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≡ Moon, Pence To Discuss Efforts To Denuclearize N. Korea
President Moon Jae-in is scheduled to hold talks with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in Singapore today on the sidelines of a regional summit.
The two leaders are expected to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula and cooperation on efforts to denuclearize North Korea.
This comes amid stalled negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang and efforts by Seoul to increase inter-Korean cooperation.
In a piece contributed to the Washington Post last week, Pence said the U.S. will continue to exert unprecedented diplomatic and economic pressure on the North.
During a meeting yesterday, Moon and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed easing sanctions on North Korea.
He requested Moscow's active role in efforts to persuade Pyongyang to take "bolder" steps to denuclearize while Putin stressed there should be reciprocal measures for progress made by the North.
Moon is also scheduled to take part in the ASEAN plus three summit involving China and Japan and the broader East Asia Summit.■[2018.11.15]
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≡ US Congress Report Suspects China Easing Sanctions On N. Korea
A U.S. Congress report says China has begun to ease up on North Korea sanctions despite pledges to maintain pressure until it gives up its nuclear weapons program.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission released its annual report Wednesday, highlighting an apparent increase in exchanges between China and North Korea since the U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's summit in June.
Examples were cited like North Korean workers returning to jobs in northeast China and high-profile official discussions on economic development.
It noted that China implemented sanctions more thoroughly than in the past between 2017 and early this year, but said "Beijing always leaves some key lifelines in place for North Korea, most notably some oil exports, to avert a complete regime collapse that could result from an economic meltdown."
The commission recommended Congress direct the U.S. Treasury to submit a report on China's sanctions enforcement within 180 days.■
[2018.11.15]
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≡ S. Korean Business Leaders To Visit Pyongyang For Forum
Dozens of South Korean business leaders based overseas will visit North Korea this week to attend a forum in Pyongyang.
The unification ministry on Wednesday approved visit applications for 80 businesspeople and 17 other officials belonging to the World Federation of Korean Association of Commerce.
They will fly to Pyongyang today from the Chinese city of Shenyang to begin their four-day trip that will include attending the 2018 Pyongyang Forum of Overseas Korean Entrepreneurs for Peace and Prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.
A ministry official said the United States received prior consultations on the issue, which is unrelated to the possible resumption of inter-Korean economic cooperation.■[2018.11.15]
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≡ Weather Update 0900
Taking a look at the weather, mild conditions are in store.
Expect sun with more clouds moving in later this afternoon.
The mercury will hover in the mid to high teens with warmer temperatures down south.
The local mercury will peak at 15 degrees.
Be aware, high levels of fine dust are forecast to affect air quality
in the west including Seoul, Gwangju, the Chungcheong and North Jeolla provinces.
Take necessary precautions when outdoors.
As for the current reading in central Seoul it is _____ degrees Celsius or _____ degrees Fahrenheit.■
[2018.11.15]
