicide earlier this month.
"While freedom of expression needs to be fully protected, acts that undermine the legal system should not be allowed," a subcommittee under the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) said in a statement. "Publishing personal information on Digital Prison could lead to double punishment or falsely accused victims."
The decision comes after a previous step taken earlier this month by the sub-commission that decided to only block access to certain posts on the website that were deemed to be illegal.
Local police said Wednesday an alleged operator of the website was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The man, in his 30s, is suspected of violating privacy law by releasing personal information of alleged criminals.
A graphic provided by Yonhap News TV (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(LEAD) 4th-year medical students willing to take licensing exam

`` The government 's stance has not changed and it is also not possible to grant them another chance for @ @ @ @ @ expressed a willingness to take the test , '' the ministry said .

(ATTN: ADDS reaction from gov't in paras 4-6)
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Fourth-year medical students are willing to take the state medical licensing exam after boycotting it in protest of the government's medical workforce reform plan, their representatives said Thursday.
Senior students have been boycotting the state licensing exam, which took place earlier this month, urging the government to withdraw its plan to increase admission quotas at medical schools.
This file photo, taken Sept. 10, 2020, shows a medical student entering a building in Seoul to take the state medical licensing exam. (Yonhap)
Fourth-year students from a total of 40 medical schools across the country said they intend to take the exam.
In response, the health ministry repeated its earlier stance that the medical students will not be allowed to retake the exam, as giving such favor would be unfair.
"The government's stance has not changed and it is also not possible to grant them another chance for the exam just because they expressed a willingness to take the test," the ministry said.
The government has said public opinion is still overwhelmingly negative toward giving an extra chance to students who withdrew their applications.
As trainee doctors returned to work after weeks of a strike over the government's policy earlier this month, the medical students' collective action has served as a lingering source of tension between the government and the medical sector over the proposed reform plan.
Doctors and the government have been at odds over whether to give senior medical students another opportunity to take the licensing exam.
Doctors insisted students be allowed to take the test even if they did not register before the deadline, while the government has rejected such a step.
The government's plan to expand the number of medical students by 4,000 over the next 10 years and open a new public medical school sparked tensions within the medical sector.
Thousands of trainee doctors staged a strike for 18 days starting in mid-August over the policy.
A group of doctors and the ruling party agreed in early September to end a nationwide walkout on concerns that the prolonged collective action could disrupt the health care system amid the new coronavirus outbreak.
In response to the deal, the government backed down and promised to suspend the medical reform plan in early September.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(2nd LD) Moon calls N. Korea's killing of S. Korean official 'shocking,' not tolerable for any reaso

(2nd LD) Moon calls N. Korea's killing of S. Korean official 'shocking,' not tolerable for any reason

He urged the North to take `` responsible '' measures in connection with the case , in which the 47-year-old @ @ @ @ @ the country 's military near the western sea border , according to Cheong Wa Dae @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in last 3 paras)
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that North Korea's killing of a South Korean fisheries official is a "shocking" incident that can't be tolerated for any reason.
He urged the North to take "responsible" measures in connection with the case, in which the 47-year-old man was shot dead by the country's military near the western sea border, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
The president ordered the military to further strengthen its security posture and get fully prepared to protect the lives and safety of the people, Kang said.
Moon issued the message after receiving a briefing on the results of the National Security Council (NSC) session earlier in the day.
According to the South's defense authorities, the 47-year-old South Korean man was shot dead by North Korea's military earlier this week. He was reported missing Monday from a South Korean fisheries patrol boat operating near the western sea border.
This file photo shows President Moon Jae-in. (Yonhap)
Cheong Wa Dae, meanwhile, strongly condemned the North for the act against "humanity, international norms and humanitarianism."
However, Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of national security at the presidential office, said it's not a violation of "the specific clauses" of the Sept. 19 comprehensive military agreement between the two Koreas signed in 2018.
Nonetheless, it constitutes damage to the spirit of the accord aimed at easing border tensions and building mutual trust, Suh added.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(3rd LD) Cheong Wa Dae strongly condemns N. Korea for shooting S. Korean national to death

Moon said if the intelligence turns out to be true , it 's an issue , by which the public @ @ @ @ @ to the official who spoke on the customary condition of anonymity .

