eFM News

≡ N. Korea Sends Staff Back To Liaison Office After Abrupt Pullout

North Korea has sent back some of its officials to the inter-Korean liaison office in the border town of Kaesong today, reversing a decision last week to unilaterally withdraw all of its staff from the joint facility. According to Seoul's unification ministry, four to five North Korean officials, half of the usual number of staff stationed there, showed up for work this morning. The officials reportedly said the North's commitment remains unchanged for the liaison office to carry out inter-Korean projects. The ministry said representatives of the two Koreas held a meeting today and plan to operate the liaison office as usual.■ [2019.03.25]

≡ N. Korea Sends Signal Seoul Needs To Play Bigger Role

[Anchor] The return of North Korean liaison office staff comes after U.S. President Donald Trump last week refrained from imposing further sanctions on Pyongyang. Amid the apparent conciliatory gestures from both sides, calls are growing for South Korea to play a more active role in breaking the current nuclear impasse. Our Julie Sohn has this report. [Reporter] In an interview today with our sister station tbs FM, former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun said Trump's decision to cancel planned new sanctions on the North was done in a bid to appease North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, after the North pulled its officials from the inter-Korean liaison office. Amid the deadlock in the wake of the breakdown of the Hanoi summit between North Korea and the U.S. last month, focus has now shifted to South Korea's role to help bring about another breakthrough. Experts stress that Seoul needs to keep up the momentum and prevent Pyongyang from completely leaving the negotiating table. Sejong Institute senior research fellow Hong Hyun-ik says the two Koreas should continue to improve their relations by pursuing another inter-Korean summit in the near future. "It is very important to maintain the inter-Korean economic projects in order to keep friendly ties with North Korea so that the North does not step away from the dialogue." As both North Korea and the U.S. are keeping the door open for dialogue, analysts underline the need for all three parties to not miss the rare opportunity and keep the momentum for dialogue alive. Julie Sohn, eFM News.■ [2019.03.25]

≡ Seoul Mayor: City To Offer More Incentives To Attract Foreign Companies

[Anchor] Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon says he is willing to provide more incentives, including a cash offer, to attract foreign companies to the capital. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, he also thanked the lobbying group for its role in improving bilateral business ties. Our Ron Chang reports from the event. [Reporter] Mayor Park started off by saying the American Chamber of Commerce has played a pivotal role in making U.S. companies invest in Korea, and thus creating jobs here and facilitating investment and innovation. But he said as mayor, he wants to do more and stressed that Seoul is ready to take a new leap forward. He emphasized that there are many reasons why foreign companies should invest in the capital, one being that Seoul has top-class information technology infrastructure. "Seoul is an IT city. Foreigners visiting Seoul for the first time are amazed by the city's infrastructure and some even remark that it seems like a city of the future." Mayor Park went on to say that the city government will create six industrial clusters to accommodate foreign enterprises, with these clusters focusing on various sectors such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and augmented reality. Park said Seoul city will provide office spaces within these clusters as well as cash support after consultations with the central government. He said the city will also try to ease visa requirements for foreign employees and improve their living conditions by providing housing support. According to the mayor, foreign direct investment into the capital has reached 63.6 billion dollars over the past 10 years. Ron Chang, eFM News.■[2019.03.25]

≡ Court Approves Request To Seize Mitsubishi's Assets In S. Korea

A local court has approved a request to seize Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' assets in South Korea after the company refused to heed an order by the Supreme Court to compensate victims of wartime forced labor. The Daejeon District Court ordered last Friday to seize two trademark rights and six patents of the Japanese firm. As a result, the company will be barred from selling or transferring the trademark and patent rights at will. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga protested the decision, saying that Tokyo regards the move as "very grave." He also vowed to respond with "appropriate measures" but declined to elaborate further.■ [2019.03.25]

≡ Over 500 Drug Offenders Busted In One-Month Crackdown

Police have arrested hundreds of people for using or trafficking narcotics in their latest crackdown on drug crimes. The National Police Agency said it busted 523 people in the past month and detained nearly half of them for potential prosecution. The figures were up 30 percent and 65 percent from a year ago, respectively. Last month, police declared war against drug crimes following a drug and sex scandal involving a number of top K-pop stars.■ [2019.03.25]