Headlines, news briefs this morning

President Park Geun-hye appointed yesterday Prof. Kim Byong-joon of Kook University as new prime minister to succeed former PM Hwang Kyo-ahn.

President Park also reshuffled the deputy prime minister for economic affairs appointing former Chairman Yim Jong-yong of the Financial Commission as new DPM.

Kim Byong-joon Yim Jong-yong

Here are brief excerpts from the major news stories published by major Korean dailies and other news media this morning:

Maeil Kyungje, Nov. 2

Reports indicate that former President Lee Kang-kuk (age 71) of the Constitutional Court is looming larger as a possible surest bet

for the post of Prime Minister replacing Hwang Kyo-ahn. A highly-placed official in the ruling camp was quoted as saying, "Mr. Lee is a best-proven candidate for post of the prime minister as he as a clean character and proven ability." Asked to comment on the situation, Lee was quoted as saying, "At this time, I have no information to give you."

Segye Ilbo, Nov. 2

Popularity rating of President Park Geun-hye falls to 9.2%. It could further plummet even down to 6%, lowest record of the late former President Kim Young-sam.

Chosun Ilbo, Nov. 2

Samsung Group pays 3.5 billion won for solely for Miss Chung Yu-ra, daughter of Choi Soon-sil, of which Choi uses 1 billion won for buying a top-breed horse.

Money was remitted to Germany divided in different accounts.

Kyunghyang Shinmun, Nov. 2

'Choi Soon-sil Gate':

Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho was literally 'forced' to quit as chairman of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Organizing Committee by former Minister of Culture, Tourism & Sports

Kim Jong-deok. Kim tells Cho, "Isn't it about time you withdrew from the post?"

Newsis, Nov. 2.

Just-sacked, all-powerful Chief Presidential Policy Coordinator Ahn Jong-bum faces quizzing on the suspicion of playing leading role in the collection of controversial K-Foundation fund-raising.

He is also suspected of deep involvement in the formation of MIR.K Sports Foundation.

Maeil Kyungje Business Daily, Nov. 2

"Want me to quit? Nothing doing! I was elected by 280,000 members of the Saenuri Party

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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

Prosecutors Grill Choi Soon-sil for 2nd Day

Prosecutors are grilling Choi Soon-sil for the second day after placing her under a 48-hour emergency detention late Monday.

Moody's Maintains S. Korea's Credit Rating at Aa2

Moody's Investors Service is maintaining a high sovereign credit rating for South Korea.

The global rating agency says South Korea is a stable Aa2 --- the third highest rating in the Moody's system.

US Nuclear Envoy Hopes for Agreement on New UN Resolution on Sanctions

Washington's top envoy on the issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons says the United States is actively cooperating with concerned countries on a new round of sanctions against Pyongyang.

New US Nuclear Negotiator Holds Talks in Seoul

South Korea’s chief delegate to the six-way nuclear talks Kim Hong-kyun held his first official talks with his newly appointed U.S. counterpart Joseph Yun on Tuesday in Seoul.

Seoul Warns N. Korean Incitement of Anti-Park Protest

The Unification Ministry has cautioned North Korea to stop its rhetorical attack on the South Korean president over the influence-peddling scandal of her friend.

Pres. Park Considering New Prime Minister with More Authority

President Park Geun-hye is said to be considering appointing a new prime minister with more authority over state affairs to address the crisis sparked by a scandal surrounding her confidante, Choi Soon-sil.

KOSPI Slips; KOSDAQ Rises

After tumbling below the two-thousand threshold in the morning, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index(KOSPI) on Tuesday regained some of the losses and closed at two-thousand-seven-point-39, down zero-point-eight point, or zero-point-04 percent, from the day before.

Putin Orders Signing of Prisoner Transfer Agreement with N. Korea

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the signing of a prisoner transfer agreement with North Korea.

Air Force Chiefs of S. Korea, US Discuss Ways to Enhance Air Power

In high level military talks, South Korea's top Air Force official has offered the United States reassurance it is prepared to deal with any military provocation by North Korea.

S. Korean Researchers Map Genome of Critically Endangered Amur Leopard

South Korean researchers have, for the first time in the world, mapped the genome of the Amur leopard which is one of the world's most endangered cats.

Exports in October Drop 3.2% to $41.9 Bln

South Korea’s exports shrank last month from a year earlier, extending an on-year decline to two months.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Tuesday that exports in October stood at 41-point-nine billion dollars, down three-point-two percent from the same month a year earlier.

Koreas Face Increasing Linguistic Divide

South and North Korea have been divided for more than 70 years --- and the Korean spoken by the two sides appears to be growing increasingly divided as well.

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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

Report: N. Korea preparing to launch another Musudan missile in 3 days

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is getting ready to launch yet another Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile in the next three days, a U.S. news report said Tuesday.

U.S. saving money by keeping troops in S. Korea: U.S. think tank report

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- The United States is saving money by keeping troops in South Korea rather than at home, a U.S. think tank said Tuesday, rejecting Donald Trump's long-running claims that the U.S. is losing money by stationing troops in the Asian ally.

U.S. intelligence officials negative about S. Korea's nuclear armament, but say it's up to Seoul: lawmakers

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- U.S. intelligence officials reacted negatively to calls in South Korea for the country's own nuclear armament, but said it is ultimately up to the country whether to pursue the option or not, according to South Korean lawmakers Tuesday.

