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The company, which supplies General Motors Co (GM.N), Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) and others, warned it faces weaker EV demand in Europe and China than previously expected. The U.S. is the only market where demand forecasts have not been cut, the company said. LGES reported an operating profit of 461 billion won ($363 million) for the April-June period, up from 196 billion won a year earlier, but that was far below the company's estimate of 612 billion won and an average analyst forecast of 641 billion won compiled by Refinitiv SmartEstimate. "LGES' comment on sluggish EV demand in Europe, where it has major customers like Volkswagen and Renault, seems to be affecting the company's share price," said Kang Dong-jin, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities. Revenue for the quarter rose 73% to 8.8 trillion won, LG Energy said in a regulatory filing.

Persons: bln, Lee Chang, LGES, Refinitiv SmartEstimate, Jang Seungkwon, Kang Dong, 1,271.1000, Heekyong Yang, Jihoon Lee, Hyunsu Yim, Shri Navaratnam, Sonali Paul Organizations: GM Bolt, Korea's LG Energy Solution, General Motors, General Motors Co, Tesla Inc, sil, Volkswagen, Renault, Hyundai Motor Securities, Revenue, LG Energy, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Europe, China, U.S

☆ Anger in South Korea as court rejects removing minister over Halloween crush
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Judges of South Korea's Constitutional Court sit for the ruling on the National Assembly's impeachment of Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, at the constitutional court in Seoul, South Korea, July 25, 2023. Yonhap via REUTERSSEOUL, July 25 (Reuters) - South Korea's top court on Tuesday ruled against a parliamentary vote to impeach the interior minister over a botched government response to a deadly Halloween crush in Seoul last year, sparking anger and dismay among relatives of the victims. Dozens of relatives and supporters gathered in front of the court chanting "condemn the constitutional court that gave immunity to Lee Sang-min!" Choi Sun-mi, the mother of Park Ga-young, one of the victims, described the court ruling as "truly devastating." The Itaewon district in South Korea’s capital is known to revellers as a place of fun, freedom and openness.

Persons: Lee Sang, Lee Jong, Lee, Yonhap, Choi, Yoon Suk Yeol, partygoers, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies, Lincoln Organizations: South, South Korea's Constitutional, Yonhap, REUTERS, National Assembly, Thomson Locations: South Korea's, Seoul, South Korea, REUTERS SEOUL, Itaewon, South Korea’s

☆ Russian delegation to join Chinese in North Korea visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, July 25 (Reuters) - A Russian delegation led by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu will visit North Korea this week, state media agency KCNA reported on Tuesday, joining a Chinese group as the first such public visitors to the country since the start of the pandemic. The delegations will visit to celebrate the 70th anniversary of "Victory Day" on Thursday in Pyongyang, KCNA reported, with Chinese Communist Party politburo member Li Hongzhong leading the group from his country. North Korea closed its border in early 2020 to all trade and diplomatic exchanges, even with its main economic and political partners China and Russia. China's exports to North Korea in June were eight times higher than a year before, when the secretive state was reporting tens of thousands of COVID-19 cases per day and had shut its border. The United States, meanwhile, has accused North Korea of providing military aid to Russia for the war in Ukraine, a claim that both Pyongyang and Moscow deny.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, KCNA, Li Hongzhong, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Russian, Defence, Chinese Communist Party, European, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Pyongyang, China, Russia, North Korea's, European Union, Beijing, United States, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Russian military delegation arrives in North Korea to join Chinese
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The two delegations will take part in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of "Victory Day" on Thursday in Pyongyang, state media agency KCNA reported, with Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong leading the Beijing group. Russia's Defence Ministry said it had been invited by its North Korean counterpart and would attend the Victory Day events. The ministry posted a short video on its Telegram messaging app showing Shoigu being greeted by a North Korean military official on a red carpet at an airport's tarmac. North Korea closed its border in early 2020 to all trade and diplomatic exchanges, even with its main economic and political partners China and Russia. The United States has accused North Korea of providing military aid to Russia for the war in Ukraine, a claim that both Pyongyang and Moscow deny.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, KCNA, Li Hongzhong, Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu, Vedant Patel, Patel, Hyunsu Yim, Andrew Osborn, Simon Lewis, Lidia Kelly, Ed Davies, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Mark Heinrich, Sandra Maler Organizations: Russian, Defence, Chinese Communist Party, Russia's Defence Ministry, North Korean, Comrade, Russian Federation, European Union, United, . State Department, DPRK, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, MOSCOW, North Korea, Pyongyang, Beijing, Russian, Korean, China, Russia, North Korea's, United States, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Melbourne

