eFM News

≡ Top US Nuclear Envoy In Seoul To Revive Stalled Nuclear Talks With N. Korea

[Anchor] U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun met with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Do-hoon, this morning. The two said they have concluded a "very productive discussion" and remain committed to establishing complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. Our Christine Min has more. [Reporter] The top nuclear negotiators of Seoul and Washington have agreed to closely cooperate on the denuclearization of Pyongyang. Lee Do-hoon said the U.S. remains unchanged to solve the problem through diplomacy and dialogue with the North, adding that the U.S. is willing to discuss issues the North is interested in once nuclear talks resume. In the press conference, Biegun stressed that it would continue negotiations with its North Korean counterparts. He said the U.S. has no deadline but a goal to fulfill the commitments that the two countries have agreed to make. He voiced hope for Pyongyang to show similar commitments, saying that it is "not too late" and that it is still possible to achieve the goal but added that the U.S. cannot do it alone. Biegun also warned against North's recent threats and hostile acts, encouraging the regime to refrain from taking such steps. [Clip 00:28] "We are fully aware of the strong potential for North Korea to conduct a major provocation in the days ahead. To say the least, such an action will be most unhelpful in achieving a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. But it does not have to be this way. It is not yet too late. We and the North Koreans have within our hands the ability to choose a better path." Earlier, North Korea said that it had conducted another "crucial test" at its Sohae satellite launching site on Friday, further pressuring Washington to come up with a new proposal before the end of the year. Pyongyang warned that if Washington fails to do so, it would take a "new path", hinting it would resume tests on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Christine Min, eFM News.■ <Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.16]

≡ N. Korea Could Work On ICBMs If Talks With US Break Down: Research

A defense ministry think-tank says North Korea will likely begin work to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles with multiple warheads if denuclearization talks with the United States break down next year. In a report released today, the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses said the North will show the U.S. its retaliatory power. The institute noted that the regime will likely first focus its efforts on developing submarine-launched ballistic missiles or long-range rocket tests to prevent Washington from toughening its policies on the North and additional sanctions. The report comes as the U.S. and North Korea remain at odds over denuclearization terms. Pyongyang has threatened to deliver a "Christmas gift" to Washington if stalled talks are not revived by the end of the year.■ <Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.16]

≡ S. Korea, Japan Holding Talks On Tokyo's Export Controls

Director-level officials from South Korea and Japan are meeting in Tokyo today in an effort to resolve the months-long trade dispute between the two countries. Seoul's trade ministry official Lee Ho-hyeon and Japanese representative Yoichi Iida are sitting down for the export control talks. During the meeting, Lee will likely request Japan lift its export curbs on three key materials to South Korea that were imposed in July as well as call for the re-designation of Seoul on Tokyo's whitelist of preferred trading partners. Japan, however, remains cautious.■ <Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.16]

≡ Top Diplomats Of Seoul, Tokyo Hold Brief Talks In Madrid

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa and her Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, held a brief one-on-one meeting on the sidelines of a multilateral gathering in Spain. Seoul's foreign ministry said Sunday's talks in Madrid lasted 10 minutes. Kang told Motegi that South Korea welcomes the director-general level trade negotiations that are under way in Tokyo today, saying that meeting needs to end with Japan's lifting of its export curbs against Seoul. The two diplomats also saw eye-to-eye on the need for close consultations between Seoul and Tokyo regarding North Korea's denuclearization. They also agreed to fine-tune details for the planned trilateral summit between South Korea, China and Japan on December 24th in the Chinese city of Chengdu.■ <Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.16]

≡ S. Korea's Household Debt-To-GDP Ratio Rises Third-Fastest Among OECD States

South Korea's household debt is growing at a fast rate, posting the third sharpest rise among major economies around the world. According to the Bank for International Settlements, the country's ratio of household debt to gross domestic product stood at 93 percent at the end of the second quarter this year. That's the eighth highest out of the 43 countries studied. The figure is an increase of 2.6 percentage points compared to a year ago and the third highest among 43 major economies, following Hong Kong and China. Korea's household debt has been growing at a faster rate than that of its GDP for the past nine years.■ <Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.16]

≡ (BBC) Schumer Calls For Top Officials To Appear As Witnesses For Trump's Impeachment Trial

[Anchor] The top Democrat in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer, is calling for senior figures in the Donald Trump administration to be summoned as witnesses at the president's impeachment trial. The BBC's Peter Bowes reports. [Reporter] In a letter to the leader of the Senate Republicans, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer lays out a framework for the impeachment trial, which he says should start on January the 6th. The leading Democrat says past and present senior White House figures who have not given evidence so far in the impeachment inquiry should be subpoenaed to appear at the trial. They include acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and the former National Security Advisor John Bolton.■ <Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.16]

≡ Bong Joon-Ho's 'Parasite' Bags 4 Chicago Film Critics Awards

South Korean black comedy "Parasite" has won top honors at this year's Chicago Film Critics Association Awards. According to online Hollywood news site Deadline on Sunday, "Parasite" took home four awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Director for Bong Joon-ho. It also bagged Best Foreign Language Film, an award the blockbuster is aiming to be nominated for at next year's Academy Awards. Last week, the thriller was nominated for three Golden Globes, including Best Director. Nominations for the Oscars' Best Foreign Language Film are scheduled to be made at 5 a.m. Monday U.S. Pacific time or tonight at 10 p.m. Seoul time.■ <Photo: Yonhap News> [2019.12.16]

≡ 7-Eleven To Provide Real-Time Weather Updates

Customers to convenience store chain 7-Eleven will soon be able to get the latest weather conditions while they shop. 7-Eleven announced today that it is partnering with weather big data company Observer to install meteorological observation equipment at all stores nationwide. Information such as the temperature, humidity level and the chance of rain as well as ultrafine dust concentration levels will be provided in real-time. The equipment will be installed at some 100 stores in the capital region by the end of the year and be expanded to some 3,000 stores across the country by next year.■ <Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.16]