KG MOBILITY Torres EVX

Launched in July 2022, the Torres is the last hope for the troubled Ssangyong Motor Company and the last vehicle to don the Ssangyong banner. Thanks to the Torres' success, the troubled car company is under the hands of its new owner, KG Group, and Ssangyong was renamed KG MOBILITY. A year has passed since the Torres' debut and with KG MOBILITY's new hopes for the new normal, an all-electric version made the rounds.

2024 KG MOBILITY Torres EVX

The first-ever Torres EVX, priced at 47.5 million Korean Won plus additional costs, is the all-electric version of the Torres that is metaphorically labeled as the First Electric Leisure SUV, despite the fact that this is basically an FF-only all-electric crossover fit for almost every walk of life.

To differentiate the EVX from the normal Torres, it's been given a different front design featuring visor-inspired headlamps and unique rear lamps. As for the interior, it's just like a regular Torres and despite its EV drivetrain, the boot space remains up to 1,662 liters thanks to the blade-shaped battery pack that doesn't occupy the space, a wise move only KGM can think of.

The blade-shaped 73.4kWh battery pack is mated to the electric motor that powers the front wheels. this EV powertrain produces a high-performance class 207PS power output, and 34.6kgf-m of torque, which is more compared to its petrol-powered equivalent. It has 433km of driving range on one full charge.

The fact that it's an FF-only electric SUV adds irony to its tough character, the EVX feels civilized to drive almost everywhere thanks to its front MacPherson struts, rear independent multi-link, and front ventilated disc brakes.

Like the normal Torres, the EVX has a wide variety of safety features such as Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Braking Assistance, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, Lane Change Warning, Reverse Collision Avoidance Warning, Reverse Collision Prevention Assistance, and Safe Exit Warning, among many others.

Being a front-wheel-drive-only EV SUV hurts the tough character inherited from its petrol-powered equivalent but the Torres EVX is an all-or-nothing gamble rolled by the recently-renamed KG MOBILITY and looks like it's prime time for what's metaphorically called the First Electric Leisure SUV.

Photo: KG MOBILITY

Hyundai IONIQ 5 N

When Hyundai's high-performance N division said they would brace electrification, they really meant it, shocking the entire world by storm. After years of waiting since the launch of IONIQ 5, the first-ever electrified N car has arrived and it's time to get too jealous about it.

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N

2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N interior

Welcome to the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, the high-performance version of the award-winning IONIQ 5 electric crossover that signals the start of N's electrified route, like it or not. It costs 76,000,000 Korean Won plus additional costs and from every angle, this commoner's EV gets Physical. Physical: N, of course.

Although it looks vaguely similar to the normal IONIQ 5, this beefed-up version features signature N elements, a sporty exterior design, an N Steering Wheel with N-specific functions, and a specific center console with race-specific features fit for your track day use in Inje, among many others. It's hard to say if the IONIQ 5 N is a classified sleeper car because it looks pretty much like the normal one but...who knows. It's going to be a long day.

Armed with an 84kWh Li-ion battery pack and two electric motors powering the front and rear wheels, making it a punchy 4WD prized fighter, the IONIQ 5 N produces a default 609PS of power and 740Nm of torque, more powerful than the Kia EV6 GT. However, with the N Grin Boost engaged for ten seconds, the power gets bumped to 650PS, and with N Launch Control in play, it's capable of a 0-100kph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 260kph, faster than a luxury German saloon. As for the driving range, it's good for 351km on one full charge.

Just like the normal IONIQ 5, it supports V2L capability, meaning you can use some of its juice to charge your phones, your laptop, heck, you can even plug in your TV sets and binge-watch some K-dramas while in the middle of a tailgating party with your pals.

Being a 4WD electric street fighter, the IONIQ 5 N is armed with an e-LSD at the rear axle as well as N Torque Distribution with 11 levels of adjustment and by surprise, an N Drift Optimiser. Although it feels bulky to drive as expected for an electric car, its N characteristics made it damn-straight addictive everywhere. You can really forget about your thoughts while trying to wrestle this car like a Ssireum match.

