Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
“Come sample the world’s best coffee at the Coffee Expo Seoul 2021!”
“Come sample the world’s best coffee at the Coffee Expo Seoul 2021!” This was an enticing expression for Korea’s coffee lovers, especially those in Seoul, to relish the aroma and taste of the genuine Kenyan coffee—directly. On July 14 this year, the Embassy of Kenya in Seoul hosted Coffee Expo at Coex Hall B in downtown Seoul south of the Han River. The four-day event that ran on July 14 to 17 was an opportunity for the Koreans to come, experience, sample, learn and meet some of the top coffee producers from Kenya. In connection with the large-scale coffee promotion event, The Korea Post media interviewed Cabinet Secretary Betty C. Maina of the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade & Enterprise Development on July 13, 2021, who visited Seoul for the important Kenyan coffee event.
She said, “We hope to export more high-quality Kenyan coffee to Korea” She said: “I would like to promote the export of Kenyan coffee by introducing the good taste and high quality of Kenyan coffee to Korea,” Then she said, “During the coffee expo, there will be a B2B meeting between Kenyan coffee farmers and Korean coffee importers and a Cupping Session to experience the taste of Kenyan coffee.”
“In energy, infrastructure, tourism, IT, agriculture, infrastructure, textile, many more areas”
The Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia, situated on the west of China and east of Uzbekistan, is a country fast becoming one of the promising economic partners of the Republic of Korea. There are some 20,000 Koreans and ethnic Koreans living in Kyrgyzstan who are actively engaged in the promotion of relations and friendship between Korea and Kyrgyzstan. There is great potential for increased cooperation between the two countries and this was immediately apparent at a recent interview with Ambassador Dinara Kemelova of the Kyrgyz Republic in Seoul, which was conducted on the occasion of the Independence Day of the country on August 31, 2021.
Nowadays economic cooperation between Korea and other countries of the world has become very important, and many competitive Korean companies plan to expand their investment overseas. Details of the interview follow:
New leadership pursues unflinching willingness to remove old paradigm for New Uzbekistan
The following article is based on materials provided by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul to The Korea Post media for publication. The Korea Post media own and operate 3 English and 2 Korean news publications since 1985.—Ed. Uzbekistan is still living in a period of transition to shift from centrally planned economy legacy to a full-fledged market economy. Since late 2016, new leadership of the country has pursued an unflinching willingness to remove old paradigms in order to create New Uzbekistan. In the economic sector, these reforms primarily comprise the flexibility of the exchange rate, a comprehensive tax reform and the liberalization of foreign trade. Uzbekistan’s economy is transforming from a closed, state-centered economic model to an open market economy.
KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
US Welcomes Restoration of Inter-Korean Communications Lines
The U.S. State Department said the United States welcomes the reopening of direct communication lines between the two Koreas, calling it a "positive step." A department spokesperson told Yonhap News on Tuesday that the U.S. supports inter-Korean dialogue and engagement and welcomes the announcement of the restoration of inter-Korean communications lines. The spokesperson added that diplomacy and dialogue are essential to achieving complete denuclearization and establishing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. The remarks come after North Korea reopened communication channels with South Korea on Tuesday after more than a year of severed ties. Meanwhile, Kurt Campbell, White House policy coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, also said on Tuesday that Washington supports inter-Korean dialogue.
US Defense Chief: US Open to Dialogue with N. Korea
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reiterated that the United States is open to dialogue with North Korea. The Pentagon chief issued the position on Tuesday after a speech at an event hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies(IISS) in Singapore. Austin reportedly said that the U.S. remains focused on its responsibility and commitment to the defense of South Korea, but it is open to dialogue with North Korea. The defense chief also said in his speech that the U.S. is taking a measured and practical approach that leaves the opportunity for diplomacy with North Korea. Austin stressed the need to maintain pressure on North Korea, saying that the U.S. is also taking a leading role at the U.N. Security Council and that includes enforcing critical resolutions about nuclear dangers on the Korean Peninsula.
