yna--2020-06-24--Lotte Group chief appointed president, CEO of Japan-based holding firm

The retail giant has been embroiled in a high-profile family feud in recent years over a group leadership battle between @ @ @ @ @ Dong-bin -- as the two had controlled the company 's operations in Japan and South @ @ @ @

SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin was appointed president and CEO of Japan-based Lotte Holdings Co., the company said Wednesday, in a move that further cements his grip on the group's numerous subsidiaries in South Korea and Japan.
The decision was approved at a shareholders' meeting in Tokyo earlier in the day, though Shin did not attend the meeting.
Shin has been serving as Lotte Holdings chairman since April.
The move will help Shin strengthen his control of South Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate. Lotte Holdings holds major stakes in Lotte Group.
Lotte Group said that late group founder Shin Kyuk-ho named his son, Dong-bin, as his official successor, in his will. The will was written in March 2000 and was recently found.
The retail giant has been embroiled in a high-profile family feud in recent years over a group leadership battle between his sons -- Dong-joo and Dong-bin -- as the two had controlled the company's operations in Japan and South Korea, respectively.
"I feel heavier responsibility," the Lotte chairman said, citing details about the will. "I will make efforts for the group's development and the future of Lotte employees in accordance with the founder's wish."
Shin Kyuk-ho died of a chronic illness at age 99 in January.
Meanwhile, Lotte Holdings' shareholders rejected a proposal by Shin Dong-joo, former vice chairman of Lotte Holdings, to dismiss Dong-bin from the board, citing his brother's suspended jail term.
In October 2019, South Korea's top court upheld a lower court ruling that gave a suspended jail sentence to the Lotte chief in a massive graft scandal that rocked the country and led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye.
Shin Dong-joo unsuccessfully attempted to have shareholders vote on his brother's dismissal and his return to the board in 2015-2018.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-24--(LEAD) Seoul stocks close 1.42 pct higher on economic recovery hope, N. Korean relief

SEOUL , June 24 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks closed 1.42 percent higher Wednesday on the back of @ @ @ @ @ United States and Europe and eased tensions with North Korea , analysts said .
The @ @ @ @ @ U.S. dollar .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed 1.42 percent higher Wednesday on the back of upbeat economic data from the United States and Europe and eased tensions with North Korea, analysts said. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 30.27 points to close at 2,161.51. Trading volume was heavy at 895 million shares worth 12.7 trillion won (US$10.6 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 518 to 319.
Institutions scooped up a net 118.2 billion won. Meanwhile, foreigners and individuals offloaded a net 155.9 billion won and 9.5 billion won, respectively.
Currency dealers work in front of an electronic signboard that shows the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gaining 30.27 points, or 1.42 percent, to close at 2,161.51 at the dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul on June 24, 2020. South Korean stocks closed sharply higher on the back of upbeat economic data from the United States and Europe and eased tensions with North Korea. (Yonhap)
The index opened higher, tracking the overnight Wall Street rally, and it continued to build up gains on the back of a rise in tech and bio shares.
Market tracker IHS Markit's eurozone Flash Composite Purchasing Managers' Index, a good gauge of economic health, recovered to 47.5. In the U.S., new home sales jumped 16.6 percent in May.
Earlier in the day, North Korea suspended "military action plans" against South Korea during a Central Military Commission meeting presided over by leader Kim Jong-un.
"The KOSPI continues to maintain its upturn as various economic data showed improvement, followed by the North Korean risk being relieved," Choi Yoo-june, an analyst at Shinhan Financial Investment, said.
In Seoul, most large-cap shares closed higher.
Tech shares were bullish, with top market cap Samsung Electronics gaining 2.92 percent to 52,900 won. No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix added 2.26 percent to 86,000 won to snap a four-day losing streak.
Bio stocks ended higher, with Samsung BioLogics going up 2.12 percent to 819,000 won after the biopharmaceutical affiliate of Samsung Group said it had clinched a 381 billion-won order to manufacture the products for a European firm.
Leading automaker Hyundai Motor moved up 4.36 percent to 103,000 won, and its sister company Kia Motors gained 4.65 percent to 33,750 won. Auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis shot up 6.22 percent to 205,000 won on news that the company developed core 5G-based connected car technology.
The local currency closed at 1,199.4 won against the U.S. dollar, up 9.4 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 0.8 basis point to 0.819 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond shed 1.9 basis points to 1.090 percent.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-24--KBO's Kiwoom Heroes hold key to future of ex-MLB player Kang Jung-ho

Kang was convicted for an accident that happened in December 2016 .
Many felt Kang 's apology on Tuesday came @ @ @ @ @ too late .
They said Kang did n't see the need to apologize to Korean @ @ @ @ @ was still on a major league contract and probably did n't envision himself begging for @ @ @ @ @ KBO .
It appeared to those critics that Kang apologized only out of necessity because @ @ @ @ @ playing career and the KBO offered him the best opportunity to do so .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- The ball is now in their court, or in their hands, since we're talking about baseball.
Either way, the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) will have the ultimate say on whether or not Kang Jung-ho, an embattled former major league player, can resume his playing career in South Korea.
Kang, his big league career essentially over following a drunk driving conviction in 2017 and sub-par performances in ensuing years, is hoping to be reunited with the Heroes. He'd been with this franchise from 2006 to 2014 before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2015.
Former major league player Kang Jung-ho bows before the start of a press conference at a Seoul hotel on June 23, 2020, as he apologizes for his past drunk driving cases in a bid to return to the Korea Baseball Organization. (Yonhap)
Kang held a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday to apologize for his past misdeeds -- he'd also been caught driving under the influence of alcohol in 2009 and 2011 -- and begged for a chance to play in the KBO again.
The 33-year-old is now at the Heroes' mercy. Because Kang wasn't a free agent at the time he left for the Pirates and he signed through the posting system, the Heroes retained their rights to Kang and placed him on the voluntarily retired list.
They must first activate Kang off that list before he can play in the KBO. Once Kang comes off the list, the Heroes can sign him, make him a free agent, or trade him. On the other hand, they can choose to keep Kang on the list, in which case Kang won't be able to play for any other club in the KBO.
He may still go to a foreign league, but Kang hinted during Tuesday's press conference that he won't go that route.
Based on Kang's past DUI incidents, the KBO handed down a one-year suspension and ordered him to do 300 hours of community service. The penalty will go into effect once Kang signs a deal.
The Heroes had said they would wait until Kang made a public apology before discussing his potential future with the club.
Now that Kang has done his part, the Heroes' general manager Kim Chi-hyun said, "We'll try to make a decision as soon as we can. It's not something that should be dragged on."
Former major league player Kang Jung-ho speaks at a press conference at a Seoul hotel on June 23, 2020, as he apologizes for his past drunk driving cases in a bid to return to the Korea Baseball Organization. (Yonhap)
For the Heroes, it's not as simple as telling Kang, "Ok, we heard your apology. Now you can come play for us again."
The Heroes put themselves in an impossible situation. They basically asked him to apologize first before he can sit down for contract talks with them. Now that Kang has apologized, the Heroes can't afford to just turn their back on him.
If Kang can duplicate his pre-DUI level of production -- he had 36 home runs in his first two big league seasons and belted 40 homers in his most recent KBO season in 2014 -- there's no doubt he can help the Heroes on the field. But signing such an unpopular player will bring a great deal of public relations baggage.
Kang has been getting grilled in the court of public opinion since receiving the eight-month jail term, suspended for two years, in May 2017. At that point, he gave what many felt was only a half-hearted apology, offering that he'd try to make up for his mistakes by playing good baseball.
When Kang reached out to the KBO and the Heroes two months ago in a bid for a return, his detractors couldn't believe Kang's temerity to even consider playing here again. His driver's license had long been revoked under the "three strikes" rule, and as far as his critics were concerned, there should have been a three-strike call on Kang's career, too.
Kang was convicted for an accident that happened in December 2016. Many felt Kang's apology on Tuesday came three years and six months too late. They said Kang didn't see the need to apologize to Korean fans back then because he was still on a major league contract and probably didn't envision himself begging for a second chance in the KBO. It appeared to those critics that Kang apologized only out of necessity because he wanted to resume his playing career and the KBO offered him the best opportunity to do so.
Former major league player Kang Jung-ho speaks at a press conference at a Seoul hotel on June 23, 2020, as he apologizes for his past drunk driving cases in a bid to return to the Korea Baseball Organization. (Yonhap)
The apology did little to assuage those detractors. And if the Heroes still go ahead and sign Kang, they'll become a target of scorn for bringing in yet another shady character aboard.
And the Heroes have had no shortage of off-field controversy in recent seasons. It starts from the top: their former owner, Lee Chang-suk, was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in jail for embezzlement charges in December 2018.
In 2018, the Heroes suspended rookie pitcher An Woo-jin for 50 games over his assault of high school teammates. That same year, closer Cho Sang-woo and catcher Park Dong-won faced allegations of sexual assault, though they ultimately walked free early last year without indictment.
In December 2018, veteran outfielder Lee Taek-keun was banned for 36 games by the KBO for striking a teammate in the head with a baseball bat.
Last weekend, the Heroes acquired former National League All-Star Addison Russell, who served a 40-game ban in the majors in 2019 while with the Chicago Cubs for domestic abuse allegations. Kim, the general manager, said the team felt comfortable enough to sign Russell because he had already served his penalty in the majors and came back to play for the Cubs in 2019 before getting cut.
If the Heroes do sign Kang, they'll also have some explaining to do. Will they feel equally comfortable since Kang will serve his one-year ban and he claims to have been sober for four years?
The rest of the KBO is watching with bated breath.
In this file photo, from June 13, 2020, members of the Kiwoom Heroes celebrate their 18-5 victory over the NC Dinos in their Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-24--Lawmakers welcome N.K.'s halt of armed action plans, but say South must remain vigilant

