WION Wallet: South Korean vendors enjoying high sales; Full story inside.

WION Wallet: South Korean vendors enjoying high sales; Full story inside

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-japan-in-fresh-spat-over-intelligence-deal-264297">South Korea and Japan</a> are setting aside historical grievances to redraw responsibilities for air traffic control over the East China Sea following recent near misses.

Responsibility in the "AKARA corridor" through South Korean airspace is currently split, with South Korean controllers shepherding north-south flights, and Japan's directing east-west flights, many of them in and out of Shanghai.

But South Korean and Japanese air traffic controllers operate on different radio frequencies, making communications more difficult for pilots who may be dealing with emergency in-flight situations, or needing to change altitude to avoid turbulence or bad weather.

An agreement in principle has been reached for South Korea to take over Japan's role, the United Nations aviation agency said on Wednesday night.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-overtakes-united-states-in-number-of-diplomatic-missions-264784">China</a> was included in the agreement, as its air traffic controllers currently hand over to Japanese controllers in the corridor, and will in future hand over to South Korean controllers.

"The proposal we have put forward has been accepted by the three states," International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said in an interview with Reuters. “The glory actually goes to the states who were able to work together to find a solution.”

Aliu said he expects the agreement to be formalised in January or February 2020 and would take effect in April.

The compromise comes despite decades of strained relations between Seoul and Tokyo over their wartime past, exacerbated in recent months by a simmering trade dispute. South Korean airlines have cut flights to Japan due to a plunge in passenger demand.

Aliu declined comment on relations between the two countries.

Airline trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a statement that it knows the deal "will have a positive impact on safety and efficiency."

The dangers were laid bare by two recent near misses between planes that were blamed on conflicting air traffic control rights. Earlier this year, two commercial aircraft flew too close, and in 2018 a FedEx plane nearly collided with two Korean low-cost carrier jets.

"The risk posed by the current configuration is known, and generally well mitigated," said one source familiar with the ICAO-led talks and the region. "However, mistakes can happen, and two errors, one in 2018 and another in 2019, highlighted this concern."

The present arrangements were drawn up in 1983, when South Korea had no diplomatic relations with China and there were only around 10 flights a day in the corridor.

Since then, the corridor has become one of the busiest portions of airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, with 800 flights daily. Montreal-based ICAO recognised the urgent need to streamline traffic control, with the corridor expected to become even busier next year as Japan prepares to receive more traffic ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

“I personally got concerned about the situation," said Aliu, who was directly involved in the talks. "Because as you know, we will have the Tokyo Olympics coming and that will also mean many more flights.”

Under the new deal, Japan will benefit from an additional air route, Aliu said.

A deal could lead to further additional routes, with an airway between China and Korea to be discussed after the Olympics.

Andrew Herdman, director-general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, said the prospective changes would help capacity and operational efficiency.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China could not be reached for comment. An official at South Korea's Transport Ministry said earlier on Wednesday it had raised the air traffic control issue with ICAO and remained in negotiations with Japan.

An official at Japan's Transport Ministry said his country was discussing the AKARA corridor with other countries in accordance with ICAO principles.

South Korea and Japan are setting aside historical grievances to redraw responsibilities for air traffic control over the East China Sea following recent near misses.

South Korea and Japan are setting aside historical grievances to redraw responsibilities for air traffic control over the East China Sea following recent near misses. Responsibility in the "AKARA corridor" through South Korean airspace is currently split, with South Korean controllers shepherding north-south flights, and Japan's directing east-west flights, many of them in and out of Shanghai. But South Korean and Japanese air traffic controllers operate on different radio frequencies, making communications more difficult for pilots who may be dealing with emergency in-flight situations, or needing to change altitude to avoid turbulence or bad weather. An agreement in principle has been reached for South Korea to take over Japan's role, the United Nations aviation agency said on Wednesday night. China was included in the agreement, as its air traffic controllers currently hand over to Japanese controllers in the corridor, and will in future hand over to South Korean controllers. "The proposal we have put forward has been accepted by the three states," International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said in an interview with Reuters. “The glory actually goes to the states who were able to work together to find a solution.” Aliu said he expects the agreement to be formalised in January or February 2020 and would take effect in April. The compromise comes despite decades of strained relations between Seoul and Tokyo over their wartime past, exacerbated in recent months by a simmering trade dispute. South Korean airlines have cut flights to Japan due to a plunge in passenger demand. Aliu declined comment on relations between the two countries. Airline trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a statement that it knows the deal "will have a positive impact on safety and efficiency." The dangers were laid bare by two recent near misses between planes that were blamed on conflicting air traffic control rights. Earlier this year, two commercial aircraft flew too close, and in 2018 a FedEx plane nearly collided with two Korean low-cost carrier jets. "The risk posed by the current configuration is known, and generally well mitigated," said one source familiar with the ICAO-led talks and the region. "However, mistakes can happen, and two errors, one in 2018 and another in 2019, highlighted this concern." The present arrangements were drawn up in 1983, when South Korea had no diplomatic relations with China and there were only around 10 flights a day in the corridor. Since then, the corridor has become one of the busiest portions of airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, with 800 flights daily. Montreal-based ICAO recognised the urgent need to streamline traffic control, with the corridor expected to become even busier next year as Japan prepares to receive more traffic ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. “I personally got concerned about the situation," said Aliu, who was directly involved in the talks. "Because as you know, we will have the Tokyo Olympics coming and that will also mean many more flights.” Under the new deal, Japan will benefit from an additional air route, Aliu said. A deal could lead to further additional routes, with an airway between China and Korea to be discussed after the Olympics. Andrew Herdman, director-general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, said the prospective changes would help capacity and operational efficiency. The Civil Aviation Administration of China could not be reached for comment. An official at South Korea's Transport Ministry said earlier on Wednesday it had raised the air traffic control issue with ICAO and remained in negotiations with Japan. An official at Japan's Transport Ministry said his country was discussing the AKARA corridor with other countries in accordance with ICAO principles.

South Korea, Japan set to back air traffic deal over East China Sea

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../feuding-korean-firms-risk-disrupting-electric- car-battery-supplies-264839">South Korea</a>'s military fired warning shots towards a North Korean merchant boat with engine trouble that violated their sea border on Wednesday, South Korean officials said.

The vessel was detected crossing the inter-Korean maritime frontier at around 6:40 a.m. (2140 GMT Tuesday) near a South Korean border island off the west coast, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

The South Korean military issued a warning and fired shots into the water near the ship to drive it away.

"So far, we confirmed that the ship drifted toward that area due to bad weather and engine trouble, and it's currently on the way back to the North on its own," the JCS said in a statement.

It was the second time the South fired warning shots towards a North Korean vessel since President Moon Jae-in took office in May 2017, a military official said. Moon has vowed to re-engage with the reclusive North.

South Korea also fired warning shots in September towards a drifting boat and then sent a navy mechanic to help fix its engine.

Inter-Korean relations have cooled after a flurry of diplomacy, including three summits last year, during which Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to improve ties and revive stalled economic projects.

However, there has been no substantial progress and sanctions aimed at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../north-korea-says-pointless-for-kim-to-attend- south-korea-asean-summit-263634">Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes</a> have been tightened.

There has also been no major progress in denuclearisation talks between North Korea and the United States.

Sailors from both sides have been killed in previous skirmishes in the waters off the west coast of the Korean peninsula.

South Korea's military fired warning shots towards a North Korean merchant boat with engine trouble that violated their sea border on Wednesday, South Korean officials said.

South Korea's military fired warning shots towards a North Korean merchant boat with engine trouble that violated their sea border on Wednesday, South Korean officials said. The vessel was detected crossing the inter-Korean maritime frontier at around 6:40 a.m. (2140 GMT Tuesday) near a South Korean border island off the west coast, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The South Korean military issued a warning and fired shots into the water near the ship to drive it away. "So far, we confirmed that the ship drifted toward that area due to bad weather and engine trouble, and it's currently on the way back to the North on its own," the JCS said in a statement. It was the second time the South fired warning shots towards a North Korean vessel since President Moon Jae-in took office in May 2017, a military official said. Moon has vowed to re-engage with the reclusive North. South Korea also fired warning shots in September towards a drifting boat and then sent a navy mechanic to help fix its engine. Inter-Korean relations have cooled after a flurry of diplomacy, including three summits last year, during which Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to improve ties and revive stalled economic projects. However, there has been no substantial progress and sanctions aimed at Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes have been tightened. There has also been no major progress in denuclearisation talks between North Korea and the United States. Sailors from both sides have been killed in previous skirmishes in the waters off the west coast of the Korean peninsula.

South Korea fires warning shots towards North Korean merchant vessel

South Korea's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/feuding-korean-firms-risk-disrupting-electric-car-battery-supplies-264839">Hyundai Motor</a>&nbsp;has signed a deal to build a $1.5 billion car plant in Indonesia, the company said, its first in Southeast Asia, where Japanese carmakers dominate the market.

The deal comes as Seoul looks to diversify its trade-dependent economy, the world's 11th largest, away from reliance on traditional partners China and the US.

Indonesia is the region's largest automobile market, and the $1.55 billion deal&nbsp;aims to "combat slowing demand in the global automotive market" and propel future growth, Hyundai said in a statement.

The plant, to be built in Bekasi, east of Jakarta, will start production in 2021, Hyundai said, ultimately aiming to produce 250,000 vehicles a year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-pointless-for-kim-to-attend-south-korea-asean-summit-263634">South Korea's President Moon Jae-in </a>has been pushing a "New Southern Policy", seeking to bolster economic ties with Southeast Asia as the country aims to reduce over-reliance on Beijing and Washington, and Hyundai's announcement coincided with a South Korea-ASEAN summit in Busan.

Hyundai, the South's largest automaker, said it was building the factory in Indonesia to avoid import tariffs&nbsp;ranging from five to 80 percent in the ASEAN region.

At present it lags far behind its Japanese rivals in the region, with its sales reaching 122,883 vehicles versus <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rallying-new-world-champion-tanak-leaves-toyota-for-hyundai-259174">Toyota's</a> 854,032 and<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/renault-nissan-alliance-in-flux-a-year-after-ghosn-shock-262664"> Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi's</a> 351,267 from January to September this year, according to research firm LMC Automotive.

South Korea's central bank last month cut its key interest rate to its lowest in two years in an effort to prop up slowing growth with the economy hit by a bitter trade spat with Japan.

Hyundai shares were up 1.22 per cent in Wednesday afternoon trading in Seoul.

South Korea's Hyundai Motor has signed a deal to build a $1.5 billion car plant in Indonesia, the company said, its first in Southeast Asia, where Japanese carmakers dominate the market.

South Korea's Hyundai Motor has signed a deal to build a $1.5 billion car plant in Indonesia, the company said, its first in Southeast Asia, where Japanese carmakers dominate the market. The deal comes as Seoul looks to diversify its trade-dependent economy, the world's 11th largest, away from reliance on traditional partners China and the US. Indonesia is the region's largest automobile market, and the $1.55 billion deal aims to "combat slowing demand in the global automotive market" and propel future growth, Hyundai said in a statement. The plant, to be built in Bekasi, east of Jakarta, will start production in 2021, Hyundai said, ultimately aiming to produce 250,000 vehicles a year. South Korea's President Moon Jae-in has been pushing a "New Southern Policy", seeking to bolster economic ties with Southeast Asia as the country aims to reduce over-reliance on Beijing and Washington, and Hyundai's announcement coincided with a South Korea-ASEAN summit in Busan. Hyundai, the South's largest automaker, said it was building the factory in Indonesia to avoid import tariffs ranging from five to 80 percent in the ASEAN region. At present it lags far behind its Japanese rivals in the region, with its sales reaching 122,883 vehicles versus Toyota's 854,032 and Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi's 351,267 from January to September this year, according to research firm LMC Automotive. South Korea's central bank last month cut its key interest rate to its lowest in two years in an effort to prop up slowing growth with the economy hit by a bitter trade spat with Japan. Hyundai shares were up 1.22 per cent in Wednesday afternoon trading in Seoul.

Hyundai Motor to invest $1.5 billion in Indonesia factory

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-bid-to-repair-ties-japan-and-south-korea-agree-to-summit-next-month-264060">South Korea and Japan</a> traded fresh barbs on Monday, just days after agreeing to salvage an important intelligence-sharing pact, highlighting the fragile ties between the former wartime foes and allies of the United States.

Officials from each side criticised or contradicted comments made by the other and in media about whether Tokyo had apologised over what Seoul said was an inaccurate weekend statement about the agreement.

Under pressure from Washington, South Korea made a last-minute decision on Friday to conditionally <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-salvages-military-pact-with-japan-at-11th-hour-263924">maintain the pact</a>, known as GSOMIA, a dramatic about-face amid a months-long feud over history and trade.

GSOMIA, or the General Security of Military Information Agreement, is a key symbol of security cooperation between the two old foes and a trilateral partnership with the United States.

Tokyo, for its part, said Seoul made a strategic choice and it hoped to hold trade talks, though it would not immediately restore South Korea's fast-track exporter status.

Officials at Seoul's presidential Blue House said on Sunday they had lodged a protest and received an apology over the Japanese trade ministry's announcement that it will continue enhanced screening on the exports of three core materials used in semiconductors, which they said was "completely different" to what was agreed.

On Monday, the Blue House singled out a report of Japan's Yomiuri newspaper quoting a Japanese foreign ministry official as saying it was "not true" that Tokyo has apologised.

"To clarify once again, we have complained and Japan apologised," senior press secretary Yoon Do-han said in a statement. "Japanese and Korean media are creating a truth game, but we know the truth."

Less than two hours later, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga contradicted Yoon's remarks, saying the export curbs were "completely unrelated to GSOMIA".

"It is not productive to comment on every remark by South Korea, but it is not true that the Japanese government apologised," Suga told a press briefing.

The feud is rooted in a disagreement over compensation for South Koreans forced to work at Japanese companies during the 1910-45 occupation. After South Korea's Supreme Court ordered compensation last year, some former labourers are seeking to seize local assets of Japanese firms, and Tokyo imposed export controls.

South Korean and Japanese trade authorities are expected to meet as early as this week to discuss the issue.

The two countries' foreign ministers agreed on Saturday to work to arrange a summit next month between South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-prime-minister-abes-approval-rating-sags-due-to-accusations-of-violating-laws-for-political-spending-262813">Shinzo Abe</a> on the sidelines of a trilateral meeting with China.

Moon and Abe have not had formal talks for more than a year, though they had an 11-minute chat at an international conference in Thailand early this month.

A senior Blue House official said on Sunday it was "extremely disappointing" to see a report by Japan's Asahi newspaper, which quoted Abe as saying that Tokyo has "not conceded anything" and South Korea "simply caved to very strong US&nbsp;pressure".