Although controversial, the IONIQ 5 N features numerous gimmicks such as the N e-shift system where a virtual 8-speed DCT comes out for the play and with the manual mode set, it shifts like you were in a video game, and the ultra-flashy N Active Sound+ where two external speakers and eight internal speakers can imitate engine noises including the jet-inspired Supersonic sound effect.

Like the normal IONIQ 5, the N features a host of safety features such as Remote Smart Parking Assist, Surround View Monitor, and Hyundai SmartSense, among many others.

So, what can I say about the IONIQ 5 N? While the virtual gear shifting and the virtual sound effects are flashy enough to be taunted by speedo boys as a poser machine, not to mention the quirky and bulky handling feel that feels like you're in a Ssireum match, the IONIQ 5 N is one of the many reasons that electric cars are getting manly and dangerous at the same time. Mixing subtlety and obviousness is one thing but with the IONIQ 5 N, we're experiencing burning jealousy right now, wishing we wanted to drive one someday.

The commoner's EV has turned...

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

Kia Ray EV

Originally available only for rental or car-sharing purposes until 2019, the Kia Ray EV returns, and this time, it's available to the general public starting at 27,750,000 Korean Won plus additional costs, making this the cheapest Korean electric car you can buy and own today.

2024 Kia Ray EV

2024 Kia Ray EV interior

No strings attached, of course. The Kia Ray EV made its comeback after a four-year absence and unlike the previous one, it's yours to drive and keep if you have the budget to fully own it.

The reborn Kia Ray EV looks just like the recently facelifted Kia Ray, meaning you can still expect the squarish front face with EV9-inspired headlamps, grille-less design, revised rear lamps, and the slightly revised interior with a 10.25-inch color LCD cluster and console-type gear lever as expected but because this is the electric version, you can expect a number of features to differentiate it such as the charging port, exclusive Smoke Blue exterior color, unique 14-inch alloy wheels, and the i-PEDAL mode that can be engaged via paddle shifters.

Micro-business entrepreneurs can have either the two-seater or the single-seater van variants where the rear seats have been deleted for the sake of extra cargo space needed to deliver some balikbayan boxes if you're into that.

2024 Kia Ray EV

The Kia Ray EV's electric powertrain is powered by a 35.2kWh battery pack, making it capable of producing 64.3kW of power output and 147Nm of torque. As for driving range, it's good for 205km in one full charge. As for safety, the Ray EV comes with numerous features such as Rear Collision Prevention Assistance, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Prevention Assist, among many others.

Made for the new normal, the Kia Ray EV is a budget-friendly electric vehicle you can really own and drive with confidence.

Photo: Kia

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Travis King in US custody after North Korea expulsion

 

US soldier Travis King, who fled from South to North Korea in July, is in American custody after being expelled by Pyongyang, officials say.

Pvt King was transferred into US custody in China before being flown to a US military installation.

The 23-year-old reconnaissance specialist illegally crossed into North Korea in July.

North Korean media said he had fled because of "inhuman treatment" and racism within the US military.

A senior administration official said on Wednesday that after months of "intense diplomacy" Pvt King had been returned to US hands and had spoken to his family.

"We can confirm Pvt King is very happy to be on his way home, and he is very much looking forward to reuniting with his family," the official said.

"We are going to guide him through a re-integration process that will address any medical and emotional concerns and ensure we get him in a good place to reunite with his family."

The official added that the US made no concessions to secure his release.

After being met by US officials in the Chinese border city of Dandong, Pvt King was taken by a state department aircraft to a US airbase in South Korea.

He was expected to return to US soil on Wednesday afternoon, according to state department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Earlier on Wednesday, North Korea's state-run news agency said the country had decided to remove Pvt King, without offering further details.

"The relevant body in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has decided to deport US soldier Travis King, who illegally entered the territory of the republic, in accordance with the laws of the republic," it said.

Pvt King has been in the army since January 2021 and was in South Korea as part of a unit rotation.