(ATTN: ADDS defense minister's comments in last 3 paras)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday strongly denounced North Korea's fatal shooting of a South Korean fisheries official earlier this week.
In a statement, Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of the national security office, said the North Korean military's fatal shooting of the South Korean "with no weapon and no intention to resist" and damaging his body cannot be justified for any reason.
It's an "act against international norms and humanitarianism" and the North should apologize for the "inhumane" act and take clear measures to prevent the recurrence of such an incident, Suh stressed.
He urged the North to reveal the full truth behind the case and punish those who are responsible.
Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of national security at South Korea's presidential office, issues a statement on North Korea at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Suh, who doubles as chief of the secretariat of the National Security Council (NSC), said the government will strengthen the defense posture in inter-Korean border areas and take every necessary measure for the security of South Korean people.
He warned that the government will respond resolutely to any North Korean act that threatens lives and security.
He delivered the government's message of deep condolences for the victim.
The statement was issued right after the South's top national security officials had their weekly meeting of the NSC standing committee.
Earlier in the day, South Korea's military announced that the 47-year-old South Korean man was found to have been shot dead by North Korea after he was reported missing Monday from a South Korean fisheries patrol boat operating near the western sea border. It said the North had burned his body.
The North has reportedly tightened its border control due to concerns about the new coronavirus with "shoot-to-kill" orders in place against unauthorized arrivals.
President Moon Jae-in received the first briefing on the incident at around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, another Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters on background.
The president was quoted as instructing the government to find "exact facts," including a confirmation through the North, and "make them public as they are."
Moon said if the intelligence turns out to be true, it's an issue, by which the public would be infuriated, according to the official who spoke on the customary condition of anonymity.
Regarding the belated report to the president, the official said the first relevant intelligence was acquired at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and a meeting of related ministers was convened immediately to analyze its reliability.
In the first stage, it was hard to regard the intelligence as reliable, he added.
Defense Minister Suh Wook gives a briefing to an emergency session of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Defense Minister Suh Wook also denounced North Korea during an emergency session of the parliamentary National Defense Committee,
"I denounce North Korea for committing infuriating brutality on an unarmed national of South Korea and call for an explanation and punishment for those who are responsible," the minister said.
He also expressed regrets over the "tragedy" and pledged efforts to prevent a recurrence.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(LEAD) Asiana converts 3 passenger jets for cargo transport

Asiana has converted an A350-900 passenger jet and two B777-200ER jets into cargo carriers , with the two B777-200ERs already @ @ @ @ @ and the A350-900 scheduled to fly on the Incheon-Los Angeles route late Thursday , a @ @ @ @ @ phone .

(ATTN: ADDS 2nd photo)
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's second-biggest carrier, said Thursday it has converted three passenger jets into cargo planes to offset a sharp decline in air travel demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Asiana has converted an A350-900 passenger jet and two B777-200ER jets into cargo carriers, with the two B777-200ERs already in service on Asian routes and the A350-900 scheduled to fly on the Incheon-Los Angeles route late Thursday, a company spokesman said over the phone.
The A350-900 will be switched to the Incheon-Ho Chi Minh City route in October, he said.
This file photo taken Sept. 11, 2020, shows an Asiana Airlines' passenger jet at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Asiana said it may consider making another request to the transport ministry to convert more passenger jets into cargo planes if cargo demand continues to rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The carrier expects its overall cargo volume will increase by 27 tons to 1,179 tons after the conversion.
The move is in line with global airlines, which are now using their passenger planes for cargo flights, either by using cargo seat bags or removing seats.
In June, Asiana's bigger rival, Korean Air Lines Co., began to carry cargo in cargo seat bags, which attach to the seats of passenger jets, as the pandemic drove down travel demand and its earnings.
Early this month, the national flag carrier injected two converted B777-300ER planes on the U.S. routes to transport cargo.
Cargo-carrying demand has jumped this year as more than 180 countries and territories closed their borders or imposed entry restrictions on incoming passengers amid virus fears.
Increased cargo demand helped airlines offset a sharp decline in air travel demand in the April-June quarter.
This photo, taken on Sept. 24, 2020, and provided by Asiana Airlines, shows the carrier's employees loading cargo in its A350-900 jet at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, just west of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Main opposition plans to challenge constitutionality of real estate regulation laws

The legislation came as the government has been trying to cool down the overheated housing market , especially in Seoul @ @ @ @ @ raising taxes on multiple-home owners and enhancing tenants ' rights .
Surging apartment prices have @ @ @ @ @ public discontent that dragged down the approval ratings of President Moon Jae-in .