`` I hope that through valid talks between South and North Korea , as well as high-level talks involving the @ @ @ @ @ States and China , ( the countries ) would be able to break out of @ @ @ @ @ and form a new , desirable environment , '' Lee said in a Facebook post @

SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed North Korea's latest decision to suspend its military actions planned on the South but stressed that Seoul should remain on guard.
In a preliminary meeting of the Workers' Party Central Military Commission presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the communist country decided to suspend "military action plans" against South Korea, its state news agency reported earlier in the day.
The report followed weeks of North Korea's inflammatory rhetoric and threats toward South Korea, which spiked inter-Korean tensions. Pyongyang last week blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in its territory and threatened to redeploy troops to border areas and resume all military exercises.
The ruling Democratic Party's (DP) Chairman Lee Hae-chan hailed the North's announcement, saying "Peace on the Korean Peninsula can only guarantee the survival of the Korean people."
He, during a meeting of senior DP lawmakers, urged the two Koreas to "sit down face to face again for constructive dialogue."
Democratic Party Chairman Lee Hae-chan speaks during a party meeting in Seoul on June 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Also during the meeting, Rep. Park Kwang-on described the decision by Kim as "wise" and said "a continued push for 'the Peace Process on the Korean Peninsula' only can reopen channels for inter-Korean talks," referring to President Moon Jae-in's peace-building policy vision.
High-profile ruling party lawmaker Rep. Lee Nak-yeon, who also served as Moon's first prime minister, welcomed the North Korean announcement as "a very proper determination."
"I hope that through valid talks between South and North Korea, as well as high-level talks involving the two Koreas, the United States and China, (the countries) would be able to break out of the ongoing (deadlock) and form a new, desirable environment," Lee said in a Facebook post.
Responses from main opposition party lawmakers were more nuanced after they have vehemently denounced Moon's North Korea policy as a failure in light of North Korea's recent provocative rhetoric.
Rep. Park Jin of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) said during a party meeting that "It is a relief for now, but the North has not yet withdrawn its declaration (to treat South Korea) as an enemy."
"The military should not relax its alertness against North Korea," Park said.
Another UFP lawmaker, Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae, said in a radio interview that South Korea should not attach "much meaning" to the latest North Korean decision, indicating that it could be only "temporary."
Former Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon, who also served as a lawmaker, argued during a radio appearance that South Korea should consider the option of a nuclear arms buildup as a negotiating card with North Korea
This image captured from the North's Korean Central Television shows a news presenter announcing on June 24, 2020, leader Kim Jong-un's decision to suspend "military action plans" during a preliminary meeting of the Central Military Commission. [For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution] (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-24--S. Korean Bond Yields on Jun. 24, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Jun. 24, 2020

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


yna--2020-06-25--Top court confirms artist not guilty of fraud for selling heavily assisted paintings

Cho Young-nam , once a popular folk singer , was accused of fraudulently selling 21 pieces of art to 17 @ @ @ @ @ 153 million won ( US $ 126,792 ) from September 2011 to January 2015 .
@ @ @ @ @ own , but it was later found out that assistants he had hired actually painted @ @ @ @ @ some final touches .

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- The Supreme Court on Thursday confirmed a ruling that cleared a singer-painter of fraud for selling his paintings created with the help of assistants.
Cho Young-nam, once a popular folk singer, was accused of fraudulently selling 21 pieces of art to 17 people for a total of 153 million won (US$126,792) from September 2011 to January 2015. Cho called the paintings his own, but it was later found out that assistants he had hired actually painted them and he only added some final touches.
A district court sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years for fraud. But in August 2018, the appellate court found him not guilty of fraud because the role of his assistants was limited to helping him technically.
The singer, who was popular in the 1970s-80s, has painted professionally since 1990. He was found to have used assistants to produce more than 300 works sold under his name from 2009.
Prosecutors claimed that Cho defrauded buyers by pretending he had painted the works all by himself and selling them at high prices. The investigation began when one of his assistants filed a complaint with the prosecution in 2016.
Cho denied the charges, saying he did not consider the use of assistants in art to be illegal and arguing that it was a customary practice.
Singer-painter Cho Young-nam heads to a court in Seoul on May 28, 2020, to attend a hearing (Yonhap).
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--KT to provide car infotainment services to Renault Samsung vehicles

The service will provide in-car infotainment , such as weather reports and music or podcast streaming , through an internal @ @ @ @ @ vehicles by the South Korean unit of French automaker Renault SA , KT said in @ @ @

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- KT Corp., South Korea's telecommunications giant, said Thursday it will introduce in-car infotainment services for Renault Samsung Motors Corp. vehicles set to be released this year.
The service will provide in-car infotainment, such as weather reports and music or podcast streaming, through an internal communications device installed in new vehicles by the South Korean unit of French automaker Renault SA, KT said in a statement.
Drivers currently have to connect their smartphones to infotainment services through applications such as Android Auto or Apple's CarPlay.
The carrier also plans to provide the services to Renault Samsung's XM3, a small-sized SUV released earlier this year.
The company said it is also developing an artificial intelligence-based auto assistant for Renault Samsung vehicles.
The assistant will be able to recommend destinations based on the driver's daily schedule and monitor the vehicle's maintenance conditions, according to KT.
The company's announcement comes as local carriers have recently focused on developing connected mobility technology.
KT's local rival SK Telecom said last month that it partnered with Volvo Cars Korea Co. to supply its car infotainment system to its vehicles scheduled to launch in the country next year.
A diagram of KT Corp.'s connected car service to be introduced for new Renault Samsung Motors Corp. vehicles is shown in this image provided by KT on June 25, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--Police investigation sought for former arms development researchers for alleged tech leaks

The number of people subject to investigation could increase , as the arms procurement agency plans to continue looking into @ @ @ @ @ of using such devices or those who have been uncooperative with the probe .

By Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's arms procurement agency said Thursday it has asked police to investigate two former officials at the country's defense development institution for allegedly leaking a massive amount of information before retirement.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said after an audit of its subsidiary Agency for Defense Development that the two former researchers, who are now both abroad, are suspected of leaking data using portable media storage devices.
The number of people subject to investigation could increase, as the arms procurement agency plans to continue looking into former officials who have records of using such devices or those who have been uncooperative with the probe.
After conducting a full-fledged audit into former and current employees of the research center, the arms acquisition agency found multiple people with records of copying work data without permission or violating other security regulations. Those individuals will also face due penalties, it said.
The monthlong audit began last month following reports of an alleged leak of tech data overseas by retired researchers.
The administration said it found a number of loopholes in the institution's data protection system.
The research center was also found to have failed to carry out security inspections of retiring employees for the past three years, and those responsible will face disciplinary measures, the administration said.
Following the audit results, the research institution said it will upgrade its data protection system and beef up monitoring of retirees and officials who have access to core defense technologies.
"The Agency for Defense Development gravely accepts the audit and probe results, and will strictly reprimand those involved in the technology leaks," it said in a release.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--Seoul stocks extend losses late Thursday morning on virus woes

South Korea 's new coronavirus cases fell back to below 30 Thursday , raising the total caseload to 12,563 .
@ @ @ @ @ cases in the United States surged to nearly 36,000 in the latest tally , near @ @ @ @ @ in late April .