Before entering North Korea, he had served two months in detention in South Korea on charges that he assaulted two people and kicked a police car. He was released from custody on 10 July.

He had been due to return to the US for disciplinary proceedings, but managed to leave the airport and join a guided tour of the border village of Panmunjom on the heavily guarded Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) between the two countries. Pvt King crossed into North Korea while on the tour.

The senior administration official said that the immediate focus will be on getting him medically evaluated before any potential disciplinary and administrative actions.

According to the senior administration official, the US learned earlier this month that North Korea intended to release Pvt King.

Swedish officials travelled to North Korea and brought Pvt King to its border with China, where he was met by US ambassador Nicholas Burns. China played a "constructive role" but "did not mediate", the official added.

"All these pieces had to come together quickly," the US official said.

As the US and North Korea have no diplomatic relations, Sweden's embassy in Pyongyang has traditionally negotiated on behalf of the US.

A Swedish embassy spokesman confirmed that the country had acted "within its role as a protective power" for the US in North Korea during the King case.

Jonathan Franks, a spokesman for Pvt King's mother, Claudine Gates, said in a statement that she will "forever be grateful" to the US Army and its partners "for a job well done".

The statement added that Pvt King's family does not intend to give any interviews "for the foreseeable future".

His relatives have previously told US media that he had experienced discrimination while serving in the US military.

They have said his mental health suffered during his time in South Korean custody.

In an interview with the Associated Press news agency last month, Ms Gates said her son had "so many reasons to come home".

"I just can't see him ever wanting to just stay in Korea when he has family in America," she said.

Frank Aum, a North Korea expert at the Washington DC-based US Institute of Peace, said that Pvt King's 71-day detention was "fairly typical" in cases of US citizens held in the country who "are not perceived to have committed a major crime".

Some analysts had speculated Pyongyang might have opted to use the US soldier as a diplomatic bargaining chip.

In previous instances, North Korea has insisted a senior US representative travel to the country to negotiate any American detainee's release, though there is so far no indication that happened in this case.

"They [North Korea] have believed that may be some way to help re-start talks," said Mr Aum, who was previously a senior adviser on North Korea at the office of the US secretary of defence.

"But it didn't seem like North Korea was interested in doing that this time. That may be a reflection of the fact that North Korea is not interested in engaging with the US at the moment."

Mr Aum added that North Korean officials were also no doubt keen to avoid "reinforcing an international perception" that they are a major human rights violator making arbitrary detentions.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Wednesday that while the US "is open to diplomacy" with North Korea, the country's government has repeatedly "rejected" the possibility.

Mick Mulroy, a former deputy assistant secretary of defence and CIA paramilitary officer, told the BBC it is a "good thing" that Pvt King was being returned to US custody, although he "is a young man that made some mistakes".

"He is a US soldier and it was important that we did everything we could to bring him home," Mr Mulroy added.

Source: BBC 

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korean firm offers newest submarines to Philippine Navy

 

South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean has stepped up a bid to build a pair of submarines for the Philippine Navy, to match the proposals of shipbuilding giants from France and Spain as they vie for the multibillion- peso acquisition project.

Executives from Hanwha Ocean were in Manila last week to formally pitch its newest 2,800-ton Jang Bogo-III submarines to the Philippine Navy for its updated proposal.

The 77-meter diesel-electric submarines with an overall beam of 9.7 meters are equipped with the latest propulsion system and lithium-ion battery technology that could ensure the Philippines’ enhanced defense capability to safeguard its sovereign and strategic maritime interests, Hanwha Ocean vice president Steve SK Jeong said in a press briefing in Manila.

Jeong added that the two-boat submarine offer—which intended to meet the Philippine Navy’s P97-billion budget—is part of a submarine force package that includes training, technology transfer, safety and integrated logistics support, simulators and a maintenance yard in Subic Bay “or anywhere the Navy wants them.”

The government-to-government deal involves a long-term loan with a delivery in seven years once a deal is signed.

Submarine features

The Jang Bogo-III submarines are currently operated by the Republic of Korean Navy for a two-year period.