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition party said Thursday it will challenge the legality of the three recently signed laws aimed at stabilizing soaring housing prices by better protecting rights of tenants.
The People Power Party (PPP) said it will file a petition with the Constitutional Court against the laws, which took effect on July 31, a day after they were approved at the National Assembly led by the ruling Democratic Party.
The laws guarantee the validity of a house lease contract for up to four years and cap the maximum rent increase at 5 percent in the event of contract renewals.
"The Moon Jae-in administration's legislation for its real estate policies severely violates the people's basic rights," said Rep. Song Seog-jun, chairman of the PPP's committee advocating for "the normalization of the housing market."
Calling the package of real estate laws "unconstitutional," he claimed that the government was infringing upon the people's privacy and that it was "unacceptable" in a democratic nation.
Song Seog-jun, the head of the main opposition People Power Party's committee for normalization of housing market, speaks at the National Assembly in Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The legislation came as the government has been trying to cool down the overheated housing market, especially in Seoul and nearby cities, by raising taxes on multiple-home owners and enhancing tenants' rights. Surging apartment prices have been a major source of public discontent that dragged down the approval ratings of President Moon Jae-in.
In July, two bills -- a revision of Housing Lease Protection Act and a revision of the Commercial Building Lease Protection Act -- passed the National Assembly, backed predominantly by the DP, which now holds 174 of the 300 assembly seats. The opposition parties boycotted the vote, calling the bills "flawed."
In August, a batch of bills raising rates of income tax, corporate tax, and property ownership tax was passed, also with DP's lion's share of the chamber seats.
The bills raised the property ownership tax for owners of multiple homes from 0.6-3.2 percent to 1.2-6 percent, the corporate tax on companies that own multiple properties from 10 percent to a maximum of 20 percent, and property acquisition tax for people who are given a house worth more than 300 million won (US$255,929) from 3.5 percent to a maximum of 12 percent.
The party argued that the exorbitant rates of property ownership tax was "a grave invasion of personal property rights" and that it was seeking plaintiffs who would join the party for a constitutional appeal.
It also voiced opposition to the government's plan to establish a real estate supervisory agency, citing potential infringement on personal privacy and freedom.
The South Korean National Assembly holds a voting session in Seoul for a set of revisions aimed at calming the local property market on Aug. 4, 2020. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(LEAD) Moon calls N. Korea's killing of S. Korean official 'shocking,' not tolerable for any reason

(ATTN: UPDATES with details from 3rd para)
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that North Korea's killing of a South Korean fisheries official is a "shocking" incident that can't be tolerated for any reason.
He urged the North to take "responsible" measures in connection with the case, in which the 47-year-old man was shot dead by the country's military near the western sea border, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
The president ordered the military to further strengthen its security posture and get fully prepared to protect the lives and safety of the people, Kang said.
Moon issued the message after receiving a briefing on the results of the National Security Council (NSC) session earlier in the day.
According to the South's defense authorities, the 47-year-old South Korean man was shot dead by North Korea's military earlier this week. He was reported missing Monday from a South Korean fisheries patrol boat operating near the western sea border.
This file photo shows President Moon Jae-in. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Founder of Eastar quits ruling party amid probe into airline's mass layoffs

His departure came about one week after the DP expelled another lawmaker , Rep. Kim Hong-gul , for failing to @ @ @ @ @ his mandatory property filing with the election watchdog in the run-up to the parliamentary elections @ @ @ @ @ also under a party probe .

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- Rep. Lee Sang-jik of the ruling Democratic Party, the founder of the embattled low-cost airline Eastar Jet Co., said he will leave the party Thursday amid a probe into unpaid wages and mass layoffs at the airline.
"I will cease to cause trouble for the party and leave it for a while," the two-term lawmaker said in a press conference at the National Assembly.
He also apologized to Eastar employees and the public for causing concern.
Rep. Lee Sang-jik announces his departure from the ruling Democratic Party at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
"I will do everything to revive Eastar Jet and the jobs of its employees, and faithfully address allegations," Lee said, adding that he plans to return.
The lawmaker has come under growing pressure to take responsibility after the airline announced plans to lay off 605 of its 1,216 employees as part of efforts to attract a new owner.
He is also accused of unjustly transferring his Eastar shares to his children.
Last week, the DP launched an in-house probe into the allegations and was expected to announce the result before the end of this month. Several members of Lee's election campaign staff were also recently arrested on charges of violating election laws.
His departure came about one week after the DP expelled another lawmaker, Rep. Kim Hong-gul, for failing to fully disclose his wealth during his mandatory property filing with the election watchdog in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in April. Kim was also under a party probe.
DP spokesman Rep. Huh Young expressed regret, saying the party will work to ensure the examples of Lee and Kim serve as a wake-up call to all of its members.
"We will firmly establish our party discipline to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, and redouble efforts for political reform," Huh said in a statement.
The latest departure brings the number of DP lawmakers to 174 in the 300-member Assembly.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Moon calls N. Korea's killing of S. Korean official 'shocking,' not tolerable for any reason

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that North Korea's killing of a South Korean fisheries official is a "shocking" incident that can't be tolerated for any reason.
He urged the North to take "responsible" measures in connection with the case, in which the 47-year-old man was shot dead by the country's military near the western sea border, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
This file photo shows President Moon Jae-in. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Top diplomats of S. Korea, Ecuador hold phone talks on COVID-19 response

The two ministers shared the understanding on the need for continued communication and cooperation in the defense and security areas @ @ @ @ @ in spurring economic recovery from the fallout of the pandemic , the ministry said .