"I cannot help but question whether that was something the leader of the Japanese government would say with conscience," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

South Korea and Japan traded fresh barbs on Monday, just days after agreeing to salvage an important intelligence-sharing pact, highlighting the fragile ties between the former wartime foes and allies of the United States.

South Korea and Japan traded fresh barbs on Monday, just days after agreeing to salvage an important intelligence-sharing pact, highlighting the fragile ties between the former wartime foes and allies of the United States. Officials from each side criticised or contradicted comments made by the other and in media about whether Tokyo had apologised over what Seoul said was an inaccurate weekend statement about the agreement. Under pressure from Washington, South Korea made a last-minute decision on Friday to conditionally maintain the pact, known as GSOMIA, a dramatic about-face amid a months-long feud over history and trade. GSOMIA, or the General Security of Military Information Agreement, is a key symbol of security cooperation between the two old foes and a trilateral partnership with the United States. Tokyo, for its part, said Seoul made a strategic choice and it hoped to hold trade talks, though it would not immediately restore South Korea's fast-track exporter status. Officials at Seoul's presidential Blue House said on Sunday they had lodged a protest and received an apology over the Japanese trade ministry's announcement that it will continue enhanced screening on the exports of three core materials used in semiconductors, which they said was "completely different" to what was agreed. On Monday, the Blue House singled out a report of Japan's Yomiuri newspaper quoting a Japanese foreign ministry official as saying it was "not true" that Tokyo has apologised. "To clarify once again, we have complained and Japan apologised," senior press secretary Yoon Do-han said in a statement. "Japanese and Korean media are creating a truth game, but we know the truth." Less than two hours later, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga contradicted Yoon's remarks, saying the export curbs were "completely unrelated to GSOMIA". "It is not productive to comment on every remark by South Korea, but it is not true that the Japanese government apologised," Suga told a press briefing. The feud is rooted in a disagreement over compensation for South Koreans forced to work at Japanese companies during the 1910-45 occupation. After South Korea's Supreme Court ordered compensation last year, some former labourers are seeking to seize local assets of Japanese firms, and Tokyo imposed export controls. South Korean and Japanese trade authorities are expected to meet as early as this week to discuss the issue. The two countries' foreign ministers agreed on Saturday to work to arrange a summit next month between South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of a trilateral meeting with China. Moon and Abe have not had formal talks for more than a year, though they had an 11-minute chat at an international conference in Thailand early this month. A senior Blue House official said on Sunday it was "extremely disappointing" to see a report by Japan's Asahi newspaper, which quoted Abe as saying that Tokyo has "not conceded anything" and South Korea "simply caved to very strong US pressure". "I cannot help but question whether that was something the leader of the Japanese government would say with conscience," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

South Korea, Japan in fresh spat over intelligence-sharing pact

Watch in WION Dispatch: In South Korea, Pop singer Goo Hara found dead. Watch this video as Bruce Harrison, WION's Correspondent from Seoul tells you more on this. #WIONDispatch

WION Dispatch: In South Korea, Pop singer Goo Hara found dead

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-to-terminate-intelligence-pact-with-japan-in-defiance-of-united-states-263779">Japan and South Korea </a>agreed on Saturday to hold formal talks next month, taking a step towards improving relations strained by decades of acrimony over their wartime past and exacerbated by a simmering trade dispute.

The decision to return to the table was announced at a Group of 20 (G20) meeting and came a day after Seoul made a last-minute decision to stick to a critical intelligence-sharing deal with Japan. The dramatic reversal - after months of worsening relations - was later hailed as a "breakthrough" by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-salvages-military-pact-with-japan-at-11th-hour-263924">South Korea</a>.

The dispute has its roots in a decades-old disagreement over compensation for South Korean labourers forced to work at Japanese firms during World War Two. It has deepened this year, and upended trade after Japan curbed exports of materials critical to making the semiconductors that are a pillar of the South Korean economy.

"We bought time for intense discussions, but there's not much time left for us," South Korea's foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha, told reporters after meeting with her Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, at a gathering of G20 foreign ministers in the central Japanese city of Nagoya.

Motegi had earlier said that he wanted to discuss the issue frankly.

"I aim to hold a candid exchange of views on the matter of labourers from the Korean peninsula, which is the core problem, and other bilateral issues," Motegi told reporters in Nagoya.

South Korea made a last-minute decision on Friday to stick with its General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) intelligence-sharing pact with Japan. The agreement was set to expire at midnight on Friday and South Korea had earlier indicated it would let it lapse.

The decision was welcomed by Washington. The United States has pressured its two allies to set aside their feud and maintain the pact, seen as linchpin of trilateral security cooperation.

Japan and South Korea agreed on Saturday to hold formal talks next month, taking a step towards improving relations strained by decades of acrimony over their wartime past and exacerbated by a simmering trade dispute.

Japan and South Korea agreed on Saturday to hold formal talks next month, taking a step towards improving relations strained by decades of acrimony over their wartime past and exacerbated by a simmering trade dispute. The decision to return to the table was announced at a Group of 20 (G20) meeting and came a day after Seoul made a last-minute decision to stick to a critical intelligence-sharing deal with Japan. The dramatic reversal - after months of worsening relations - was later hailed as a "breakthrough" by South Korea. The dispute has its roots in a decades-old disagreement over compensation for South Korean labourers forced to work at Japanese firms during World War Two. It has deepened this year, and upended trade after Japan curbed exports of materials critical to making the semiconductors that are a pillar of the South Korean economy. "We bought time for intense discussions, but there's not much time left for us," South Korea's foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha, told reporters after meeting with her Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, at a gathering of G20 foreign ministers in the central Japanese city of Nagoya. Motegi had earlier said that he wanted to discuss the issue frankly. "I aim to hold a candid exchange of views on the matter of labourers from the Korean peninsula, which is the core problem, and other bilateral issues," Motegi told reporters in Nagoya. South Korea made a last-minute decision on Friday to stick with its General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) intelligence-sharing pact with Japan. The agreement was set to expire at midnight on Friday and South Korea had earlier indicated it would let it lapse. The decision was welcomed by Washington. The United States has pressured its two allies to set aside their feud and maintain the pact, seen as linchpin of trilateral security cooperation.

In bid to repair ties, Japan and South Korea agree to summit next month

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-pointless-for-kim-to-attend-south-korea-asean-summit-263634">South Korea</a> is set to let lapse an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on Saturday amid a bitter feud over history and trade, defying mounting US&nbsp;pressure to maintain a key element of their trilateral security cooperation.

The expiry of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is likely to intensify discord between South Korea and the United States, which wants its two Asian allies to keep their dispute out of security cooperation.

Seoul gave Tokyo three month's notice in August for ending GSOMIA after Tokyo imposed export controls on South Korea over a dispute stemming from its 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula.

The accord will expire at Saturday midnight unless it is renewed. Both sides are refusing to budge, with Seoul urging Tokyo to lift its trade regulations first. Japan has called for GSOMIA to be maintained.

"Unless there's a change in Japan's attitude, our position is we won't reconsider," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told parliament on Thursday.

Japan's Defence Minister Taro Kono said an expiry of the agreement would not have a direct impact on Japan's security.

"But given the current situation with North Korea I have the concern that this could send a mistaken message to North Korea and other countries in the region," he said, adding he thought Seoul would make a "sensible decision".

GSOMIA was sealed in 2016 after a years-long US&nbsp;push for a better joint response to North Korea's growing military threat.

Washington has been unusually strident in its public criticism of South Korea's decision, which has not been the only source of tension in the relationship.

On Tuesday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cuts-short-meeting-with-south-korea-on-military-costs-263118">US&nbsp;negotiators broke off talks after South Korea</a> rejected demands to hike its contribution five-fold to $5 billion to maintain 28,500 US&nbsp;soldiers as a buffer against North Korean aggression.

"The unprecedented breakdown showed the current state of the alliance, where money and business dealings are wearing away shared values and trust that formed its foundation," said Kim Hong-Kyun, a former South Korean deputy foreign minister.

Watch: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defence

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-report-trump-wants-japan-and-south-korea-to-pay-more-for-defense-263015/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Deadline

Asked whether ending GSOMIA risked harming the alliance with the United States, Kang said such analysis was understandable but the decision was made "solely within the context" of Japan ties.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-wants-united-states-to-end-joint-drills-with-south-korea-to-resume-talks-263025">South Korea has pledged to continue security cooperation</a> with Japan, including via a trilateral arrangement involving the United States.

The three countries signed the Trilateral Information Sharing Arrangement (TISA) in 2014. But that is limited to information regarding Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, whereas GSOMIA covers broader intelligence.

Kim, the former diplomat, said US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, who has insisted on South Korea contributing more to defence costs, could resort to "brinkmanship" in future talks, as he did in dealing with North Korea.

Cho Han-bum, senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said Seoul made a mistake by expanding trade rows to security issues, but Trump was unlikely to withdraw troops that are key to keeping China and Russia in check.

The United States on Thursday denied a South Korean news report it was considering cutting troop numbers if the burden-sharing talks do not go as Trump wished.

South Korea is set to let lapse an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on Saturday amid a bitter feud over history and trade, defying mounting US pressure to maintain a key element of their trilateral security cooperation.

South Korea is set to let lapse an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on Saturday amid a bitter feud over history and trade, defying mounting US pressure to maintain a key element of their trilateral security cooperation. The expiry of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is likely to intensify discord between South Korea and the United States, which wants its two Asian allies to keep their dispute out of security cooperation. Seoul gave Tokyo three month's notice in August for ending GSOMIA after Tokyo imposed export controls on South Korea over a dispute stemming from its 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula. The accord will expire at Saturday midnight unless it is renewed. Both sides are refusing to budge, with Seoul urging Tokyo to lift its trade regulations first. Japan has called for GSOMIA to be maintained. "Unless there's a change in Japan's attitude, our position is we won't reconsider," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told parliament on Thursday. Japan's Defence Minister Taro Kono said an expiry of the agreement would not have a direct impact on Japan's security. "But given the current situation with North Korea I have the concern that this could send a mistaken message to North Korea and other countries in the region," he said, adding he thought Seoul would make a "sensible decision". GSOMIA was sealed in 2016 after a years-long US push for a better joint response to North Korea's growing military threat. Washington has been unusually strident in its public criticism of South Korea's decision, which has not been the only source of tension in the relationship. On Tuesday, US negotiators broke off talks after South Korea rejected demands to hike its contribution five-fold to $5 billion to maintain 28,500 US soldiers as a buffer against North Korean aggression. "The unprecedented breakdown showed the current state of the alliance, where money and business dealings are wearing away shared values and trust that formed its foundation," said Kim Hong-Kyun, a former South Korean deputy foreign minister. Watch: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defence Deadline Asked whether ending GSOMIA risked harming the alliance with the United States, Kang said such analysis was understandable but the decision was made "solely within the context" of Japan ties. South Korea has pledged to continue security cooperation with Japan, including via a trilateral arrangement involving the United States. The three countries signed the Trilateral Information Sharing Arrangement (TISA) in 2014. But that is limited to information regarding Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, whereas GSOMIA covers broader intelligence. Kim, the former diplomat, said US President Donald Trump, who has insisted on South Korea contributing more to defence costs, could resort to "brinkmanship" in future talks, as he did in dealing with North Korea. Cho Han-bum, senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said Seoul made a mistake by expanding trade rows to security issues, but Trump was unlikely to withdraw troops that are key to keeping China and Russia in check. The United States on Thursday denied a South Korean news report it was considering cutting troop numbers if the burden-sharing talks do not go as Trump wished.

South Korea to terminate intelligence pact with Japan in defiance of United States

South Korea decided Friday against scrapping a critical military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, in a dramatic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-to-terminate-intelligence-pact-with-japan-in-defiance-of-united-states-263779">11th-hour U-turn </a>that will come as a relief to the United States.

The pact was due to expire at midnight amid a sharp deterioration in ties between the two democracies and market economies that has alarmed Washington as it seeks to curb the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea.

But after a flurry of last-ditch diplomacy, Seoul announced it would "conditionally" suspend the expiry of the agreement with just six hours left on the clock.

Kim You-geun, a national security official at Seoul's presidential Blue House, confirmed the accord, known as GSOMIA, would not be allowed to lapse at midnight.

"The Japanese government has expressed their understanding," he said.

However, he warned that the pact could still "be terminated at any time."

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said three-way co-ordination between Tokyo, Seoul and Washington was "extremely important," adding that he believed South Korea had taken their decision from a "strategic point of view."

But Defence Minister Taro Kono stressed that it was a temporary measure and urged Seoul to extend the pact "in a firm manner."

Officials are now scrambling to arrange bilateral talks between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Nagoya.

Seoul had announced the scrapping of the pact in August, as a trade row sparked by historical disputes between the pair spiralled into one of their worst diplomatic spats in years.

Seoul and Tokyo are both major US allies seen as an anchor of stability in a tinderbox region with overbearing China and wayward, nuclear-armed North Korea.

But their relationship is heavily coloured by territorial and historical disputes stemming from Japan's bitterly-resented 35-year colonial rule over the peninsula, including the use of wartime sex slaves and forced labour.

The GSOMIA pact, signed in 2016, enabled the two US allies to share military secrets, particularly over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile capacity.

'Huge setback'&nbsp;

The United States had frequently urged its two main allies in the region to bury the hatchet, with officials admitting privately that the poor relations are complicating diplomacy in the region.

Ditching the pact would have been "a huge setback for one of the pillars of East Asia's security that Japan, South Korea and the United States have established", said Kenichiro Sasae, a former top Japanese foreign minister official and ambassador to the US.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on a recent trip to Asia that the only beneficiaries from the pact being scrapped would be North Korea and China, and urged the two allies to "sit down and work through their differences".

South Korea had promised to continue sharing secrets via the United States as a third party, but this had raised concerns about efficiency in an emergency situation.

Seoul had renewed the pact every year and its sudden decision to scrap it had come as a surprise as most thought the country would maintain security cooperation with Japan despite the ongoing row.

However, ties between the pair remain in the deep freeze after a string of South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate wartime forced labour victims infuriated Japan.

Relations were further hit in July after Tokyo said Seoul was not properly handling sensitive imports and took the country off a list of nations that enjoyed streamlined export control procedures.

This enraged South Korea, which hit back with similar moves, culminating in the decision to end the military pact.

Japan says a 1965 treaty that normalised relations with a significant financial contribution effectively settled all reparation claims from its wartime atrocities.

"The biggest issue and the root problem is the issue related to former labourers from the Korean peninsula," Motegi told reporters.

"We continue to strongly demand South Korea to remedy as soon as possible the current situation that violates the international law."

On the trade issue, Japanese trade ministry official Yoichi Iida said the two countries would hold talks "as soon as possible" to resolve their row but insisted this had "nothing to do" with the military pact.

