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≡ Southern Regions On Alert Over Monsoon, Approaching Typhoon
Monsoon showers are battering southern coastal regions.
Heavy rain advisories and warnings are in effect for Jeju Island, Ulsan, Busan, and parts of the South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces.
Areas hit with significant rainfall may get up to 700 millimeters of precipitation if the monsoon is compounded by oncoming Typhoon Danas.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said the storm was located off Taiwan this morning and was traveling north at a speed of 22 kilometers per hour.
The weather agency and local officials have warned citizens to take precautions and be aware of the risks of landslides, damage to facilities and sudden rises in water levels.■
[2019.07.19]
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≡ Moon, Political Party Chiefs Unite Against Japan's Export Restrictions
President Moon Jae-in and the heads of the five major political parties have agreed to launch a bipartisan task force to cope with Japan's use of trade as a means of retaliation over a historical issue.
The decision came during a three-hour-long meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday.
In a joint press statement, they said they shared the perception that Japan's measures constitute unfair economic reprisal that contravenes the free trade order.
They also urged Japan to immediately retract the stricter export control of core materials used in semiconductor and displays that took effect earlier this month.
Pledging bipartisan cooperation on the matter, Moon and the party leaders made it clear that Japan's move to remove South Korea from its "whitelist" of trusted importers jeopardizes not only Seoul-Tokyo ties but also security cooperation in Northeast Asia.■
[2019.07.19]
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≡ Far-Right Party Reinstalls Protest Tents Near Gwanghwamun Square
Supporters of former President Park Geun-hye have reinstalled their controversial protest tents in central Seoul.
The far right opposition Our Republican Party set up the three tents this morning around 4 a.m. in front of the Seoul Finance Center.
They first erected the tents in the popular Gwanghwamun Square in early May and camped out there as part of an ongoing campaign to press for a special probe into the deaths of five conservative protesters against Park's impeachment in 2017.
Seoul city and the party have been stuck in a tug-of-war over the illegal tents since then, which led to clashes between party members and police last month.
The city recently installed 80 potted trees throughout the public square to physically block the group from occupying the area again.■
[2019.07.19]
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≡ Pence: US To Press Religious Freedom In N. Korea
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has vowed to press North Korea to respect freedom of religion.
Pence made the pledge Thursday at a high-level State Department conference on religious freedom.
He said as President Donald Trump continues to pursue the denuclearization of North Korea and lasting peace, the United States will continue to stand for the freedom of religion of all people of all faiths on the Korean Peninsula.
Pence also noted that Open Doors, an advocacy group for persecuted Christians, has ranked North Korea as its worst violator for 18 straight years.■
[2019.07.19]