IMF Raises S. Korea's 2021 Growth Outlook to 4.3%
The International Monetary Fund(IMF) has sharply raised its growth outlook for South Korea for this year. In its latest report, the IMF forecast the South Korean economy to grow four-point-three percent this year, up point-seven percentage points from its April estimate of three-point-six percent. The raise is larger than an average increase of point-five percentage points for advanced economies. The revised growth outlook for South Korea is attributed to its rapid economic recovery boosted by robust exports, but the latest projection reflected the economic conditions before the country was hit by the latest sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. The IMF also revised up its growth outlook for South Korea for next year to three-point-four percent, up point-six-percentage points from its April projection. The IMF kept its growth outlook for the global economy for this year at six percent, while raising its estimate for next year by half a percentage point to four-point-nine percent.
Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Koreas reopen severed cross-border hotlines
The two Koreas on Tuesday reopened direct cross-border communication lines that Pyongyang severed last year in protest of propaganda leaflets coming in from the South, the government said, a positive sign for an improvement in the inter-Korean relationship. Park Soo-hyun, senior Cheong Wa Dae secretary for public communication, announced that the Koreas decided to restore their hotlines starting at 10 a.m. under a surprise agreement between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Moon and Kim have exchanged personal letters on multiple occasions since April for the resumption and shared views on issues of advancing inter-Korean reconciliation, Park said. "The two leaders of the South and the North also shared an understanding to recover mutual trust and again push the countries' relationship forward," he added without disclosing details of the letters.
Inter-Korean military hotlines in normal operation after 13-month suspension: defense ministry
Inter-Korean military hotlines are back to normal operation after a 13-month suspension, the defense ministry confirmed Tuesday, saying the two Koreas will resume regular daily calls via the communication lines. Earlier in the day, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae and the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced that the two sides agreed to reopen all direct communication lines at 10 a.m. as part of efforts to improve inter-Korean relations. "South and North Korean military authorities restored military communication lines and put them back to normal operations from 10 a.m. Tuesday, to implement agreements by the leaders," the ministry said in a release. "Phone calls and faxing to exchange documents now operate normally."
Hyundai workers accept company's wage offers amid pandemic
South Korea's economy grew at a solid pace in the second quarter and is on track for a 4 percent expansion this year estimated by the central bank thanks to a strong recovery of domestic demand and robust exports, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said Tuesday. Gross domestic product increased 0.7 percent on-quarter in the April-June period, after a 1.7 percent expansion in the first quarter. The nation's economy grew 5.9 percent on an annual basis, marking the fastest expansion in a decade. The growth was partly supported by a recovery in private consumption in the second quarter, the BOK said in the statement. South Korea's economy contracted 1.3 percent and 3.2 percent in the first and second quarter of last year, respectively, before expanding 2.1 percent in the third quarter and 1.2 percent in the fourth quarter. Private consumption rose 3.5 percent on-quarter in the second quarter and government expenditures gained 3.6 percent in the April-June period, the BOK said.
The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Korea’s vaccine plans face more uncertainties over Moderna supply disruption
South Korea’s already slow vaccination rollout may face a further delay with Moderna, from which Seoul purchased 40 million COVID-19 vaccines -- experiencing production issues. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on Tuesday, “Moderna has informed us that it is inevitable to adjust the supply schedule due to production setbacks.” He added, “We are currently discussing with Moderna over the specific and definitive volume and date for vaccines in the July and August period.” Kim promised to announce a renewed vaccination plan soon on how to achieve herd immunity by November, which was promised to the public. Currently, 13.5 percent of the nation’s total population have been fully vaccinated.
Anti-corruption agency summons Seoul education chief in power abuse probe
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on Tuesday summoned Seoul Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon for an ongoing probe over alleged power abuse in pushing for unfair employment. Cho is accused of abusing his authority by pressing for a 2018 special employment process for five teachers who were fired after being convicted of violating the Public Official Election Act. He has denied the allegations since the CIO launched the probed into his case in April. “Reinstating dismissed teachers who had to leave the students for some 10 years after trying to improve teachers’ rights was a measure to protect teachers’ rights and promote harmony in the educational community. It accords with social justice and there is still no change in my thought,” Cho told reporters before heading into the CIO’s office at the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.