South Korea decided Friday against scrapping a critical military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, in a dramatic 11th-hour U-turn that will come as a relief to the United States.

South Korea decided Friday against scrapping a critical military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, in a dramatic 11th-hour U-turn that will come as a relief to the United States. The pact was due to expire at midnight amid a sharp deterioration in ties between the two democracies and market economies that has alarmed Washington as it seeks to curb the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea. But after a flurry of last-ditch diplomacy, Seoul announced it would "conditionally" suspend the expiry of the agreement with just six hours left on the clock. Kim You-geun, a national security official at Seoul's presidential Blue House, confirmed the accord, known as GSOMIA, would not be allowed to lapse at midnight. "The Japanese government has expressed their understanding," he said. However, he warned that the pact could still "be terminated at any time." Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said three-way co-ordination between Tokyo, Seoul and Washington was "extremely important," adding that he believed South Korea had taken their decision from a "strategic point of view." But Defence Minister Taro Kono stressed that it was a temporary measure and urged Seoul to extend the pact "in a firm manner." Officials are now scrambling to arrange bilateral talks between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Nagoya. Seoul had announced the scrapping of the pact in August, as a trade row sparked by historical disputes between the pair spiralled into one of their worst diplomatic spats in years. Seoul and Tokyo are both major US allies seen as an anchor of stability in a tinderbox region with overbearing China and wayward, nuclear-armed North Korea. But their relationship is heavily coloured by territorial and historical disputes stemming from Japan's bitterly-resented 35-year colonial rule over the peninsula, including the use of wartime sex slaves and forced labour. The GSOMIA pact, signed in 2016, enabled the two US allies to share military secrets, particularly over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile capacity. 'Huge setback' The United States had frequently urged its two main allies in the region to bury the hatchet, with officials admitting privately that the poor relations are complicating diplomacy in the region. Ditching the pact would have been "a huge setback for one of the pillars of East Asia's security that Japan, South Korea and the United States have established", said Kenichiro Sasae, a former top Japanese foreign minister official and ambassador to the US. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on a recent trip to Asia that the only beneficiaries from the pact being scrapped would be North Korea and China, and urged the two allies to "sit down and work through their differences". South Korea had promised to continue sharing secrets via the United States as a third party, but this had raised concerns about efficiency in an emergency situation. Seoul had renewed the pact every year and its sudden decision to scrap it had come as a surprise as most thought the country would maintain security cooperation with Japan despite the ongoing row. However, ties between the pair remain in the deep freeze after a string of South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate wartime forced labour victims infuriated Japan. Relations were further hit in July after Tokyo said Seoul was not properly handling sensitive imports and took the country off a list of nations that enjoyed streamlined export control procedures. This enraged South Korea, which hit back with similar moves, culminating in the decision to end the military pact. Japan says a 1965 treaty that normalised relations with a significant financial contribution effectively settled all reparation claims from its wartime atrocities. "The biggest issue and the root problem is the issue related to former labourers from the Korean peninsula," Motegi told reporters. "We continue to strongly demand South Korea to remedy as soon as possible the current situation that violates the international law." On the trade issue, Japanese trade ministry official Yoichi Iida said the two countries would hold talks "as soon as possible" to resolve their row but insisted this had "nothing to do" with the military pact.

South Korea salvages military pact with Japan at 11th hour

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-interested-in-meaningless-talks-just-so-trump-can-boast-north-korea-262928">North Korea</a> rejected an invitation for leader Kim Jong Un to attend a planned summit in South Korea next week with Southeast Asian nations, saying it would be "pointless" due to strained ties with Seoul, North Korean state media reported on Thursday.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a letter of invitation to Kim on November&nbsp;5, with an offer for an envoy to attend if he was unable to participate, the official KCNA news agency said.

Moon has said Kim might join when he hosts leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the South Korean port city of Busan next week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their partnership.

Moon's office said it was "very regretful" Kim would miss the event, and the invitation was meant to rally international support for the two leaders' joint efforts to foster peace.

While thanking Seoul for the invitation, North Korea requested the South's "understanding that we failed to find out the proper reason" for Kim to participate, KCNA said.

The statement accused South Korea of failing to implement agreements from past summits between Kim and Moon by depending on the United States.

"As nothing was achieved in implementing the agreements ... the north-south summit for the mere form's sake would be pointless," KCNA said.

"Not content with sustaining losses from dependence on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-china-trade-deal-may-not-be-signed-this-year-263497">United States</a>, the south side made an offer for discussing the north-south relations in the theatre of multi-lateral co-operation. This makes us only dubious."

The two Koreas undertook a flurry of diplomacy including three summits last year, during which Moon and Kim agreed to improve ties and restart stalled business initiatives.

But there has been no significant progress amid tightening sanctions aimed at the North's nuclear and missile programmes, and stalled denuclearisation talks after Kim's failed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trump-kim-jong-un-summits-other-aim-was-to-sell-vietnam-model-to-north-korea-208086">second summit</a> with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

Pyongyang has stepped up criticism against Seoul and Washington in recent months for their joint military drills and the South's purchase of US&nbsp;weapons designed to fend off North Korean threats.

"North Korea now considers summits without payment for co-operation as empty diplomacy that merely helps Moon and Trump raise domestic political support," said Leif-Eric Easley, who teaches international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

North Korea rejected an invitation for leader Kim Jong Un to attend a planned summit in South Korea next week with Southeast Asian nations, saying it would be "pointless" due to strained ties with Seoul, North Korean state media reported on Thursday.

North Korea rejected an invitation for leader Kim Jong Un to attend a planned summit in South Korea next week with Southeast Asian nations, saying it would be "pointless" due to strained ties with Seoul, North Korean state media reported on Thursday. South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a letter of invitation to Kim on November 5, with an offer for an envoy to attend if he was unable to participate, the official KCNA news agency said. Moon has said Kim might join when he hosts leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the South Korean port city of Busan next week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their partnership. Moon's office said it was "very regretful" Kim would miss the event, and the invitation was meant to rally international support for the two leaders' joint efforts to foster peace. While thanking Seoul for the invitation, North Korea requested the South's "understanding that we failed to find out the proper reason" for Kim to participate, KCNA said. The statement accused South Korea of failing to implement agreements from past summits between Kim and Moon by depending on the United States. "As nothing was achieved in implementing the agreements ... the north-south summit for the mere form's sake would be pointless," KCNA said. "Not content with sustaining losses from dependence on the United States, the south side made an offer for discussing the north-south relations in the theatre of multi-lateral co-operation. This makes us only dubious." The two Koreas undertook a flurry of diplomacy including three summits last year, during which Moon and Kim agreed to improve ties and restart stalled business initiatives. But there has been no significant progress amid tightening sanctions aimed at the North's nuclear and missile programmes, and stalled denuclearisation talks after Kim's failed second summit with US President Donald Trump. Pyongyang has stepped up criticism against Seoul and Washington in recent months for their joint military drills and the South's purchase of US weapons designed to fend off North Korean threats. "North Korea now considers summits without payment for co-operation as empty diplomacy that merely helps Moon and Trump raise domestic political support," said Leif-Eric Easley, who teaches international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.

North Korea says 'pointless' for Kim to attend South Korea ASEAN summit

In a drab government office in Seoul, a team of broadcast regulators spend their days watching online porn, the front line troops of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cuts-short-meeting-with-south-korea-on-military-costs-263118">South Korea's attempts</a> to crack down on spycam videos that mostly expose women.&nbsp;

The 16-member digital sex crime monitoring unit was set up this autumn by the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), with a mission to hunt down and remove sexual videos posted without consent. As of last month, it operates 24 hours a day.

Known as "molka", spycam videos are largely shot by men secretly filming women in schools, toilets and elsewhere.&nbsp;

The taskforce also targets "revenge porn", private sex videos filmed and shared without permission by disgruntled ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands, or malicious acquaintances.

In the highest-profile example, star K-pop singer Jung Joon-young was arrested in March on charges of filming and distributing illicit sex videos without the consent of his female partners. His court verdict is due next week, with prosecutors demanding seven years' imprisonment.

The twin phenomena have become increasingly widespread in the hyper-wired South, driving tens of thousands of women to demonstrate against them in the streets of Seoul last year, chanting "My life is not your porn" and demanding authorities take action.&nbsp;

Sitting at their desks, the KCSC staff,&nbsp;most of them assigned from other roles at the commission, and four of them women -- have the cautious manner of government bureaucrats.

An Hyeon-cheol came through this year's competition for highly-coveted government jobs at the KCSC, when there were 146 applicants for each available position, but his duties are a far cry from what he expected.

"It was difficult to maintain my composure," the 27-year-old said of his first days as a civil servant. "I saw many provocative pictures of a kind that I had never seen before in my life."

The head of the monitoring team Lee Yong-bae told AFP: "When I went outside, I could not look at women around me because pictures I saw in the office overlapped in my mind's eye. I had to keep my head down."

'Heart-wrenching moment'&nbsp;

To find the material, they search for Korean-language hashtags on domestic and international platforms, including Twitter and YouTube,&nbsp;that reference sexual acts, although sometimes key terms are disguised with asterisks.

They can instruct <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-wants-united-states-to-end-joint-drills-with-south-korea-to-resume-talks-263025">South Korean sites</a> to take down suspect videos, but the vast majority are hosted on overseas servers beyond their jurisdiction,&nbsp;when they tell domestic internet service providers to block access, but can only ask the foreign operators to remove them voluntarily.

The taskforce took action 82 times a day in October on average, eight times as many as the regulator did four years ago, before the dedicated unit was set up.

Ordinary commercial porn, which is illegal in the South and access to it blocked, is not part of their remit.

Sometimes panicking victims contact the taskforce themselves on a KCSC hotline, 1377, asking for help.

"We recently had a victim who gave us 100 different site addresses where a sex video secretly shot by her ex-boyfriend was uploaded," Lee said, acknowledging that completely removing a video was "nearly impossible" with the material being disseminated and shared online at the press of a button.

One spycam video first posted in May spread to more than 2,700 sites in six months, a KCSC document shows.

The first day after initial upload was the "golden time" to intervene, said Min Kyeong-joong, secretary-general of the KCSC, after which repostings are likely to "spiral out of control".

"Our mission is to contain the spread in the first 24 hours," he said.&nbsp;"For the victims, every second is a heart-wrenching moment."

Freedom of expression

In the conservative South, women who appear in such videos will feel deep shame despite being the victims and face the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-south-korea-resume-defence-cost-sharing-talks-after-trumps-5-bn-demand-gets-dubbed-as-robbery-262883">threat of ostracism and social isolation</a> if the videos become known to those around them.

Nearly 5,500 people were arrested for such offences last year, up 22 per cent on 2016, police data showed,&nbsp;and 97 per cent of them were men.&nbsp;

Park Yu-na, 31, told AFP she now routinely avoids using public toilets "as much as possible".

"I and other women share this fear that we can fall victim to spycam crimes anytime, anywhere," said the Seongnam resident.

The KCSC taskforce was set up after President Moon Jae-in acknowledged the spycam issue last year, calling for tougher punishments and saying: "We as a society have failed to fully recognise the trauma and humiliation suffered by those victimised."

Filming or distributing intimate videos without consent can each be punished with up to five years' jail, but analysts say many often end up with only a suspended sentence or a fine.

"There is this tendency where watching illegal sex videos is tolerated as just another form of men's entertainment, compounded with weak punishment," said Lee Na-young, professor of sociology at Chung-Ang University in Seoul.&nbsp;

The South's patriarchal culture "suppresses pragmatic sex education", added Bae Bok-ju, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, so that many men "grow up thinking there is nothing wrong with watching illegal porn as long as they don't put it into action".

Some argue against controls on spycam videos as an infringement of freedom of expression, said KCSC secretary-general Min.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"When I listen to such claims, I want to ask them this: Would you say the same thing if it was your wives or daughters?"&nbsp;

In a drab government office in Seoul, a team of broadcast regulators spend their days watching online porn, the front line troops of South Korea's attempts to crack down on spycam videos that mostly expose women.

In a drab government office in Seoul, a team of broadcast regulators spend their days watching online porn, the front line troops of South Korea's attempts to crack down on spycam videos that mostly expose women. The 16-member digital sex crime monitoring unit was set up this autumn by the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), with a mission to hunt down and remove sexual videos posted without consent. As of last month, it operates 24 hours a day. Known as "molka", spycam videos are largely shot by men secretly filming women in schools, toilets and elsewhere. The taskforce also targets "revenge porn", private sex videos filmed and shared without permission by disgruntled ex-boyfriends, ex-husbands, or malicious acquaintances. In the highest-profile example, star K-pop singer Jung Joon-young was arrested in March on charges of filming and distributing illicit sex videos without the consent of his female partners. His court verdict is due next week, with prosecutors demanding seven years' imprisonment. The twin phenomena have become increasingly widespread in the hyper-wired South, driving tens of thousands of women to demonstrate against them in the streets of Seoul last year, chanting "My life is not your porn" and demanding authorities take action. Sitting at their desks, the KCSC staff, most of them assigned from other roles at the commission, and four of them women -- have the cautious manner of government bureaucrats. An Hyeon-cheol came through this year's competition for highly-coveted government jobs at the KCSC, when there were 146 applicants for each available position, but his duties are a far cry from what he expected. "It was difficult to maintain my composure," the 27-year-old said of his first days as a civil servant. "I saw many provocative pictures of a kind that I had never seen before in my life." The head of the monitoring team Lee Yong-bae told AFP: "When I went outside, I could not look at women around me because pictures I saw in the office overlapped in my mind's eye. I had to keep my head down." 'Heart-wrenching moment' To find the material, they search for Korean-language hashtags on domestic and international platforms, including Twitter and YouTube, that reference sexual acts, although sometimes key terms are disguised with asterisks. They can instruct South Korean sites to take down suspect videos, but the vast majority are hosted on overseas servers beyond their jurisdiction, when they tell domestic internet service providers to block access, but can only ask the foreign operators to remove them voluntarily. The taskforce took action 82 times a day in October on average, eight times as many as the regulator did four years ago, before the dedicated unit was set up. Ordinary commercial porn, which is illegal in the South and access to it blocked, is not part of their remit. Sometimes panicking victims contact the taskforce themselves on a KCSC hotline, 1377, asking for help. "We recently had a victim who gave us 100 different site addresses where a sex video secretly shot by her ex-boyfriend was uploaded," Lee said, acknowledging that completely removing a video was "nearly impossible" with the material being disseminated and shared online at the press of a button. One spycam video first posted in May spread to more than 2,700 sites in six months, a KCSC document shows. The first day after initial upload was the "golden time" to intervene, said Min Kyeong-joong, secretary-general of the KCSC, after which repostings are likely to "spiral out of control". "Our mission is to contain the spread in the first 24 hours," he said. "For the victims, every second is a heart-wrenching moment." Freedom of expression In the conservative South, women who appear in such videos will feel deep shame despite being the victims and face the threat of ostracism and social isolation if the videos become known to those around them. Nearly 5,500 people were arrested for such offences last year, up 22 per cent on 2016, police data showed, and 97 per cent of them were men. Park Yu-na, 31, told AFP she now routinely avoids using public toilets "as much as possible". "I and other women share this fear that we can fall victim to spycam crimes anytime, anywhere," said the Seongnam resident. The KCSC taskforce was set up after President Moon Jae-in acknowledged the spycam issue last year, calling for tougher punishments and saying: "We as a society have failed to fully recognise the trauma and humiliation suffered by those victimised." Filming or distributing intimate videos without consent can each be punished with up to five years' jail, but analysts say many often end up with only a suspended sentence or a fine. "There is this tendency where watching illegal sex videos is tolerated as just another form of men's entertainment, compounded with weak punishment," said Lee Na-young, professor of sociology at Chung-Ang University in Seoul. The South's patriarchal culture "suppresses pragmatic sex education", added Bae Bok-ju, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, so that many men "grow up thinking there is nothing wrong with watching illegal porn as long as they don't put it into action". Some argue against controls on spycam videos as an infringement of freedom of expression, said KCSC secretary-general Min. "When I listen to such claims, I want to ask them this: Would you say the same thing if it was your wives or daughters?"

