local paper headlines_Oct 23

1. Chosun Ilbo

- In the 38th annual defense meeting between Korea and the US, the two countries couldn’t hide their differences in position especially over the US provision of ‘nuclear umbrella.’ A US high-ranking official rejected Seoul’s briefing that a strategic order had been issued to Gen. Burwell Bell to begin work on how to specify the US nuclear shield. As a clear sign of the difficulties of the consultation, the agreement came 7 hours and a half minutes behind schedule.

- Former President Choi Kyu-hah passed away yesterday at the age of 88 from heart failure.

- According to an official report by Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy, the half of monthly salary of North Korean workers in Kaesung Industrial Complex actually goes to the Rodong Party. The report says about $30 among the salary of $57.5 goes to the party. And even among $30, a worker actually gets only $10 and the remainder is spent on other costs including insurance. A unification official said of the report “even the Unification Ministry doesn’t know exactly, then how come the MCIE knows? “

- Korea turns into an increasingly ageing society as the employment rate of 20-sometings hits a 21-year low. According to the national statistical office, the number of 20-somethings who have a job in the 10 months from January this year is 4.07m, the lowest since 1985 with 4.06m.

- A 70-year-old man who was in the city hall plaza to attend a candlelight vigil against North Korea’s N-test is in a coma after falling from a podium during physical hassle with staff. He is said to go up to the podium to urge to turn off the North Korean Song ‘bankapseupnida.’

2. Maeil Business Daily

- From July next year, ‘m²’ should be officially used instead of widely-used ‘pyong.’ If not abided by, fines up to W500,000 will be imposed.

- Skepticism is arising in the US and Japan over Kim Jong-il’s alleged remark that North Korea would not stage a second nuclear test. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said “Tang didn’t tell me that Kim Jong-il either apologized for the test or said that he would not ever test again.”

- This week will see major companies revealing their quarterly report on earning. The companies include KT$G, SK Telecom, Hyundai Motor, Hana Financial Group, Hynix, Lotte Shopping, Industrial Bank and LG Telecom and so forth.