Podcast: City investigates new sinkhole, FTA to be signed, and PM's pledge for inter-Korean ties
Today on The Korea Times Podcast: Seoul officials investigate why two people fell through a sidewalk and South Korea and China look to ink their FTA this week. Plus New Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo promises to improve inter-Korean relations and Kim Jong-un gets an invite to the Asian-African Conference.
City to investigate sidewalk collapse
Seoul city officials are investigating why a sidewalk near a construction site collapsed, with two people to falling into a three-meter hole close to Yongsan station on Friday. According to the Yongsan Fire Department, the sinkhole appeared next to where Daewoo Constructions is building a 39-storey, two building apartment block.
Korea, China expected to initial free trade deal this week
South Korea and China look to finalize their free trade agreement this week, officials in Seoul said Sunday, raising chances of the deal, hailed as the biggest and the most promising for South Korea, being enacted within the year. The two countries announced on Nov. 10 that they concluded negotiations for an FTA that began back 2012. Most of what was agreed, especially the scale of items excluded from tariff removal, have yet to be disclosed. Details are expected to be made public after the signing.
PM pledges to improve S-N ties
New Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo has promised to help President Park Geun-hye improve inter-Korean ties. Lee made the pledge on Thursday when he paid a courtesy call to Lee Hee-ho, the widow of President Kim Dae-jung.
N. Korean leader invited to Bandung meeting in Indonesia in April
Indonesia has invited Kim Jong-un to an international meeting to be held Jakarta, this upcoming April, although his attendance has yet to be confirmed. Along with Kim Jong-un, the Indonesian government has also invited Kim Yong-nam, North Korea's nominal head of state and the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly. If Kim does so, it would be his first visit to a foreign country since abruptly taking power in December 2011 following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.
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