Hotlines restored between two Koreas
South and North Korea have reopened direct communication lines as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, with President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un agreeing to restore mutual trust and improve the soured inter-Korean relationship. “The two leaders shared an understanding to recover mutual trust and again push their relationship forward,” said Park Soo-hyun, Moon’s senior secretary for public communication. According to Cheong Wa Dae sources, the leaders started exchanging personal letters from April 27 on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Panmunjeom Declaration that marked their first summit talks in the cross-border village in 2018. Until recently, the leaders reportedly shared views on diverse pending issues such as COVID-19, heavy rainfalls in the North and the stalled peace talks on the Korean Peninsula. “Holding a summit was not on the agenda,” a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said on condition of anonymity. “Their discussions were made through letters. There were no phone calls.”
The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
US welcomes reopening of inter-Korean communication lines as 'positive step'
The United States welcomes the reopening of direct communication lines between the two Koreas, a State Department spokesperson said Tuesday, calling it a "positive step." The remarks come after North Korea reopened its communication channels, including a military hotline, with South Korea on Tuesday (Seoul time). "The United States supports inter-Korean dialogue and engagement and welcomes today's announcement on the restoration of inter-Korean communications lines," the department spokesperson said in an email to Yonhap News Agency, asking not to be identified. "This is a positive step." Jalina Porter, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, later echoed the sentiment, also highlighting the importance of dialogue in dealing with the reclusive North.
"I will also say that diplomacy and dialogue are essential to achieving complete denuclearization and establishing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula," she said in a telephonic press briefing.
'Eventim Live Asia will bring the world's biggest stars to Korea'
U2, Coldplay, Lady Gaga and Maroon 5 are only a few examples of the prominent pop stars who were brought to Seoul by Jason Miller to play engrossing concerts in front of massive crowds. And Miller, the CEO of the Singapore-headquartered ticketing and live entertainment company, Eventim Live Asia, says there are more A-listers he plans to invite to Korea, once the country turns the corner on the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. Eventim Live Asia was recently launched by Germany-based concert promoter CTS Eventim, with the purpose of "bringing some of the best entertainers in the world to the rapidly growing live entertainment markets in Asia, including Korea, China and Japan." CTS Eventim, one of the most sought-after concert promoters in the world, has 36 promoters based in 15 countries. In 2019, its revenues stood at 1.4 billion euro ($1.65 billion). Although its newly established company, Eventim Live Asia, is only starting to have conversations to set up plans for Seoul concerts, Miller hinted that "world-class events" will soon take place here.
AllianceBernstein positive about Korean stock market
AllianceBernstein remained quite positive in terms of its outlook on the Korean equities market, categorizing the country as one of the developed nations with a strong outlook to bounce back this year from global coronavirus-induced economic problems. Its rationale is based specifically on the country's equities market which is looking constructive in terms of stock market returns and economic recovery. "Korea is still ultimately sensitive to the global growth," AllianceBernstein's senior investment strategist David Wong said in an online press conference, Tuesday. "The global growth in developed markets remains strong, so we have a constructive perspective on Korea." A number of Korean companies being exposed to the key long-term growth drivers, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy, can be viewed quite positively as well, according to him. From this standpoint, Wong reiterated his consistent preference for U.S. equities, recommending investors to avoid betting on stocks in emerging markets that are still facing difficulties recovering from the pandemic.
Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Long-Term Unemployment on the Rise
The coronavirus pandemic is causing an increase in long-term unemployment. According to the Bank of Korea, the pandemic has crimped hiring while automation also threatens jobs. The BOK found that the number of short-term unemployed people who had been out of work for less than three months declined 15.5 percent in June but the ranks of the long-term jobless swelled by 26.4 percent. Long periods of unemployment could force people to stop looking for work altogether and sap the economy. The proportion of unemployed people who stopped looking for work stood at 11.9 percent among the short-term jobless and 21.1 percent among the long-term jobless.