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats of South Korea and Ecuador held telephone talks Thursday to discuss joint responses to the new coronavirus and the ongoing campaign of Seoul's trade minister for the director-generalship of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Ecuadorian counterpart, Luis Gallegos Chiriboga, exchanged views on how to step up cooperation in overcoming the pandemic and enhancing economic and other exchanges, the foreign ministry said.
Kang said that South Korea will share its experience and know-how related to its anti-virus campaign with the international community, including Ecuador, while noting Seoul's active participation in international efforts for the fair distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine under development.
Kang used the talks to ask for Ecuador's support for South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's run for the WTO chief post. Yoo has entered the second round of the WTO leader selection process, which is set to run through Oct. 6.
The Ecuadorian foreign minister voiced hope for continued bilateral cooperation on the international stage, while highly assessing Yoo's career and professionalism, according to the ministry.
On the same day, Kang held separate phone talks with her Indonesian counterpart, Retno L.P. Marsudi, and repeated her calls for Indonesia's support for Trade Minister Yoo's campaign for the top WTO post.
The two ministers shared the understanding on the need for continued communication and cooperation in the defense and security areas and agreed to strengthen cooperation in spurring economic recovery from the fallout of the pandemic, the ministry said.
This photo, taken on Sept. 18, 2020, shows Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaking during a meeting with reporters in Hanoi. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--S&P ups S. Korea's growth outlook in 2020

`` Governments are adopting more targeted strategies for flattening COVID curves , with less recourse to nationwide lockdowns .
Households @ @ @ @ @ as well as goods , '' Roache said .

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- International ratings agency Standard and Poor's on Thursday raised South Korea's growth outlook for this year, as China is expected to lead Asia's uneven recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea's economy is expected to shrink 0.9 percent this year, compared with its earlier forecast of a 1.5-percent contraction, S&P said in a report.
However, S&P cut South Korea's growth outlook for next year to 3.6 percent, from its earlier projection of a 4-percent expansion.
S&P expected Asia-Pacific economies to shrink 2 percent this year and rebound 6.9 percent next year.
"This will still leave the region almost 5 percent below the pre-COVID trend by end 2021," it said.
"The pandemic is not over but the worst of its economic impact has passed," said Shaun Roache, Asia-Pacific chief economist for S&P Global Ratings.
"Governments are adopting more targeted strategies for flattening COVID curves, with less recourse to nationwide lockdowns. Households are spending again on services as well as goods," Roache said.
In late August, the Bank of Korea trimmed its growth outlook and froze the key interest rate at a record low of 0.5 percent as uncertainties stemming from spiking virus cases heightened.
The central bank forecast a 1.3 percent contraction for the Korean economy in 2020, sharper than its earlier estimate in May of a 0.2 percent retreat.
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(URGENT) Moon says N. Korea should take 'responsible measure' regarding killing of S. Korean nationa

(URGENT) Moon says N. Korea should take 'responsible measure' regarding killing of S. Korean national

(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--2020-09-24--(URGENT) Moon says N. Korea's killing of S. Korean fisheries official 'shocking,' not tolerable for

(URGENT) Moon says N. Korea's killing of S. Korean fisheries official 'shocking,' not tolerable for any reason


yna--2020-09-25--Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin exorcises Yankees demon in crucial victory