The vessels are each armed with six torpedo tubes that are also capable of firing antiship missile, have a submerged speed of 21 knots and can handle up to 41 personnel.

In addition, the submarines are equipped with an air independent propulsion system, allowing these vessels extended endurance and range underwater. However, this capability is still subject to negotiation depending on Philippine Navy requirements.

Information from a Hanwha Ocean handout said the lithium ion battery has a shorter charging time and would allow six days of operations without battery charging. The offered submarines also boast shorter maintenance periods compared to the models offered by rivals.

The Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME), before it was rebranded to Hanwha Ocean earlier this year, previously offered its 1,400-ton submarines to the Philippine Navy. It has been building submarines since the 1980s.

‘Wise to prepare’

Jeong, a retired Korean Navy vice admiral, said acquiring submarines was a “more economical choice” in the long term.

“Some people say buying, building a submarine force is expensive. It looks like we’re putting in more money the first time but in the long run it is a lot cheaper than building surface force,” he said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer 

2023 CJ LOGISTICS SUPERRACE CHAMPIONSHIP - Jeonnam GP

The 2023 CJ LOGISTICS SUPERRACE CHAMPIONSHIP returns at Korea International Circuit in Yeongam for the Jeonnam GP and as the beginning of autumn starts to cool things down, the drivers are heating up as the climax draws near, whatever it takes. For the drivers of ECSTA Racing, their road to dominance continues, whatever it takes.

Screengrab from Superrace

Ecsta Racing driver Lee Chanjoon trumped the two Vollgas drivers, Jang Hyunjin and Jeong Hoe Won, to win the Jeonnam GP, pushing his driver's championship lead further in the hopes of grabbing the title in the season finale.

With Chanjoon leading the driver's championship after winning three out of six races, will he be able to grab the title? The season finale will be at Yongin Everland Speedway this November 4 and 5. Don't miss it!

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: BTS’ Suga Reveals Military Enlistment Date; Reps Ask Fans to “Refrain From Visiting His Workplace”

 

BTS’ Suga is set to enlist for mandatory military service this week, reps said Sunday.

“We have further information regarding Suga’s military service,” BIGHIT Music posted on the South Korean app Weverse. “Suga will be beginning his required service on September 22.”

South Korea requires men between the ages of 18 and 35 to enlist for a period of 18 to 21 months if they are physically fit.

Reps first noted last year that BTS would be required to enlist in the coming months and that all seven members of the group wouldn’t be able to perform together again until 2025.

“There will not be any official events taking place on the day he starts his service or on the day he enters the training camp,” BIGHIT continued. “We kindly ask fans to refrain from visiting Suga at his workplace during the period of his service. Please convey your warm regards and encouragement in your hearts only.”

The reps also gave fans a warning about unauthorized tours or products.

“Please be mindful to avoid getting adversely affected by unauthorized tours or package products that illegally use the artist’s intellectual property,” BIGHIT added. “Our company will take appropriate measures against attempts at any commercial activity that make unauthorized use of artist IP.”

BIGHIT added: “We ask for your continued love and support for SUGA until he completes his service and returns. Our company will also strive to provide all the support he needs during this time.”

For his part, Suga did a live stream on Weverse that was translated by a follower. He told fans that they shouldn’t be sad about his enlistment and that he’d be done in 2025.

Suga released his solo album, D-DAY, under the name Agust D in April. He recently wrapped his Agust D-DAY tour.

In addition to Suga, BTS members Jin and J-Hope also have enlisted.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea counting on PH’s support for Busan’s World Expo 2030 bid

 

The South Korean government is counting on the support of the Philippines, one of its closest allies, for the port city of Busan’s bid to host the World Expo in 2030. 

Busan is competing with Rome, Italy and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to host the World Expo 2030. 

According to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which regulates “all international exhibitions that last more than three weeks, member states including the Philippines will vote for the host country of the World Expo 2030 during the 173rd General Assembly that will be held in November “on the principle of one country, one vote.”

