portal sites headlines

- Speculation is mounting within the government that North Korea might stay away from the inter-Korean ministerial talks slated to be held in Pusan from July 11. A government official close to the talks says “we made it clear that the major issue will be North Korean missiles and the stalled six party talks so now the ball is in North Korea’s court.”

- As handset maker VK filed a bankruptcy, the company’s plan to develop mobile phone based on GSM in cooperation with North Korean technicians is one the verge of being scrapped. The company has started the joint project with North Korea’s Samcheon-ri Technology Company since September 2003

- It is belatedly revealed that Sonoko Cusineware Co. bribed North Korean officials with various goods including car, western liquor, medicine, and first-rated cooking pot sets worth more than W500,000 around the end of 2004 when the company’s first ‘Made in Kaesung’ cooking pot was out on the market.

- Moon Jung-in said there is high possibility that North Korea attends an unofficial six party talks China suggested. In a radio interview, he said “North Korea is now in an internationally difficult situation so if the unofficial meeting can produce breakthrough and lead to official talks, there will be nothing better North Korea hopes than that.”

- According to a poll on 32 headhunters by Money Today, former president Kim Dae-joong ranks number one in the list of most competent leader among former high-ranking officials in Korea, followed by Cheon Doo-hwan, Roh Moo-hyun, and Kim Yong-sam. The barometers of the evaluation were economic development, stable economy, social unity, and peaceful diplomacy.

- Due to five-day work week system, office workers’ ‘Monday Stress syndrome” is reported to worsen. In fact, Job Korea’s research found out that a word, ‘resignation,’ is searched in portal sites most frequently on Monday.