South Korean regulators in constant search for porn to curb spycam videos

Yemen's Iran-aligned rebels seized a Saudi-flagged tug and two South Korean vessels at the weekend, the insurgents and Seoul officials said on Tuesday.

The incident follows a lull in Huthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as one Riyadh official said the kingdom had established an "open channel" with the rebels in a bid to end the four-year conflict.

The Huthis acknowledged they had seized three ships, including a Saudi one, in the Red Sea a few miles off Uqban island, west of the rebel-held capital Sanaa.

Seoul's foreign ministry said a South Korean dredger was being towed by one Korean and one Saudi-flagged tug when they were seized by the Huthis.

It added that a total of 16 crew, two of them South Korean, had been taken to the Red Sea port of Saleef, where they were being held by the rebels.

"All of our citizens... are healthy and safe," ministry officials said in a statement.

"We are doing our very best for the early release of our citizens."

Seoul has sent the South Korean navy ship Cheonghae, which had been on anti-piracy standby off the coast of Oman, to waters near where the incident took place.

The Saudi-led military coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognised government accused the rebels of "hijacking" the Rabigh-3, which a global tracking website described as a Saudi-flagged vessel.

The rebels on Tuesday said the three ships were seized off Uqban island after they entered "territorial waters without prior notice", according to a statement carried by their Al-Masirah television channel.

The ships were taken to Saleef, it added, without disclosing the nationalities or number of crew members.

The Huthi rebels have been fighting the government and its allies for more than four years in a war that has pushed the country to the brink of famine.

A year after the Huthis seized Sanaa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their allies intervened in the conflict in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

Since 2015, tens of thousands of people,&nbsp;most of them civilians,&nbsp;have been killed in a conflict that has triggered what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Earlier this month, a senior Saudi official raised hopes of possible de-escalation after he said Riyadh had an "open channel" with the rebels with the goal of ending the conflict.

Yemen's Iran-aligned rebels seized a Saudi-flagged tug and two South Korean vessels at the weekend, the insurgents and Seoul officials said on Tuesday. The incident follows a lull in Huthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as one Riyadh official said the kingdom had established an "open channel" with the rebels in a bid to end the four-year conflict.

Yemen's Iran-aligned rebels seized a Saudi-flagged tug and two South Korean vessels at the weekend, the insurgents and Seoul officials said on Tuesday. The incident follows a lull in Huthi attacks on Saudi Arabia as one Riyadh official said the kingdom had established an "open channel" with the rebels in a bid to end the four-year conflict. The Huthis acknowledged they had seized three ships, including a Saudi one, in the Red Sea a few miles off Uqban island, west of the rebel-held capital Sanaa. Seoul's foreign ministry said a South Korean dredger was being towed by one Korean and one Saudi-flagged tug when they were seized by the Huthis. It added that a total of 16 crew, two of them South Korean, had been taken to the Red Sea port of Saleef, where they were being held by the rebels. "All of our citizens... are healthy and safe," ministry officials said in a statement. "We are doing our very best for the early release of our citizens." Seoul has sent the South Korean navy ship Cheonghae, which had been on anti-piracy standby off the coast of Oman, to waters near where the incident took place. The Saudi-led military coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognised government accused the rebels of "hijacking" the Rabigh-3, which a global tracking website described as a Saudi-flagged vessel. The rebels on Tuesday said the three ships were seized off Uqban island after they entered "territorial waters without prior notice", according to a statement carried by their Al-Masirah television channel. The ships were taken to Saleef, it added, without disclosing the nationalities or number of crew members. The Huthi rebels have been fighting the government and its allies for more than four years in a war that has pushed the country to the brink of famine. A year after the Huthis seized Sanaa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their allies intervened in the conflict in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. Since 2015, tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians, have been killed in a conflict that has triggered what the United Nations has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Earlier this month, a senior Saudi official raised hopes of possible de-escalation after he said Riyadh had an "open channel" with the rebels with the goal of ending the conflict.

Yemen rebels seize two South Korean, one Saudi vessel

South Korea's defence ministry said today that talks on settling the cost of hosting US military in the country had broken off even as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-south-korea-resume-defence-cost-sharing-talks-after-trumps-5-bn-demand-gets-dubbed-as-robbery-262883">US negotiator&nbsp;</a>James DeHart said Washington had "cut short" the meeting to give Seoul "some time to reconsider".

"Our position is that it should be within the mutually acceptable Special Measures Agreement (SMA) framework that has been agreed upon by South Korea and the US for the past 28 years," South Korea's foreign ministry said.

"The US believes that the share of defence spending should be increased significantly by creating a new category," the ministry added.

The US is seeking $5 billion a year to ensure the presence of American&nbsp;military in South Korea, a sum&nbsp;which President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded.

"Unfortunately, the proposals that were put forward by the Korean team were not responsive to our request for fair and equitable burden-sharing," US negotiator DeHart told reporters.

South Korea's foreign ministry said it would work to keep contributions to a "reasonable" level and "within the range that is mutually acceptable".

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper had said earlier that South Korea is "a wealthy country and could and should pay more to offset the cost of defence".

Jeong Eun-bo, the South's chief negotiator said the "US side walked out first" even as&nbsp;DeHart said officials had "cut short" the meeting in order to allow South Korean officials more time.

The US-South Korean dispute comes as the two countries decided not to hold <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-wants-united-states-to-end-joint-drills-with-south-korea-to-resume-talks-263025">military exercises this month </a>in a bid to allow North Korea to resume talks on denuclearisation which has been deadlocked for months.

South Korea's defence ministry said today that talks on settling the cost of hosting US military in the country had broken off even as US negotiator James DeHart said Washington had "cut short" the meeting to give Seoul "some time to reconsider".

South Korea's defence ministry said today that talks on settling the cost of hosting US military in the country had broken off even as US negotiator James DeHart said Washington had "cut short" the meeting to give Seoul "some time to reconsider". "Our position is that it should be within the mutually acceptable Special Measures Agreement (SMA) framework that has been agreed upon by South Korea and the US for the past 28 years," South Korea's foreign ministry said. "The US believes that the share of defence spending should be increased significantly by creating a new category," the ministry added. The US is seeking $5 billion a year to ensure the presence of American military in South Korea, a sum which President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded. "Unfortunately, the proposals that were put forward by the Korean team were not responsive to our request for fair and equitable burden-sharing," US negotiator DeHart told reporters. South Korea's foreign ministry said it would work to keep contributions to a "reasonable" level and "within the range that is mutually acceptable". US Defense Secretary Mark Esper had said earlier that South Korea is "a wealthy country and could and should pay more to offset the cost of defence". Jeong Eun-bo, the South's chief negotiator said the "US side walked out first" even as DeHart said officials had "cut short" the meeting in order to allow South Korean officials more time. The US-South Korean dispute comes as the two countries decided not to hold military exercises this month in a bid to allow North Korea to resume talks on denuclearisation which has been deadlocked for months.

US 'cuts short' meeting with South Korea on military costs

Is The U.S. Piling The Pressure On Its Asian Allies - Japan & South Korea?

Gravitas: Report: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defense

The United States and South Korea said on Sunday they will postpone upcoming military drills in an effort to bolster a stalled peace push with North Korea, even as Washington denied the move amounted to another concession to Pyongyang.

U.S.-South Korea military drills postponed in bid to bolster North Korea peace effort

South Korean and US&nbsp;officials resumed talks on Monday to narrow a $4 billion gap in how much they want Seoul to pay for the cost of hosting the American military amid public protests of "highway robbery" against sharply increased US&nbsp;demands.

US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/get-the-deal-done-trump-tweets-at-north-koreas-kim-tells-him-to-act-quickly-262780">Donald Trump's</a> demand that Seoul take on a greater share of the cost of stationing 28,500 US&nbsp;troops as deterrence against North Korea has tested South Korea's confidence in the security alliance with Washington.

Reports of Trump's $5 billion demand earlier this month were greeted with shock in Seoul and on Monday, progressive groups protested at the negotiation venue against what they said was "highway robbery" by "greedy" Americans.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-korea-postpone-joint-drills-in-act-of-goodwill-262741">South Korea's</a> negotiating team is led by a former top financial regulator with experience in tough bargaining at times of crisis for Asia's fourth-largest economy, unprecedented in fronting a non-military expert in nearly 30 years of talks for the cost-sharing deals.

James DeHart, the chief US&nbsp;negotiator, said there was a lot of work to do but sounded a note of optimism as he arrived in South Korea on Sunday.

"I'm very confident that we will reach an agreement that is mutually acceptable, that both sides can support, and that will ultimately strengthen our great alliance," he told reporters.

Monday's meeting marked the third round of talks for him and the second for South Korea's Jeong Eun-bo, who was named to the job after the first round in September. He was previously vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission and a deputy finance minister.

"His metier is a budget, payment. I think the (South Korean) government decided that was the expertise needed this time," said a person who had worked with Jeong, declining to be identified because of the sensitivity of the ongoing talks.

Jeong was involved in South Korea's debt negotiations with international financial agencies during the 1998 Asian financial crisis, and currency swap deals during the 2008 global financial crisis, the person said.

A South Korean lawmaker said earlier this month that US&nbsp;officials had demanded up to $5 billion a year, more than five times the 1.04 trillion won ($896 million) Seoul agreed to pay this year.

South Korea "is a wealthy country and could and should pay more", US&nbsp;Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said after his meeting with South Korea's Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo last week.

Trump has long railed against what he says are inadequate contributions from allies towards defence costs. The United States is due to begin separate negotiations for new defence cost-sharing deals with Japan, Germany and NATO next year.

Trump has floated the idea of pulling US&nbsp;troops from the Korean peninsula, which remains in a technical state of war under a truce that suspended the 1950-53 Korean War.

South Korea's Defence Ministry denied reports on some South Korean YouTube channels that US&nbsp;troops would be withdrawn or reduced.

Esper "reaffirmed the commitment to maintain the current level of US&nbsp;forces in Korea and to improve their combat readiness" last week, the Defence Ministry press office said on its Twitter feed.

South Korean and US officials resumed talks on Monday to narrow a $4 billion gap in how much they want Seoul to pay for the cost of hosting the American military amid public protests of "highway robbery" against sharply increased US demands.

South Korean and US officials resumed talks on Monday to narrow a $4 billion gap in how much they want Seoul to pay for the cost of hosting the American military amid public protests of "highway robbery" against sharply increased US demands. US President Donald Trump's demand that Seoul take on a greater share of the cost of stationing 28,500 US troops as deterrence against North Korea has tested South Korea's confidence in the security alliance with Washington. Reports of Trump's $5 billion demand earlier this month were greeted with shock in Seoul and on Monday, progressive groups protested at the negotiation venue against what they said was "highway robbery" by "greedy" Americans. South Korea's negotiating team is led by a former top financial regulator with experience in tough bargaining at times of crisis for Asia's fourth-largest economy, unprecedented in fronting a non-military expert in nearly 30 years of talks for the cost-sharing deals. James DeHart, the chief US negotiator, said there was a lot of work to do but sounded a note of optimism as he arrived in South Korea on Sunday. "I'm very confident that we will reach an agreement that is mutually acceptable, that both sides can support, and that will ultimately strengthen our great alliance," he told reporters. Monday's meeting marked the third round of talks for him and the second for South Korea's Jeong Eun-bo, who was named to the job after the first round in September. He was previously vice chairman of the Financial Services Commission and a deputy finance minister. "His metier is a budget, payment. I think the (South Korean) government decided that was the expertise needed this time," said a person who had worked with Jeong, declining to be identified because of the sensitivity of the ongoing talks. Jeong was involved in South Korea's debt negotiations with international financial agencies during the 1998 Asian financial crisis, and currency swap deals during the 2008 global financial crisis, the person said. A South Korean lawmaker said earlier this month that US officials had demanded up to $5 billion a year, more than five times the 1.04 trillion won ($896 million) Seoul agreed to pay this year. South Korea "is a wealthy country and could and should pay more", US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said after his meeting with South Korea's Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo last week. Trump has long railed against what he says are inadequate contributions from allies towards defence costs. The United States is due to begin separate negotiations for new defence cost-sharing deals with Japan, Germany and NATO next year. Trump has floated the idea of pulling US troops from the Korean peninsula, which remains in a technical state of war under a truce that suspended the 1950-53 Korean War. South Korea's Defence Ministry denied reports on some South Korean YouTube channels that US troops would be withdrawn or reduced. Esper "reaffirmed the commitment to maintain the current level of US forces in Korea and to improve their combat readiness" last week, the Defence Ministry press office said on its Twitter feed.

United States, South Korea resume defence cost-sharing talks after Trump's $5 bn demand gets dubbed as 'robbery'

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper pressed South Korea on Friday to pay more for the cost of stationing US troops in the country and to maintain an intelligence-sharing pact with its other Asian ally, Japan, that Seoul is about to let lapse.

Speaking after a high-level defence policy meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Jeong Kyeong-doo, Esper also said the two countries must be flexible with their joint military drills to back diplomatic efforts to end North Korea's nuclear programme.

But he stopped short of announcing any new reduction in military exercises that North Korea has sharply condemned.

North Korea said on Thursday it had turned down a US offer for new talks ahead of a year-end deadline Pyongyang has set for Washington to show more flexibility in negotiations.

