eFM News

≡ Moon, Trump To Focus On N. Korea Issues On Sidelines Of UN Assembly

[Anchor] President Moon Jae-in is New York ahead of the annual United Nations General Assembly. On the sidelines, he will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of an anticipated restart in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Claudia Kim has more. [Reporter] Moon and Trump will sit down for their ninth summit on Monday and discuss ways to continue cooperation for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and establishment of permanent peace. Their agenda may also include discussions on reaffirming the South Korea-U.S. alliance amid rising concerns about friction between the two countries after Seoul decided to scrap a military information sharing agreement with Japan last month. As North Korea's nuclear and weapons programs remain a threat to regional security, the U.S. has been pushing for its two key Asian allies to work out their latest disputes over trade and historical issues. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will also be attending General Assembly meetings but he and Moon are unlikely to meet and may not even cross paths due to their different schedules. President Moon is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the U.N. on Wednesday to broaden international support for North Korea's denuclearization process and may make a proposal regarding security guarantees for the regime. During his five-day trip, the South Korean leader will also hold summit talks with his counterparts from Poland, Denmark and Australia as well as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Claudia Kim, eFM News.■ [2019.09.23]

≡ Southern Regions Face Aftermath Of Typhoon Tapah

Typhoon Tapah dissipated this morning as it passed waters near South Korea's Dokdo islets in the East Sea. All related weather and safety warnings have been lifted. This year's 17th typhoon lashed southern regions over the weekend, packing winds of over 100 kilometers per hour with an atmospheric pressure of 980 hectopascals at its center. It also dropped heavy rains. From Saturday through early this morning, areas in Jeju recorded over 780 millimeters of rainfall, Ulsan got 345 millimeters and Pohang received over 300 millimeters. In the wake of the storm, there continues to be reports of dozens of related injuries and damage to thousands of buildings and homes. Meanwhile, flights are getting back on schedule at airports across the country, however, due to high seas, some ship routes in eastern waters may still be closed.■[2019.09.23]

≡ Creating Denuclearization Road Map Key In N. Korea-US Talks: Kang

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha says North Korea and the United States have the most important task of creating a denuclearization road map once they resume working-level talks. Kang arrived in New York on Sunday, accompanying President Moon Jae-in ahead of his summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. The minister told reporters during a press briefing that the Trump administration is open to discussions on issues such as security assurance and sanctions relief. Meanwhile, Moon plans to attend the 74th U.N. General Assembly, becoming the first South Korean leader to join the event for three consecutive years. Kang said the president's participation reflects the government's determination to take responsibility and play a role to match its stature and contribution on the international stage.■ [2019.09.23]

≡ Quarantine Officials Investigate Suspected ASF In Gimpo

[Anchor] Another suspected case of African swine fever has been reported at a farm in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province. Authorities have begun testing to determine whether it will be the country's third confirmed case. Christine Min has more. [Report] During an emergency meeting this morning, Agriculture Minister Kim Hyeon-soo said quarantine measures would be stepped up after another suspected case of African swine fever was reported in Gimpo. The farm is located some 20 kilometers from Paju, where the first case of ASF was confirmed last Tuesday. Kim said officials were immediately sent to collect samples from the farm to conduct a thorough examination and that the results would likely be available by this evening. The minister also reiterated that massive disinfection work was underway at local farms and that a temporary three-week movement ban is still being enforced in six key areas in Gyeonggi, including Yeoncheon, where the second confirmed case of ASF was reported. As the country was also hit by Typhoon Tapah this past weekend, Minister Kim called for quick recovery efforts in order to prevent the potential spread of the highly contagious animal disease. Local authorities are still investigating how ASF entered the country and looking into various possible routes, including inspecting waterways that connect to North Korea. Christine Min, eFM News.■[2019.09.23]

≡ Seoul Stocks In Midday Trade

Turning to the local bourse, stocks in Seoul are trading _______ at this hour. As of noon, the benchmark KOPSI was up/down/flat _____ percent at _______ while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ was up/down/flat _____ percent at _______. The Korean currency was trading at _______ won against the greenback, up/down/unchanged _____ won from the previous close.■1,188[2019.09.23]