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≡ Trump Hints At 'New Method' For N. Korea Denuclearization Talks
U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that a "new method" could help break the impasse in denuclearization talk with North Korea.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Trump also criticized his former national security adviser, John Bolton, for advocating the "Libyan model" in talks with the North.
[Clip: Trump: 00:10]
"He said the 'Libyan model.' That set us back very badly when he said that. So I think John really should take a look at how badly they've done in the past and maybe a new method would be very good."
The model calls for North Korea to unilaterally dismantle its nuclear weapons program before any concessions are made in return which Pyongyang views as a threat to topple its regime.
Bolton, who was forced to resign this month, also reportedly took aim at the president and his policies at a private event on Wednesday.
Denuclearization negotiations are expected to resume later this month, although no meetings have been scheduled yet.■
[2019.09.20]
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≡ N. Korea Likely To Top Agenda At Upcoming Moon-Trump Summit
[Anchor]
When President Moon Jae-in sits down with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York next week for another summit, the issue of how to re-engage North Korea in denuclearization talks will be at top of their agenda.
But it's unlikely to be the only problem they hash out as a number of regional disputes, including trade tensions between Seoul and Tokyo, are putting pressure on their alliance.
Our Christine Min reports.
[Reporter]
Moon and Trump are set to hold a bilateral summit on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday.
Officials say that during the leaders' ninth bilateral talks, they will discuss denuclearization plans ahead of resuming nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang.
The Moon-Trump talks follow their June meeting in Seoul, which also led to an impromptu meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Trump at the inter-Korean border.
Other agenda items on Monday will include various ways to strengthen their alliance amid Seoul's recent decision to withdraw from its military information-sharing agreement, GSOMIA, with Japan.
The U.S. has expressed concern about the growing tension between its two Asian allies and urged both to maintain security cooperation in the region.
Another issue that is likely to be raised is Washington's demand for higher payments on the shared defense costs of the American troops stationed in South Korea.
Moon is scheduled to arrive in New York on Sunday and the following day, he will meet with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
On Tuesday, the president will deliver a keynote speech at the U.N. session to push forward Seoul's efforts for peninsula peace and its pursuit of continued international support.
Christine Min, eFM news.■[2019.09.20]
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≡ Two More Suspected Cases Of African Swine Fever Reported
South Korea is on alert as two additional suspected cases of African swine fever are being investigated.
The latest reports of possible infection came from two pig farms in the city of Paju, located near the heavily fortified border with North Korea, where the country confirmed its first case of swine fever on Tuesday.
The second confirmed case of ASF was reported the following day at a farm in nearby Yeoncheon County.
So far, more than 10,000 pigs have been culled as part of toughened quarantine measures.
While the government is making all-out efforts to prevent the highly contagious and deadly disease for pigs from spreading, it may be weeks until it can declare an end to fears as the ASF virus has an incubation period of 21 days.■[2019.09.20]
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≡ Typhoon Tapah To Bring Heavy Rain, Strong Winds To S. Korea
Typhoon Tapah continues to track north from waters south of Japan's western islands and is expected to bring heavy rains and strong winds to the Korean Peninsula over the weekend.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the system will first affect Jeju Island later tonight, dropping up to 500 millimeters of precipitation through Saturday.
Other regions, including Gangwon, the Gyeongsang Provinces and South Jeolla, may get up to 300 millimeters of rainfall while parts of the central region and Seoul will receive anywhere from 10 to 80 millimeters.
Due to possible heavy gusts, flights may also be disrupted.
As of earlier this morning, Tapah was a few hundred miles south-southwest of Okinawa and still a relatively small system moving at a speed of 24 kilometers an hour.
It is projected to pass between the mainland and Jeju on Sunday morning, enter waters south-southwest of Tongyeong on Sunday afternoon and pass Dokdo in the East Sea by Monday morning.■[2019.09.20]
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≡ S. Korea Designated As Illegal Fishing Country By US
The United States has made a preliminary decision to designate South Korea as a country that engages in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service said in a report released Thursday that South Korea failed to stop its vessels from engaging in illegal fishing activities.
The move came after two South Korean fishing boats failed to comply with regulations while operating near Antarctica in 2017, despite receiving notification of the closure of the fishing grounds.
According to the report, Korean authorities temporarily suspended their licenses but imposed no fines and did not confiscate their catch, finding insufficient evidence that the violations were intentional.
This is the second time South Korea has been put on a preliminary list of illegal fishing countries after the European Union made a similar decision in 2013.■[2019.09.20]
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≡ OECD Cuts S. Korea's 2019 Growth Outlook To 2.1%
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has slashed its growth outlook for the South Korean economy this year to 2.1 percent amid a slowdown in global trade.
This marks a drop from its previous forecast of 2.4 percent in May.
The OECD said in a report Thursday that South Korea's growth "has moderated by more than expected this year" due in part to weak global trade and soft import demand in China.
It added that these factors are expected to persist but recent steps to ease macroeconomic policies by the government should support domestic demand growth in 2020.
The OECD also cut its estimate for South Korea's economic growth in 2020 to 2.3 percent from its previous forecast of 2.5 percent.■[2019.09.20]
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≡ (BBC) Canada's Trudeau Comes Under Fire Over Brownface Photo
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he deeply regrets wearing blackface makeup on several occasions decades ago.
Trudeau said he should have recognized that it was always unacceptable given its racist history.
He asked for forgiveness.
The scandal is threatening to derail Trudeau's campaign for reelection next month.
The BBC's David Willis reports.
[Report]
Mr. Trudeau is being forced to admit that he can't recall how many times he dressed up in this way which could mean that there are more damaging pictures to come.
The blackface photos will derail his campaign for sure but whether they will fatally undermine it could depend on what else, if anything else, comes to light in the weeks ahead.■
[2019.09.20]
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≡ Weather Update 1200
Taking a look at the weather, heavy clouds are lingering over most of the nation at this hour.
Expect these conditions to persist throughout the day.
The local mercury will get up to around 26 degrees -- similar to yesterday.
Be aware of the big temperature gap between day and night.
Rain is in the forecast for Jeju later this evening as typhoon Tapah approaches.
Leaving you with the current temperature in central Seoul, it is _____ degrees Celsius or _____ degrees in Fahrenheit.■
[2019.09.20]