☆ North Korea's Kim Jong Un visits Chinese military cemetery ahead of Victory Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs' cemetery in this photo released on July 26, 2023 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERSSEOUL, July 26 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a cemetery for Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday. His visit, accompanied by his powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, comes ahead of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War truce on Thursday, which is celebrated as "Victory Day" in North Korea, often with a grandiose military parade. Kim also visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery on Monday, KCNA reported, as he touted the soldiers as "inflicting defeat" on U.S. imperialism. The Great Fatherland Liberation War is a name used by Pyongyang to refer to the Korean War.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Kim Yo Jong, Kim, Hyunsu Yim, Sandra Maler Organizations: People's Volunteer Army, Korean Central News Agency, REUTERS, Korea's, Chiefs, Staff, Fatherland, Thomson Locations: North, REUTERS SEOUL, North Korea, Pyongyang

☆ UN Command talking to North Korea about US soldier Travis King
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, July 24 (Reuters) - The United Nations Command and North Korea have begun discussing the case of Travis King, the U.S. soldier who crossed into the North last week, the deputy commander of the U.S.-led command that oversees the Korean War truce said on Monday. King, a U.S. Army private serving in South Korea, sprinted into North Korea on July 18 while on a tour of the Demilitarized Zone on the inter-Korean border, landing Washington in a fresh diplomatic quandary with the nuclear-armed North. Last week, North Korea conducted ballistic missile tests hours after a U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine arrived at a South Korean port. North Korea is banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions from using ballistic missile technology, which Pyongyang defiantly rejects. Late last week, North Korea warned that deployment of U.S. aircraft carriers, bombers or missile submarines in South Korea could meet criteria for its use of nuclear weapons.

Persons: Travis King, General Andrew Harrison, Harrison, King, Hyunsu Yim, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: United Nations Command, U.S . Army, UNC, North, British Army, Korean People's Army, ., Joint Security Area, People, U.S, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, South Korea, Washington, Korean, Pyongyang, Fort Bliss , Texas

☆ Tony Bennett, crooner who sang ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco,’ dies at 96
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —Legendary singer Tony Bennett, best known for singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” has died, according to his longtime publicist, Sylvia Weiner. From Tony Bennett Bennett was discovered by Bob Hope while performing at a New York City club in 1949. In 1963, his recording of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" won Grammy Awards for record of the year and best solo vocal performance. ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television/Getty Images Bennett and San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein hang onto the outside of a San Francisco cable car before taking a test ride in 1984. His performance of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” won Grammys for best record and best male vocal performance.