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares traded lower late Thursday morning mainly due to renewed worries about a surge in virus cases in major economies.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dipped 40.38 points, or 1.87 percent, to reach 2,121.13 as of 11:20 a.m.
South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell back to below 30 Thursday, raising the total caseload to 12,563. However, new daily virus cases in the United States surged to nearly 36,000 in the latest tally, near a record of 36,426 hit in late April.
In Seoul, almost all large-cap shares were bearish.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics was down 0.95 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix lost 1.28 percent. Top portal operator Naver shed 3.23 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,206.8 won against the U.S. dollar, down 7.4 won from the previous session's close.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--N. Korea's decision to suspend military action plans against S. Korea 'positive' sign: official

Pyongyang has also said it will redeploy troops to border areas disarmed under inter-Korean agreements and threatened to resume `` @ @ @ @ @ exercises '' near the border , saying that those plans will be approved in a @ @ @ @ @ be held `` at the earliest date . ''

By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's recent decision to suspend military action plans against South Korea is a "positive sign," a unification ministry official said Thursday, hoping that it could serve as a starting point for easing tensions and improving cross-border relations.
Kim held a preliminary meeting of the ruling party's Central Military Commission on Tuesday and decided to call off military action plans that North Korea had taken against South Korea in anger over the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the communist nation.
The move came as a surprise given that Pyongyang has vowed to take a series of retaliatory steps, including military action against the South over the leafleting issue, raising questions about the reasons for the changed stance.
"The North's move to suspend military action plans at such a critical point is positive behavior," the ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "Such a change could be seen as the beginning of a positive signal."
"We hope both Koreas can improve their relations and discuss issues of mutual concerns through dialogue," he added.
Hours after North Korea's announcement, military officials said the North was removing some of the propaganda loudspeakers it installed earlier this week along the inter-Korean border. Propaganda media outlets of the North have also withdrawn articles critical of South Korea en masse.
The abrupt about-face came after North Korea ratcheted up tensions for weeks, calling South Korea an "enemy" and cutting off all cross-border communication lines. Last week, it blew up an inter-Korean liaison office opened as a result of a 2018 summit between the two Koreas.
Pyongyang has also said it will redeploy troops to border areas disarmed under inter-Korean agreements and threatened to resume "all kinds of regular military exercises" near the border, saying that those plans will be approved in a Central Military Commission meeting to be held "at the earliest date."
This image, captured from North Korea's Korean Central Television on June 24, 2020, shows North Korean announcer Ri Chun-hee reading a statement that North Korea suspended "military action plans" against South Korea during a Central Military Commission meeting presided over by leader Kim Jong-un the previous day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--(News Focus) Trade spat with Japan wakeup call for S. Korea to stand on its own

Despite repeated calls from South Korea to lift the curbs , Japan did not budge , and it removed South @ @ @ @ @ trusted trade partners the following month on the grounds that it did not effectively control @ @ @ @ @ diverted for military use .

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- For the past decades, the relationship between South Korea and Japan went through ups and downs, but the two Asian neighbors managed to maintain close ties at least on the economic side while haggling over their shared history.
But Japan's unprecedented export restrictions against South Korea last year took Seoul aback, revealing what it should do -- reduce its reliance on parts and materials from Japan.
On July 1 last year, Japan announced that it would regulate South Korea-bound exports of three key industrial materials -- photoresist, etching gas and fluorinated polyimide, which are critical for the chip and display industries, the backbone of Asia's No. 4 economy.
The consequences of Japan's export restrictions placed against Korea a year ago Youtube https://youtu.be/Y3yFkRUqwl8
For some items, more than 90 percent of South Korea's demand relies on Japanese products.
South Korea cried foul over Japan's abrupt move on concerns that it may deal a harsh blow to its exports, which have been suffering from a slowdown in outbound shipments.
Despite repeated calls from South Korea to lift the curbs, Japan did not budge, and it removed South Korea from its list of trusted trade partners the following month on the grounds that it did not effectively control sensitive materials that could be diverted for military use.
For South Korea, Tokyo's move was widely seen as retaliation for a verdict made by a Seoul court in 2018 that ordered Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims for their forced labor during its 1910-45 colonial rule.
For now, there are no winners or losers from this disarray.
The trade dispute with Japan, however, did help South Korea move fast to reduce its reliance on Japanese materials by diversifying its trade portfolio and developing home-grown technologies.
Data compiled by the Korea International Trade Association showed South Korea's imports of hydrogen fluoride from Japan over the January-May period plunged 85.8 percent on-year. Accordingly, Japan only accounted for 12 percent of South Korea's total imports of the material, down from 44 percent posted last year.
Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. -- the country's two chipmakers -- are planning to use hydrogen fluoride developed by local chemical firm SK Materials Co. within this year, which will further reduce their dependence on Japanese products.
"Local companies sought to diversify their import portfolio and secured inventories. Such efforts have cushioned the impact of Japan's export regulations," said Kim Yang-paeng, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade.
"South Korea's chip industry has neglected developing materials and equipment. The country needs to secure related technologies to cope with a similar crisis down the road," Kim added.
South Korea has allocated 2.1 trillion won (US$1.74 billion) in state budget this year to promote the growth of the material, parts and equipment industries in response to the trade war. It includes 1.2 trillion won in R&D budget to secure a stable supply of some 100 key items.
The trade row thus has been causing more damage to Tokyo's exports than the other way around.
South Korea's current account deficit in trade with Japan reached $18.8 billion in 2019, marking the lowest level in five years, according to the data compiled by the central bank.
The ongoing boycott of Japanese goods also dealt a harsh blow to demand for Japanese beer and consumer items here.
Nevertheless, Seoul has been prodding Tokyo to lift the restrictions, as trade uncertainties should be reduced to cope with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April, South Korea renewed its call for Tokyo to lift export regulations against its neighbor by the end of May. Despite repeated requests, Japan did not give answers until the deadline.
Early this month, Seoul requested the WTO open a dispute-settlement panel to look into Japan's export curbs, months after dropping the suit in a goodwill gesture.
The two countries may have another chance to seek a breakthrough, but time is running out quickly.
In June, a local court decided to begin a legal procedure that could lead to liquidating seized assets of a Japanese firm that has ignored a ruling to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor.
If there is no response from the Japanese side by August, the court can then issue an order to sell off the seized assets. This, however, may lead to another round of dispute between the two countries.
"South Korea and Japan need to avoid an all-out collision by seeking a compromise before the deadline (of August)," said Yang Kee-ho, a professor of Japanese studies at Sungkonghoe University.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--Amb. Harris says S. Korea-U.S. alliance will thrive as linchpin of regional security

Harris also said that the alliance , `` forged in the crucible of war and hardened by blood spilled together @ @ @ @ @ thrive `` as long as we together nurture it , resource it and remain committed @ @ @ @

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris said Thursday that the South Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to thrive for generations to come, calling it a linchpin of regional security amid "serious threats and challenges reshaping the world."
In a message marking the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, Harris also stressed that the alliance has developed into a multidimensional partnership reinforced by "shared values, shared concerns and economic interests."
"Even now, there are serious threats and challenges reshaping the world. It is vital that we face these threats together," Harris said in the video message posted on social media.
"The U.S.-Republic of Korea alliance serves as a foundation for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and a linchpin for the security and stability throughout the region," he added.
U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris delivers a message marking the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in a video clip in this photo captured from the U.S. Embassy's Twitter account on June 25, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
It remains unclear what "serious threats" he was referring to. But his remarks came amid renewed tensions with North Korea over its recent shocking demolition of an inter-Korean liaison office and Washington's intensifying rivalry with Beijing over trade, technology and security.
Harris also said that the alliance, "forged in the crucible of war and hardened by blood spilled together," will continue to thrive "as long as we together nurture it, resource it and remain committed to it."
The ambassador called the 1950-53 war a "struggle that culminated in the victory of democracy over communism, of freedom over oppression, of sea lanes and gateways over blockades and barricades."
"Brilliance, innovation and creativity are all hallmarks of free society. This is what the Republic of Korea has come to be known for," he said.
"South Korea is indeed a free country -- a vibrant, prosperous nation that pulses with hope and optimism, a key leader and a beacon of light in Asia," he added.
Commenting on Seoul's recent support for the U.S. fight against the new coronavirus, including the donation of 500,000 masks to American Korean War veterans, Harris expressed appreciation for it as a "tangible example of our steadfast friendship and partnership."
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

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


yna--2020-06-25--Cheong Wa Dae defends Incheon airport's employment plan against public outcry

Two day after his inauguration in May 2017 , Moon visited the airport just west of Seoul , which serves @ @ @ @ @ South Korea , and declared a push for a `` zero irregular job '' era @ @ @ @ @ left-leaning Moon administration of trying excessively and recklessly to create jobs in the public sector @

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- The office of President Moon Jae-in countered fierce public criticism Thursday over Incheon International Airport Corp.'s decision to grant regular employment status to 1,902 contract and part-time security officers working at its facilities.
Hwang Deok-soon, senior secretary to Moon for jobs, said the move is about enhancing "fairness in the labor market, a bit different from fairness in the hiring process."
He stressed that it has nothing to do with positions open to those who seek jobs at the company, speaking in a radio interview.
Earlier this week, the airport authorities announced a decision to turn the irregular or temporary employment positions of the workers into regular ones.
It has sparked public outcry and controversies. Hundreds of thousands of people signed a petition, posted on Cheong Wa Dae's website. They argue it's unfair to give them the much-coveted prerogative automatically over many job seekers, mostly college graduates.
Furthermore, the sensitive issue has political and ideological implications.
Full-time workers at Incheon International Airport Corp. protest the authorities' decision to give permanent positions to 1,902 contract or part-time security officers on June 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Two days after his inauguration in May 2017, Moon visited the airport just west of Seoul, which serves as a main gateway to South Korea, and declared a push for a "zero irregular job" era. Critics have accused the left-leaning Moon administration of trying excessively and recklessly to create jobs in the public sector.
The senior secretary, meanwhile, said the government's basic position is that the security of jobs directly connected with the people's lives and safety should be guaranteed.
He added the airport workers would face a formal test to become full-time employees.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--N. Korea's main paper urges ideological education, patriotism on anniversary of Korean War

`` Our awareness of social class is not innate or inherited ... we should put our best effort into educating @ @ @ @ @ social class as an important task related to our country , revolution and the fate @ @ @ @ @ paper said .

