other important headlines_Oct. 16

- The government is said to suffer severe internal discord as to the level of response to North Korea it would take. A unification official reaffirmed to stick to the two inter-Korean economic businesses but officials from MOFAT and the Defense Ministry contend it is inevitable either to downsize or to stop the businesses in order to effectively press North Korea.

- North Korea experts say the regime will intensify tension in north-east Asia to have bigger leverage and is not going to easily give in to the international pressure. As it pronounced, there is high possibility for the North to conduct either another nuclear test or Taepo-dong missiles launches. The re-launch of Taepo-dong missiles can evoke a bigger repercussion since, if successful, it means the North loads nuclear warhead onto the long-range missile.

- After the N-test by North Korea, China has set up a wired fence alongside its border with North Korea which is believed to block North Koreans from secretly coming to China. On October 13, according to business men who operate trading companies with North Korea, Bank of China’s Dandung branch rejected their request to wire money to North Korea without offering a proper reason.

- Ban Ki-moon revealed at his meeting with Japanese reporters in New York he is willing to meet Kim Jong-il. He also made clear his position that he would progressively react to North Korea nuclear problems, and would appoint a special envoy in charge of the matter.

- It is reported that 34.9 per cent of officials who have been caught receiving slush funds since 2000 turned out to be court officials.

- According to Pyong Hwa Motor operating in North Korea, the most popular car in the reclusive regime are a SUV and a pick-up truck. The company sells about 400 cars a year and has four different cars. The most popular car is Bbokkugi III, a pick-up truck, amounting to 40 per cent of the last year’s whole sale.

- Money in dormant bank accounts is reported to total about W343.7 bn as of August, but only 1.69 per cent of the money has been retrieved. Kookmin bank has the biggest sleeping accounts which amount at W81.2 bn.

- The increasing number of household is cut off electricity and gas due to deferred bills, reflecting the widening trend of families with economic hardship. As of June, 135,000 households, 1.2 per cent of the whole number, are cut off gas and 3,065 are cut off electricity.