Persons: Tony Bennett, “, ”, Sylvia Weiner, Bennett, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga, ” Bennett, he’d, CNN’s Larry King, Susan Benedetto, Danny, Dae Bennett, Johanna Bennett, Antonia Bennett, Paul McCartney, Larry Busacca, Anthony Benedetto, Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto, Hope, ‘, ’, ‘ Anthony Dominick Benedetto, ’ ” Tony Bennett, Virginia Sherwood, Anthony Dominick Benedetto, John, Mary, John Jr, Tony Bennett Bennett, Bill Randall applauds, Patricia, D'Andrea, Daegal, Pat, collie, David McLane, Sammy Davis Jr, David Redfern, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Ley, Sandra, Malcolm MacNeil, Mirrorpix, Joanna, Howard Cosell, Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, Jeff Reinking, David Letterman, Richard Drew, Patti LaBelle, Hans Deryk, Mark J, Terrill, Elton John, Scott Gries, Madame Tussaud's, Kevork, Tim Mosenfelder, Fernando Leon, Tina Turner, Robert Redford, Julie Harris, Suzanne Farrell, Scott Suchman, Kevin Winter, Billy Joel, York's Shea, Kevin Mazur, Duke Ellington, Brendan Hoffman, Stevie Wonder, Shahar Azran, Amy Winehouse, Kevork Djansezian, Susan, Michael Loccisano, Sean Zanni, Ball, Tony, San Francisco ”, …, ’ ” Bennett, NPR’s Terry Gross, it’s, Clinton, JP Yim, you’re, “ It’s, Danny Bennett, kd, Elvis Costello, “ Tony Bennett, Jack Benny, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Gary Gershoff, –, Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Bono, ” Sinatra, “ Larry King, Ella Fitzgerald, Ella, Bing Crosby, “ Cheek, Cheek, Alzheimer’s Organizations: CNN, MTV, Recording Academy, Los Angeles Convention Center, Paramount, NBCU, Bank, Getty, Facebook, Columbia Records, Bettmann, Patrick's, NY, Smithsonian, Daily, Hulton, ABC, Walt Disney Television, San Francisco, United Nations, Super, Rainforest Foundation, New York's Carnegie Hall, San Francisco Giants, Kennedy, Apollo, New York's Radio City Music Hall, American Ballet, Children's Diabetes Foundation, Children's Diabetes, Radio City Music Hall, San, Clinton Global, New York Times, New York’s High, of Industrial Art, Kennedy Center, ”, AARP, Radio City Music, CBS Locations: San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Astoria , New York, Greenwich Village, New York City, Cleveland, St, Manhattan, Redferns, Washington , DC, View , California, Washington, Lady

☆ North Korea threatens nuclear retaliation over U.S. displays of military force
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The comments raise the stakes as each side steps up displays of military force in a standoff over the isolated country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. "The ever-increasing visibility of the deployment of the strategic nuclear submarine and other strategic assets may fall under the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons specified in the DPRK law," the statement said. The report comes after a U.S. soldier crossed the border into North Korea on Tuesday at a time of heightened tension between the two Koreas and the United States. North Korea has yet to comment on the incident involving the U.S. soldier. "The utmost significance of legislating nuclear weapons policy is to draw an irretrievable line so that there can be no bargaining over our nuclear weapons," North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying at that time by KCNA.

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Kang Sun Nam, Kim Jong Un, Hyunsu Yim, Bernadette Baum, Mike Harrison Organizations: North Korean, Capella, REUTERS, DPRK, Democratic People's, U.S, U.S ., KCNA, Thomson Locations: Sentosa, Singapore, SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, South Korea, United States, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ohio, Busan

☆ North Korea threatens nuclear retaliation over US displays of military force
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] U.S. and North Korean national flags are seen at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island in Singapore June 12, 2018. The comments raise the stakes as each side steps up displays of military force in a standoff over the isolated country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. The KCNA report came after a U.S. soldier crossed the border into North Korea on Tuesday at a time of heightened tension between the two Koreas and the United States. North Korea has yet to comment on the incident involving the U.S. soldier. Last year, the reclusive state codified a new, expansive nuclear law declaring its status as a nuclear-armed state "irreversible".

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Kang Sun Nam, Ankit, Panda, Hyunsu Yim, Josh Smith, Bernadette Baum, Mike Harrison, Tom Hogue Organizations: North Korean, Capella, REUTERS, U.S, Nuclear Consultative, DPRK, Democratic People's, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense, USS, Korean, U.S ., Carnegie Endowment, International, South, Thomson Locations: Sentosa, Singapore, SEOUL, North Korea, South Korea, United States, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Ohio, Busan, USS Kentucky, Korea, U.S, Washington

☆ K-pop's biggest music label HYBE looks to lift language barrier with AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The technology enabled HYBE (352820.KS), South Korea's largest music label, to release a track by singer MIDNATT in six languages – Korean, English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese in May. Native speakers read out the lyrics, and later the two were seamlessly combined with the help of HYBE's in-house AI music technology, Chung said. 'IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE'MIDNATT said using AI had allowed him a "wider spectrum of artistic expressions." While the technology is not new, it is an innovative way to use AI in music, said Valerio Velardo, director of The Sound of AI, a Spain-based consulting service for AI music and audio. Not only professional musicians but also a wider population will benefit from AI music technology in the long term, Velardo said.