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official paper on Thursday stressed the importance of protecting its regime and ideology on the anniversary of the Korean War rather than focusing on criticizing the United States.
In the past, North Korean media outlets used to carry messages against the United States on the June 25 anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War, and the country has held mass rallies against the U.S. at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang on the occasion.
However, marking the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war this year, the Rodong Sinmun only ran a series of articles calling on the North's people to tighten their discipline, without direct criticism of the U.S.
"Our awareness of social class is not innate or inherited ... we should put our best effort into educating our youth on ideology and social class as an important task related to our country, revolution and the fate of socialism," the paper said.
The paper also warned the North Korean youth against adopting foreign cultures.
"We must make the youth understand the reactionary nature and risk of the ideological and cultural infiltration of the imperialists, and strive to stick to our own style in language and appearance," it said.
During the war, which ended in a truce and not a peace treaty, the U.S. led the 21-nation Allied Forces to help South Korea repel the Chinese-backed communist troops invading from the North.
When relations with the U.S. improved drastically in 2018 and 2019 after a series of historic summits between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea skipped its annual mass rally.
Eyes are set on whether or not North Korea will hold a mass rally this year amid a stalemate in nuclear talks with the U.S after the breakdown of the Hanoi summit.
Residents in Pyongyang hold a mass rally against the United States on June 25, 2017, the 67th anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War. The North calls the anniversary the Day of Anti-U.S. Struggle, as the U.S. and other nations fought for South Korea under the United Nations flag against invading North Korea during the war. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--Imported commercial car sales plunge 33 pct in May

`` Demand for commercial vehicles has been on the decline since last year amid a slowing economy .
This year @ @ @ @ @ is also affecting vehicle sales , '' a KAIDA official said .

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- Sales of imported commercial vehicles in South Korea plunged 33 percent last month from a year earlier on an economic slowdown, an industry association said Thursday.
The number of newly registered imported commercial vehicles fell to 306 units in May from 459 a year earlier, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA).
"Demand for commercial vehicles has been on the decline since last year amid a slowing economy. This year, the new coronavirus outbreak is also affecting vehicle sales," 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.
From January to May, overall sales fell 19 percent to 1,777 from 2,203 in the year-ago period, KAIDA said.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--S. Korea to export first batch of canned pork to Singapore

SEOUL , June 25 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea said Thursday it plans to ship the first batch of @ @ @ @ @ next week , a move that could pave the way for Seoul to further expand @ @ @ @ @ in Southeast Asia .

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Thursday it plans to ship the first batch of canned pork products to Singapore next week, a move that could pave the way for Seoul to further expand exports of processed food products in Southeast Asia.
The first batch of 50,000 cans worth US$60,000 will be shipped to Singapore on Tuesday, with the combined volume expected to reach 1 million units annually, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
South Korea is currently making efforts to pave the way for the export of other pork products to Singapore and other Asian countries, the ministry added.
South Korea's exports of canned meat products reached $949,380 in 2019, up 38 percent from a year earlier.
The move came as outbound shipments of traditional items have tumbled due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
The country's exports of processed foodstuffs shot up 26.6 percent on-year in May to $257 million amid soaring demand following the COVID-19 pandemic. The country's overall exports dipped 23.7 percent in the month.
The export volume of processed food products shot up 46.3 percent on-year in April as well.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--S. Korea to levy tax on capital gains from stock investment from 2023

Currently , South Korea levies a capital gains tax on major shareholders who own stocks worth more than 1 billion @ @ @ @ @ .
Also , their stake must exceed 1 percent of total shares listed on the @ @ @ @ @ of total shares listed on the secondary KOSDAQ market if they are subject to a @ @ @ @

By Kim Deok-hyun
SEJONG, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Thursday it plans to revise a law to levy a capital gains tax on gains from stock investment beginning in 2023, while lowering a stock transaction tax.
Under the plan, all investors who hold listed stocks will be subject to a tax rate of 20 percent. If they hold stocks worth more than 300 million won (US$250,041), the tax rate will be raised to 25 percent.
However, the proposed tax revision allows a retail investor to be exempted from a capital gains tax when profits from stock transactions are below 20 million won.
Currently, South Korea levies a capital gains tax on major shareholders who own stocks worth more than 1 billion won in a single company. Also, their stake must exceed 1 percent of total shares listed on the main KOSPI or 2 percent of total shares listed on the secondary KOSDAQ market if they are subject to a capital gains tax.
The move is "aimed at improving fairness of taxation by reducing tax exemptions on financial products," the Ministry of Economy and Finance said in a statement.
South Korea had some 6 million individual investors as of 2019. The ministry said about 5 percent of retail investors, or some 300,000 people, would be taxed.
In line with the move to levy a capital gains tax on all shareholders, the ministry said it will gradually lower a tax on stock transactions.
Last year, South Korea cut the stock trading tax for the first time in 23 years.
The transaction tax for shares listed on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets was lowered by 0.05 percentage point to 0.25 percent each.
Starting in 2022, the stock trading tax will be further lowered by 0.02 percentage point to 0.23 percent.
In 2023, the tax will be further cut by 0.08 percentage point to 0.15 percent, the ministry said.
South Korea began imposing a 10 percent tax on profits from trading all stock index-related derivatives last year.
The tax covers the KOSDAQ 150 Futures, KOSDAQ 150 Options and KRX 300 Futures, Sector Index Futures and Dividend Index Futures, as well as the V-KOSPI 200 Futures and KOSDAQ 150 equity-linked warrants.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--Prosecution's committee to decide on validity of probe into Samsung heir Friday

It said there was `` insufficient explanation on the need and validity to arrest the defendants against the principle of @ @ @ @ @ referring to the principle that pretrial detention should only be used as a last resort @ @ @ @ @ whether Lee is guilty should be determined through `` legal battles and court hearings .
@

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's prosecution will convene a committee this week to determine the validity of its investigation into Samsung's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong over a controversial merger and accounting fraud.
According to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, the committee, made up of 15 outside experts, will meet at 10:30 a.m. Friday to review the issue and listen to presentations by the two sides -- Samsung Group and the prosecutors.
The expert group will go over lengthy written opinions submitted on site by the two sides, followed by sessions in which prosecutors and Lee's lawyers will take turns giving a presentation.
A decision is expected to come out late in the day after internal discussions. In case the committee turns out to be equally divided on the issue, no conclusion will be made.
The review process by external experts was established after a citizen's panel, formed by the prosecution, arrived at a decision on June 11 that the issue needed to be reassessed.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (Yonhap)
Early this month, Lee requested a public assessment on the investigation, an outside review system introduced two years ago to enhance neutrality and fairness of prosecutorial probes into cases that are of great public interest.
Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, is under a probe for allegedly playing a role in the controversial merger in 2015 between two Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T, and the suspected accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Biologics.
The prosecutors suspect that the merger and fraud were designed to help him gain greater control of the country's biggest conglomerate.
Lee is the grandson of Lee Byung-chull, the founder of Samsung Group. His father, Lee Kun-hee, has been incapacitated since he suffered a heart attack in 2014.
On June 9, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the prosecution's request to put Lee behind bars for a further probe into the case.
It said there was "insufficient explanation on the need and validity to arrest the defendants against the principle of trial without detention," referring to the principle that pretrial detention should only be used as a last resort. The court also said whether Lee is guilty should be determined through "legal battles and court hearings."
Although not legally binding, a conclusion by the committee is likely to affect the prosecution's legal actions against Lee.
Since the introduction of the system, the committee gave out recommendations in eight cases and the prosecution followed all of them. But some expect the prosecution, having shown confidence all along to prove him guilty, to push ahead with its plan to indict Lee on stock manipulation and violation of capital laws.
Lee has denied the allegations against him. Samsung also has claimed that Lee was not briefed on and did not order any illegal transactions, including stock manipulation and accounting fraud.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--New virus cases dip to below 30; concerns lingering over cluster infections, imported cases

The KCDC has said the Seoul metropolitan area is already in a second wave of the new coronavirus outbreak , @ @ @ @ @ brace for a protracted virus fight .
The first wave of the virus outbreak gripped @ @ @ @ @ March .

