NEWSLINE AT NOON 12:00 S. Korea′s unification minister departs for U.S. as Seoul
NEWSLINE AT NOON 12:00 Coming up on this Monday edition of Newsline at Noon,... South Korea′s unification minister leaves for Washington to discuss North Korea policy with U.S. officials as Seoul moves to end tensions with the North. The International Olympic Committee says it could allow the South Korean host city of Pyeongchang to hold some of its 2018 Winter Olympic events outside of Korea. The games′ organizing committee says it′s unlikely to make such a decision. Plus,... racially-charged protests against police brutality enter their fourth night in the United States. These stories and more on Newsline at Noon. It′s noon, Monday, December 8th, here in Korea. Thanks for tuning in. Live from Seoul... I′m Eoh Jin-joo. Good to have you with us,.... I′m Mark Broome. Title: S. Korea′s unification minister departs for U.S. as Seoul seeks new momentum in inter-Korean ties Our top story this afternoon... South Korea′s top North Korea policymaker embarks on a week-long visit to the United States on this Monday. The trip comes as Seoul is considering a more active strategy to improve inter-Korean ties... ahead of next year... which marks the 70th anniversary of the division of the Korean peninsula. Hwang Sung-hee starts us off. In Washington, South Korean Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae will meet with senior officials, including Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and lawmakers vocal on North Korea issues, such as Ed Royce and Marco Rubio. His trip marks the first visit to the U.S. by a South Korean unification minister since 2011... and comes as Seoul seeks out new momentum in inter-Korean relations. A senior South Korean official told reporters Monday that the government must actively consider incentives for North Korea to resolve the issue of war-separated families, who are now in their 80s and 90s. Stressing its utmost importance, the official said it would be an international shame if the government failed to resolve the matter. Although he did not elaborate on what the incentives could be, it′s widely speculated South Korea is considering the lifting of economic sanctions imposed on the North in 2010. The sanctions came after North Korea torpedoed a South Korean warship, killing 46 soldiers. The official stressed Pyongyang must apologize for the attack for the sanctions to be lifted, but added all issues will be open for discussion if the two Koreas meet for talks. Pundits say the South Korean government should seek a package deal that includes an apology from the North for the 2010 attack, the lifting of sanctions and the issue of war-separated families for a much-needed breakthrough in inter-Korean relations. Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News. Title: President Park lays out ′trustpolitik′ plan for world peace, stability President Park Geun-hye says... North Korea′s nuclear development is not only a grave threat to peace on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia, but also the entire world.