Persons: MIDNATT, Chung Wooyong, Lee Hyun, Chung, Kim Hong, Supertone, Choi Hee, HYBE, Valerio Velardo, Velardo, Choi Jin, Hyunsu Yim, Daewoung Kim, Hyun Young Yi, Josh Smith, Jamie Freed Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Neural, Supertone, The, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Seoul, Korean, HYBE, South, South Korea, Spain

☆ Chaos as U.S. soldier Travis King bolted into North Korea -witness
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, July 19 (Reuters) - American and South Korean guards shouted "get him" as they scrambled unsuccessfully to stop U.S. Army soldier Travis King from sprinting into North Korea, a New Zealand woman who was on the same tour to the border area said on Wednesday. "I don't think anyone who was sane would want to go to North Korea, so I assumed it was some kind of stunt." The U.S. military was scrambling on Wednesday to determine King's fate after what officials said was a wilful, unauthorised crossing of the border into North Korea, throwing Washington into a new crisis in its dealings with the state. One American soldier shouted "get him," and other American and South Korean guards ran after King, but he was already on the north side of the border, Leslie said. "It was too late," she said, adding that he disappeared from sight and she didn't see him enter any buildings or be detained by North Korean guards.

Persons: Travis King, Sarah Leslie, King, Leslie, Travis T, Handout, REUTERS King, Hyunsu Yim, Josh Smith, Bernadette Baum Organizations: U.S, Army, Joint Security Area, Reuters, Security Area, REUTERS, North, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, New Zealand, Washington, U.S, Panmunjom, South Korea, American

☆ South Korea challenges arbitration ruling that found for Elliott in Samsung merger case
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, July 18 (Reuters) - South Korea said on Tuesday it would challenge an arbitration ruling that ordered it to pay U.S. hedge fund Elliott Investment Management $108.5 million in a case involving the merger of two Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) affiliates. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague last month found in favour of Elliott, though the compensation ordered was much less than the $770 million the hedge fund had sought. South Korea will argue that the Hague-based tribunal did not have jurisdiction to make the ruling under a free trade agreement it has with the United States, and will challenge the ruling at a UK arbitration body, the Justice Ministry said in a statement. It did not name the UK arbitration body. ($1 = 1,260.1300 won)Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Ed Davies and Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Elliott, 1,260.1300, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Elliott Investment, Samsung Electronics, South, Pension Service, Samsung, Hague, Ministry, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, U.S, Hague, United States

SEOUL, July 17 (Reuters) - A year after South Korea vowed to step up readiness for extreme weather driven by climate change, experts say not enough work has been done even as greater volumes of sudden and torrential rains are expected in coming decades. South Korea is mountainous and urban development has left many regions vulnerable to landslides, while readiness to respond to extreme weather has not been up to speed. [1/3]Rescue workers look for victims during a search and rescue operation near an underpass that has been submerged by a flooded river caused by torrential rain in Cheongju, South Korea, July 16, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-jiA 2020 study by the Korea Meteorological Administration found that property damage costs and casualties from extreme weather have tripled compared to the yearly average of the previous decade. "In advanced countries, they allocate 70% for prevention and 30% for recovery, prioritising recovery over prevention."

Persons: Jeong Chang, Jeong, Yoon Suk, Yoon, Kim Hong, Sejong, Jung, Lee Su, Lee, 1,267.1100, Hyun Young Yi, Hyunsu Yim, Jack Kim, Tom Hogue Organizations: Induk University, REUTERS, Korea Meteorological Administration, Korea Environment Institute, University of Seoul, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Korea, Cheongju, Seoul, Busan, Gangnam, South Korea, North Gyeongsang, Gyeongsang