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell back to below 30 Thursday, but the country is still on alert over another wave of virus outbreak amid continued rises in cluster infections and imported cases.
The country added 28 cases, including 23 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,563, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The tally marked a sharp fall from 51 new cases reported Wednesday and 46 additional cases Tuesday.
This photo, taken on June 24, 2020, shows a statement on the temporary shutdown of a call center linked to the country's health insurance service in western Seoul after one of its workers tested positive for the virus. (Yonhap)
Of the locally transmitted cases, 18 cases were reported in densely populated Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas. Four cases were reported in Daejeon, about 160 kilometers south of Seoul.
South Korea has been gripped by sporadic cluster infections since it relaxed stricter social distancing on May 6. The greater Seoul area accounted for most of the newly added cases this month.
Cluster infections continued to swell, with most traced to logistics centers, door-to-door retailers and small churches.
Cases tied to a door-to-door sales establishment in southern Seoul reached 205 as of noon Wednesday.
E-commerce leader Coupang shut down its distribution center in Icheon, south of Seoul, on Wednesday after one of its contract workers was infected with the virus. Cases linked to a warehouse operated by Coupang in Bucheon, west of Seoul, reached at least 152.
The country reported five new cases tied to a social club meeting near the Han River last week.
The KCDC has said the Seoul metropolitan area is already in a second wave of the new coronavirus outbreak, warning that the country should brace for a protracted virus fight. The first wave of the virus outbreak gripped the country between February and March.
Health authorities warned that they could consider expanding tougher infection preventive measures -- currently in place only in the Seoul metropolitan area -- across the country.
The country is also struggling to stem cases coming in from overseas. Five additional imported cases were reported, with the number of such cases rising to 1,496.
Recently, cluster infections on a Russia-flagged cargo ship docked in the southeastern city of Busan, the country's second-largest city, have been reported, and cases traced to overseas have been on a steady rise.
At least 17 sailors aboard two Russian ships tested positive for COVID-19.
This photo, taken on June 24, 2020, shows a Russia-flagged ship preparing to leave after repairs in a port in the southeastern city of Busan. South Korean began to conduct on-board quarantine inspections on vessels arriving at Busan ports from Russia to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Health authorities are conducting virus tests on some 163 port workers, repairmen and others who came into contact with the infected crewmembers. Of them, 152 people have tested negative.
On Wednesday, health authorities conducted on-board quarantine inspections of vessels arriving from Russia at Busan ports.
Imported cases, once the main source of virus cases here, fell to a single-digit figure early this month after the country strengthened quarantine measures on all international arrivals in April.
But such cases have bounced back to double-digit numbers since mid-June.
South Korea, meanwhile, reported one additional death, bringing the total death toll to 282. The fatality rate was 2.24 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,974, up 44 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 1,220,478 tests since Jan. 3.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--(URGENT) 44 more people released after full recoveries from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,

(URGENT) 44 more people released after full recoveries from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,974: KCDC


yna--2020-06-25--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 1 additional coronavirus death, total death toll at 282: KCDC


yna--2020-06-25--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 28 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 12,563: KCDC


yna--2020-06-25--S. Korean Ryu Hyun-jin not among multiple Blue Jays to test positive for COVID-19: source

The Jays ' spring training site is in Dunedin , Florida , a state that has seen an uptick in @ @ @ @ @ many teams are considering training in their regular season home stadiums .
The Philadelphia Phillies @ @ @ @ @ nearby town of Clearwater , have reported several positive cases among their players and staff @ @ @ @

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin isn't among multiple members of the Toronto Blue Jays who have reportedly tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a source close to the player said Thursday.
The source said Ryu has been tested twice for COVID-19, and both results came back negative.
"He's training without any trouble," the source told Yonhap News Agency. "Though he doesn't know where the season will start, he's trying to stay positive."
In this file photo, from Feb. 28, 2020, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays points to catcher Reese McGuire before the start of a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. (Yonhap)
After months of delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic, followed by squabbling over money between the owners and the players, Major League Baseball (MLB) announced Tuesday that the abbreviated, 60-game season will begin on July 23 or 24. Players are to report to their respective camps on July 1.
The Jays' spring training site is in Dunedin, Florida, a state that has seen an uptick in new COVID-19 cases, and many teams are considering training in their regular season home stadiums. The Philadelphia Phillies, who train in a nearby town of Clearwater, have reported several positive cases among their players and staff members this week.
Due to the pandemic, the Canada-U.S. border remains closed to non-essential travel until at least July 21, and people entering Canada for non-essential reasons must be quarantined for 14 days.
On Tuesday, the Canadian government said it was open to having big league baseball in Toronto this summer, and MLB has submitted a related plan to the government.
Sportsnet in Toronto reported that the Blue Jays' CEO Mark Shapiro was added to the national lobbyists' registry last week to pursue frequent contact with government officials to that end.
Ryu joined the Blue Jays last offseason on a four-year, US$80 million contract, the largest free agent deal for a pitcher in Blue Jays' history. He'd spent the past seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In 2019, Ryu finished second in the National League Cy Young Award voting, after posting an MLB-best 2.32 ERA.
In this file photo, from Feb. 28, 2020, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--(LEAD) Five S. Korean crew members kidnapped in waters off Benin

The authorities have yet to figure out the whereabouts of the abductees .
It was not immediately known whether the @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS more details throughout)
SEOUL/JOHANNESBURG, June 25 (Yonhap) -- Five South Korean nationals have been kidnapped by an unidentified armed group in waters off the western African country of Benin, officials said Thursday.
The abduction happened at about 3:40 p.m. (Benin time) when the group attacked a 994-ton fishing vessel in waters about 111 kilometers south of the country's Cotonou Port, Seoul officials said.
A total of 30 crewmen were aboard the Ghanaian-flagged Panofi Frontier, but the kidnappers took off with only six.
A South Korean diplomat based in the region confirmed that five South Koreans were abducted, without providing further details.
The authorities have yet to figure out the whereabouts of the abductees. It was not immediately known whether the abductees remain unharmed.
The foreign ministry in Seoul said it is working closely with the authorities of relevant countries to secure an early release of the South Korean nationals.
An image of the Panofi Frontier in a photo captured from the Dryad Global website on June 25, 2020 (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--(2nd LD) Moon urges N. Korea to formally end Korean War, warns of firm response to threats

`` Our military has strength to ward off any threat .
It has a thorough readiness posture and will never @ @ @ @ @ our territory on land , sea and in the air to be violated again , @ @ @ @ @ The Republic of Korea that the people have protected has now become strong enough to @ @ @ @ @ power and spirit strong enough to create peace . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES with war veteran's report to Moon in 22nd para; TRIMS lead; ADDS photo)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on North Korea Thursday to join a bold move to formally end the Korean War in peace overtures, coupled with a clear warning message, commemorating the conflict that started seven decades ago.
"We cannot commemorate the Korean War in a genuine manner yet. That is because the War has yet to come to an end," he said during a speech at the war anniversary event held at Seoul Air Base, a military compound just southeast of Seoul.
President Moon Jae-in delivers a commemorative speech at a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on June 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
He was pointing out that the three-year war finished in a ceasefire, not a peace treaty, which has left the two Koreas technically at war and repeatedly facing sharp military tensions.
Moon voiced hope that the North will "boldly embark on an endeavor to end the most sorrowful war in world history."
"If we are going to talk about unification, we have to achieve peace first, and only after peace has continued for a long time will we be able to finally see the door to unification," he stressed, addressing the nighttime ceremony, titled Salute to the Heroes, to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war.
He reaffirmed that South Korea has no intention to force its system on the communist neighbor and emphasized the importance of building peace first.
The president stressed the two Koreas' competition over political and economic systems "already ended a long time ago," noting that South Korea's gross domestic product is more than 50 times that of North Korea and its trade is over 400 times larger.
"We pursue peace and intend to live well together," he said. "We will continuously search for routes that are mutually beneficial for both Koreas through peace. Before speaking of unification, I hope that we can become friendly neighbors first."
President Moon Jae-in delivers a speech during a Korean War anniversary event held at Seoul Air Base, just southeast of Seoul, on June 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
The previous day, the North abruptly announced a decision to suspend "military action plans" against the South, a turnaround from weeks of brinkmanship highlighted by the unilateral severance of all bilateral communications lines and demolition of a joint liaison office.
Many regard the 2018 hard-won military accord between the two sides as virtually nullified. The Kim Jong-un regime's intentions remain unconfirmed.
While South Korea is against a war in pursuit of peace, Moon warned, the North would face a "firm response" in case of threats to the people here.
"Our military has strength to ward off any threat. It has a thorough readiness posture and will never allow even a handspan of our territory on land, sea and in the air to be violated again," he said. "The Republic of Korea that the people have protected has now become strong enough to safeguard them. It has power and spirit strong enough to create peace."
The president added, "If anyone threatens our people's safety and lives, we will firmly respond. Our national defense capabilities are strong enough to repel any provocation from any direction."
He cited the steadfast alliance with the United States despite the ongoing process of transferring the wartime operational control of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul.
"We are meticulously preparing the transfer of wartime operational control. Based on our own strength, we will defend and build peace without fail," he said.
President Moon Jae-in (3rd from L, front) salutes to the national flag in front of flag-draped boxes of repatriated war dead remains at Seoul Air Base, just southeast of Seoul, on June 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
Just ahead of the televised address on the war, often dubbed the Forgotten War, Moon honored the remains of 147 South Korean soldiers killed in the war. The flag-draped cases of remains were airlifted from Hawaii. The remains were among those sent to the Hawaii labs of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, mostly as a result of North Korea-U.S. joint excavation work conducted from 1990-1994. Those were found to be remains of South Koreans killed in action during the war.
The anniversary event was meant to show respect for fallen service members and demonstrate Seoul's commitment to friendly cooperation with 22 nations that fought alongside it against invading North Korea under the United Nations flag, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
"What we need now is to remember the countless sacrifices which have become the foundation for today's freedom, peace and prosperity and to have pride in ourselves," Moon said, speaking in front of a group of South Korean and foreign war veterans.
"There are no borders when honoring patriots and veterans," he went on to say. "We will remember and honor the noble sacrifices of fallen soldiers through various veterans affairs programs conducted jointly with the U.N. member states that sent troops to fight in the Korean War."
He reminded the public of the project to construct a Memorial Wall of Remembrance in Washington D.C. by 2022 in order to demonstrate that "the 'great alliance' is rooted in the noble sacrifices of Korean War veterans."
Placed next to the remains of South Korean soldiers throughout the event were the remains of six American service members discovered by South Korean defense ministry's Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification.
Moon received a symbolic report from a Korean War veteran on a combat mission completed. The veteran then saluted Moon, who quickly returned the salute.
A Korean War veteran (L) salutes President Moon Jae-in during a ceremony at the hangar of Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, southeast of Seoul, on June 25, 2020 to mark the 70th anniversary of the conflict's outbreak. (Yonhap)
While around 300 attendees stood in silence for the fallen heroes, a 21-gun salute occurred in show of respect equivalent to that for a head of state.
Moon then bestowed the Order of Military Merit on one surviving Korean War veteran. Two others were posthumously presented with medals.
Video messages of the 22 participating countries were played, with their ambassadors to South Korea in attendance at the ceremony, through which "international solidarity" has been reaffirmed, Cheong Wa Dae said.
In a brief message from the White House Rose Garden, for "all of those brave men and women that fought to keep communism out," U.S. President Donald Trump said, "Thank you. We salute you. You are very special people ... It was an incredible thing that we all together did."
As a representative, Amb. Joanne Doornewaard of the Netherlands received a Plague of Peace made of smelted parts of canteens, helmets and other military equipment used by the soldiers of the 22 nations, as well as barb-wire fences in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Meanwhile, the veterans ministry limited the number of participants in this year's anniversary ceremony due to the spread of the new coronavirus. The ceremony also began after sunset in consideration of elderly people's summertime health.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--Trump to visit Korean War memorial on 70th anniversary of outbreak

