eFM News

≡ Govt Expands Culling After 2nd African Swine Fever Case

[Anchor] South Korea is stepping up efforts to stem the spread of African swine fever after a second case was confirmed at a farm near the border with North Korea. The authorities have designated six cities and counties as special management zones, but are struggling to identify the route of the disease. Woongtae Ryu has the details. [Reporter] The agriculture ministry confirmed the second case of the deadly pig disease at 7 a.m. at a pig farm in Yeoncheon County. This comes one day after the country's first case of African swine fever was detected at another farm some 48 kilometers away in Paju The ministry, however, said it seemed the two cases were not related. It said all of the pigs at the Yeoncheon farm and in adjacent areas would be slaughtered. In Paju, over 4,000 pigs have already been slaughtered. Farms in the affected areas will be banned from shipping pigs for three weeks and visits to the farms will also be restricted. The government said the two confirmed cases were unlikely to have been caused by wild boars, including those traveling from North Korea. Early this morning, Seoul proposed cooperative quarantine efforts with the North, but has not heard back from the North. With stockpiles and the national pig herd currently bigger than usual, the agriculture ministry said it expects the culling to have a limited impact on national pork supplies. The disease is deadly to pigs but not harmful to humans. Woongtae Ryu, eFM News.■[2019.09.18]

≡ Tokyo Slams Seoul For Removal Of Japan As Trusted Trade Partner

Tokyo has called South Korea's official removal of Japan from its list of trusted trade partners "extremely regrettable." Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga urged Seoul to clearly explain the move. Under a new classification scheme that takes effect today, South Korea'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.■[2019.09.18]

≡ USFK Says Several American Bases Ready To Be Returned To S. Korea

U.S. Forces Korea says it has already made 15 bases available for return to South Korea. The remark comes after concerns flared up about the state of the Seoul-Washington alliance following an announcement by Cheong Wa Dae last month that it will seek an early return of 26 American military bases. In a release today, USFK said 15 of the 26 installations have been vacated, closed and available for transfer to the South Korean government. They include four sites specifically requested for transfer at the earliest possible date - Camps Eagle and Long in Gangwon's Wonju, Camp Market in the western city of Bupyeong and the Shea Range parcel located at Camp Hovey in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province. It added that a total of five parcels of Yongsan Garrison in Seoul also have been available for transfer since this summer.■[2019.09.18]

≡ Foreign Minister Kang To Visit US Forces Korea Headquarters Friday

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha plans to visit Osan Air Base and Camp Humphreys, the new headquarters of U.S. Forces Korea, on Friday. The foreign ministry said Kang will inspect base facilities as well as have lunch with both South Korean and U.S. soldiers. U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris is scheduled to accompany her. Kang is also expected to meet with USFK Commander General Robert Abrams. The two will likely reaffirm the importance of the solid alliance between Seoul and Washington and emphasize the need to work closely together to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of permanent peace. It will be Kang's first visit to Camp Humphreys.■[2019.09.18]

≡ Govt Considers Extending Retirement Age

The government says it will review measures to have businesses continue to be responsible for the employment of their workers after they reach the retirement age of 60. Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki made the announcement today, saying the government in 2022 will review measures to introduce a system that allows companies to decide on ways to extend the employment period of their workers. Under the system, businesses would be allowed to choose to extend or abolish their retirement age or to rehire retired former employees. Meanwhile, as a short-term plan, the ministry decided to increase the subsidy for companies that hire elderly workers from 270,000 won per person this year to 300,000 won next year. This comes as the issue of whether to extend the retirement age, possibly to 65, has recently become a social issue in Korea, which is struggling to cope with a rapid aging society.■[2019.09.18]

≡ Storm Approaching S. Korea, To Bring Heavy Rain Sunday

A tropical cyclone formed near the Philippines yesterday is forecast to gain strength while moving toward the Korean Peninsula. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the low pressure system was heading northwest in waters 630 kilometers south-southeast of Japan this morning. The weather agency predicted that the system will grow in intensity while passing over warm ocean water and turn into a typhoon within 24 hours. Then, it is expected to move fast toward South Korea, although its exact trajectory remains unknown. Weather authorities still predict that, regardless of its course, the typhoon will bring heavy rain to the peninsula around Sunday mainly on the southern coastal region.■[2019.09.18]