Analytics show starters typically struggle when they face hitters for a third time in the same game .
Ryu himself @ @ @ @ @ that `` third time through the order '' penalty .
Prior to this game , @ @ @ @ @ their third plate appearances against Ryu in a game , compared to a .191/.232/.309 line @ @ @ @ @ and .244/.306/.356 their second time up .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- When the team needed him the most, Ryu Hyun-jin rose to the occasion.
With the Toronto Blue Jays a win away from clinching their first postseason in four years, Ryu threw seven scoreless innings for a 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Thursday (local time).
In the process, Ryu also exorcised his personal demons against the Yankees. It was his first career win over the Bronx Bombers in four career starts. In three previous outings, Ryu had gone 0-2 with an 8.80 ERA, with seven home runs served up in 15 1/3 innings.
In this Getty Images photo, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the New York Yankees in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ryu mostly cruised through the first five frames, surviving two-out hits in the second and the third innings.
Some trouble brewed in the sixth inning, when Ryu was facing the heart of the Yankees lineup for the third time.
Analytics show starters typically struggle when they face hitters for a third time in the same game. Ryu himself hadn't been immune from that "third time through the order" penalty. Prior to this game, opponents were batting .326/.367/.500 in their third plate appearances against Ryu in a game, compared to a .191/.232/.309 line the first time against him and .244/.306/.356 their second time up.
True to form, the first two Yankees in the sixth, Luke Voit and Aaron Hicks, hit singles. But Ryu saved his best for three dangerous hitters and escaped the jam unscathed.
Ryu struck out homer-threat Giancarlo Stanton on three straight fastballs on the inside. Gleyber Torres flied out to right field, and Gio Urshela, who'd doubled off Ryu in the second inning, grounded out weakly to second base.
With his pitch count at just 85 through six frames, Ryu came back out for the seventh, becoming the first Toronto starter to go that deep all season.
Clint Frazier opened that inning with a single, but no further damage was done. After a flyout, Ryu faced slugger Aaron Judge coming off the bench. Ryu fell behind 2-0, but Judge swung on an inside fastball and flied out to right.
In this USA Today Sports photo via Reuters, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the New York Yankees in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
DJ LeMahieu came up for the fourth time against Ryu, but he too flied out to right field on Ryu's 100th pitch of the game.
Ryu's job was done. The Blue Jays added two more runs on a double by rookie Alejandro Kirk. The bullpen survived some nervy moments in the eighth, with Anthony Bass walking the bases loaded and Rafael Dolis cleaning up the mess, and the Blue Jays held on for a 4-1 victory.
In many ways, this was a vintage Ryu performance. He mixed up five different pitches, relying most heavily on his cutter (38), and the unpredictable pitching sequence kept hitters off balance and induced a lot of soft contact.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-25--BTS' new docu film tops S. Korean box office upon release

`` Break The Silence : The Movie , '' the fourth film on the group , attracted 21,586 moviegoers on @ @ @ @ @ its release , outpacing other leading Korean movies , such as thriller `` Diva '' @ @ @ @ @ Swordsman , '' according to the data from the Korean Film Council .

SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- K-pop superstar BTS' new documentary film, "Break The Silence: The Movie," topped the South Korean box office on its opening day, data showed Friday.
"Break The Silence: The Movie," the fourth film on the group, attracted 21,586 moviegoers on Thursday, the day of its release, outpacing other leading Korean movies, such as thriller "Diva" and action film "The Swordsman," according to the data from the Korean Film Council.
The documentary film follows BTS during its 2019 "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself" world tour through the United States, Europe, and Asia, revealing the organic moments and stories of the members behind the scenes.
This image provided by CGV shows a still image from "Break The Silence: The Movie," a new documentary film on K-pop group BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image provided by CGV shows a still image from "Break The Silence: The Movie," a new documentary film on K-pop group BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image provided by CGV shows a still image from "Break The Silence: The Movie," a new documentary film on K-pop group BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image provided by CGV shows a still image from "Break The Silence: The Movie," a new documentary film on K-pop group BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image provided by CGV shows a still image from "Break The Silence: The Movie," a new documentary film on K-pop group BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image provided by CGV shows a still image from "Break The Silence: The Movie," a new documentary film on K-pop group BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image provided by CGV shows a still image from "Break The Silence: The Movie," a new documentary film on K-pop group BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image provided by CGV shows a still image from "Break The Silence: The Movie," a new documentary film on K-pop group BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"Diva," a thriller starring actress Shin Min-a, fell one notch to second place, with 13,578 viewers and "The Swordsman," starring action star Jang Hyuk, finished at fourth with 11,479 moviegoers.
Christopher Nolan's sci-fi blockbuster "Tenet" sold 11,925 tickets, coming in third, and "Mulan" finished fifth, with 5,721 attendees.
Boosted by the BTS movie and a series of new releases, the number of moviegoers from Wednesday to Thursday increased by around 30,000 compared with the same period last week, when Disney's controversial live-action animation "Mulan" was released.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-25--Ryu Hyun-jin pitches Blue Jays into postseason with win over Yankees

