Local paper headlines_Nov 17

Maeil Business Daily

- A team of Korean researchers have successfully developed a battery that can last for a year once recharged.

- Venture companies in Daeduk, Daejon are receiving a flurry of investment offers from foreign companies.

- A former democratic labor party member who has been recently arrested on allegation of being a North Korean spy is said to have testified that he had set up a plan to do terrorist acts on South Korea’s 100 influential men including Lee Kun-hee, Chun Doo-hwan, and Hwang Jang-yeop.

Chsoun Ilbo

- Only 15 minutes after the MOFAT issued its stance on the UN vote on North Korean human rights issues, the Unification Ministry showed a gesture that seemed to water down Korea’s changed tougher stance, by saying the government’s basic North Korean policy of resolving the issue through dialogue, not through sanctions or pressure, would continue.

- In the confirmation hearing, Song Min-soon evaded an answer to the question, “Is North Korea an autocratic state?,” saying “I can’t answer to that in an open place like this.” He was lambasted by lawmakers for his alleged change of position from ‘pro-America’ to ‘anti-America’ in order to ‘please’ President Roh.

Portal sites

- The government moves to raise public health insurance fee by up to 7.9 per cent after it failed to hike cigarette prices. The decision will be out within next month.

- Some opposition lawmakers argue that Lee Heo-chang who left the politics after he had failed in the 16th presidential election, should return to the party to help the GNP take power in the next election. A representative close to Lee said “I don’t think Lee hasn’t thought about returning.”

- Hong Kong’s monthly magazine reported today that there is a possibility for Kim Jong-il to officially designate his heir within this month. The magazine didn’t specify where the information came from.

- Four out of ten government officials over 5-level have more than a Master’s degree and one in ten has a Doctor’s degree. Rural Development Administration, Korea Food & Drug Administration, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office are the three among government agencies that have the most highly-educated staff.

- North Korean deputy ambassador designate to the UN Kim Myong-kil said in a telephone interview with the AP that Seoul’s approval vote on the UN resolution for North Korean human rights would have a ‘bad impact’ on inter-Korean relations.