President George W. Bush visited the memorial around the 50th anniversary of the armistice signing in 2003 , while President @ @ @ @ @ anniversary of the start of the war in June 2000 with a commemorative ceremony held @ @ @ @

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, June 25 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial on Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the war.
According to the White House public schedule, the president and First Lady Melania Trump will participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the memorial on Washington's National Mall.
The U.S. fought with South Korea during the three-year conflict to fend off an invasion by North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union.
More than 33,000 American troops were killed in action.
The conflict ended in a ceasefire, not a peace treaty, leaving the two sides technically still at war.
Past U.S. presidents have also visited the memorial to mark the anniversary of the start or end of the war.
On July 27, 2013, then-President Barack Obama laid a wreath and delivered remarks to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the armistice signing.
President George W. Bush visited the memorial around the 50th anniversary of the armistice signing in 2003, while President Bill Clinton marked the 50th anniversary of the start of the war in June 2000 with a commemorative ceremony held near the memorial.
This AP photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) standing after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of Memorial Day in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, on May 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--Full text of President Moon Jae-in's speech on 70th anniversary of Korean War

I hope that North Korea will also boldly embark on an endeavor to end the most sorrowful war in world @ @ @ @ @ the tragedy of the War suffered by the South , North and all Koreans will @ @ @ @ @ generations as a collective memory and become the strength to usher in peace .
If @ @ @ @ @ about unification , we have to achieve peace first , and only after peace has @ @ @ @ @ will we be able to finally see the door to unification .

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- The following is an unofficial translation of President Moon Jae-in's speech to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. It was provided by his office, Cheong Wa Dae.
Fellow Koreans, decorated Korean War veterans and bereaved families,
Marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War today, we've pulled close the remains of 147 of our soldiers. Seoul Air Base has become a most solemn venue to welcome the return of our fallen heroes.
These valiant warriors have now returned to us after 70 years – their rank insignias of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces belatedly restored.
It makes us feel sad but proud. Though this has been long delayed, your country has never forgotten you for even an instant. It is our privilege to honor you with the respect due.
Among the fallen heroes we have today, seven of them have already been identified. They all sacrificed themselves during the Battle of Jangjin Reservoir in South Hamgyong Province.
We will engrave their names in our history – Private First Class Kim Dong-seong, Private First Class Kim Jeong-yong, Private First Class Park Jin-sil, Private First Class Jeong Jae-sul, Private First Class Choi Jae-ik, Private First Class Ha Jin-ho and Staff Sergeant Oh Dae-yeong. May they rest in peace in the arms of their families.
The dedication of every single Korean War veteran has served as the foundation for our freedom, peace and prosperity. I extend my deepest respect and consolation to the bereaved families who have endured longing and sorrow with a sense of pride. I salute the surviving Korean War veterans who have anxiously waited for their comrades-in-arms.
The Government, together with the people, will forever remember our heroes who defended our country. We will never give up the efforts to find the remaining 123,000 fallen soldiers who were unable to be returned to us until the day they can be reunited with their families.
My Administration has bestowed Orders of Military Merit to some 5,000 Korean War veterans who have yet to receive their due recognitions. We have also significantly increased cost-of-living payments as well as military merit honor allowances, veteran honor allowances and those for the children of soldiers and police officers killed in the Korean War. We will continue to do our utmost to ensure that the war veterans and bereaved families are held in esteem.
Placed on the memorial altar today are the remains of six American soldiers we have found and will return to the United States. Our people will never forget the sacrifices of the Korean War veterans from each of the 22 participating United Nations member countries, including the United States.
By 2022, we will complete construction of a Memorial Wall of Remembrance in Washington D.C. to forever honor the fact that the "great alliance" is rooted in the noble sacrifices of Korean War veterans.
The U.N. Korean War veterans I met during my overseas trips have invariably regarded Korea as their second home and taken great pleasure and pride in Korea's development as if it is their own.
On behalf of the Korean people, I delivered our gratitude and respect to Korean War veterans in the United States, France, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. I also awarded the Apostle of Peace medal to Korean War veterans in Thailand.
There are no borders when honoring patriots and veterans. We will remember and honor the noble sacrifices of fallen soldiers through various veterans affairs programs conducted jointly with the U.N. member states that sent troops to fight in the Korean War.
I am deeply grateful to the heads of state or government from U.N. member countries that participated in the Korean War for sending meaningful video messages on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of its outbreak. My profound appreciation also goes to the many ambassadors to Korea who are joining us at today's event.
Fellow Koreans,
The Korean War is the war that has made us what we are today. The tragedy that the War brought about, the determination that overcame it, the pride in the economic growth achieved from the post-war ruins and the ideological scars left by the War – all of these remain wholly intact within our lives and minds. Even after 70 years have passed, they – in their totality – reflect what we are.
We came together to confront and prevail over the ravages of war, having been reborn as the genuine citizens of the Republic of Korea. We stood united in the face of national crises and cultivated the strength to safeguard the value of liberal democracy.
It was the Korean War that made "the most ordinary people" the "greatest patriots." The neighbors who left their homes and relatives behind even before completing their farm chores or the school semester became the heroes who defended the Nakdong River frontline and recaptured Seoul. Personally realizing the value of the nation's existence helped enhance their patriotism and made them aware of just how invaluable peace is.
It was also the Korean War that gave rise to the type of confidence that can help overcome any hardship. With the self-esteem from having surmounted the War and the skills learned in the military, our veterans became the mainstay of post-war reconstruction.
Their love for the Republic of Korea was so great that it even made up for the love lost as fellow soldiers fell in battlefields, becoming a source of pride for their neighbors and relatives.
However, we cannot commemorate the Korean War in a genuine manner yet. That is because the War has yet to come to an end. Even at this moment, the threat of war continues, and we are engaged in a war not only against the visible threats but also against the invisible enmity within us.
We all are daughters and sons of Korean War veterans and refugees. The War left scars all over the country, and it still remains intact in the life of each individual and the history of each family. It has been expressed in various ways: strong anti-communist spirit, diligence associated with the slogan "Let's try to live well off too" and the spirits of popular sovereignty and democracy. However, the one unified wish of us all has been that there should never be another war on this land.
People who gave their all to an era they were in are able to join hands while respecting each other. We must end the long-standing Korean War in order to turn it into a historical experience we all share that unifies generations and ideologies.
The first step toward putting an end to the War is not to forget its horrible tragedy. This is also the aspiration of the U.N. Korean War veterans who sacrificed their lives for freedom and peace on this land 70 years ago as well as all peace-loving people around the world.
On June 25, 1950, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution ten hours after the outbreak of the War, urging North Korea to halt the invasion and pull its army back north of the 38th parallel. For the first time in history, it invoked the U.N. Collective Security system to restore peace and safety on the Korean Peninsula. Together, the world made noble sacrifices.
What we need now is to remember the countless sacrifices which have become the foundation for today's freedom, peace and prosperity and to have pride in ourselves.
The spirit of our fallen independence activists led to the guardian spirit of those who gave their all to the country, which in turn became a great spirit that has safeguarded democracy. Likewise, we should revive the patriotism practiced in the Korean War and liberal democracy cherished in our hearts as a driving force for peace and prosperity. That's the way to commemorate the War in a genuine sense.
Fellow Koreans,
A total of 138,000 South Korean soldiers fell during the Korean War. The number of soldiers injured reached 450,000, and 25,000 went missing. Some one million civilians were sacrificed; they were killed, massacred or wounded. As many as 100,000 children were orphaned, and 3.2 million people were forced to leave their hometowns. More than 10 million had to suffer the separation of their families.
No one was free from the War. It made our democracy regress and dealt a devastating blow to the economy as well. Eighty percent of industrial facilities were destroyed, and assets valued at two years of national income at that time were reduced to ashes. The foundation for society, the economy and the lives of the people collapsed.
Even after the War ceased, South and North Korea have been confronting each other for a long time on the far frontlines of the Cold War and have had to waste national power. While our people suffered the pains of the War, there were some countries that actually benefited from heightened demand during that war.
However, post-war economic reconstruction for us was as rough a path as breaking away from colonial rule. In the beginning, we made efforts for restoration and reconstruction while depending on foreign aid, and – one after another – we fostered our light, heavy, chemical and ICT industries. It has taken a solid 70 years to catch up with developed countries.
We achieved the Miracle on the Han River thanks to the generation that surmounted the Korean War. The Republic of Korea recorded per capita income of merely US$67 in 1953, immediately after the War, but it rose from the ruins and developed into an economic powerhouse with per capita income of more than US$30,000. It joined the ranks of the world's top ten economies. Korea turned itself from an aid recipient to a donor country and is transforming from a fast-follower economy into a pace-setter. During the process of surmounting the COVID-19 outbreak, Korea has garnered worldwide attention.
The Republic of Korea that the people have protected has now become strong enough to safeguard them. It has power and spirit strong enough to create peace.
Our military has strength to ward off any threat. It has a thorough readiness posture and will never allow even a handspan of our territory on land, sea and in the air to be violated again.
We long for peace. However, if anyone threatens our people's safety and lives, we will firmly respond. Our national defense capabilities are strong enough to repel any provocation from any direction.
Building upon the steadfast ROK-U.S. alliance, we are meticulously preparing the transfer of wartime operational control. Based on our own strength, we will defend and build peace without fail.
My fellow Koreans, decorated war veterans and bereaved families,
We are against a war. Our GDP is more than 50 times that of North Korea, and our trade is over 400 times that of the North. The two Koreas' competition over political and economic systems already ended a long time ago. We do not have any intention to force our system on the North. We pursue peace and intend to live well together. We will continuously search for routes that are mutually beneficial for both Koreas through peace. Before speaking of unification, I hope that we can become friendly neighbors first.
We established primary and middle schools for refugees while fighting the War and ran war-time university confederations in many areas. We prepared for the future and have built a nation that no one dare challenge while nurturing our strength to defend peace. Now, our sons and daughters have become the Republic of Korea's main actors leading the world, preparing for the post-COVID-19 era ahead of others.
Achieving peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula is a duty that must be fulfilled without fail for both the parents who suffered through the War and their posterity who will usher in the next 70 years. It is a long-desired wish for 80 million Koreans.
I hope that North Korea will also boldly embark on an endeavor to end the most sorrowful war in world history. I wish that the tragedy of the War suffered by the South, North and all Koreans will be shared by our future generations as a collective memory and become the strength to usher in peace. If we are going to talk about unification, we have to achieve peace first, and only after peace has continued for a long time will we be able to finally see the door to unification.
I believe that when inter-Korean reconciliation and peace inspires the world with hope, we will be able to truly repay the noble sacrifices made by our fallen heroes who gave their entirety to the country.
Thank you.
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--(LEAD) Moon urges N. Korea to formally end Korean War, warns of firm response to threats