As uncertainty hangs over the troubled peace push, the United States and South Korea are simultaneously scrambling to clinch an agreement in the coming weeks to cover next year's costs of maintaining a 28,500-strong US military presence aimed at deterring North Korea.

South Korea, Esper said, "is a wealthy country and could and should pay more" for the U.S. military deployment.

"It is crucial that we conclude the (defence pact) ... with increased burden-sharing by the Republic of Korea before the end of the year," Esper told a news conference.

Jeong said he and Esper shared the view that the cost-sharing pact being negotiated should be fair and mutually agreeable, but it was unclear if they shared any sense of what a fair amount might be.

A South Korean lawmaker said last week that US officials had demanded up to $5 billion a year, more than five times what Seoul agreed to pay this year under a one-year deal.

North Korea: US seeking to 'exploit' others

US President Donald Trump has rattled South Korea with his insistence it take on a greater contribution for the deterrence against North Korea.

A survey by the government-affiliated Korea Institute for National Unification released last week showed 96% of South Koreans opposed paying more for the U.S. military presence.

North Korea said in a commentary from state media KCNA on Friday that the US demand for a greater South Korean contribution to defence costs was an attempt to "exploit" and tighten its control over South Korea.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry announced another round of defence cost talks would be held on Nov. 18-19 in Seoul.

After his talks with Jeong, Esper warned that South Korea's decision to end an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, called GSOMIA, would impact military readiness - presumably by slowing the ability of the US allies to directly share information about North Korean military activity.

"The only ones who benefit from expiration of GSOMIA and continued friction between Seoul and Tokyo are Pyongyang and Beijing," Esper said.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), hosted a video teleconference from Seoul on Friday with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, during which South Korea's Park Han-ki stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation, its JCS said.

Jeong said both South Korea and Japan would make efforts to narrow differences before the pact expires on November 23. But there was no sign of an imminent breakthrough.

Relations between the neighbours plunged after South Korea's top court last year ordered Japanese firms to compensate some wartime forced labourers. Japan imposed export controls on South Korea, citing unspecified security reasons.

During a meeting with Esper and Milley later on Friday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said it was difficult to share intelligence with Japan which raised security concerns in restricting exports, though he acknowledged the need for three-way cooperation, Moon's spokeswoman told a briefing.

Esper said he would also ask Japan to make efforts for an amicable resolution of the issue.

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper pressed South Korea on Friday to pay more for the cost of stationing US troops in the country and to maintain an intelligence-sharing pact with its other Asian ally, Japan, that Seoul is about to let lapse.

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper pressed South Korea on Friday to pay more for the cost of stationing US troops in the country and to maintain an intelligence-sharing pact with its other Asian ally, Japan, that Seoul is about to let lapse. Speaking after a high-level defence policy meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Jeong Kyeong-doo, Esper also said the two countries must be flexible with their joint military drills to back diplomatic efforts to end North Korea's nuclear programme. But he stopped short of announcing any new reduction in military exercises that North Korea has sharply condemned. North Korea said on Thursday it had turned down a US offer for new talks ahead of a year-end deadline Pyongyang has set for Washington to show more flexibility in negotiations. As uncertainty hangs over the troubled peace push, the United States and South Korea are simultaneously scrambling to clinch an agreement in the coming weeks to cover next year's costs of maintaining a 28,500-strong US military presence aimed at deterring North Korea. South Korea, Esper said, "is a wealthy country and could and should pay more" for the U.S. military deployment. "It is crucial that we conclude the (defence pact) ... with increased burden-sharing by the Republic of Korea before the end of the year," Esper told a news conference. Jeong said he and Esper shared the view that the cost-sharing pact being negotiated should be fair and mutually agreeable, but it was unclear if they shared any sense of what a fair amount might be. A South Korean lawmaker said last week that US officials had demanded up to $5 billion a year, more than five times what Seoul agreed to pay this year under a one-year deal. North Korea: US seeking to 'exploit' others US President Donald Trump has rattled South Korea with his insistence it take on a greater contribution for the deterrence against North Korea. A survey by the government-affiliated Korea Institute for National Unification released last week showed 96% of South Koreans opposed paying more for the U.S. military presence. North Korea said in a commentary from state media KCNA on Friday that the US demand for a greater South Korean contribution to defence costs was an attempt to "exploit" and tighten its control over South Korea. The South Korean Foreign Ministry announced another round of defence cost talks would be held on Nov. 18-19 in Seoul. After his talks with Jeong, Esper warned that South Korea's decision to end an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, called GSOMIA, would impact military readiness - presumably by slowing the ability of the US allies to directly share information about North Korean military activity. "The only ones who benefit from expiration of GSOMIA and continued friction between Seoul and Tokyo are Pyongyang and Beijing," Esper said. General Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), hosted a video teleconference from Seoul on Friday with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, during which South Korea's Park Han-ki stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation, its JCS said. Jeong said both South Korea and Japan would make efforts to narrow differences before the pact expires on November 23. But there was no sign of an imminent breakthrough. Relations between the neighbours plunged after South Korea's top court last year ordered Japanese firms to compensate some wartime forced labourers. Japan imposed export controls on South Korea, citing unspecified security reasons. During a meeting with Esper and Milley later on Friday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said it was difficult to share intelligence with Japan which raised security concerns in restricting exports, though he acknowledged the need for three-way cooperation, Moon's spokeswoman told a briefing. Esper said he would also ask Japan to make efforts for an amicable resolution of the issue.

Pentagon's Esper says it is crucial South Korea pays more for US troops

The respective chiefs of defence for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-korea-could-scale-back-joint-drills-defense-secretary-mark-esper-262137">South Korea and the United States</a> on Friday asserted their commitment to protecting South Korea against North Korea. According to South's Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, this will also include efforts to continue denuclearisation of North Korea.

Jeong and the US Defence Secretary Mark Esper believe in a fair and mutually agreeable cost-sharing pact for American troops that are stationed in South Korea.&nbsp;

Mark Esper made it clear that South Korea had to bear more burden of the cost for retaining US troops in the country,

''South Korea is a wealthy country and could and should pay more for the deployment of US military in the South'', Esper told a briefing after meeting South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo.

North Korea has long protested joint military drills, which it condemns as preparations for invasion, and has set Washington an end-of-year deadline to come up with a new offer in deadlocked negotiations on its weapons programmes.

The US and South Korea last year cancelled several joint drills in the wake of the Singapore summit between President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong Un, but are due to carry out a combined air exercise later this month.

"We will adjust our exercise posture either more or less depending on what diplomacy may require," Esper told reporters on board his plane to Seoul, where he started an Asian tour Thursday.

The possible downsizing of the joint drills should not be seen as a "concession" to Pyongyang, he said, "but as a means to keep the door open to diplomacy".

"I'm all for diplomacy first," he added.

His comments came after Pyongyang reiterated its demands for the combined exercise to be scrapped.

"The US is not accepting with due consideration the year-end time limit that we set out of great patience and magnanimity," a spokesman for the State Affairs Commission (SAC) said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

The SAC is the North's top governing body and it is unusual for it to issue such declarations.

Holding the drills would be an "undisguised breach" of the Singapore summit declaration, it said, adding: "Betrayal is only what we feel from the US side."

"We no longer feel the need to exercise any more patience," it went on, but gave no details of the "new way" it was threatening to pursue if Washington did not meet its demands.

Negotiations have been gridlocked since the Hanoi summit between Kim and Trump broke up in February with disagreement over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return.

Working-level talks restarted in Sweden in October only to break down quickly, with the North blaming the US for not giving up its "old attitude".

Pyongyang has carried out a series of missile tests in recent weeks and months, including one launched at sea, which it said was fired from a submarine -- a potential strategic game-changer.

The tests would improve the North's capabilities, Esper acknowledged.

"Anytime you test, you learn something," he said. "We take them very seriously and we watch them very closely, but we're also not going to overreact and do something that, for example, could close the door to diplomacy."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-warns-of-retaliation-against-us-south-korea-military-drills-261949">North Korea's roving ambassador for the foreign ministry</a> said Thursday that Pyongyang was not interested in US talks without concessions from Washington.

"I intuitively feel that the US is not ready to give a satisfactory answer to us and its proposal for dialogue with us is a trick to earn time," KCNA quoted Kim Myong Gil as saying.

"Explicitly speaking once again, I am not interested in such a meeting."

(With inputs from Reuters)

The respective chiefs of defence for South Korea and the United States on Friday asserted their commitment to protecting South Korea against North Korea. According to South's Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, this will also include efforts to continue denuclearisation of North Korea.

The respective chiefs of defence for South Korea and the United States on Friday asserted their commitment to protecting South Korea against North Korea. According to South's Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, this will also include efforts to continue denuclearisation of North Korea. Jeong and the US Defence Secretary Mark Esper believe in a fair and mutually agreeable cost-sharing pact for American troops that are stationed in South Korea. Mark Esper made it clear that South Korea had to bear more burden of the cost for retaining US troops in the country, ''South Korea is a wealthy country and could and should pay more for the deployment of US military in the South'', Esper told a briefing after meeting South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo. North Korea has long protested joint military drills, which it condemns as preparations for invasion, and has set Washington an end-of-year deadline to come up with a new offer in deadlocked negotiations on its weapons programmes. The US and South Korea last year cancelled several joint drills in the wake of the Singapore summit between President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong Un, but are due to carry out a combined air exercise later this month. "We will adjust our exercise posture either more or less depending on what diplomacy may require," Esper told reporters on board his plane to Seoul, where he started an Asian tour Thursday. The possible downsizing of the joint drills should not be seen as a "concession" to Pyongyang, he said, "but as a means to keep the door open to diplomacy". "I'm all for diplomacy first," he added. His comments came after Pyongyang reiterated its demands for the combined exercise to be scrapped. "The US is not accepting with due consideration the year-end time limit that we set out of great patience and magnanimity," a spokesman for the State Affairs Commission (SAC) said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. The SAC is the North's top governing body and it is unusual for it to issue such declarations. Holding the drills would be an "undisguised breach" of the Singapore summit declaration, it said, adding: "Betrayal is only what we feel from the US side." "We no longer feel the need to exercise any more patience," it went on, but gave no details of the "new way" it was threatening to pursue if Washington did not meet its demands. Negotiations have been gridlocked since the Hanoi summit between Kim and Trump broke up in February with disagreement over sanctions relief and what the North would be willing to give up in return. Working-level talks restarted in Sweden in October only to break down quickly, with the North blaming the US for not giving up its "old attitude". Pyongyang has carried out a series of missile tests in recent weeks and months, including one launched at sea, which it said was fired from a submarine -- a potential strategic game-changer. The tests would improve the North's capabilities, Esper acknowledged. "Anytime you test, you learn something," he said. "We take them very seriously and we watch them very closely, but we're also not going to overreact and do something that, for example, could close the door to diplomacy." North Korea's roving ambassador for the foreign ministry said Thursday that Pyongyang was not interested in US talks without concessions from Washington. "I intuitively feel that the US is not ready to give a satisfactory answer to us and its proposal for dialogue with us is a trick to earn time," KCNA quoted Kim Myong Gil as saying. "Explicitly speaking once again, I am not interested in such a meeting." (With inputs from Reuters)

South Korea, US defence chiefs reaffirm commitment to defend against North Korea

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-warns-of-retaliation-against-us-south-korea-military-drills-261949">North Korea</a> said on Friday it had sent South Korea an "ultimatum" about its Mt Kumgang tourist resort, saying it will unilaterally remove South Korea's facilities there if Seoul insists on talks about the issue.

South Korea had proposed talks with North Korea on how to handle its facilities in the resort, once a rare example of cooperation between the Koreas, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said last month he wanted them removed amid cooled inter-Korean relations.

North Korea had said they wanted to discuss the removal "by writing", not by talks, but South Korea, while proposing talks, said they would seek a "creative solution" and make the protection of South Korean assets a priority.

"On November 11 we sent an ultimatum, warning that if the South Korean authorities persist in their useless assertion, we will take it as an abandonment of the withdrawal, and take resolute measure for unilaterally pulling down the facilities," the North's official KCNA news agency said.

South Korea's Unification Ministry deputy spokesman Kim Eun-han said Seoul would respond calmly to the issue "in line with its consistent position that the two Koreas should deal with it through mutual agreement".

He did not elaborate on what South Korea might do if <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-rebuffs-us-offer-of-december-talks-262144">North Korea</a> removed the Mt Kumgang facilities.

Mt Kumgang is on North Korea's east coast, just beyond the demilitarised zone separating the two countries. It was one of two major inter-Korean economic projects, along with the Kaesong industrial zone, and an important token of rapprochement during decades of hostilities following the 1950-53 Korean War.

Kim Jong Un called the South Korean-built facilities, now more than a decade old, "shabby" and "capitalist" and ordered a modern redevelopment of the tourist spot, KCNA reported in October.

There have been no South Korean tours to Mt Kumgang since 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot by a North Korean soldier, although there have been infrequent events such as the reunions of families from both sides separated by the war.

KCNA said on Friday Kim Jong Un inspected the construction site of Yangdok Hot Springs tourist resort again, one of his pet projects as he focuses on building up tourism as a revenue resource not blocked by international sanctions.

A photograph in the state newspaper Rodong Sinmun showed him posing with his shirt collar open in front of facilities that included pools of water, a pagoda and other buildings.

It was his fourth publicised visit to Yangdok this year. Kim Jong Un said in late October it was "refreshing and reviving" to visit the resort, which is nearing completion, and that it was "a striking contrast to the Mt Kumgang tourist area".

North Korea said on Friday it had sent South Korea an "ultimatum" about its Mt Kumgang tourist resort, saying it will unilaterally remove South Korea's facilities there if Seoul insists on talks about the issue.

North Korea said on Friday it had sent South Korea an "ultimatum" about its Mt Kumgang tourist resort, saying it will unilaterally remove South Korea's facilities there if Seoul insists on talks about the issue. South Korea had proposed talks with North Korea on how to handle its facilities in the resort, once a rare example of cooperation between the Koreas, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said last month he wanted them removed amid cooled inter-Korean relations. North Korea had said they wanted to discuss the removal "by writing", not by talks, but South Korea, while proposing talks, said they would seek a "creative solution" and make the protection of South Korean assets a priority. "On November 11 we sent an ultimatum, warning that if the South Korean authorities persist in their useless assertion, we will take it as an abandonment of the withdrawal, and take resolute measure for unilaterally pulling down the facilities," the North's official KCNA news agency said. South Korea's Unification Ministry deputy spokesman Kim Eun-han said Seoul would respond calmly to the issue "in line with its consistent position that the two Koreas should deal with it through mutual agreement". He did not elaborate on what South Korea might do if North Korea removed the Mt Kumgang facilities. Mt Kumgang is on North Korea's east coast, just beyond the demilitarised zone separating the two countries. It was one of two major inter-Korean economic projects, along with the Kaesong industrial zone, and an important token of rapprochement during decades of hostilities following the 1950-53 Korean War. Kim Jong Un called the South Korean-built facilities, now more than a decade old, "shabby" and "capitalist" and ordered a modern redevelopment of the tourist spot, KCNA reported in October. There have been no South Korean tours to Mt Kumgang since 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot by a North Korean soldier, although there have been infrequent events such as the reunions of families from both sides separated by the war. KCNA said on Friday Kim Jong Un inspected the construction site of Yangdok Hot Springs tourist resort again, one of his pet projects as he focuses on building up tourism as a revenue resource not blocked by international sanctions. A photograph in the state newspaper Rodong Sinmun showed him posing with his shirt collar open in front of facilities that included pools of water, a pagoda and other buildings. It was his fourth publicised visit to Yangdok this year. Kim Jong Un said in late October it was "refreshing and reviving" to visit the resort, which is nearing completion, and that it was "a striking contrast to the Mt Kumgang tourist area".