☆ South Korea flood death toll rises to 39 as Yoon orders all-out effort
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, July 17 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered on Monday an all-out effort to handle the devastation caused by days of torrential rain, as the death toll grew to 39 on Monday, including a dozen people found dead in a submerged underpass. The rains have pummeled the country's central and southern regions since Thursday, as the rainy season starting in late June reaches its peak, with the interior ministry also reporting nine people missing and 34 injured. Among the casualties, 12 deaths occurred in a tunnel in the central city of Cheongju, where some 16 vehicles, including a bus, were swamped by a flash flood on Saturday after a levee of a nearby river collapsed. Yoon convened an intra-agency meeting on disaster response and called for authorities to make the utmost effort to rescue victims and vowed support for recovery work, including designating affected areas as special disaster zones. Reporting by Hyunsu Yim Editing by Ed DaviesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies Organizations: Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Cheongju

☆ Tesla begins sale of cheaper Model Y vehicle in South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, July 14 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) began selling its Model Y rear-wheel drive car on Friday in South Korea at a price of 56.99 million won ($45,139), the automaker' s website said, making the vehicles eligible for the maximum rate of government subsidies. Local media said the Tesla Model Y cars were made in China. A tweet by Tesla Korea announcing the sale showed a video of cars being produced in its Gigafactory in Shanghai and being shipped. With subsidies, coupled with Tesla's referral programme, the price can be reduced further to below 50 million won, the company said. In Seoul, consumers can receive subsidies of up to 8.6 million won for EV vehicles priced below 57 million won.

Persons: Tesla, 1,262.5400, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies Organizations: Local, Tesla, EV, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, China, Tesla Korea, Shanghai, Seoul

SEOUL, July 12 (Reuters) - LG Electronics (066570.KS) said on Wednesday it is targeting 100 trillion won ($77 billion) in sales by 2030 and plans some 50 trillion won of investment as the South Korean company announced its future strategy. "LG Electronics will tranform its business portfolio... increase profits by growing in business-to-business, and transition to a service business," CEO William Cho told a press conference. In 2022, LG reported about 65 trillion won in consolidated sales excluding affiliate LG Innotek (011070.KS), which makes device components such as camera modules for smartphones. That would be up from more than 80 trillion won ($61.72 billion) as of end-March, according to an eBest Investment & Securities report on Monday. On Friday, LG Electronics estimated its second-quarter operating profit rose 12.7% from a year earlier to 892.7 billion won, its second-largest April-June quarter profit ever.

Persons: William Cho, 1,292.1700, Hyunsu Yim, hyang Choi, Joyce Lee, Ed Davies, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: LG Electronics, South Korean, LG, Investment, Securities, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, KS

SEOUL/TOKYO, July 12 (Reuters) - North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) off its east coast on Wednesday, prompting U.S. condemnation, as well as from the leaders of South Korea and Japan who met on the sidelines of a NATO summit. The White House condemned the launch and said it would take all necessary measures to ensure its security and that of South Korea and Japan. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Lithuania for the NATO summit, convened an emergency national security council meeting and vowed to use the summit to call for strong international solidarity to confront such threats. [1/3]Passengers wait for their train in front of a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing a ballistic missile off its east coast, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiThe top military generals of the United States, Japan and South Korea gathered for a rare trilateral meeting in Hawaii just before the missile launch.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Adam Hodge, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Kim Hong, Ji, Kim Dong, Yang, Leif, Eric Easley, Josh Smith, Soo, hyang Choi, Hyunsu Yim, Hyonhee, Rami Ayyub, David Brunnstrom, Elaine Lies, Tom Hogue, Lincoln, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: NATO, House, National Security, REUTERS, University of North Korean Studies, Analysts, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Asan Institute, Policy Studies, Ewha Womans University, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, TOKYO, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Korean, American, Pyongyang, Lithuania, Japanese, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Seoul, Hawaii, Japan's, U.S, Washington, Tokyo

☆ S.Korea opposition lawmakers want more experts to review Fukushima discharge plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi and South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Wi Seong-gon attend their meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2023. Yonhap via REUTERS/File PhotoJuly 12 (Reuters) - More expert organizations should take part in reviewing Japan's plan to release Fukushima wastewater into the sea in addition to the U.N nuclear watchdog, South Korean opposition lawmakers said on Wednesday while visiting Japan. Democratic Party lawmaker Wi Seong-gon, who was among the group of lawmakers from the opposition parties, made the comment in a joint statement at a press conference in Tokyo. When asked about the South Korean government's position, Wi said Seoul needed to relay the voices of people who were concerned and opposed to the plan. "We are doing our best to persuade the government and this is why we are visiting Japan right now," Wi said.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, Wi, Yoo Suk Yeol, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies Organizations: Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Democratic Party, National Assembly, Yonhap, REUTERS, Democratic, International Atomic Energy Agency, Korean, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korean, Japan, Tokyo, South