South Korea is bidding to host the event in Busan between May 1 to Oct. 31 2030 under the theme “Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future.” 

World Expos, according to the BIE, “are a global gathering of nations dedicated to finding solutions to pressing challenges of our time by offering a journey inside a universal theme through engaging and immersive activities.” 

In an interview with Manila Bulletin at the Korean Cultural Center (KCC), Park Enna, Korea’s former ambassador to the United Kingdom and the executive committee chairperson of the Citizens Committee Bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo, emphasized the strong partnership of the Philippines and South Korea. 

Park visited the Philippines to get the support of the government for Busan’s bid. 

“The Philippines and Korea, as members of the Pacific, we have the responsibility to make the Pacific area as something which can contribute to the whole world. How we make the Pacific area, how we can contribute to the world, it’s up to us,” she said. 

Park added, “As a genuine partner for the future, the Philippines and Korea, we hope to walk together and we act together.” 

South Korea and the Philippines have strong bilateral relations. The two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations next year. 

Thousands of Filipinos work in South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS), a government-to-government employment program. South Korea has helped the Philippines especially during times of disaster. 

“Korea and the Philippines, we will celebrate next year the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. It means that we will have a significant milestone to upgrade and deepen our collaboration as genuine brother-sister countries,” added Enna. 

She highlighted that “working together for the [Busan World] Expo, it will contribute to our strong bond.” 

Busan: A symbol of transformation 

Enna underscored Busan’s strong capabilities and qualities to host the World Expo 2030. 

“Busan is a symbol of transformation. Busan itself made a big transformation from a small fishing town to become the sixth largest container port in the world. We have a very successful story of transformation,” she said. 

Based on information South Korea submitted to the BIE, the Busan World Expo 2030 is estimated to attract 34.8 million visitors. 

The Busan World Expo 2030 will be held in the Busan North Port, which was Korea’s first trading port.  

“We believe that Busan can inspire the world with our transformation and also our vision for the transformation. The transformation we want to achieve is world transformation. That is the biggest strength of Busan because Busan has the vision for the world,” said Park. 

Busan’s second strength, she said, is that it is a maritime city. 

“Among candidates, Busan is the only city which connects the land and ocean. Our human civilization should utilize both land and ocean. Busan is the best location to implement that vision,” according to her. 

She added, “Busan can also inspire the world with its values. Values of openness, democracy, rule-based order, tolerance and innovation–those values on which future civilization should be built.” 

“Busan is ready to implement the vision of the Expo. Expo is no longer a simple exhibition of new technologies and inventions. Expo is a platform to present solutions to the problems or challenges of humanity like climate change, digital divide or new technology, unprecedented technology like AI [artificial intelligence] and robotics, and inequality issues,” she emphasized. 

According to Park, “Expo should present a blueprint for the future. Busan is the best, the most suitable one, the most desirable one to implement the mission of the Expo.”

“It is part of our redevelopment, the generation project of all the town. Our original port should make its own transformation from a port city to a green, innovative, smart city. Busan is ready in terms of logistics, transportation, accommodation and providing all the facilities required for the Expo,” she said. 

Last April, an enquiry team from BEI visited Busan to check on the aspects of the proposal submitted by South Korea for the World Expo 2030. 

The visiting mission, led by Patrick Specht, the president of the administration and budget committee, was met by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. 

“Their conclusion was all  candidate cities are qualified but among all others, Busan is the most ready to host the Expo,” added Park. 

Members of Grammy-nominated K-pop group BTS are the honorary ambassadors for the World Expo 2030 Busan. They were officially appointed in a ceremony last year. 

Enna said Busan is confident in winning the bid to host the World Expo 2030. 

“The Expo should serve to the humanity. Busan is a symbol of transformation and has a strong vision for the future, especially Busan citizens are very enthusiastic to have the Expo. This Expo is actually a citizen-driven initiative. It’s a participatory process,” said Park. 

Source: Manila Bulletin 

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea conducts missile launch into sea after US bomber drills

 

North Korea fired at least two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Wednesday, August 30, South Korea’s military said, hours after the United States separately deployed B-1B bombers for allied air drills.

