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≡ S. Korea Confirms Second Case Of African Swine Fever
South Korea has confirmed its second case of African swine fever at a farm in Yeoncheon County in northern Gyeonggi Province.
According to the agriculture ministry, this latest case was confirmed a day after a suspected case of ASF was reported.
Yeoncheon is located near the inter-Korean border and about 48 kilometers away from Paju, where the first confirmed case of the disease was detected.
The outbreak in South Korea comes about four months after North Korea reported its first confirmed case of swine fever at a farm near its border with China to the World Organization for Animal Health.
Although ASF is not harmful to people, it is fatal and highly infectious for pigs, with no cure currently available.
The agriculture ministry is carrying out quarantine measures to prevent the disease from spreading further, including the culling of thousands of pigs and a 48-hour standstill order for all pig farms and related facilities nationwide.■
[2019.09.18]
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≡ Seoul Drops Tokyo From List Of Trusted Trade Partners
South Korea has officially removed Japan from its list of trusted trade partners.
Under a new classification scheme that takes effect today, Seoul's trade ministry has regrouped its trading partners into three from the previous two, placing Tokyo in the in-between group.
Local companies shipping strategic goods to Japan will now have to submit five documents to win individual export approval.
According to the ministry, this process will take around 15 days, longer than the previous five.
Seoul has said that all trusted partners "operating an export control system that violates international norms" and "having difficulties in seeking an international cooperation" will no longer be given favors, although Japan will be the only country in the in-between bracket.■
[2019.09.18]
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≡ US Ready To Resume Nuclear Talks With N. Korea: Stilwell
A top U.S. official says Washington is ready to resume denuclearization talks with Pyongyang but will maintain sanctions on the regime for now.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell made the remarks ahead of his scheduled testimony to Congress where he may discuss U.S.-North Korea denuclearization negotiations as well as the current trade and historical row between South Korea and Japan.
Stilwell said the U.S. continues to be committed to the goals made between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in their summit in Singapore in June of last year.
Anticipation is mounting as the U.S. and North Korea are expected to resume negotiations later this month.■[2019.09.18]
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≡ Weather Update 0900
Taking a look at the weather, it's clear, sunny skies for Seoul and the surrounding areas.
Expect good air quality while temperatures peak in the mid to high 20s in most parts, slightly cooler than yesterday.
The local mercury will get up to around 26 degrees.
Be aware of the big temperature gap from day to night.
As for the current reading in central Seoul, it is _____ degrees Celsius or _____ degrees Fahrenheit.■[2019.09.18]