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≡ Moon Voices Hope To Meet Kim Before Trump Visits Seoul
President Moon Jae-in has voiced hope to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to South Korea at the end of this month.
After delivering a keynote speech on his "Peace for the People" vision at the Oslo Forum in Norway Wednesday, Moon reiterated he's ready to hold a fourth summit with Kim anytime and that it's up to the North Korean leader.
The offer comes amid renewed expectations for a possible breakthrough in stalled denuclearization talks following news that Kim sent a personal letter to Trump earlier this week.
The North Korean leader also sent his sister to the truce village of Panmunjom yesterday to deliver a condolence message for the passing of former South Korean First Lady Lee Hee-ho, which is known to have included a positive message on inter-Korean relations.
Trump is scheduled to visit Seoul around the time he heads to the G-20 summit slated to open in Japan on June 28th.
Moon is currently on a three-nation tour in Northern Europe, which took him to Finland and Norway and includes Sweden.■[2019.06.13]
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≡ Trump 'In No Rush' On N. Korea's Denuclearization
U.S. President Donald Trump says he is in no rush to denuclearize North Korea.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said he thinks they are going to do very well with North Korea over a period of time, while stressing his good relationship with leader Kim Jong-un.
He also added that sanctions on the North remain.
When asked by reporters to share the details of the letter he said he received from Kim on Monday, Trump merely said it was unexpected but a "very warm and very nice letter."
His remarks came on the one-year anniversary of his historic first summit with Kim last year in Singapore on June 12th.■[2019.06.13]
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≡ Another Body Presumed To Be Of Tour Boat Victim Found In Danube
Another body presumed to be of a South Korean victim of a deadly tour boat accident in the Danube River has been recovered by search teams.
The South Korean government response team in Budapest said the body, believed to be that of an Asian, was discovered some 80 kilometers downstream from the accident site.
Officials are in the process of identifying the body.
South Korean rescue workers are known to still be waiting for Hungarian authorities to approve a joint search inside the salvaged vessel for any bodies that may be inside.
So far, 22 South Koreans have been confirmed dead while four remain missing.■
[2019.06.13]
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≡ Foreign Residents Required To Enroll In Natl Health Insurance Service
Foreigners residing in South Korea for more than six months will be required to enroll in the National Health Insurance Service and pay monthly fees from next month.
The state-run agency said the new regulation will take effect on July 16th.
Foreign students and marriage immigrants will also need to register with the service upon arrival in the country.
Monthly premiums start at 110,000 won with students eligible for a 50 percent discount.
The government said the change will address loopholes to block abuse of the state health insurance plan while ensuring foreigners get the same medical benefits and services as locals.■
[2019.06.13]