☆ South Korean zoo welcomes giant panda twins
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Giant Panda Ai Bao holds her baby panda with mouth after giving birth to twin at Everland amusement park in Yongin, South Korea, July 11, 2023. Samsung C&T/Yonhap via REUTERSSEOUL, July 11 (Reuters) - A South Korean zoo said on Tuesday it had recently welcomed the first giant panda twins to be born in the country. The first twin weighed 180 grams (6.35 oz) and the second, which arrived nearly two hours later, weighed 140 grams. The birth of the twins comes nearly three years after Fu Bao, the first panda to be born in South Korea, came into the world with the same parents Ai Bao and Le Bao. Fu Bao is due to be returned to China by July next year at the latest, the zoo said.

Persons: Ai Bao, Donghee Chung, Chung, Fu Bao, Le Bao, Cherwon Kang, Ai Bao's, Kang, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies Organizations: Samsung, REUTERS, YouTube, Thomson Locations: Yongin, South Korea, REUTERS SEOUL, Korean, Seoul, China

☆ North Korea accuses U.S. of repeatedly entering its economic zone
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, July 11 (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, on Tuesday accused a U.S. military spy plane of entering the country's Exclusive Economic Zone eight times, state media KCNA reported. The Pentagon earlier brushed aside Pyongyang's accusations of airspace violations and said the U.S. military had adhered to international law. "So those accusations are just accusations," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters. A country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) - which extends 200 nautical miles from the 12 nautical-mile territorial zone around the coast - is a right to exploit marine resources within but does not confer sovereignty over the water's surface or the airspace above it. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller urged North Korea "to refrain from escalatory actions" and reiterated a call for it "to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy" when asked about the North Korean statements at a regular news briefing on Monday.

Persons: Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong, Kim, Sabrina Singh, Matthew Miller, Hyunsu Yim, Kanishka Singh, Chris Reese, Sandra Maler Organizations: Pentagon, U.S . Air Force, U.S . State Department, Korean People's Army, U.S ., Korea's, Chiefs, Staff, South, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, U.S, Tongchon, Gangwon Province, Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, North Korea, South Korea, Pyongyang, Washington

☆ US Women’s Open: Rookie disqualified just five holes into first round after caddie uses rangefinder
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Thai golfer Natthakritta Vongtaveelap made it through just five holes of her US Women’s Open debut on Thursday before she was disqualified due to her caddie’s use of a rangefinder. The 20-year-old LPGA Tour rookie was even-par to start her tournament at California’s famous Pebble Beach course before she was disqualified after caddie Jinsup Kim used the distance-measuring device on two occasions. On July 1, American Zach Williams navigated just two holes of his Korn Ferry Tour debut at the Memorial Health Championship before he was disqualified for using a rangefinder. A five-time champion on the Thai LPGA Tour, Vongtaveelap announced her arrival on the LPGA Tour in stunning fashion with a runner-up finish at the Honda LPGA Classic in February, finishing just one stroke behind American Lilia Vu. This is the first time my brother ever actually watched me play, so it’s really, really special.

Persons: Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, caddie Jinsup Kim, Vongtaveelap, ”, Michael Yim, ” Yim, “, Zach Williams, Korn, I’ll, ” Vongtaveelap’s, Lilia Vu, Kim, Lin, Janet Lin, Korea’s Kim Hyo, Thailand’s, ‘, ’ ” Lin, ” Kim, Ezra Shaw, Áine Donegan, Donegan, Ping, — aine donegan, Leona Maguire, Bailey, Allisen, Nasa Hataoka, Korea’s Hae Ran Ryu, Minjee Lee, Karrie Webb, Rose Zhang, ” Zhang, they’re, “ I’ve Organizations: CNN, US, Women’s, USGA, Tour, PGA Tour, Memorial Health, Thai LPGA, LPGA, Honda LPGA, Lotte, Evian, Pebble, Getty, Nasa, PGA Locations: U.S, Pebble Beach, Republic, Southern California