Ryu dug deep and retired the next three batters to strand both runners .
He struck out cleanup Giancarlo Stanton @ @ @ @ @ Gleyber Torres flied out to right field .
Urshela grounded out weakly to second as @ @ @ @ @ .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- Ryu Hyun-jin has pitched the Toronto Blue Jays into their first postseason in four years.
Ryu tossed seven shutout innings in Toronto's 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Thursday (local time). Ryu gave up five hits and two walks while striking out four.
Ryu finished his first regular season with the Blue Jays at 5-2 and a 2.69 ERA in 12 starts. The seven innings were his season high, as were the 100 pitches thrown.
The Blue Jays are headed to their first postseason since 2016, likely as an eighth seed in the American League (AL) in the expanded format.
In this Associated Press photo, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the New York Yankees in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ryu worked a scoreless first inning and pitched around a two-out double by Gio Urshela in the second inning.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the second.
In the third, Ryu gave up a two-out single to DJ LeMahieu but escaped the inning without any damage.
The Blue Jays gave Ryu some extra cushion, with Bo Bichette delivering an RBI double in the bottom of the inning for a 2-0 lead.
Ryu's biggest trouble came in the sixth inning. Luke Voit and Aaron Hicks, batting second and third, respectively, reached with back-to-back singles, giving the Yankees two base runners in an inning for the first time in the game.
Ryu dug deep and retired the next three batters to strand both runners. He struck out cleanup Giancarlo Stanton on three pitches and then Gleyber Torres flied out to right field. Urshela grounded out weakly to second as Ryu completed six scoreless innings.
Rookie Alejandro Kirk gave the Blue Jays more breathing room with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth. With a 4-0 lead, Ryu came back out for the seventh inning, becoming the first Toronto starter to pitch into the seventh inning this season.
In this Getty Images photo, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the New York Yankees in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Clint Frazier opened the inning with a single, but Ryu retired three straight batters, all with soft flies to right field.
The last two outs were especially huge: the dangerous Aaron Judge pinch hitting in the ninth spot and flying out on a 2-0 count, and LeMahieu, the American League batting leader with a .360 average, also popping out to right on a 0-1 changeup.
It came on Ryu's season-high 100th pitch. He's also the only Blue Jays starter to make at least 100 pitches this year.
The Yankees got a run back against the Blue Jays' bullpen in the eighth. Then with the bases loaded later that inning, pinch hitter Gary Sanchez almost blasted a go-ahead grand slam off reliever Rafael Dolis. Center fielder Randal Grichuk had to make a jumping catch at the wall to keep it a 4-1 game.
Dolis then finished off the ninth to lock down the three-run victory.
Ryu made his big league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, and his team has made the playoffs every year. He missed the 2015 and 2016 postseasons with injuries, and didn't make the postseason roster in 2017. But he pitched in the 2018 World Series and the National League Division Series last year.
Ryu will start the opening game of the best-of-three wild-card round Tuesday, on four days' rest.
In this Associated Press photo, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the New York Yankees in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-25--(LEAD) Moon vows firm response to threats to S. Koreans' lives, safety

He used the word `` peace '' several times throughout his 15-minute address but made no direct mention of North @ @ @ @ @ talk either about the shocking incident of the South Korean citizen shot dead by the @ @ @ @ @ the western sea border .

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks, details from 10th para; ADDS photos, byline)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in assured the South Korean people Friday that his government will deal resolutely with any act that threatens their lives and safety.
He was addressing the 72nd Armed Forces Day ceremony held at the headquarters of the Special Warfare Command in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, following reports that North Korea fatally shot a South Korean government official and burned his body earlier this week.
Moon stressed that South Korea will further beef up its security and defense posture.
"(I) promise that the government and the military will respond resolutely to any act of threatening the people's lives and safety," the president said during the televised speech.
President Moon Jae-in delivers a speech during the 72nd Armed Forces Day ceremony at the headquarters of the Special Warfare Command in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
He added South Korea can "make, keep and build up peace" by securing a strong defense posture, which nobody can surmount, on its own.
He used the word "peace" several times throughout his 15-minute address but made no direct mention of North Korea. He did not talk either about the shocking incident of the South Korean citizen shot dead by the North's border guards around the western sea border.
The previous day, the South's defense authorities said the 47-year-old civil servant belonging to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries was shot dead Tuesday after crossing the western sea border. The North set his body on fire apparently out of new coronavirus concerns.
On Thursday evening, Moon issued a statement through his Cheong Wa Dae spokesman that it was a "shocking" incident that cannot be tolerated for any reason.
He urged Pyongyang to take "responsible" measures over the "very regrettable" act.
President Moon Jae-in (R) pays silent tribute to fallen war heroes and other patriots during the 72nd Armed Forces Day ceremony at the headquarters of the Special Warfare Command in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
Moon spent much of his speech presenting the future vision for South Korea's military.
"Our military in the future should respond to not only conventional security threats but also non-military ones, including infectious diseases like the coronavirus, terrorism and natural disasters," he stressed.
He called for the realization of a "digital" and "smart" military power in preparation for the advent of a new defense concept and warfare in the fourth industrial revolution era.
Moon cited the military's push for sending recon satellites into orbit by using solid-propellant space rockets, acquiring a 30,000-ton light aircraft carrier and developing the country's indigenous fighter jet.
Under the revised missile development guidelines agreed by the United States, South Korea will be able to develop more powerful and longer-range missiles, he noted.
The government has already submitted next year's defense budget plan to the National Assembly to increase its size by 5.5 percent to 52.9 trillion won (US$45.2 billion) from this year.
An honor guard soldier salutes to President Moon Jae-in abroad the Army's tactical command vehicle ahead of the 72nd Armed Forces Day ceremony at the headquarters of the Special Warfare Command in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
Moon showed up at the venue for the annual ceremony aboard a tactical command vehicle that was developed by South Korea, escorted by a multipurpose drone, an unmanned combat vehicle and a K808 wheeled armored personnel carrier.
It is the first time that the government has held the annual Armed Forces Day ceremony at the Army's Special Warfare Command, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
The three previous events took place at the Navy's Second Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in 2018, the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul in 2018 and an Air Force base in Daegu, 302 kilometers southeast of Seoul, last year.
South Korea's Apache and Surion helicopters fly over the venue for the 72nd Armed Forces Day ceremony at the Army's Special Warfare Command in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-25--(LEAD) Nightlife establishments outside of capital area to be closed for at least 1 week: PM

