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≡ Biegun Arrives In Seoul Amid Stalemate In Denuclearization Talks
[Anchor]
U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun has arrived in Seoul for a three-day visit.
He is expected to meet with President Moon Jae-in and other government officials as nuclear negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington remain stalled with a deadline approaching.
Sehhyeong Kim reports.
[Reporter]
According to Cheong Wa Dae, Biegun will pay a courtesy call on President Moon Jae-in tomorrow morning.
It will mark their second encounter at the presidential office since September last year shortly before the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang.
Biegun is also scheduled to meet with First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young and his South Korean counterpart, Lee Do-hoon, before attending a luncheon with Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul.
They are expected to discuss ways to keep up the momentum for dialogue with North Korea and make progress in joint efforts on denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula.
His trip comes amid heightened tensions in the region following Pyongyang's recent provocative weapons tests ahead of its year-end deadline for Washington to come up with a better nuclear deal.
North Korean military's general staff Pak Jong-chon said his country was using recent tests to develop new technologies and strategic weapons to counter U.S. nuclear threats.
He added that the North has "stored up a tremendous power" and that the army is fully ready to thoroughly carry out any decision of the supreme leader with action.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump have met three times since last year to negotiate the North's denuclearization, but little progress has been made since their working-level talks broke down in Stockholm earlier in October.
Sehhyeong Kim, eFM News.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.15]
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≡ Political Tensions Intensify Over Fast-Tracked Bills
Political tensions between rival parties remain high over fast-tracked bills on election and prosecutorial reforms.
Speaking to reporters today, Democratic Party Floor Leader Lee In-young criticized the main opposition Liberty Korea Party for blocking the passage of the bills.
LKP chair Hwang Kyo-ahn, meanwhile, held a press conference in which he stepped up his attacks on the ruling party for unilaterally passing the budget bill and trying to push ahead with handling the fast-tracked bills.
Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang is expected to table the bills at a National Assembly plenary session tomorrow if the three main political parties fail to resolve the stalemate.■
<Image: Yonhap News>
[2019.12.15]
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≡ Ex-Ulsan Mayor Undergoes Questioning As Part Of Election-Meddling Probe
Former Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon is undergoing questioning by prosecutors as part of a probe into alleged meddling by the presidential office in last year's mayoral race.
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office this afternoon, Kim said he heard that police launched secret investigations into him just months after Hwang Un-ha took office as the Ulsan police chief, which was allegedly made upon the instruction by Cheong Wa Dae.
Kim, who served as the mayor of the southeastern city from 2014 to 2018, has claimed he lost the election last year to Song Cheol-ho due to undue influences by the top office.
Hwang has flatly denied the allegations.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.15]
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≡ Authorities To Crack Down On Drunk Driving Until End Of Year
Authorities will intensify crack down on drunk driving during the year-end season.
The National Police Agency, the transport ministry as well as the interior ministry have together designated the next two weeks as a period for traffic safety and will launch a special campaign against drunk driving until December 31st.
Police will increase patrols in areas where related crimes occur frequently and conduct nationwide sobriety checks on drivers every Friday night.■
<Photo: Yonhap News>[2019.12.15]
