Korea & China collaborate on fishing, N Korean hypersonic missiles, and Korea is the 3rd best student city in the world
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K-NEWS BITES
Thu 2021-09-30
S. Korea, China discuss measures to stamp out illegal fishing (1 min read)
“South Korea and China discussed joint efforts to stamp out illegal fishing by Chinese boats in the South's waters in their regular fisheries meeting on Tuesday...The South proposed China step up its patrol of fishing boats at major ports, block their entry into the waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL)... and toughen the punishment for vessels violating the rest period. China, in turn, said it will actively cooperate to establish an order for fishing activities in relevant waters.”
Migrant human rights groups denounce excessive use of force at immigration detention center (3 min read)
“Civic groups for the human rights of migrants and foreign nationals here have denounced immigration authorities for the excessive use of force” and inhumane treatment of a Moroccan man in his 30s, “who has been detained at Hwaseong Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province for over six months… calling for punishment of those responsible.” He has been put “under isolation a dozen times” and at times was forced to lie “on his stomach with both hands and legs bound with rope behind his back… his head was covered in protective headgear bound with box tape and cable ties.” The article contains a photo of the detainee while bound.
Breakthrough cases near 8,000, most frequent among those in 30s (1 min read)
“South Korea has reported nearly 8,000 coronavirus infections involving people who tested positive for COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated, health authorities said Wednesday… The rate of breakthrough cases occurring is 0.044 percent, and the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risk of becoming a breakthrough case, the authorities said.”
New cases spike to 2nd largest; infections in greater Seoul top 2,000 again (2 min read)
“The country reported 2,885 new COVID-19 cases, including 2,859 local infections, bringing the total caseload to 308,725, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)... The country added 10 more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 2,474.”
General COVID Information for residents in Korea:
Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea
Coronavirus Statistics for South Korea
North Korea says it tested a hypersonic missile. If true, it could change the military equation in east Asia (7 min read)
“While the exact specifications of North Korea's hypersonic Hwasong-8 missile are not yet known, missiles with hypersonic glide vehicles can theoretically fly as fast as 20 times the speed of sound and can be very maneuverable in flight, making them almost impossible to shoot down, according to experts.” Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said “developing the ‘strategic’ weapon was one of the five ‘top-priority tasks of the five-year plan’ for the country's defense. “Only two countries, Russia and China, are thought to have deployable hypersonic missiles.” The article contains brief videos of Russian and Chinese missile demonstrations.
JCS Confirms North Korea Developed Hypersonic Missile (1 min read)
“The South Korean military on Wednesday confirmed that North Korea has developed a hypersonic missile… [which] appears to be at an early stage of development, which requires considerable time before actual deployment. While hypersonic missiles usually fly at a speed of at least Mach 5… the North's missile traveled at Mach 3, as detected by intelligence officials in South Korea and the U.S… [and] the missile currently can be intercepted by the allies' military assets.”
Seoul treads lightly around Pyongyang’s ‘ballistic’ missile (2 min read) - Optional
“Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday continued to exercise caution regarding North Korea’s latest missile test, while the US and Japan have condemned Pyongyang for firing what appears to be a ballistic missile, a violation of UN resolutions… Experts said South Korea left room for diplomacy with the reclusive regime by releasing a toned-down statement amid its budding efforts to resume inter-Korean talks.”
Korea to launch 1st homegrown space rocket on Oct. 21 (1 min read)
“South Korea will launch its first homegrown space rocket next month as it is in the final stages of preparations, the science ministry said Wednesday… the rocket, Nuri, will lift off Oct. 21 as scheduled at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, 473 kilometers south of Seoul… The 200-ton Nuri will carry a 1.5-ton mock payload for the October launch ahead of its launch with a 200-kilogram satellite and a 1.3-ton dummy payload on May 19 next year. The article contains a photo of the Nuri rocket.
Korea accounts for one-third of global EV battery market in Jan.-Aug. period (1 min read)
“Three South Korean electric vehicle (EV) battery makers accounted for about a third of the global market in the first eight months of the year, but they are facing toughening competition with Chinese rivals... The trio ― LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK Innovation ― accounted for 34.8 percent of the global EV battery market in the January-August period, inching down from 35 percent a year ago”
Seoul third-best city in world to be a student: report (1 min read)
“Seoul is the third-best city in the world to be a university student, according to a recent report from UK-based education consultant Studee… [which] on Tuesday released the Student Cities Index for 2021, indicating the best 100 cities for university students across the globe.” The report said, “Seoul has the greatest number of high-ranking universities anywhere in the study… The city also offers reasonably cheap rent and above-average levels of free speech… Tokyo took first place, followed by Melbourne, Australia. Australia had four cities in the top 10.” The article contains a map of “the best student cities in the world”.
Survey Puts Seoul 42nd in World's 100 Best Cities List (1 min read)
“Seoul has ranked 42nd in a recent survey of the best cities around the world. Global consulting firm Resonance rolled out a list of The World’s 100 Best Cities based on measurements on six categories, including place, product, people, prosperity, programming and promotion… London, Paris and New York rounded out top 3, while Moscow placed fourth. Los Angeles, Barcelona and Madrid ranked eighth, ninth and tenth."
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