Other important headlines_Oct 19

- Lee Heo-chang, former leader of GNP party, said in his lecture this morning organized by ‘Dongkuk Forum’ that the sunshine policy was a complete failure. Lee blamed former president Kim Dae-jung’s argument that the US had responsibility for the current crisis, saying it was an ‘outrageous excuse.’ He lambasted Kim and said “He was the one who gave money to Kim Jong-il and now he passes the buck to the US, which is fallacious.”

- CNN reported yesterday North Korea informed, after its first test, China of its willingness to conduct as many as three more nuclear tests.

- It is said that Uri party representatives asked Kim Geun-tae, the leader of the party, to reconsider his visit to Kaesung Industrial Complex scheduled for October 20. They are said to have urged him not to go by saying the visit by the leader of the ruling party would not go down well with the public especially amid high possibility of a second test. But Kim is said to stick to his decision.

- The Seoul Metropolitan government designated the Seoun district in Jongro as a reconstruction area. A Seoul official said the area would be developed to be greener and more convenient for people to shop. The decade-old Seoun arcade will be demolished by June next year according to the plan.

- TU media, a DMB service provider, resorts to service fee discount from the current W13,000 to W11,000 a month due to a dismal subscription rate. The company sees it difficult to achieve the expected subscription number of 1 m at the end of this year, which is the biggest reason behind the reduced service charge.

- As the fourth round of Korea-US FTA negotiation is slated to be held in Jeju Island from next week, optimistic opinions are gaining ground that the negotiation is likely to be successful given the fact that South Korea now needs firmer alliance with the US. Some Uri party lawmakers content the FTA should be concluded for the shake of the national security. Their logic is if the deal is signed, the US will provide South Korea with stronger nuclear umbrella. People against the deal concern that the political factor weighs into the economic field.