`` Outside of the capital area , a ban on assembly will be implemented for entertainment facilities for at least @ @ @ @ @ travel to hometowns or go on a trip are expected to visit the facilities , @ @ @ @ @ in a regular government COVID-19 response meeting .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with more details; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will prohibit operations of nightlife establishments outside of the greater Seoul area for a week as part of the country's tighter social distancing requirements aimed at reducing COVID-19 infections during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, the prime minister said Friday.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said tighter disease prevention rules will be adopted for restaurants, amusement parks, movie theaters and other frequently visited entertainment places in the capital area.
Starting Wednesday, South Korea will have an extended five-day weekend that includes the Chuseok autumn harvest holiday on Thursday and the National Foundation Day on Oct. 3. Many South Koreans travel across the country to reunite with families at hometowns during the traditional Chuseok holiday.
"Outside of the capital area, a ban on assembly will be implemented for entertainment facilities for at least one week as people who travel to hometowns or go on a trip are expected to visit the facilities," the prime minister said in a regular government COVID-19 response meeting.
Chung also stressed that next week's long holiday period will become a decisive moment in the country's endeavor to regain control over the COVID-19 pandemic, calling for cooperation from the public.
Later in the day, health authorities are scheduled to announce a new set of detailed social distancing guidelines to be applied for two weeks starting Monday.
The government has designated the period from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11 as a special period for its antivirus fight, bracing for a potential flare-up in transmissions during major holidays.
A karaoke room in central Soul remains closed on Sept. 24, 2020 under the Level 2 social distancing guidelines to tame COVID-19 transmission. (Yonhap)
Level 2 social distancing is currently in effect across the country. Under Level 2 of the three-tier system, nightlife establishments, such as nightclubs and hostess bars, are prohibited from operations.
But more than 10 cities and provinces outside of the capital area are permitting the facilities' operations within their jurisdictions under an exception granted by the central government.
After ordering the shutdown of entertainment facilities in the regions outside of the capital area for a week starting Monday, the government plans to give the municipalities the right to make their own decisions on the matter again.
On Friday, South Korea reported 114 new COVID-19 cases, including 56 in Seoul and 26 in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital,
It marks the third day in a row that the daily tally has stayed above 100.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a regular government COVID-19 response meeting on Sept. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-25--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Sep. 25 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .


yna--2020-09-25--(LEAD) N. Korea stays mum on killing of S. Korean citizen

This is the first time that a South Korean citizen has been killed by North Korea since a female tourist @ @ @ @ @ North Korean guard in 2008 as she strayed into a restricted zone at the Mount @ @ @ @ @ 's east coast .

(ATTN: ADDS unfication minsitry's remarks on inter-Korean relations in paras 9-11)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea stayed mum on its brutal killing of a South Korean fisheries official drifting near the western inter-Korean sea border, a day after Seoul demanded the North apologize amid mounting public anger.
On Thursday, South Korea's defense ministry confirmed that North Korean soldiers fatally shot the 47-year-old South Korean official drifting in their waters and burned his body in waters near the Yellow Sea border between the two sides.
The revelations sparked strong public outrage. President Moon Jae-in called the killing a "shocking incident that cannot be tolerated for any reason." His office demanded the North apologize and punish those responsible.
As of Friday morning, however, North Korean state media, including the Rodong Sinmun and the Korean Central News Agency, have stayed silent with regard to the incident.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, ran several reports on the country's nationwide efforts aimed at warding off an outbreak of COVID-19 but did not make any mention of the killing.
"Preventing infectious diseases is the frontline for safeguarding our people and our fatherland," the paper said. "All workers should do their best and strengthen our antivirus walls like iron."
It is not clear whether North Korea will make any response this time given that inter-Korean relations remain stalled since the no-deal summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump early last year.
The relations chilled further recently after the North blew up a joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong and cut off cross-border communication in protest of the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by activists in the South.
The unification ministry said there has been no word from the North with regard to the killing.
Asked about whether the government will keep pushing for cross-border cooperation, deputy ministry spokesman Cho Hey-sil said it will closely monitor the North's response and review relevant situations "comprehensively" and "carefully" before making any decisions.
Seoul has sought to expand "small-scale" cross-border exchanges in areas including humanitarian assistance to the North as part of efforts to bring their relations back on track. Critics say the recent incident will likely hamstring the government reconciliation efforts, given public outrage.
This is the first time that a South Korean citizen has been killed by North Korea since a female tourist was shot dead by a North Korean guard in 2008 as she strayed into a restricted zone at the Mount Kumgang resort on the North's east coast.
North Korea was relatively quick in responding to the 2008 killing. It issued a statement a day after the incident and expressed regrets over her death, though Pyongyang hasn't made any apology.
This photo shows the Mugunghwa No. 10, a South Korean fishery patrol vessel, anchored near the de facto inter-Korean sea border in the Yellow Sea on Sept. 24, 2020. The boat was boarded by a South Korean official who went missing on Sept. 21 and was killed by North Korean soldiers the following day, according to South Korean officials. (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-25--Military tightens readiness posture after N. Korea's deadly shooting of S. Korean citizen

