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≡ S. Korea, US Affirm Security Commitment
South Korea and the United States have reaffirmed there will be no letup in the rotational deployment of major American defense assets like aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and bombers to and around the Korean Peninsula.
The South Korean defense minister announced the result of vice-ministerial talks between the two allies in Washington D.C. as the two Koreas engage in dialogue ahead of the PyeongChang Games.
The minister said the allies also agreed to consult closely on security related issues, including cross-border dialogue, and maintain the joint goal of resolving the North's nuclear issue diplomatically and peacefully.■
[2018.01.18]
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≡ White House Hopes Joint Olympic Team Helps N. Korea Change
The White House says it hopes for a "small taste of freedom" for North Korean athletes who will particpate in a joint Olympic team with South Korea.
Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Wednesday that it's also an opportunity for North Korea to see the value of ending its international isolation by getting rid of its nuclear weapons.
Her remarks came in response to yesterday's developments between the two Koreas to field a joint women's ice hockey team at the PyeongChang Games.■[2018.01.18]
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≡ BOK Keeps Key Rate At 1.5% At First Meeting Of 2018
The Bank of Korea is keeping its key interest rate at 1.5 percent.
The monetary policy committee held its first monthly rate setting meeting of the year this morning and left the base rate unchanged.
This falls in line with market expectations, amid weaker inflationary pressures and the strengthening of the Korean won.
Last November, the BOK marked up its key rate from 1.25 percent for the first time in six years after the U.S. Fed started tightening its rate and amid solid signs of recovery in the local economy.■[2018.01.18]
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≡ Banks Earn ￦2.2 Bln In Virtual Currency Trading Fees
Government data show six major South Korean banks earned 2.2 billion won in commission for providing virtual accounts to cryptocurrency investors last year.
That compares with just 61 million won earned in 2016.
The Financial Supervisory Service said Industrial Bank of Korea raked in the most at 675 million won, closely followed by NongHyup Bank and Shinhan Bank.
The government is struggling to rein in the virtual currency frenzy amid concerns of a bubble in bitcoin, ethereum and other digital currencies.
Regulators have temporarily banned the opening of new virtual accounts and threatened to shutter crypto exchanges in an effort to cool the market.■
[2018.01.18]
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≡ Weather Update 1100
Taking a look at the weather, Seoul and the surrounding areas remain under gray skies.
Bad levels of fine and ultrafine dust in the central region are expected to intensify this afternoon, compounded by yellow dust from China.
Make sure to take precautions when outdoors and use face masks if necessary.
Light clouds are forecats to linger nationwide, while daytime highs peak between 2 to 11 degrees.
As for the current temperature in central Seoul, it is _____ degrees Celsius or _____ degrees Fahrenheit.■
[2018.01.18]