Will remove Mt Kumgang resort facilities if South Korea insists on talks: North Korea

North Korea threatened on Wednesday to retaliate if the United States goes ahead with scheduled military drills with South Korea, ramping up pressure on Washington to change course as a year-end North Korean deadline for US&nbsp;flexibility approaches.

The statement came even though Washington said last week that the joint aerial exercise planned for next month would be reduced in scope from previous drills.

"It is self-defence rights" to retaliate against any move which threatens its sovereignty and security, according to a statement from the State Affairs Commission, without elaborating.

It is rare for the commission, the supreme governing body chaired by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, to release a statement.

Last week, a senior North Korean <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/our-patience-reaching-uppermost-limit-north-korea-on-us-south-korea-military-excercise-260377">diplomat also blamed the US</a>&nbsp;joint aerial drill for "throwing cold water" over talks with Washington. Pyongyang opposes US-South Korean joint military exercises, viewing them as a rehearsal for invasion.

In its latest statement, Pyongyang said it had taken measures to calm Washington's concerns but that the United States had failed to reciprocate, leaving it with a "feeling of betrayal."

Asked to comment on the North Korea statement, the US&nbsp;State Department made no reference to the military exercises, but a spokeswoman referred to an agreement reached between Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump at their first summit in Singapore in June 2018.

"President Trump remains committed to making progress toward the Singapore commitments of transformed relations, building lasting peace, and complete denuclearisation," she said.

Immediately following his first meeting with Kim, Trump made a surprise announcement that the United States would suspend military drills with South Korea. Since then, major exercises have been halted or scaled back.

Kim in April gave the United States a year-end deadline to show more flexibility in stalled denuclearisation talks.

This statement followed the collapse of his second summit with Trump in Hanoi in February, and has raised concerns that North Korea could return to nuclear bomb and long-range missile testing suspended since 2017.

North Korea has tested the limits of engagement with a string of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-short-range-projectiles-souths-military-259136">short-range missile launches</a>, and analysts say it appears to have been emboldened to toughen its approach by the impeachment inquiry into Trump in Washington.

Senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers presented duelling narratives on Wednesday as the congressional impeachment inquiry threatening Trump's presidency entered a crucial new phase with the first televised public hearing.

North Korea threatened on Wednesday to retaliate if the United States goes ahead with scheduled military drills with South Korea, ramping up pressure on Washington to change course as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches.

North Korea threatened on Wednesday to retaliate if the United States goes ahead with scheduled military drills with South Korea, ramping up pressure on Washington to change course as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches. The statement came even though Washington said last week that the joint aerial exercise planned for next month would be reduced in scope from previous drills. "It is self-defence rights" to retaliate against any move which threatens its sovereignty and security, according to a statement from the State Affairs Commission, without elaborating. It is rare for the commission, the supreme governing body chaired by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, to release a statement. Last week, a senior North Korean diplomat also blamed the US joint aerial drill for "throwing cold water" over talks with Washington. Pyongyang opposes US-South Korean joint military exercises, viewing them as a rehearsal for invasion. In its latest statement, Pyongyang said it had taken measures to calm Washington's concerns but that the United States had failed to reciprocate, leaving it with a "feeling of betrayal." Asked to comment on the North Korea statement, the US State Department made no reference to the military exercises, but a spokeswoman referred to an agreement reached between Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump at their first summit in Singapore in June 2018. "President Trump remains committed to making progress toward the Singapore commitments of transformed relations, building lasting peace, and complete denuclearisation," she said. Immediately following his first meeting with Kim, Trump made a surprise announcement that the United States would suspend military drills with South Korea. Since then, major exercises have been halted or scaled back. Kim in April gave the United States a year-end deadline to show more flexibility in stalled denuclearisation talks. This statement followed the collapse of his second summit with Trump in Hanoi in February, and has raised concerns that North Korea could return to nuclear bomb and long-range missile testing suspended since 2017. North Korea has tested the limits of engagement with a string of short-range missile launches, and analysts say it appears to have been emboldened to toughen its approach by the impeachment inquiry into Trump in Washington. Senior Democratic and Republican lawmakers presented duelling narratives on Wednesday as the congressional impeachment inquiry threatening Trump's presidency entered a crucial new phase with the first televised public hearing.

North Korea warns of retaliation against US-South Korea military drills

The South Korean Army has banned the use and possession of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-government-bodies-call-for-prohibition-on-vaping-in-public-260543">liquid e-cigarettes</a> on its bases for health reasons, the military said on Monday, following a government warning for people to stop using the devices.

South Korea has a large military of nearly 600,000 soldiers, primarily conscripted men, and the Army makes up the largest portion with 464,000. While the rate is declining, South Korean men are among the heaviest smokers in the world.

The Health Ministry issued an advisory last month urging people to stop using liquid e-cigarettes citing cases of lung injuries in the United States including fatalities.

The ministry said it would conduct studies to determine whether there was a scientific basis to ban the sales of liquid e-cigarettes, which vaporise&nbsp;liquid containing nicotine.

A pneumonia case of a 30-year old South Korean e-cigarette user was reported last month, according to the ministry.

A day after the government warning, a major convenience store chain GS25 suspended the sale of flavoured liquid e-cigarettes made by US&nbsp;company <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/special-report-juul-disregarded-early-evidence-it-was-hooking-teens-260137">Juul Labs</a> and South Korean company KT&amp;G.

E-cigarettes have been gaining popularity in the country's $16 billion tobacco market since 2017, accounting for 13 per cent&nbsp;of the tobacco market by sales as of June, government data show

The South Korean Army has banned the use and possession of liquid e-cigarettes on its bases for health reasons, the military said on Monday, following a government warning for people to stop using the devices.

The South Korean Army has banned the use and possession of liquid e-cigarettes on its bases for health reasons, the military said on Monday, following a government warning for people to stop using the devices. South Korea has a large military of nearly 600,000 soldiers, primarily conscripted men, and the Army makes up the largest portion with 464,000. While the rate is declining, South Korean men are among the heaviest smokers in the world. The Health Ministry issued an advisory last month urging people to stop using liquid e-cigarettes citing cases of lung injuries in the United States including fatalities. The ministry said it would conduct studies to determine whether there was a scientific basis to ban the sales of liquid e-cigarettes, which vaporise liquid containing nicotine. A pneumonia case of a 30-year old South Korean e-cigarette user was reported last month, according to the ministry. A day after the government warning, a major convenience store chain GS25 suspended the sale of flavoured liquid e-cigarettes made by US company Juul Labs and South Korean company KT&G. E-cigarettes have been gaining popularity in the country's $16 billion tobacco market since 2017, accounting for 13 per cent of the tobacco market by sales as of June, government data show

South Korea bans liquid e-cigarettes on army bases

The United States is "very actively" trying to persuade North Korea to come back to negotiations, South Korea's national security adviser said on Sunday, as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches.

South Korea was taking North Korea's deadline "very seriously", the adviser, Chung Eui-yong, told reporters, at a time when efforts to improve inter-Korean relations have stalled.

Chung made the remarks at a news conference to mark South Korean President Moon Jae-in's halfway point of his five-year term.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in April gave the United States a year-end deadline to show more flexibility, and North Korean officials have warned the United States not to ignore that date.

The window of opportunity for progress in dialogue with the United States was getting smaller, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Friday, adding that Pyongyang expects reciprocal steps from Washington by the end of the year.

South Korea has set up "various" contingency plans if the deadline passes without any positive outcome, Chung said, without elaborating.

"Only if talks between high-rank officials happen and lead to substantial progress, the third North Korea-United States summit is possible," he said.

"As you know, the Northside has shown the year-end deadline, considering that position of the North Korean side, we are closely coordinating with the U.S. side for North Korea and the United States to find clues."

The United States is "very actively" trying to persuade North Korea to come back to negotiations, South Korea's national security adviser said on Sunday, as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches.

The United States is "very actively" trying to persuade North Korea to come back to negotiations, South Korea's national security adviser said on Sunday, as a year-end North Korean deadline for US flexibility approaches. South Korea was taking North Korea's deadline "very seriously", the adviser, Chung Eui-yong, told reporters, at a time when efforts to improve inter-Korean relations have stalled. Chung made the remarks at a news conference to mark South Korean President Moon Jae-in's halfway point of his five-year term. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in April gave the United States a year-end deadline to show more flexibility, and North Korean officials have warned the United States not to ignore that date. The window of opportunity for progress in dialogue with the United States was getting smaller, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Friday, adding that Pyongyang expects reciprocal steps from Washington by the end of the year. South Korea has set up "various" contingency plans if the deadline passes without any positive outcome, Chung said, without elaborating. "Only if talks between high-rank officials happen and lead to substantial progress, the third North Korea-United States summit is possible," he said. "As you know, the Northside has shown the year-end deadline, considering that position of the North Korean side, we are closely coordinating with the U.S. side for North Korea and the United States to find clues."

United States 'very actively' asking North Korea to return to talks: South Korea

South Korean rescuers located <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/seven-south-koreans-missing-after-helicopter-crash-near-disputed-islets-259203">three bodies</a> believed to be among seven who went missing after their chopper crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from islets disputed with Japan, officials said Saturday.&nbsp;

The helicopter had just picked an injured fisherman up from Dokdo, which is known as Takeshima in Japan when it went down on Thursday night.

One body was found inside the chopper located at a depth of 72 metres, 600 metres south of the islets, while the other two were found in the water nearby, a Coast Guard representative told reporters.

The crashed chopper,&nbsp;which rescuers located on Friday,&nbsp;sat upside down on the seabed, he said, adding its tail had broken off and had been found 110 metres away. &nbsp;

It was not yet possible to identify the three bodies, he said, adding that a search operation was underway to retrieve them and find the other four still missing.

The bodies were found by an unmanned submarine, although divers would attempt to retrieve them manually for fear using the submarine's "robot-arm" could damage the remains.&nbsp;

"We will do our best till the end to bring those missing back to their families," he added.&nbsp;

Ships and divers from the defence ministry and members of the National Fire Agency and civilian volunteers have been mobilised for the search operation, authorities said.&nbsp;

The crashed chopper is a Eurocopter EC225, made by the European aerospace corporation Airbus.

The seven people on board were five rescuers, the fisherman and a civilian.

Seoul has controlled the islets in the Sea of Japan,&nbsp;or East Sea,&nbsp;since 1945, when Tokyo's brutal colonial rule on the peninsula ended, while Japan still claims sovereignty over them.

South Korean rescuers located three bodies believed to be among seven who went missing after their chopper crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from islets disputed with Japan, officials said Saturday.

South Korean rescuers located three bodies believed to be among seven who went missing after their chopper crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from islets disputed with Japan, officials said Saturday. The helicopter had just picked an injured fisherman up from Dokdo, which is known as Takeshima in Japan when it went down on Thursday night. One body was found inside the chopper located at a depth of 72 metres, 600 metres south of the islets, while the other two were found in the water nearby, a Coast Guard representative told reporters. The crashed chopper, which rescuers located on Friday, sat upside down on the seabed, he said, adding its tail had broken off and had been found 110 metres away. It was not yet possible to identify the three bodies, he said, adding that a search operation was underway to retrieve them and find the other four still missing. The bodies were found by an unmanned submarine, although divers would attempt to retrieve them manually for fear using the submarine's "robot-arm" could damage the remains. "We will do our best till the end to bring those missing back to their families," he added. Ships and divers from the defence ministry and members of the National Fire Agency and civilian volunteers have been mobilised for the search operation, authorities said. The crashed chopper is a Eurocopter EC225, made by the European aerospace corporation Airbus. The seven people on board were five rescuers, the fisherman and a civilian. Seoul has controlled the islets in the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, since 1945, when Tokyo's brutal colonial rule on the peninsula ended, while Japan still claims sovereignty over them.

Three bodies found after South Korean helicopter crash near disputed islets

Seven South Koreans were missing Friday after their helicopter took off from islets disputed with Japan and crashed into the sea moments later, Seoul officials said.

The aircraft had just picked an injured fisherman up from Dokdo, which is known as Takeshima in Japan when it went down on Thursday night.

The South's coast guard, members of the National Fire Agency and civilian boats were searching for survivors, while the defence ministry had also sent planes and divers to the area, a spokesman for the South's National Fire Agency told AFP.

The crashed chopper is a Eurocopter EC225, made by the European aerospace corporation Airbus.

The seven people on board were five rescuers, the fisherman and a civilian.

"The patient was on a fishing boat when he lost one of his fingers through an accident, and the crew took him to Dokdo and waited for the rescue helicopter there," the official said.

"The patient needed an immediate medical operation that could have only been done at facilities on the mainland."

Seoul has controlled the islets of Dokdo in the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, since 1945, when Tokyo's brutal colonial rule on the peninsula ended, while Tokyo still claims sovereignty over them.

Seven South Koreans were missing Friday after their helicopter took off from islets disputed with Japan and crashed into the sea moments later, Seoul officials said.

Seven South Koreans were missing Friday after their helicopter took off from islets disputed with Japan and crashed into the sea moments later, Seoul officials said. The aircraft had just picked an injured fisherman up from Dokdo, which is known as Takeshima in Japan when it went down on Thursday night. The South's coast guard, members of the National Fire Agency and civilian boats were searching for survivors, while the defence ministry had also sent planes and divers to the area, a spokesman for the South's National Fire Agency told AFP. The crashed chopper is a Eurocopter EC225, made by the European aerospace corporation Airbus. The seven people on board were five rescuers, the fisherman and a civilian. "The patient was on a fishing boat when he lost one of his fingers through an accident, and the crew took him to Dokdo and waited for the rescue helicopter there," the official said. "The patient needed an immediate medical operation that could have only been done at facilities on the mainland." Seoul has controlled the islets of Dokdo in the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, since 1945, when Tokyo's brutal colonial rule on the peninsula ended, while Tokyo still claims sovereignty over them.