AstraZeneca-Pfizer Mix Boosts Protection
People inoculated with a mix of AstraZeneca and Pfizer coronavirus vaccines developed significantly more neutralizing antibodies than those who had two injections of the same vaccine, a study in Korea shows. The study was carried out by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Researchers studied 100 healthcare workers at hospitals in the Seoul metropolitan area who were cross-inoculated and compared them to 200 each who had been given two doses of the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine. They found that they had six times more neutralizing antibodies than the AstraZeneca-only group, though the level was similar to the Pfizer-only group's.
Brutal Conditions in N.Korean Prison Camp Exposed
Inmates at North Korea's Sungho-ri concentration camp near Pyongyang are suffering forced labor, violence, torture and hunger, according to a U.S. human rights watchdog. The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea last week published a report on the issue. A survivor of the prison camp identified as "i39" testified that the regime gave each inmate a daily ration of only 100 g of corn meal despite the required minimum amount of 200 g and most were dying of malnutrition. Often rat droppings were found in the gruel. The survivor said that during his three years of imprisonment, "three people died every day in the women's section." The dead bodies were taken to a crematorium, where "like origami, [guards] try to make corpses fit by breaking the bones." According to the report, male inmates were forced to work in a nearby limestone quarry, coal mine or cement factory. Female inmates were forced to farm or put the eyelashes on dolls for export to China for 13 hours a day. If they failed to fill the daily quota of 12,000 dolls, they were tortured by being forced to kneel on floors that were hot from the heat of the coalmine and suffered burns in less than five minutes.
HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
US-China stalemate because US sees China as "imagined enemy," Chinese diplomat says
The first senior-level communication between the US and China in about four months ended without achieving much, except to reaffirm the differences in the two sides' views. This chill between Washington and Beijing appears likely to persist for some time. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported Monday that Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng, who is in charge of China's diplomacy with the US, met earlier that morning in Tianjin with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.
Xie was quoted as rather pointedly saying that the root cause of the deadlock in China-US relations was because "some Americans portray China as an 'imagined enemy.'" This sort of aggressive attitude recalls the "2+2" senior-level talks the two sides held in Anchorage back in March. "For quite some time, when talking about conflict with China and challenges facing the U.S., the 'Pearl Harbor moment' and the 'Sputnik moment' have been brought up by some Americans," Xie was quoted as saying.
S. Korea wins 9th consecutive gold in women's archery team event
Members of the women's archery team competing in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo handed South Korea its second gold medal at the Games. South Korea's women archers have now won gold at all nine of the Olympics since the archery team event was first introduced at the 1988 Games in Seoul. The 2021 women's archery team — consisting of Kang Chae-young, 25, Jang Min-hee, 22, and An San, 20 — blanked their tough Russian Olympic Committee competition by a score of 6-0 (55:53/56:53/54:51) at the women's team finals held Sunday at the Yumenoshima Park Archery Field in Tokyo. Russia is participating under the "Russian Olympic Committee" banner at this year's Olympics due to a previous scandal involving the manipulation of doping samples.
Biden has "some" strategic patience
"Don't hurt me a lot / just hurt me a little."
It's a universal truth that every meeting has a parting, and it's typical to feel sad about saying goodbye. So, the poet Seo Jeong-ju sought to assuage that sadness by allowing his feelings to linger. In his poetry, the idea of reincarnation offers ultimate salvation, but he isn't firm about ending connections with others. Even a small amount of lingering attachment can be painful and sow the seeds of future misfortune. This also has implications for international relations. A hostile relationship tends to breed more hostility. While it may be impossible to overcome karma in the cycle of death and rebirth, failing to resolutely sever our ties to the past will only bring more pain. The Biden administration seems reluctant to make a clean break with various countries around the world, such as Haiti, Afghanistan and North Korea. Can those lingering feelings help the US "build back a better world"? A funeral was held for late Haitian President Jovenel Moïse on Friday. But even his journey to the next life wasn't peaceful. Gunshots were heard outside the venue.