On Tuesday , North Korean troops shot the fisheries official who was adrift in its waters and incinerated his body @ @ @ @ @ previous day while on duty near the Yellow Sea border island of Yeonpyeong .

SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea tightened its military readiness posture to step up monitoring of North Korean military moves particularly near the tense sea border in the wake of the communist country's brutal killing of a South Korean citizen, the defense ministry said Friday.
On Tuesday, North Korean troops shot the fisheries official who was adrift in its waters and incinerated his body. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the Yellow Sea border island of Yeonpyeong.
"Our military issued the instruction on Thursday that calls for the strengthening of the readiness posture regarding the current situation," the ministry's deputy spokesperson Col. Moon Hong-sik told reporters.
"The focus is on closely monitoring North Korean military moves around the clock and to maintain a firm defense posture to swiftly react to all circumstances so as to prevent the escalation of tensions."
Ahn Young-ho, a Joint Chiefs of Staff officer, holds a press conference at the defense ministry in Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020, over the incident of North Korea shooting a missing South Korean official to death and burning his body earlier this week. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-25--Earnest friendship, biz partnership behind BTS' successful teamwork: interview

`` And now , I consider ourselves as seven of us are in the same boat but looking at some @ @ @ @ @ okay to look at the other directions .
The important thing is that we know @ @ @ @ @ same boat , '' RM said .

SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- Global K-pop act BTS has said the team's great internal chemistry was driven by genuine friendship among members and the singers being fully aware they are committed to each other businesswise.
"We're all very good friends. We always talk and communicate with each other. And we know that BTS understands each other as well," BTS singer Jin said during a virtual interview with the Grammy Museum's Collection: Live streaming service in the United States published Thursday (U.S. time).
Jin added: "We always keep in mind that in addition to being friends, we're also in a business relationship. That allows us to objectively see and give inputs so that we can create the best results."
"I think these are the things that create good teamwork and great outcomes," Jin said.
Group leader RM also explained that BTS as a team took some time and effort to fully understand each other.
"And now, I consider ourselves as seven of us are in the same boat but looking at some different directions. It's okay to look at the other directions. The important thing is that we know that we are on the same boat," RM said.
RM explained that the band members, after having been together for seven years, have become very close.
"Now we can read each others' mind like an open book. We got seven different tastes, seven different colors," he said.
BTS made history by becoming the first South Korean artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart last month with its disco-pop single "Dynamite."
This photo, provided by Big Hit Entertainment on Sept. 21, 2020, shows K-pop group BTS performing on the "Tiny Desk Concert" show on National Public Radio in the United States. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-25--Imported commercial car sales up 2.3 pct in August

The number of newly registered imported commercial vehicles rose to 318 units in August from 311 a year ago , @ @ @ @ @ Distributors Association ( KAIDA ) said in a statement .

SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- Sales of imported commercial vehicles in South Korea rose 2.3 percent last month from a year earlier on robust sales of Mercedes-Benz trucks, an industry association said Friday.
The number of newly registered imported commercial vehicles rose to 318 units in August from 311 a year ago, the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) said in a statement.
"Increased sales of Mercedes-Benz and Scania trucks helped the monthly results," a KAIDA official said.
Imported commercial vehicles currently account for a large share of the domestic commercial vehicle market.
Five major imported commercial vehicle brands -- MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo Trucks, Scania and Iveco -- sell trucks, buses and vans in South Korea.
From January to August, overall sales fell 17 percent to 2,708 from 3,263 in the year-ago period, the statement said.
KAIDA expects the new coronavirus outbreak will continue to weigh on consumer sentiment this year.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)