Seven South Koreans missing after helicopter crash near disputed islets

North Korea fired two short-range projectiles on Thursday, the South's military said, with nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington at a deadlock. The weapons were launched from South Pyongan province in an easterly direction over the sea, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

North Korea fired two short-range projectiles on Thursday, the South's military said, with nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington at a deadlock. The weapons were launched from South Pyongan province in an easterly direction over the sea, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. They flew 370 kilometres (230 miles) at a maximum altitude of 90 kilometres, they said, adding: "We are maintaining readiness and monitoring in case of additional launches." In Washington, a senior Trump administration official said the United States was "aware of reports" and "continuing to monitor the situation and consulting closely with our allies in Japan and South Korea." It was the latest in a series of launches by the North but the first since October 2, when it fired a sea-launched missile in a provocative move -- a submarine-based missile capability would change the military balance. The North then walked away from working-level nuclear talks with the US in Sweden, saying it was disappointed at the lack of "new and creative" solutions offered by Washington. Pyongyang is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, which it says it needs to defend against a possible US invasion. It is demanding the easing of the measures and has repeatedly urged Washington to come forward with a new offer by the end of this year. The South's National Security Council expressed "strong concern" over Thursday's launch and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned it, saying it "threatens peace and stability of the country and the region". The North had carried out more than 20 launches this year, he told reporters: "It is clear that the objective is to improve its missile technologies. It is necessary to further strengthen our security surveillance." Japan's defence ministry described the weapon as "like a ballistic missile". Pyongyang is banned from ballistic missile launches under UN Security Council resolutions. 'Inexplicable' Talks between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled since the Hanoi summit between Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump broke down without an agreement in February. The meeting had been intended to build on their high-profile first summit in Singapore last year, when Kim signed a vague pledge to work towards "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". On Sunday, the North's state media carried a statement from Kim Yong Chol -- previously the North's counterpart to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -- accusing Washington of seeking to "isolate and stifle the DPRK in a more crafty and vicious way than before". He lauded the "close personal relations" between Kim and Trump, but warned: "There is a limit to everything." The latest launch displayed Pyongyang's frustration over the absence of concessions in nuclear talks, analysts say. "The launch is a display of its warning to both Seoul and Washington that it can carry out more military activities unless the US comes up with a 'new method'," said Lim Eul-chul, professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University. Thursday's launch came despite Kim sending a message of condolence to the South's President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday for the death of his mother, who was born in the North. "From our perspective, the North's behaviour is not rational that it does something like this during the mourning period," Lim said. "But the launch today shows that the true nature of North Korea is inexplicable in our value system." Contact between the North and South have stalled since Hanoi and Pyongyang has repeatedly excoriated Seoul for joint military drills with Washington and not following through on inter-Korean agreements signed last year. Kim last week inspected the Mount Kumgang complex which once hosted Southern tourists visiting the North -- a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation -- and ordered the demolition of Southern-built facilities. Pyongyang this week refused Seoul's request for face-to-face meetings to discuss the issue.

North Korea fires short-range projectiles: South's military

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/samsung-electronics-ends-mobile-phone-production-in-china-253273">Samsung&nbsp;Electronics</a>, the world's largest smartphone and memory chip maker, saw&nbsp;net&nbsp;profits slump by more than half in the&nbsp;third quarter, it said Thursday, hit by an enduring downturn in the global chip market.

Net&nbsp;profits in the three months to September were $5.40 billion, it said in a statement,&nbsp;down&nbsp;52 per cent year-on-year.

"Earnings from the memory business slumped significantly year-on-year as memory chip prices continued its downward trend," the company said.

The firm is the flagship subsidiary of the giant&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;Group, by far the largest of the family-controlled conglomerates known as "chaebols" that dominate business in the world's 11th-largest economy.

But in recent months it has been battered by falling chip prices as global supply increases.

Samsung&nbsp;also faces challenges from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-wants-china-trade-deal-in-same-time-frame-despite-apec-summit-cancellation-258895">US-China trade war </a>and tough export restrictions imposed by Tokyo on key supplies as part of a dispute with Seoul over wartime forced labour.

The South Korean tech titan leads the global smartphone market with a 23 per cent share, trailed by Chinese competitors Huawei and Oppo, with Apple in fourth place, according to sales tracker IHS Markit.

The premium smartphone market has grown fiercely competitive and overall sales have cooled as a lack of major innovation has seen buyers waiting longer before upgrading to new models.

But&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;said profits in its mobile division had been boosted by strong sales of the Galaxy Note 10 and its A series devices, along with bigger margins for mass-market models.&nbsp;

"The business also expanded its 5G product offerings and launched the Galaxy Fold, demonstrating&nbsp;Samsung's technology leadership," it added.

Samsung&nbsp;released its top-end S10 5G smartphone earlier this year after South Korea won the global race to commercially launch the world's first nationwide 5G network.

But in April it was embarrassingly forced to delay the release of the hotly anticipated Galaxy Fold after reviewers provided with early devices reported screen problems within days of use.

In another setback, earlier this month it also acknowledged a major flaw with its fingerprint system allowing non-users to open other people's top-end smartphones.

But Tom Kang, research director at Counterpoint Research, noted&nbsp;Samsung's flagship Note 10 device had sold far better than&nbsp;previous models,&nbsp;and that the firm would benefit from restrictions imposed by Washington on its key Chinese competitor.&nbsp;

"From September, Huawei's devices have been unable to have Google mobile services," he told AFP.&nbsp;

"This is&nbsp;also likely to continue giving&nbsp;Samsung's mobile phones a significant advantage.&nbsp;Samsung&nbsp;phones will appeal to high-end users."

Operating&nbsp;profit&nbsp;plunged 55.7 per cent to 7.8 trillion won in the&nbsp;third quarter, the firm said, while sales fell 5.3 per cent to 62 trillion won.&nbsp;

But analysts voiced optimism for the coming months, noting that falling inventory levels for semiconductors,&nbsp;which account for more than half of&nbsp;Samsung's&nbsp;profit,&nbsp;will help stabilise chip prices after double-digit drops this year.

Adding to the firm's difficulties, the retrial of its vice chairman Lee Jae-yong began last week over a sprawling corruption scandal that could see him return to prison.

He is not being held in custody during the trial, but it is expected to last for months and a guilty verdict could deprive the firm of its top decision-maker.

Samsung&nbsp;shares were up 1.79 per cent in morning trade.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest smartphone and memory chip maker, saw net profits slump by more than half in the third quarter, it said Thursday, hit by an enduring downturn in the global chip market.

Samsung Electronics, the world's largest smartphone and memory chip maker, saw net profits slump by more than half in the third quarter, it said Thursday, hit by an enduring downturn in the global chip market. Net profits in the three months to September were $5.40 billion, it said in a statement, down 52 per cent year-on-year. "Earnings from the memory business slumped significantly year-on-year as memory chip prices continued its downward trend," the company said. The firm is the flagship subsidiary of the giant Samsung Group, by far the largest of the family-controlled conglomerates known as "chaebols" that dominate business in the world's 11th-largest economy. But in recent months it has been battered by falling chip prices as global supply increases. Samsung also faces challenges from the US-China trade war and tough export restrictions imposed by Tokyo on key supplies as part of a dispute with Seoul over wartime forced labour. The South Korean tech titan leads the global smartphone market with a 23 per cent share, trailed by Chinese competitors Huawei and Oppo, with Apple in fourth place, according to sales tracker IHS Markit. The premium smartphone market has grown fiercely competitive and overall sales have cooled as a lack of major innovation has seen buyers waiting longer before upgrading to new models. But Samsung said profits in its mobile division had been boosted by strong sales of the Galaxy Note 10 and its A series devices, along with bigger margins for mass-market models. "The business also expanded its 5G product offerings and launched the Galaxy Fold, demonstrating Samsung's technology leadership," it added. Samsung released its top-end S10 5G smartphone earlier this year after South Korea won the global race to commercially launch the world's first nationwide 5G network. But in April it was embarrassingly forced to delay the release of the hotly anticipated Galaxy Fold after reviewers provided with early devices reported screen problems within days of use. In another setback, earlier this month it also acknowledged a major flaw with its fingerprint system allowing non-users to open other people's top-end smartphones. But Tom Kang, research director at Counterpoint Research, noted Samsung's flagship Note 10 device had sold far better than previous models, and that the firm would benefit from restrictions imposed by Washington on its key Chinese competitor. "From September, Huawei's devices have been unable to have Google mobile services," he told AFP. "This is also likely to continue giving Samsung's mobile phones a significant advantage. Samsung phones will appeal to high-end users." Operating profit plunged 55.7 per cent to 7.8 trillion won in the third quarter, the firm said, while sales fell 5.3 per cent to 62 trillion won. But analysts voiced optimism for the coming months, noting that falling inventory levels for semiconductors, which account for more than half of Samsung's profit, will help stabilise chip prices after double-digit drops this year. Adding to the firm's difficulties, the retrial of its vice chairman Lee Jae-yong began last week over a sprawling corruption scandal that could see him return to prison. He is not being held in custody during the trial, but it is expected to last for months and a guilty verdict could deprive the firm of its top decision-maker. Samsung shares were up 1.79 per cent in morning trade.

Samsung Electronics third-quarter net profit slumps 52%

Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's dark comedy 'Parasite' has got a new fan. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan watched the award-winning film recently and showered praises on social media about the film.&nbsp;

Khan said that he watched the film after his children recommended it to him and found it 'delightfully discomforting'. "Just saw Parasite the South Korean movie on my kids recommendation. What a delightfully discomforting film. A &nbsp;bizarre look at social status, the state of the world...and the parasitic nature of the Materialistic Hope we all feed and live off!!"

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Just saw Parasite the South Korean movie on my kids recommendation. What a delightfully discomforting film. A bizarre look at social status, the state of the world...and the parasitic nature of the Materialistic Hope we all feed and live off!!
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Khan who has been taking an acting break ever since his film 'Zero' released in December 2018, has in the past stated that he is not in a rush to sign any film and that he is catching up on films and books in his free time now.&nbsp;

Bong Joon-ho's film 'Parasite' won the prestigious<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/cannes-2019-south-korean-social-satire-parasite-directed-by-bong-joon-ho-wins-palme-dor-award-221942#director-bong-joon-ho-winner-of-palme-dor-award-for-his-film-parasite-221934"> Palm dÓr award </a>at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival where it premiered. The film has been making the rounds of various international film festivals ever since and is also <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/south-korea-selects-parasite-for-international-feature-film-category-at-oscars-2020-244919">South Korea's official entry </a>to Oscars 2020 in the Best International Feature Film category.&nbsp;

The black comedy, 'Parasite' tells the story of a low-income family working their way into a rich family`s lives as household employees.

Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's dark comedy 'Parasite' has got a new fan. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan watched the award-winning film recently and showered praises on social media about the film.

Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho's dark comedy 'Parasite' has got a new fan. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan watched the award-winning film recently and showered praises on social media about the film. Khan said that he watched the film after his children recommended it to him and found it 'delightfully discomforting'. "Just saw Parasite the South Korean movie on my kids recommendation. What a delightfully discomforting film. A bizarre look at social status, the state of the world...and the parasitic nature of the Materialistic Hope we all feed and live off!!" Just saw Parasite the South Korean movie on my kids recommendation. What a delightfully discomforting film. A bizarre look at social status, the state of the world...and the parasitic nature of the Materialistic Hope we all feed and live off!! — Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 30, 2019 × Khan who has been taking an acting break ever since his film 'Zero' released in December 2018, has in the past stated that he is not in a rush to sign any film and that he is catching up on films and books in his free time now. Bong Joon-ho's film 'Parasite' won the prestigious Palm dÓr award at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival where it premiered. The film has been making the rounds of various international film festivals ever since and is also South Korea's official entry to Oscars 2020 in the Best International Feature Film category. The black comedy, 'Parasite' tells the story of a low-income family working their way into a rich family`s lives as household employees.

Shah Rukh Khan watches South Korean hit 'Parasite' on his children's recommendation

North Korea fired two projectiles on Thursday, the South's military said, with nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington at a deadlock.

The weapons were launched from South Pyongan&nbsp;province in an easterly direction over the sea, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, without specifying the type of device involved.

"We are maintaining readiness and monitoring in case of additional launches," they added.

It is the latest in a series of launches by the North but the first since October 2, when it fired a sea-launched missile in a provocative move -- a submarine-based missile capability would change the military balance.

The North then walked away from working-level nuclear talks with the US in Sweden, and has since repeatedly urged Washington to come forward with a new offer by the end of this year.

Pyongyang is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its banned nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, which it says it needs to defend against a possible US invasion.

North Korea fired two projectiles on Thursday, the South's military said, with nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington at a deadlock. The weapons were launched from South Pyongan province in an easterly direction over the sea, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, without specifying the type of device involved.

North Korea fired two projectiles on Thursday, the South's military said, with nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington at a deadlock. The weapons were launched from South Pyongan province in an easterly direction over the sea, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, without specifying the type of device involved. "We are maintaining readiness and monitoring in case of additional launches," they added. It is the latest in a series of launches by the North but the first since October 2, when it fired a sea-launched missile in a provocative move -- a submarine-based missile capability would change the military balance. The North then walked away from working-level nuclear talks with the US in Sweden, and has since repeatedly urged Washington to come forward with a new offer by the end of this year. Pyongyang is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its banned nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, which it says it needs to defend against a possible US invasion.

North Korea fires unidentified projectiles: South's military

North Korea has notified Seoul that it wants to discuss the rebuilding of facilities constructed by South Korea at the North's Mount Kumgang resort, an important symbol of cooperation between the Koreas, the government said on Friday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said South Korea's "backward" and "shabby" facilities at the North's infrequently used resort must be removed and rebuilt in a modern way, state media reported on Wednesday, in the latest sign of cooling relations between the neighbours.

North Korea sent a notice to the Unification Ministry on Friday morning seeking to discuss the issue through the exchange of documents, the ministry said.

The government would consult with the relevant agencies and would respond in a way consistent with "protecting the property rights of our people", the ministry said in a statement.

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, who oversees inter-Korean affairs, told lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun that the ministry did not see the notice as an exclusion of South Korea because Kim Jong Un had said he would welcome South Koreans if it was rebuilt properly, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday.

Yoon told a briefing Kim Yeon-chul had said the South Korean government was in talks with firms such as Hyundai Asan before deciding on its response.

Mt Kumgang was one of two major inter-Korean economic projects, along with the Kaesong industrial zone, and an important token of cooperation between the two Koreas during decades of hostilities following the 1950-53 Korean War.