The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
South and North Korea restore hotline
South and North Korea restored hotlines on Tuesday, 413 days since North Korea unilaterally severed inter-Korean communication hotline in June last year. Back then, the North blamed propaganda leaflets sent by some North Korean defectors across the border. Taking the opportunity, the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae plans to expedite the effort to improve inter-Korean ties in the final months of President Moon Jae-in’s term. “South and North Korea have agreed to restore their severed communication hotlines as of 10 a.m., Tuesday,” presidential senior secretary for public communication Park Soo-hyun said on Tuesday. “The leaders of the two Koreas have exchanged letters since April to discuss improving inter-Korean relations and agreed to start by restoring severed communication hotlines.” Accordingly, the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Defense communicated with North Korea through the inter-Korean liaison office and the inter-Korean military communication line established in West Sea, respectively on Tuesday.
Ultrafast spread of Delta variant in Korea
The Delta variant, which was first detected in India, has been spreading so fast in Korea. It now accounts for over half of new COVID-19 cases, driving majority of COVID-19 cases in the country. In particular, it was confirmed that the Delta variant is accountable for the recent spike of new infections in non-capital areas. The Delta variant is known to be 2.4 times more likely to cause infection than the non-variant and 1.64 times more likely to cause infection than the Alpha variant. Looking at the spread of the Delta variant in the country, however, it appears much more contagious than them. The Dong-A Ilbo looked at the results of some epidemiological analysis and found that there were many cases, where multiple infections occurred within two days of contact with someone diagnosed with the Delta variant.
Won Hee-ryong declares his presidential bid
Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong of the People Power Party declared Sunday his presidential bid as a candidate to “undo everything done under the Moon Jae-in administration.” “The People Power Party is the opposition candidate and party in the presidential election,” he said in a press conference broadcasted on his YouTube channel ‘Won Hee-ryong TV’ on the same day. “We shouldn’t pick the candidates who failed in the last election again. We need to fight with the cleanest, youngest and most innovative candidate.” He set forth the ‘Audacious Recovery Project’ worth 100 trillion won as his core election pledge. “I will provide 50 trillion won to small business owners who took losses because of the pandemic on my first year in the office,” he said. “I will allocate 10 trillion won every year for five years.” He dismissed the ‘small government theory’ suggested within his party, saying, “The government will proactively support the socially vulnerable class that suffered in the shade of economic growth in various sectors such as housing, education and employment.
TheKyungHyangShinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
“Nearly 70-80% of the Care Package in Seoul’s Living Treatment Centers Are Thrown Away”
Employees at the Seoul metropolitan government have pointed out that most of the products included in the care package for COVID-19 patients with light or no symptoms under quarantine at the city’s living treatment centers are being discarded without being used. This has been criticized as a result of failing to properly survey the demand when determining the necessary items. Recently, in an online board exclusively for Seoul’s civil servants, one official wrote, “Improvements are urgently needed concerning the items included in the care package for people entering living treatment centers.” The civil servant who identified herself as one on duty at a living treatment center said, “The employees in the management support team here have repeatedly raised this issue, and I also found it so unreasonable, that I am requesting improvements.” According to the post, there were 46 items included in the care package for people entering living treatment centers, but when the staff there cleaned the rooms after patients left, they discovered that nearly 70-80% of the items were discarded without ever being opened. The official who wrote the post pointed out the problems. Some items were not needed in the living treatment centers; some were necessary but not as much as was handed out; and the quality of some items had problems.