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; COMBINES story with slug of Moon-N Korea; ADDS messages on war veterans by Moon and Trump, details, photos)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on North Korea Thursday to join a bold move to formally end the Korean War in peace overtures, coupled with a clear warning message, commemorating the conflict that started seven decades ago, with the fragile Korea peace process at stake.
"We cannot commemorate the Korean War in a genuine manner yet. That is because the War has yet to come to an end," he said during a speech at the war anniversary event held at Seoul Air Base, a military compound just southeast of Seoul.
President Moon Jae-in delivers a commemorative speech at a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, on June 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
He was pointing out that the three-year war finished in a ceasefire, not a peace treaty, which has left the two Koreas technically at war and repeatedly facing sharp military tensions.
Moon voiced hope that the North will "boldly embark on an endeavor to end the most sorrowful war in world history."
"If we are going to talk about unification, we have to achieve peace first, and only after peace has continued for a long time will we be able to finally see the door to unification," he stressed, addressing the nighttime ceremony, titled Salute to the Heroes, to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war.
He reaffirmed that South Korea has no intention to force its system on the communist neighbor and emphasized the importance of building peace first.
The president stressed the two Koreas' competition over political and economic systems "already ended a long time ago," noting that South Korea's gross domestic product is more than 50 times that of North Korea and its trade is over 400 times larger.
"We pursue peace and intend to live well together," he said. "We will continuously search for routes that are mutually beneficial for both Koreas through peace. Before speaking of unification, I hope that we can become friendly neighbors first."
President Moon Jae-in delivers a speech during a Korean War anniversary event held at Seoul Air Base, just southeast of Seoul, on June 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
The previous day, the North abruptly announced a decision to suspend "military action plans" against the South, a turnaround from weeks of brinkmanship highlighted by the unilateral severance of all bilateral communications lines and demolition of a joint liaison office.
Many regard the 2018 hard-won military accord between the two sides as virtually nullified. The Kim Jong-un regime's intentions remain unconfirmed.
While South Korea is against a war in pursuit of peace, Moon warned, the North would face a "firm response" in case of threats to the people here.
"Our military has strength to ward off any threat. It has a thorough readiness posture and will never allow even a handspan of our territory on land, sea and in the air to be violated again," he said. "The Republic of Korea that the people have protected has now become strong enough to safeguard them. It has power and spirit strong enough to create peace."
The president added, "If anyone threatens our people's safety and lives, we will firmly respond. Our national defense capabilities are strong enough to repel any provocation from any direction."
He cited the steadfast alliance with the United States despite the ongoing process of transferring the wartime operational control of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul.
"We are meticulously preparing the transfer of wartime operational control. Based on our own strength, we will defend and build peace without fail," he said.
President Moon Jae-in (3rd from L, front) salutes to the national flag in front of flag-draped boxes of repatriated war dead remains at Seoul Air Base, just southeast of Seoul, on June 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
Just ahead of the televised address on the war, often dubbed the Forgotten War, Moon honored the remains of 147 South Korean soldiers killed in the war. The flag-draped cases of remains were airlifted from Hawaii. The remains were among those sent to the Hawaii labs of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, mostly as a result of North Korea-U.S. joint excavation work conducted from 1990-1994. Those were found to be remains of South Koreans killed in action during the war.
The anniversary event was meant to show respect for fallen service members and demonstrate Seoul's commitment to friendly cooperation with 22 nations that fought alongside it against invading North Korea under the United Nations flag, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
"What we need now is to remember the countless sacrifices which have become the foundation for today's freedom, peace and prosperity and to have pride in ourselves," Moon said, speaking in front of a group of South Korean and foreign war veterans.
"There are no borders when honoring patriots and veterans," he went on to say. "We will remember and honor the noble sacrifices of fallen soldiers through various veterans affairs programs conducted jointly with the U.N. member states that sent troops to fight in the Korean War."
He reminded the public of the project to construct a Memorial Wall of Remembrance in Washington D.C. by 2022 in order to demonstrate that "the 'great alliance' is rooted in the noble sacrifices of Korean War veterans."
Placed next to the remains of South Korean soldiers throughout the event were the remains of six American service members discovered by South Korean defense ministry's Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification.
While around 300 attendees stood in silence for the fallen heroes, a 21-gun salute occurred in show of respect equivalent to that for a head of state.
Moon then bestowed the Order of Military Merit on one surviving Korean War veteran. Two others were posthumously presented with medals.
Video messages of the 22 participating countries were played, with their ambassadors to South Korea in attendance at the ceremony, through which "international solidarity" has been reaffirmed, Cheong Wa Dae said.
In a brief message from the White House Rose Garden, for "all of those brave men and women that fought to keep communism out," U.S. President Donald Trump said, "Thank you. We salute you. You are very special people ... It was an incredible thing that we all together did."
As a representative, Amb. Joanne Doornewaard of the Netherlands received a Plague of Peace made of smelted parts of canteens, helmets and other military equipment used by the soldiers of the 22 nations, as well as barb-wire fences in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Meanwhile, the veterans ministry limited the number of participants in this year's anniversary ceremony due to the spread of the new coronavirus. The ceremony also began after sunset in consideration of elderly people's summertime health.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--(3rd LD) KBO club manager falls unconscious during game, to be hospitalized for further tests