There have been no South Korean tours to Mt Kumgang since 2008, although there have been infrequent inter-Korean events such as the reunions of families estranged by the war.

North Korea has notified Seoul that it wants to discuss the rebuilding of facilities constructed by South Korea at the North's Mount Kumgang resort, an important symbol of cooperation between the Koreas, the government said on Friday.

North Korea has notified Seoul that it wants to discuss the rebuilding of facilities constructed by South Korea at the North's Mount Kumgang resort, an important symbol of cooperation between the Koreas, the government said on Friday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said South Korea's "backward" and "shabby" facilities at the North's infrequently used resort must be removed and rebuilt in a modern way, state media reported on Wednesday, in the latest sign of cooling relations between the neighbours. North Korea sent a notice to the Unification Ministry on Friday morning seeking to discuss the issue through the exchange of documents, the ministry said. The government would consult with the relevant agencies and would respond in a way consistent with "protecting the property rights of our people", the ministry said in a statement. Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, who oversees inter-Korean affairs, told lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun that the ministry did not see the notice as an exclusion of South Korea because Kim Jong Un had said he would welcome South Koreans if it was rebuilt properly, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday. Yoon told a briefing Kim Yeon-chul had said the South Korean government was in talks with firms such as Hyundai Asan before deciding on its response. Mt Kumgang was one of two major inter-Korean economic projects, along with the Kaesong industrial zone, and an important token of cooperation between the two Koreas during decades of hostilities following the 1950-53 Korean War. There have been no South Korean tours to Mt Kumgang since 2008, although there have been infrequent inter-Korean events such as the reunions of families estranged by the war.

North Korea tells South Korea it wants 'shabby' Mt Kumgang resort rebuilt

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon agreed on Thursday on the importance of cooperating on North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and other issues, seeking to rebuild relations amid a bitter feud over history and trade.

But there was a scant sign of real progress and Abe reiterated that&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;would need to keep its promises for ties between the two Asian allies of Washington to improve.

Relations between Tokyo and Seoul have deteriorated to their lowest in decades since&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea's top court last October ordered some Japanese firms to compensate&nbsp;Koreans forced to work in their wartime mines and factories.

Japan, which says the matter was settled by a 1965 treaty, calls the decision a violation of international law, and the feud has spilt over into trade and security matters.

About 100 journalists were present at the start of talks in Tokyo, the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the row flared. The meeting began with a handshake but no smiles.

Abe urged Seoul to keep its promises - a reference to the 1965 treaty - in order to restore relations, according to the statement issued by Japan's foreign ministry.

"Our two nations are important neighbours for each other, and keeping in contact over North&nbsp;Korea, bilateral relations and our ties with the United States are quite important," Abe was quoted as telling Lee.

"Relations are currently in quite a severe state but should not be left that way. If&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;can keep bilateral promises, that could be a chance to return to a healthy relationship," Abe added.

The statement also quoted Lee as saying he shared the view that dialogue was important, while a parallel statement from&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea's foreign ministry said Lee agreed relations should not be left in their current difficult state.

Abe also repeated Tokyo's stance that the&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean court ruling overturned the basis of two-way ties.

“Abe said the&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean top court ruling is in clear violation of international law and ... fundamentally breaks down the legal framework for Japan-South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;relations," Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Naoki Okada told reporters.

In a sign that gaps remain wide, Lee told Abe: "South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has also respected and complied with the 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations and Claims, and will continue to do so," according to Seoul's statement.

Lee, who was in Tokyo to attend Japanese Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony this week, delivered to Abe a personal letter from&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean President Moon Jae-in in which Moon called for attempts to resolve the pending bilateral issues,&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Moon and Abe have not held a summit in more than a year and the statements made no mention of any meeting planned between the two.

A Japanese government official questioned whether Thursday's meeting would lead to a breakthrough. "It depends on their (South&nbsp;Korea's) deeds, not words," the official told Reuters.

The animosity between Japan and&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;is linked to the history of Japan's 1910-45 colonisation of the&nbsp;Korean peninsula, the mobilisation of forced labour at companies and women in wartime military brothels, and a row over the ownership of islets in the sea between the two nations.

Earlier this year, the dispute escalated when Japan tightened export controls on materials vital for&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean chipmakers. It then dropped Seoul from a list of countries eligible for fast-track exports, steps angrily denounced by&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea.

The spat has prompted protests in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea, where Japanese companies and products have been boycotted, and trade between the two countries has slowed sharply.

In August,&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;announced it would scrap a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan when it expires next month, just as the allies face rising tensions over North&nbsp;Korea's nuclear weapons programme and increased competition from China and Russia.

Further potential flashpoints loom.

Thousands of&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean students and activists are expected to gather on Friday to celebrate "Dokdo Day". Dokdo is the&nbsp;Korean name for islets claimed by&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;and by Japan, which calls them Takeshima.

South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;is also planning to order asset sales of the Japanese companies found liable for damages under last year's forced labour rulings as early as December, which could further sour bilateral relations, analysts said.

"Precautions must be taken to prevent that," said Yang Kee-ho, professor of Japanese Studies at Sungkonghoe University.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon agreed on Thursday on the importance of cooperating on North Korea and other issues, seeking to rebuild relations amid a bitter feud over history and trade.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon agreed on Thursday on the importance of cooperating on North Korea and other issues, seeking to rebuild relations amid a bitter feud over history and trade. But there was a scant sign of real progress and Abe reiterated that South Korea would need to keep its promises for ties between the two Asian allies of Washington to improve. Relations between Tokyo and Seoul have deteriorated to their lowest in decades since South Korea's top court last October ordered some Japanese firms to compensate Koreans forced to work in their wartime mines and factories. Japan, which says the matter was settled by a 1965 treaty, calls the decision a violation of international law, and the feud has spilt over into trade and security matters. About 100 journalists were present at the start of talks in Tokyo, the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the row flared. The meeting began with a handshake but no smiles. Abe urged Seoul to keep its promises - a reference to the 1965 treaty - in order to restore relations, according to the statement issued by Japan's foreign ministry. "Our two nations are important neighbours for each other, and keeping in contact over North Korea, bilateral relations and our ties with the United States are quite important," Abe was quoted as telling Lee. "Relations are currently in quite a severe state but should not be left that way. If South Korea can keep bilateral promises, that could be a chance to return to a healthy relationship," Abe added. The statement also quoted Lee as saying he shared the view that dialogue was important, while a parallel statement from South Korea's foreign ministry said Lee agreed relations should not be left in their current difficult state. Abe also repeated Tokyo's stance that the South Korean court ruling overturned the basis of two-way ties. “Abe said the South Korean top court ruling is in clear violation of international law and ... fundamentally breaks down the legal framework for Japan-South Korea relations," Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Naoki Okada told reporters. In a sign that gaps remain wide, Lee told Abe: "South Korea has also respected and complied with the 1965 Treaty on Basic Relations and Claims, and will continue to do so," according to Seoul's statement. Lee, who was in Tokyo to attend Japanese Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony this week, delivered to Abe a personal letter from South Korean President Moon Jae-in in which Moon called for attempts to resolve the pending bilateral issues, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. Moon and Abe have not held a summit in more than a year and the statements made no mention of any meeting planned between the two. A Japanese government official questioned whether Thursday's meeting would lead to a breakthrough. "It depends on their (South Korea's) deeds, not words," the official told Reuters. The animosity between Japan and South Korea is linked to the history of Japan's 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula, the mobilisation of forced labour at companies and women in wartime military brothels, and a row over the ownership of islets in the sea between the two nations. Earlier this year, the dispute escalated when Japan tightened export controls on materials vital for South Korean chipmakers. It then dropped Seoul from a list of countries eligible for fast-track exports, steps angrily denounced by South Korea. The spat has prompted protests in South Korea, where Japanese companies and products have been boycotted, and trade between the two countries has slowed sharply. In August, South Korea announced it would scrap a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan when it expires next month, just as the allies face rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme and increased competition from China and Russia. Further potential flashpoints loom. Thousands of South Korean students and activists are expected to gather on Friday to celebrate "Dokdo Day". Dokdo is the Korean name for islets claimed by South Korea and by Japan, which calls them Takeshima. South Korea is also planning to order asset sales of the Japanese companies found liable for damages under last year's forced labour rulings as early as December, which could further sour bilateral relations, analysts said. "Precautions must be taken to prevent that," said Yang Kee-ho, professor of Japanese Studies at Sungkonghoe University.

Japan's Shinzo Abe renews call on South Korea to keep promises to mend ties

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said South Korean facilities in the North's Mt Kumgang tourist resort must be removed and rebuilt in a modern way, state media reported on Wednesday, underscoring the cooling of relations between the two countries.

Mt Kumgang was one of two major inter-Korean economic projects, along with the Kaesong industrial zone, and an important token of cooperation between the two Koreas during decades of hostilities following the Korean War.

But Kim, while inspecting the tourist spot on the east coast of North Korea, said it was a "mistaken idea" for Mt Kumgang to be viewed as a symbol of North-South relations.

The resort is on North Korean soil, and tourism there must not be under the control of South Korea, Kim said.

"We will always welcome our compatriots from the south if they want to come to Mt Kumgang after it is wonderfully built as the world-level tourist destination," Kim added.

Seoul’s Unification Ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said it was examining the North’s intentions.

“If there’s any request from the North, we’re always willing to hold discussions from the aspects of protecting our citizens’ property rights, the spirit of inter-Korean agreements and the resumption of tours to Mt. Kumgang,” ministry spokesman Lee Sang-min told a briefing on Wednesday.

North and South Korea had been exploring the prospect of re-starting joint economic projects before a recent cooling in relations. North Korea has criticised the South for adopting high-tech weapons and continuing joint military drills with the United States.

Tours suspended

South Koreans were allowed to visit Mt Kumgang starting in 1998 by sea and from 2003 by land, with South Korean firms such as Hyundai Asan Corp and Ananti Inc investing in the tourist spot, which channelled millions of dollars a year to Pyongyang.

However, South Korea suspended tours in 2008 after a North Korean soldier shot dead a South Korean tourist who had wandered unknowingly into a military area.

Hyundai Asan said in a brief statement it was perturbed by the report of Kim's pledge but it would "respond in a calm manner" to developments.

Hyundai Elevator, the majority shareholder of unlisted Hyundai Asan, fell 6.6 per cent, while shares in Ananti, which owns a golf and spa resort in Mt Kumgang that has been closed since 2008, were down 7 per cent.

South Korea-funded facilities have remained there since then, but tours from the South have not resumed amid international sanctions trying to force North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons programmes.

Only infrequent inter-Korean events, such as reunions of families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War, have been held there since.

Kim criticized the "mistaken policy of the predecessors" who were dependent on others to develop the tourist spot, and said Mt Kumgang must be taken care of as part of a larger tourist area that encompasses the mountain and the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area, KCNA said.

Tourism is not subject to international sanctions and has increasingly become one of the focal industries central to Kim's policy of 'self-reliant' economic growth.

The resumption of Mt Kumgang tours has been repeatedly mentioned as a possibility by South Korean President Moon Jae-in in recent years.

During a summit with Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang in September 2018, Moon and Kim had agreed to normalise Mt Kumgang tours and the Kaesong industrial complex "as soon as the environment is created," Moon announced at the time.

In April, US&nbsp;President Donald Trump was asked his stance on the possibility of restarting tours to Mt. Kumgang before a summit with Moon.

"This isn’t the right time, but at the right time I’d have great support," Trump said, according to South Korean presidential office records, extolling the North's "tremendous" tourism potential.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said South Korean facilities in the North's Mt Kumgang tourist resort must be removed and rebuilt in a modern way, state media reported on Wednesday, underscoring the cooling of relations between the two countries.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said South Korean facilities in the North's Mt Kumgang tourist resort must be removed and rebuilt in a modern way, state media reported on Wednesday, underscoring the cooling of relations between the two countries. Mt Kumgang was one of two major inter-Korean economic projects, along with the Kaesong industrial zone, and an important token of cooperation between the two Koreas during decades of hostilities following the Korean War. But Kim, while inspecting the tourist spot on the east coast of North Korea, said it was a "mistaken idea" for Mt Kumgang to be viewed as a symbol of North-South relations. The resort is on North Korean soil, and tourism there must not be under the control of South Korea, Kim said. "We will always welcome our compatriots from the south if they want to come to Mt Kumgang after it is wonderfully built as the world-level tourist destination," Kim added. Seoul’s Unification Ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said it was examining the North’s intentions. “If there’s any request from the North, we’re always willing to hold discussions from the aspects of protecting our citizens’ property rights, the spirit of inter-Korean agreements and the resumption of tours to Mt. Kumgang,” ministry spokesman Lee Sang-min told a briefing on Wednesday. North and South Korea had been exploring the prospect of re-starting joint economic projects before a recent cooling in relations. North Korea has criticised the South for adopting high-tech weapons and continuing joint military drills with the United States. Tours suspended South Koreans were allowed to visit Mt Kumgang starting in 1998 by sea and from 2003 by land, with South Korean firms such as Hyundai Asan Corp and Ananti Inc investing in the tourist spot, which channelled millions of dollars a year to Pyongyang. However, South Korea suspended tours in 2008 after a North Korean soldier shot dead a South Korean tourist who had wandered unknowingly into a military area. Hyundai Asan said in a brief statement it was perturbed by the report of Kim's pledge but it would "respond in a calm manner" to developments. Hyundai Elevator, the majority shareholder of unlisted Hyundai Asan, fell 6.6 per cent, while shares in Ananti, which owns a golf and spa resort in Mt Kumgang that has been closed since 2008, were down 7 per cent. South Korea-funded facilities have remained there since then, but tours from the South have not resumed amid international sanctions trying to force North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons programmes. Only infrequent inter-Korean events, such as reunions of families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War, have been held there since. Kim criticized the "mistaken policy of the predecessors" who were dependent on others to develop the tourist spot, and said Mt Kumgang must be taken care of as part of a larger tourist area that encompasses the mountain and the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist area, KCNA said. Tourism is not subject to international sanctions and has increasingly become one of the focal industries central to Kim's policy of 'self-reliant' economic growth. The resumption of Mt Kumgang tours has been repeatedly mentioned as a possibility by South Korean President Moon Jae-in in recent years. During a summit with Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang in September 2018, Moon and Kim had agreed to normalise Mt Kumgang tours and the Kaesong industrial complex "as soon as the environment is created," Moon announced at the time. In April, US President Donald Trump was asked his stance on the possibility of restarting tours to Mt. Kumgang before a summit with Moon. "This isn’t the right time, but at the right time I’d have great support," Trump said, according to South Korean presidential office records, extolling the North's "tremendous" tourism potential.

North Korea leader Kim vows to clear South Korea relics from Kumgang resort

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