A New Record: 1,784 New Cases of COVID-19
The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight July 21, they confirmed 1,784 new cases of COVID-19 from the previous day. This was a record high, breaking the previous record of 1,614 cases from a week ago on July 14. The majority of the new cases contracted the virus in the local community with 1,726 cases from local transmission and 58 cases from overseas. The confirmed cases from the 34th contingent of the Cheonghae Unit, which returned the previous day, will be included in the figures as of midnight July 22. A regional analysis showed that 68.1% (1,175 cases) of the new cases occurred in the greater Seoul area with 599 cases in Seoul, 450 in Gyeonggi and 126 in Incheon. In other areas, authorities confirmed 100 cases in Busan, 34 in Daegu, 22 in Gwangju, 72 in Daejeon, 18 in Ulsan, 6 in Sejong, 54 in Gangwon, 15 in Chungcheongbuk-do, 48 in Chungcheongnam-do, 18 in Jeollabuk-do, 21 in Jeollanam-do, 23 in Gyeongsangbuk-do, 86 in Gyeongsangnam-do, and 34 in Jeju. The city of Busan will enforce level-3 distancing from this day, following the cities of Jinju, Changwon and Tongyeong in Gyeongsangnam-do, which raised the distancing level to level 3 the previous day. Daejeon will also tighten its distancing to level 3 beginning July 22. At present, Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi-do and Gangneung-si in Gangwon are enforcing level-4 distancing.
Lee Kun-hee Collection Will Be on Display, Open to the Public on July 21: 135 Artworks by Jeong Seon, Kim Hong-do, Kim Whan-ki, Lee Jung-seob and More
The Lee Kun-hee Collection will be displayed and open to the public on July 21. A special exhibition will be held at the National Museum of Korea until September 26 and at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) until March 13, 2022. The MMCA will display 58 works by 34 Korean artists among the 1,488 artworks donated by Lee, while the National Museum will put on display 77 pieces (including 28 designated as a National Treasure or Treasure) among the over 21,600 pieces Lee donated. The exhibitions will focus on the famous artworks disclosed to the public when the family of the late Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee donated the collection. The exhibition at the National Museum was titled, “Sharing a Great Cultural Heritage: Masterpieces Donated by the Late Lee Kun-hee.”
Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Kakao Bank’s retail bids fall short of expectations with $50 bn deposits
Kakao Bank Corp. failed to set a new record after it drew 58 trillion won ($50.3 billion) in deposits in a highly anticipated two-day public subscription for its initial public offering (IPO) that is set to raise about 2.5 trillion won upon its listing next month. According to lead advisor IPO KB Securities, a total 58.3 trillion won was collected by four brokerages during a two-day retail subscription for South Korea’s No. 1 internet-only bank that ended at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. It is smaller than 80.9 trillion won and 63.6 trillion won raised by this year’s blockbuster predecessors SK IE Technology Co. and SK Bioscience Co., respectively, during their retail bids earlier this year. The retail competition ratio for Kakao Bank was 182.7 to 1 after about 2.99 billion shares were gathered for a subscription of 16,362,500 shares. The ratio is below 331 to 1 for SK Bioscience 289 to 1 for SK IET.
Korea’s Q2 GDP up 0.7% on qtr, so far on track for 4.0% annual growth
South Korea’s economy gained 0.7 percent in the second quarter from the previous three-month period led by state stimuli and private spending, trudging along the track to achieve the country’s 4.0 percent growth target for this year against strong Covid-19 headwinds. According to the Bank of Korea’s preliminary growth data for the April-June period, the country’s gross domestic product added 0.7 percent from the first quarter, although losing steam from a 1.7 percent on-quarter gain in January-March. Against a year ago, the GDP jumped 5.9 percent, the biggest on-year gain since 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010 upon rebound from the 2008-2009 financial crisis, as the figure went against 3.2 percent contraction in the second quarter of 2020 after Covid-19 developed into a pandemic.
Two Koreas are reconnected by restoring direct communication line
The two Koreas are reconnected after North Korea believed to be in deeper squeeze from isolation for self-quarantine versus Covid-19 and years-long international sanctions suddenly restored hot line it had cut off in June last year. “The two Koreas agreed to restore communication lines starting 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, said Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential spokesman. “The two leaders have kept up connection through private letters from April and agreed to first restore the communication line,” said Park. “The reconnection is expected to bring about positive impact on Korean relationships.” Last year, North Korea severed its communication hot line with South Korea in protest of propaganda leaflets flying across the border. In June last year, the North blew up a liaison office in Kaesong to cut off all communication channels with the South.
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Budapest Times http://budapesttimes.hu
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