eFM News

≡ N. Korea's UN Ambassador To Hold Briefing Over Recent Ship Seizure

North Korea's U.N. ambassador, Kim Song, is set to hold a rare briefing regarding the recent U.S. seizure of a North Korean cargo ship suspected of violating international sanctions. Kim, who is scheduled to deliver a statement at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Tuesday, is expected to criticize Washington's actions and call for the lifting of U.N. sanctions on the North. Earlier, the United Nations said it was reviewing a letter sent by Pyongyang over the seized vessel, the Wise Honest, which was reportedly transporting 25,000 tons of coal to Indonesia.■ [2019.05.21]

≡ (BBC) US Delays Huawei Ban For 90 Days

[Anchor] The United States has delayed imposing severe restrictions on technology exports to the Chinese telecoms company Huawei for three months to help existing customers. Last week, the U.S. decided to ban Huawei from doing business with U.S. firms without specific licenses. The BBC's Michelle Fleury explains what the delay means. [Report 00:29] "Some companies that are already interacting with Huawei on a day-to-day basis, for example, networks in rural areas of the United States that had Huawei infrastructure in place, can continue doing so until at least August. This was something that was expected. It doesn't appear to change the state of play with, say, Google. But it does raise the question about how these restrictions imposed by the U.S. government will be implemented on a day-to-day basis."■[2019.05.21]

≡ WTO Indicates Global Trade Weakness To Continue In Q2

The World Trade Organization has suggested that global trade weakness will continue to extend through the second quarter. According to the WTO on Monday, the World Trade Outlook Indicator stood at 96.3, unchanged from February, maintaining the weakest level since 2010. A reading below 100 signals below-trend growth in global goods trade. The agency pointed to falling levels of growth in international air freight, automobile production, sales and trade in agricultural raw materials. WTO economists have warned several scenarios could hinder growth, including the worsening trade spat between Washington and Beijing and Britain's exit from the European Union without a deal.■ [2019.05.21]

≡ S. Koreans Can Now Use Automated E-Gates At UK Airports

South Koreans traveling to the United Kingdom can now bypass long immigration lines and swipe their passports at automated e-gates at all UK airports. On the first day of the expanded ePassport border entry service on Monday, the Korean Embassy in England said some 300 Koreans passed through customs at the busy Heathrow Airport within 20 minutes -- a stark contrast from previous wait times that took some close to an hour. Those arriving in the UK will now just need to scan their passports and go through a face recognition scan without having to fill out a landing card or interview with an immigration officer. Also on the non-EU fast-track list are visitors from New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Canada, the U.S. and Australia.■[2019.05.21]

≡ Road Closures To Affect Traffic Near Namsan 1st Tunnel, Cable Car Station

Due to construction related to the Yejang-dong Regeneration Project at the foot of Namsan Mountain in central Seoul, existing roads leading to the Namsan 1st Tunnel underpass and the Namsan Cable Car will be blocked off from Thursday. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is informing drivers to watch out for signs directing traffic around the Toegyero 3-ga Intersection and Samil-dae-ro, between Myeongdong and Chungmuro stations. Vehicles must use newly expanded roads and on-ramps on Samil-daeiro to access the entrance of the tunnel or head up the mountain towards the cable car station.■ [2019.05.21]

≡ Seoul Stocks In Midday Trade

Turning to the local bourse, stocks in Seoul are trading _______ at this hour. As of noon, the benchmark KOPSI was up/down/flat _____ percent at _______ while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ was up/down/flat _____ percent at _______. The Korean currency was trading at _______ won against the U.S. greenback, up/down/unchanged _____ won from yesterday's close.■(1,194)[2019.05.21]

≡ Red Fire Ants Discovered In Imported Stones From China

Four red fire ants were discovered at a port in Incheon, prompting officials to intensify countermeasures against infestations. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency confirmed the highly invasive ant species were found in landscape rocks from a container shipped from China's Guangdong Province. This is the second discovery of red fire ants in South Korea this year. The agency said it will continue to carry out thorough inspections on such products arriving from overseas.■ [2019.05.21]

≡ Seoul To Host Special Forum On Fine Dust Pollution

Experts from across Asia are set to gather in Seoul to discuss ways to reduce dust pollution in the region. The Seoul International Forum on Air Quality Improvement will kick off Wednesday at City Hall. Delegations from 35 cities in six different countries will participate in the two-day event. China, which is regarded as a key partner in efforts to curb fine dust, is sending representatives from sixteen cities.■ [2019.05.21]

≡ S. Korea, ASEAN To Jointly Promote Asia's Film Industry

South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are trying to jointly promote the development of the region's film industry. Chairman of the Korea Film Council Oh Seok-geun, who is in France for the Cannes International Film Festival, revealed on Monday that Seoul and the ten ASEAN member countries plan to establish the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Film Organization by the end of the year. He said the establishment of the organization will be announced at the South Korea-ASEAN special summit in November. The organization's secretariat is expected to open in South Korea's southern port city of Busan early next year.■[2019.05.21]