A Wyverns official said medical examination at the hospital showed Yeom 's health has suffered due to a lack of @ @ @ @ @ well as severe stress , and that the manager will be hospitalized for further tests @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES 8th para)
INCHEON, June 25 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean baseball club manager fell unconscious in the middle of a game Thursday and was taken away in an ambulance.
Youm Kyoung-youb, manager for the SK Wvyerns in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), collapsed in his dugout at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, some 40 kilometers west of Seoul, after the top of the second inning against the Doosan Bears.
This was the first time in KBO history that a manager fainted during a game.
This file photo from June 18, 2020, shows SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb in a pregame press conference before facing the KT Wiz in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The 52-year-old was immediately transported to a local hospital. The Wyverns later said Youm regained consciousness inside the ambulance before reaching Gacheon University Gil Medical Center, the largest general hospital in Incheon.
A Wyverns official said medical examination at the hospital showed Yeom's health has suffered due to a lack of sleep and insufficient eating as well as severe stress, and that the manager will be hospitalized for further tests following doctors' recommendation.
Until Yeom fully recovers, Park Kyung-oan, the Wyverns' chief assistant coach, will lead the squad, the official added.
The Wyverns were trailing 6-3 after the top second, and they got a run back in the bottom second in Youm's absence.
The Wyverns eventually lost the first game of a doubleheader 14-6 for their eighth consecutive loss. In the next game, they ended the losing run by blanking the Bears 7-0. The Wyverns are currently in ninth place among 10 clubs at 13-31.
This is Youm's second season as the Wyverns' manager. He previously led the Nexen (currently Kiwoom) Heroes from 2013 to 2016.
This image from a Yonhap News TV broadcast shows SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb being transferred to an ambulance on a stretcher after he collapsed during a Korea Baseball Organization game between the SK Wyverns and the Doosan Bears at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon on June 25, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--U.S. will stand with allies amid concerns about Chinese retaliation: official

`` Mike Pompeo was pretty clear , '' Krach said , referring to the secretary of state 's recent statement @ @ @ @ @ to punish British bank HSBC unless London allowed Huawei to build its 5G network .
@ @ @ @ @ stand with our allies and our partners .
And he also said , whatever the @ @ @ @ @ here to assist you .
And I think that that 's true for any nation @ @

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, June 25 (Yonhap) -- The United States will stand with its allies and partners and support them in whatever they need, a senior U.S. official said Thursday in response to concerns about China's retaliation against U.S.-aligned nations.
Keith Krach, under secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, made the comment during a teleconference with reporters when asked how the U.S. plans to protect countries, such as South Korea, from such action by Beijing.
"Mike Pompeo was pretty clear," Krach said, referring to the secretary of state's recent statement condemning China's reported threat to punish British bank HSBC unless London allowed Huawei to build its 5G network. "He said, we stand with our allies and our partners. And he also said, whatever the UK needs, we are here to assist you. And I think that that's true for any nation."
South Korean media have raised concerns that Seoul may be forced to choose between Washington and Beijing amid a growing rivalry between the two superpowers.
In the economic sphere, Washington has pushed its Economic Prosperity Network initiative aimed at diversifying global supply chains away from China.
"We really believe that there's strength in unity and solidarity," said Krach, who leads the initiative. "We all have experience with bullies. And when a bully's confronted, they back down. And they especially back down when you have all your friends by your side."
Krach added that he had seen "some things" written in the Korean press that he wanted to clarify.
"The Economic Prosperity Network does not prevent members from working with any country or organizations outside the network or tell them to choose between partnerships," he said. "So this is not a choice between China and all the other countries on the Economic Prosperity Network. We wouldn't be respecting countries' sovereignty if that was the case."
This file photo shows U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--Moon urges N. Korea to formally end Korean War, warns of firm response to threats

`` If we are going to talk about unification , we have to achieve peace first , and only after @ @ @ @ @ long time will we be able to finally see the door to unification , '' @ @ @ @ @ nighttime ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war .

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on North Korea Thursday to join a bold move to formally end the Korean War in peace overtures, coupled with a clear warning message, commemorating the conflict that started seven decades ago, with the fragile Korea peace process at stake.
"We cannot commemorate the Korean War in a genuine manner yet. That is because the War has yet to come to an end," he said during a speech at the war anniversary event held at Seoul Air Base, a military compound just southeast of Seoul.
He was pointing out that the three-year war finished in a ceasefire, not a peace treaty, which has left the two Koreas technically at war and repeatedly facing sharp military tensions.
Moon expressed hope that the North will "boldly embark on an endeavor to end the most sorrowful war in world history."
"If we are going to talk about unification, we have to achieve peace first, and only after peace has continued for a long time will we be able to finally see the door to unification," he stressed, addressing the nighttime ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war.
He reaffirmed that South Korea has no intention to force its system on the communist neighbor and emphasized the importance of building peace first.
"We pursue peace and intend to live well together," he said. "We will continuously search for routes that are mutually beneficial for both Koreas through peace. Before speaking of unification, I hope that we can become friendly neighbors first."
President Moon Jae-in (L) and first lady Kim Jung-sook arrive at Seoul Air Base, southeast of Seoul, on June 25, 2020 for a Korean War anniversary ceremony. (Yonhap)
The previous day, the North abruptly announced a decision to suspend "military action plans" against the South, a turnaround from weeks of brinkmanship highlighted by the unilateral severance of all bilateral communications lines and demolition of a joint liaison office.
Many regard the 2018 hard-won military accord between the two sides as virtually nullified. The Kim Jong-un regime's intentions remain unconfirmed.
While South Korea is against a war in pursuit of peace, Moon warned, the North would face a "firm response" in case of threats to the people here.
"Our military has strength to ward off any threat. It has a thorough readiness posture and will never allow even a handspan of our territory on land, sea and in the air to be violated again," he said.
The president added "if anyone threatens our people's safety and lives, we will firmly respond. Our national defense capabilities are strong enough to repel any provocation from any direction."
He cited the steadfast alliance with the United States despite the ongoing process of transferring the wartime operational control of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul.
"We are meticulously preparing the transfer of wartime operational control. Based on our own strength, we will defend and build peace without fail," he said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--(2nd LD) KBO club manager falls unconscious during game, to be hospitalized for further tests

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; ADDS more info in paras 3, 5-6, 8-9, 2nd photo)
INCHEON, June 25 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean baseball club manager fell unconscious in the middle of a game Thursday and was taken away in an ambulance.
Youm Kyoung-youb, manager for the SK Wvyerns in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), collapsed in his dugout at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, some 40 kilometers west of Seoul, after the top of the second inning against the Doosan Bears.
This was the first time in KBO history that a manager fainted during a game.
This file photo from June 18, 2020, shows SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb in a pregame press conference before facing the KT Wiz in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The 52-year-old was immediately transported to a local hospital. The Wyverns later said Youm regained consciousness inside the ambulance before reaching Gacheon University Gil Medical Center, the largest general hospital in Incheon.
A Wyverns official said medical examination at the hospital showed Yeom's health has suffered due to a lack of sleep and insufficient eating as well as severe stress, and that the manager will be hospitalized for further tests following doctors' recommendation.
Until Yeom fully recovers, Park Kyung-oan, the Wyverns' chief assistant coach, will lead the squad, the official added.
The Wyverns were trailing 6-3 after the top second, and they got a run back in the bottom second in Youm's absence.
The Wyverns eventually lost the first game of a doubleheader 14-6, suffering an eight-game losing streak. They're currently in ninth place among 10 clubs at 12-31.
This is Youm's second season as the Wyverns' manager. He previously led the Nexen (currently Kiwoom) Heroes from 2013 to 2016.
This image from a Yonhap News TV broadcast shows SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb being transferred to an ambulance on a stretcher after he collapsed during a Korea Baseball Organization game between the SK Wyverns and the Doosan Bears at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon on June 25, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-25--(URGENT) Moon urges N. Korea to formally end Korean War for unification, says S. Korea won't force i

(URGENT) Moon urges N. Korea to formally end Korean War for unification, says S. Korea won't force its system on the communist neighbor

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


yna--2020-06-25--(URGENT) Moon says S. Korea to 'firmly respond' if safety and lives of its people threatened