[News Briefing] More activists arrested at Jeju naval base protest site

Posted on : 2011-07-15 14:31 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST

Three activists were reportedly arrested by undercover police officers the morning of July 15 at a protest site.
Those arrested include Gangjeong Village Mayor Kang Dong-kyun, Ko Gwon-il, chairman of a committee on measures to opposite the base, and prominent activist Song Kang-ho.
Residents of Gangjeong Village in Jeju Island’s Seogwipo, the planned site for a naval base, along with civic and social organizations, have objected to the construction plans for the base, calling for a full reexamination. These calls intensified in May as the Ministry of National Defense effectively withdrew the “ocean navy strategy” it had cited as a reason for building the base.
 
BOK ups 2011 inflation forecast, cuts growth outlook
South Korea’s central bank on Friday revised up its 2011 inflation outlook on high oil and food prices, but downgraded the economy’s growth projection due to persistent uncertainties at home and abroad.
The Bank of Korea (BOK) said consumer prices are likely to grow 4 percent this year, slightly up from an earlier 3.9 percent estimate made in April, underscoring the difficulty in taming high inflation.
The BOK also lowered its growth projection for this year to 4.3 percent from an earlier 4.5 percent forecast due mainly to weaker domestic demand and construction investment. In the second half, the economy is expected to grow 4.7 percent, down from an earlier estimate of 4.9 percent.
The BOK forecasts came as the government revised down its 2011 economic growth projection to 4.5 percent from around 5 percent in late June. But the central bank’s inflation projection is in line with the government’s revised forecast.
The outlook revision came one day after the BOK froze the key interest rate at 3.25 percent, following a rate hike in June, due to heightened external economic uncertainty, including the eurozone debt crisis.
(Yonhap News) 
 
Coca-Cola, KFC to open first branch in N.Korea
In a symbolic move to welcome international capitalism North Korea has reportedly agreed to let global corporations Coca-Cola and KFC begin operations in its capital, Pyongyang (Pyeongyang).
Citing sources close to North Korea, Seoul-based YTN reported on Thursday that a group of 10 people representing the two brands visited North Korea last week, and that the first Pyongyang branch will likely open in September or October.
Voice of America, meanwhile, says the possibility of bringing in KFC is reported to have come up during a North Korean business delegation’s trip to the US in March.
(Arirang News) 
 
 

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