eFM News

≡ Japan's Defense Minister Seeks To Restore Ties With S. Korea

Japan's defense minister says he wants to restore defense relations with South Korea. Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya revealed in a government meeting in Oita Prefecture on Saturday that he is looking forward to meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo at the upcoming Shangri-La Dialogue. The annual Asian security meeting is slated for May 31st through June 2nd in Singapore. According to NHK, Iwaya said he is arranging a sideline meeting with Jeong to discuss improving relations to deal with various issues, including North Korea. If realized, it would be the defense ministers' first meeting since October, before bilateral relations were strained again by disputes, including those over South Korean Supreme Court rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims of forced labor. Iwaya also said Japan's security cannot be maintained without three-way cooperation among the United States, Japan and South Korea.■[2019.05.20]

≡ Moon, Ex-US President Bush To Hold Talks At Cheong Wa Dae

[Anchor] President Moon Jae-in is set to sit down for talks with former U.S. President George W. Bush at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday. Bush will be visiting South Korea to attend a ceremony marking 10 years since the passing of his former counterpart, Roh Moo-hyun. Jeong-eun Lee reports. [Reporter] The planned meeting between President Moon and former President Bush has prompted speculations that it could play a role in breaking the impasse in nuclear talks between the U.S. and North Korea. After holding talks with Moon on Thursday morning, Bush will head to Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province to attend a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of former President Roh Moo-hyun's death. He is slated to give a eulogy at the event ahead of National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang and Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon. According to Yonhap News, citing sources in political circles, Bush, who has been honing his painting skills since his retirement in 2009, is working on a portrait of Roh and will unveil it at the ceremony. It was reported earlier that Bush's visit was arranged by local defense firm Poongsan Corporation, which is known to have close ties with his family. Jeong-eun Lee, eFM News.■ [2019.05.20]

≡ China Provides Food, Fertilizer To N. Korea Despite UN Sanctions

China has provided rice and fertilizer to North Korea despite U.N. Security Council sanctions against the North that prohibit any large-scale economic assistance. According to data from China's customs office on Sunday, Beijing provided 1,000 tons of rice worth about 1 million dollars and 162,000 tons of fertilizer worth more than 55 million dollars to Pyongyang between May and October of last year. The shipments of what appears to have been free assistance comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to China in March last year, when he held his first summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Kim returned to China in May and June for his second and third summits with Xi.■[2019.05.20]

≡ Incheon Airport Deluxe Limo Bus Fares To Be Cut By ￦1,000

Fares for deluxe limousine buses that run between the city of Seoul and Incheon International Airport are set to be reduced by 1,000 won from Wednesday. The fare cut will only apply to passengers who pay with a transportation card or purchase tickets from vending machines inside the airport. A one-way ride to or from the airport will cost about 13,000 won to 14,000 won. The change does not apply to KAL limousine bus services.■[2019.05.20]

≡ Govt Vows To Take Measures If US-China Trade War Escalates

Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki says the government will strengthen the monitoring of financial markets against risk factors as trade frictions between the United States and China continue to escalate. In a meeting with government officials today, Hong said the plan is to maintain market stability through appropriate measures if volatility increases due to an excessive one-sided movement in financial markets. He did not elaborate on the measures, however, his comments suggest a possible intervention in the foreign-exchange market to stem the decline of the Korean won against the U.S. dollar. Hong added South Korea will try to diversify its export markets by speeding up talks with the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia on forging free trade agreements.■ [2019.05.20]

≡ Seoul Stocks In Midday Trade

Turning to the local bourse, stocks in Seoul are trading _______ at this hour. As of noon, the benchmark KOPSI was up/down/flat _____ percent at _______ while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ was up/down/flat _____ percent at _______. The Korean currency was trading at _______ won against the U.S. greenback, up/down/unchanged _____ won from last Friday's close.■(1,196)[2019.05.20]

≡ Trump Warns Iran Not To Threaten US

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued an ominous warning to Iran suggesting that if the Islamic republic attacks American interests, it will be destroyed. Trump tweeted Sunday, "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again." The message came hours after a rocket from an unidentified source was fired into Baghdad's Green Zone, which houses government offices and embassies including the U.S. mission. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have soared in recent weeks as the Trump administration deployed warships and bombers to the Gulf earlier this month over alleged threats from Iran.■[2019.05.20]

≡ Ryu Hyun-Jin Extends Scoreless Streak To 31 Innings As Dodgers Beat Reds

Ryu Hyun-jin has extended his scoreless innings streak to 31. The South Korean left-hander improved to 6-1 for the season after shutting down the Cincinnati Reds over seven innings at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sunday. He allowed five hits with one walk and five strikeouts as the Dodgers prevailed 8-3. Fellow left-hander Clayton Kershaw is the scheduled starter Tuesday for Los Angeles' first interleague series of the season at Tampa Bay.■[2019.05.20]

≡ Weather Update 1200

Taking a look at the weather, clouds have given way to sunnier skies in Seoul and the surrounding areas. Conditions were expected to clear up in other regions as well following the rain. Temperatures will be cooler on the cooler side, with highs peaking in the high teens to low 20s. The local mercury will get up to around 19 degrees. As for the current reading in central Seoul, it is _____ degrees Celsius or _____ degrees Fahrenheit.■[2019.05.20]