eFM News

≡ Moon: Strong S. Korea-US Alliance Backs Dialogue Mood With North

President Moon Jae-in says a unified response by South Korea and the United States to North Korea's recent launches has helped maintain dialogue momentum with Pyongyang. In a luncheon meeting with top military commanders at Cheong Wa Dae earlier in the day, the president praised the firmness of the two countries' alliance and their close coordination. Moon also cited "personal trust" between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un behind the continued dialogue mood. Cheong Wa Dae said the allies are still analyzing the exact types of projectiles that North Korea fired on May 4th and 9th.■ [2019.05.21]

≡ WFP's April Food Aid To N. Korea Lowest This Year

The World Food Programme says it provided over 980 tons of food aid to some 448,700 North Koreans last month, marking the lowest monthly provision this year. April's food provision fell 5.8 percent compared to March and declined 22 percent from the same month in 2018. The WFP said it needs 53.7 million dollars to carry out assistance projects for North Korea this year, of which 29.8 million dollars has been secured. Earlier this month, the WFP and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization made a visit to the North and reported that some 40 percent of the country's population are in desperate need of food assistance.■[2019.05.21]

≡ Military Junta Wanted Foreigners Out Of Gwangju Before Massacre: Ex-Intelligence Agent

A former intelligence agent says the security command under the military junta of Chun Doo-hwan ordered the evacuation of all foreigners in Gwangju ahead of its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in May 1980. In an interview with tbs FM's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" this morning, Huh Jang-hwan, who served as an investigator under the regime's security forces, said the move was apparently aimed at preventing the news on Gwangju from spreading overseas. In an interview with the same program last week, Huh claimed that the crackdown on Gwangju citizens was part of a plan by the military junta to take over the government, not an accidental clash between civilians and the military.■[2019.05.21]

≡ (BBC) Huawei Founder Says Company Is Prepared For Clash With US

[Anchor] The founder and chief executive of the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Ren Zhengfei says his company has prepared for what he called an inevitable clash with the United States. Washington is banning Huawei from dealings with U.S. firms without a specific license because it says it's a threat to national security although that measure has now been suspended for three months The BBC's China correspondent Robert Brant reports from Shanghai.■ (00:33) [2019.05.21]

≡ Indonesia's Widodo Wins Another Term As President

Indonesia's Joko Widodo has won another term as president of the world's third-biggest democracy. In a final tally today, the country's elections commission said Widodo and his vice presidential running mate Ma'ruf Amin won the election by a 55.5 percent to 44.5 percent margin over his rival Prabowo Subianto, a retired general. Some 85.6 million Indonesians cast their ballot in favor of Widodo out of about 154 million voters during the April 17th poll.■ [2019.05.21]

≡ Christchurch Mosque Shooter Formally Charged With Terrorism

The man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand in March has been formally charged with terrorism. Police said Tuesday the decision to lay the terror charge against Brenton Tarrant was made after consultations with prosecutors and government legal experts. They said Tarrant also faces 51 charges of murder and 40 of attempted murder over the March 15th attacks. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has characterized the killings a well-planned "terrorist attack." Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian, is currently in a high security prison undergoing tests to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 14th.■[2019.05.21]

≡ K-Pop Star Psy To Unveil New Album In July

Rapper Psy is dropping a new album in early July. His management agency said his ninth full-length album will be unveiled at the 2019 Swag Show, his annual summer concert series. It would be his first album release since he left his former label YG Entertainment and set up his own company, P Nation.■ [2019.05.21]