☆ IAEA chief in South Korea to allay Fukushima water dump concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

No expert behind the IAEA's Fukushima report disagreed with the content, Grossi told news agency Yonhap on Saturday, hinting at his comment during an interview with Reuters one day earlier. Prior to that, Grossi said during a Friday press conference in Japan that he wanted to also meet with the opposition party in South Korea which has been critical of the discharge plan. South Korea's government said on Friday it respected the IAEA's report and that its own analysis had found the release will not have "any meaningful impact" on its waters. But the plan has stirred anger and concern among South Koreans, prompting some shoppers to buy up sea salt. Despite South Korea's assent for the plan, a ban on food and seafood products from the Fukushima region would remain in place.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, Grossi, Yonhap, Yoo Suk Yeol, Lee Jae, myung, Hyunsu Yim, Richard Chang, Kim Coghill Organizations: United Nations, South, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Reuters, Opposition Democratic Party, International Tribunal, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Japan, Seoul's, Tokyo, South, Fukushima

☆ South Korea says respects IAEA review of Japan's Fukushima wastewater plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, July 7 (Reuters) - South Korea's government said on Friday it respected the U.N. nuclear energy watchdog's review of Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive water from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima plant into the ocean and said it met international standards. Seoul announced its own assessment after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gave the greenlight this week to Japan's plan, despite concerns over safety in some neighbouring countries and signs of a consumer backlash. "Therefore the plan meets international standards including those of the IAEA," he said. The plan to discharge the treated water from the Fukushima plant is also expected to "not have any meaningful impact on our ocean areas," Bang said. The announcement comes as Rafael Grossi, director general of the IAEA, is due to arrive in South Korea on Friday for a three-day visit to explain the agency's findings after it approved Japan's plan this week.

Persons: Bang, Yoon Suk Yeol, Rafael Grossi, Jin, Hyunsu Yim, Choi, Ed Davies Organizations: Seoul, International Atomic Energy Agency, Coordination, IAEA, Democratic Party, South Korean Foreign, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Japan, South Korea, Tokyo

☆ Japan protests to S.Korea over military drill on disputed islands
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, July 7 (Reuters) - Japan lodged a protest with South Korea over military drills it conducted on disputed islands, saying it was "extremely regrettable", the foreign ministry said in a statement issued on Friday. "Takeshima is indisputably an inherent territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based on international law," the ministry said in the statement. "The drills by the South Korean military are unacceptable and extremely regrettable." "The East Sea territory defence exercise was carried out to conduct our mission to protect our territory, people and property," a South Korean military official said. The South Korean military has conducted the military drill routinely every year, the official added.

Persons: Kaori Kaneko, Hyunsu Yim, Kim Coghill Organizations: South, South Korea, East, Korean, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, South Korea, South Korean, Tokyo, Seoul, Dokdo, Korea

☆ Vietnam probes Blackpink concert organiser over South China Sea map
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HANOI, July 6 (Reuters) - Vietnam has launched an inspection into K-pop group Blackpink's tour organiser's website, ahead of its concert in Hanoi, over criticism from fans that it shows a map of the South China Sea with disputed boundaries. Chinese organiser iME Entertainment and South Korean agency YG Entertainment (122870.KQ), which manages Blackpink, had no immediate comment. The organiser's website was inaccessible on Thursday but a cached version seen by Reuters and last updated on July 4, shows a vague nine-dash line that encompasses nearly the whole South China Sea. Vietnam and China have long had overlapping territorial claims to a potentially energy-rich stretch in the waterway. The culture ministry's move followed complaints by Vietnamese internet users who noticed the nine-dash line on the organiser's website.

Persons: Phuong Nguyen, Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio, Hyunsu Yim, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Warner Bros, Vietnam, iME Entertainment, YG Entertainment, Reuters, Facebook, Thomson Locations: HANOI, Vietnam, Hanoi, South, South China, Korean, China, The Hague, Seoul

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