Top U.S., Chinese diplomats hold talks in New York

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Secretary of State John Kerry held talks with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in New York on Tuesday, the White House said, as the two countries have been struggling in negotiations on a new package of sanctions on North Korea.

Clinton: Trump treats allies like 'small businesses, contractors'

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has accused her Republican rival, Donald Trump, of treating allies "like the small businesses and contractors" that he exploited.

Doosan beats NC to move within one win of 2nd straight baseball title

CHANGWON, South Korea, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- The Doosan Bears defeated the NC Dinos 6-0 to move within a single victory of capturing their second straight Korean Series baseball championship.

Bhutan's ambassador hopes for stronger ties, more cooperation, investment

SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Yonhap) -- Bhutan wants to strengthen ties with South Korea, its top envoy in Seoul said Wednesday, urging more efforts to expand bilateral cooperation in business and corporate investment.

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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

Ex-presidential secretary faces investigation over Choi scandal

South Korean prosecutors plan to summon former Presidential Secretary An Chong-bum on Wednesday on his alleged connection to the scandal that President Park Geun-hye allowed her old friend Choi Soon-sil to meddle in state affairs, officials said Tuesday.

A president in isolation

Former Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Kim Jae-won may have had a point when he said that “the president is lonely and sad, please protect her” in his parting message, though his sympathetic tone was not echoed by the majority of the public.

Indicators warn of economic crisis in Korea

The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles on the alarming state of the country’s economy and the challenges to be addressed. This is the first installment -- Ed.

Park should own up’

A crisis of leadership is engulfing South Korea as a scandal unravels indicating President Park Geun-hye may have let her civilian friend meddle in state affairs.

Park’s approval rating plunges to new low

President Park Geun-hye’s approval rating dipped to a new low of 10.4 percent, a survey showed Tuesday.

Avid fans of Park Geun-hye remain unshaken

Supporters of President Park Geun-hye are quickly turning their backs on her amid the snowballing allegations that her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil meddled in state affairs.

'Choi scandal undermines confidence in democracy'

With the burgeoning scandal involving President Park Geun-hye’s confidante plunging the nation into a state of crisis, scholars across the political spectrum have voiced concern the nepotism scandal has undermined South Korea’s democracy.

Mobile games mocking Choi Soon-sil emerge in Korea

As public anger grows toward Choi Soon-sil, a confidante of President Park Geun-hye who allegedly meddled in key government affairs as a civilian, South Korean game developers have launched new mobile games mocking the woman at the center of the country’s roiling political scandal.

Foreign firms unfazed by presidential scandal

Foreign companies operating in South Korea generally shared views that the presidential scandal does not directly affect their business -- yet. However, if the political issue is prolonged, it may pose stronger risks as it could slow the country’s economic activity, the executives said.

India, Pakistan trade border fire in Kashmir, 7 killed

Seven civilians were killed and nine others wounded by Pakistani shelling in Kashmir on Tuesday, Indian officials said, as cross-border firing by the two countries' troops escalated in the disputed region.

Iraqi forces enter Mosul city limits, main urban fight ahead

Iraq's special forces entered the outskirts of Mosul on Tuesday and were advancing toward its more urban center despite fierce resistance by Islamic State group fighters who hold the city, an Iraqi general said.

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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

Park politically crippled

President Park Geun-hye's approval rating has hit a new low of 10.4 percent, down from 17.5 percent last week, amid the biggest political scandal in her administration that centers on Park's shadowy longtime friend Choi Soon-sil.

Protesters stage nonstop anti-president rally

A protest calling for President Park Geun-hye's resignation will be staged daily in downtown Seoul from Tuesday. The nonstop rally will continue through Nov. 12.

Korean Coast Guard opens fire at illegal Chinese fishing boats

South Korea's Coast Guard used a crew-served weapon for the first time to capture Chinese boats illegally fishing in its exclusive economic zone on Tuesday, authorities said.

Canadian police 'mercilessly' subdue Korean couple

A video of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) "mercilessly" dragging an old Korean couple from a hotel in the city of Coquitlam amid screams heated up the internet on Tuesday.

Prosecutors to seek arrest warrant for Choi today

The prosecution plans to apply for an arrest warrant for Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-hye's scandal-ridden confidant, today.

Will Park face criminal investigation?

The opposition parties called for a criminal investigation into President Park Geun-hye, Tuesday, over an ever expanding scandal involving her longtime confidant Choi Soon-sil.

New allegations involve Choi's older sister, niece

More allegations have arisen in the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye's confidant Choi Soon-sil ― this time, surrounding her elder sister and niece.

Is Park Geun-hye a cultist?

Is President Park Geun-hye a follower of a religious cult called Yongsaenggyo, or the Church of Eternal Life?

Ex-presidential secretary to be quizzed on Choi Soon-sil scandal

The prosecution will summon ex-presidential secretary Ahn Jong-beom Wednesday over the Choi Soon-sil scandal.

Native English teachers at 'keep or dump' crossroads

The number of native English teachers at public schools in Korea has dropped nearly 42 percent over four years and is expected to fall further in the face of government funding cuts over alleged poor results.

Did Choi Soon-sil influence SKT-CJ deal?

Speculation is rising that President Park Geun-hye's shadowy confidant Choi Soon-sil might have played a role in the recently collapsed takeover of CJ HelloVision, the leading pay TV operator here, by SK Telecom.

'Choi scandal' put national security is at stake

President Park Geun-hye's leadership crisis amid the Choi Soon-sil scandal is undermining the country's capability to respond to possible emergencies, an

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