Other important headlines

- Eight mountaineers, who stayed in a small rural village to undergo training in the run up to mountain climbing in China this September, are reported to have saved the lives of 50 local people who were on the verge of being swept away by flooding.

- It is reported that Kim Jong-il has said to an American who visited Pyongyang early this month that China is ‘unreliable country.’” In hours-long conversation, he spoke out his mistrust and criticism toward the Chinese leadership by saying “China is not helping us in a decisive moment.”

- The Ministry of Defense is said to have taken over management control of four more army bases than originally revealed 15 places. “The reason why we didn’t include the four bases when announcing the 15 army bases was we didn’t reach an agreement with the US side at that time. And the US had withdrawn the security company to save its budget and those army bases were then left empty so we dispatched our soldiers there,” said an army official.

- The Ministry of Health and Welfare revealed measures to encourage domestic adoption including two-week adoption vacation, domestic-first adoption policy, and financial assistance to adopting families.

- It has been five days since fierce confrontation between Pohang construction labor union and the police began. The unionists are occupying Posco headquarters and the police failed to enter the building. It is very unusual for part-time construction workers, who are widely believed to have weak cohesiveness, to go on a long-term strike.

- Public criticism is mounting over 30 Goyang city officials pushing ahead with its overseas travel to China at a time when residents in the city are suffering from heavy rainfall and busy doing reconstruction works. Kang Hyun-seok, City Mayor, explained “I didn’t think it was going to be a big problem and it was difficult to cancel the already-booked tour. So I let them go as planned.”