Japan’s defense ministry also reported that at least one suspected ballistic missile was launched, while Japanese media reported that two missiles were fired and landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“Our military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional provocations, and is maintaining full readiness through close cooperation between Korea and the United States,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The launch comes a day before South Korea and the US wrap up 11 days of combined military drills, which Pyongyang has denounced.

The B-1B bombers conducted separate air drills with warplanes from South Korea and Japan earlier on Wednesday.

North Korea’s ballistic missiles are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions that have imposed strict sanctions on the nuclear-armed country.

The US is concerned that arms negotiations between Russia and North Korea are actively advancing, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told a briefing on Wednesday, noting that any arms deal would violate sanctions.

Kirby said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had recently travelled to North Korea to try to convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia.

The United States and South Korean militaries want to more closely integrate their systems for tracking North Korean missile launches, an effort that may soon include more cooperation with Japan as well, US Space Force officials said on Wednesday.

US President Joe Biden agreed with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at an Aug. 18 summit that by the end of this year the three countries would share North Korea missile warning data in real time.

Source: Reuters 

2023 CJ LOGISTICS SUPERRACE CHAMPIONSHIP - Summer Festival

The 2023 CJ LOGISTICS SUPERRACE CHAMPIONSHIP continues at Yongin Everland Speedway for their night race of the Summer Festival. As the end of summer draws near, the heat intensifies at Everland in the dead of night.

Kim Jae-hyun of Nexen-Vollgas Motorsport fended off Jang Hyunjin of Seohan GP at the finish line and became the winner of the second night race of the season. Meanwhile, his teammate Jung Euicheol completes the podium by finishing 3rd.

The next race is at Korea International Circuit, Yeongam, this September 23-24.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea says US soldier fled because of racism in army

 

North Korea has said US soldier Travis King crossed into its territory last month because of "inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination" in the army.

The 23-year-old private dashed across the border from South Korea on 18 July while on a guided tour.

Private King admitted to crossing illegally and wanted refuge in the North, state media reported.

Washington said it could not verify the claims, which are Pyongyang's first public comments on the case.

Concerns have been growing for the welfare of the US soldier- who has not been heard from or seen since his crossing.

The US is trying to negotiate Private King's release with the help of the UN Command, which runs the border area, and has a direct phoneline to the North Korean army.

Responding to the North Korean report on Wednesday, a Pentagon official said their priority was to have Private King brought home safely "through all available channels".

North Korea has given no information on how it plans to treat Private King but said the soldier admitted he had "illegally" entered the country.

State news agency KCNA did not say if he would face prosecution or punishment.

In the report, there was no mention of his current whereabouts or condition.

"During the investigation, Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK [North Korea] as he harboured ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army," KCNA reported.

"He also expressed his willingness to seek refuge in the DPRK or a third country, saying that he was disillusioned at the unequal American society."

Private King is a reconnaissance specialist who has been in the army since January 2021 and was in South Korea as part of his rotation.

Before crossing the border, he served two months in detention in South Korea for assault charges and was released on 10 July.

He was supposed to fly back to the US to face disciplinary proceedings but managed to leave the airport and join a tour of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which separates North and South Korea.

The DMZ, one of the most heavily fortified areas in the world, is filled with landmines, surrounded by electric and barbed wire fencing, and monitored by surveillance cameras. Armed guards are supposed to be on alert 24 hours a day although witnesses say there were no North Korean soldiers present when Private King ran over.

His family have previously told US media that he had relayed experiencing racism in the army. They also said his mental health appeared to have declined prior to his disappearance.

"It feels like I'm in a big nightmare," said his mother Claudine Gates, adding the family was desperate for answers.

North Korea is one of the few countries still under nominally communist rule and has long been a highly secretive and isolated society.

Its government, led by Kim Jong-un, also stands accused of systematic human rights abuse.

Analysts say the defection of Travis King has played into North Korea's anti-US messaging, at a time when relations between the two countries are their worst in years.

Pyongyang will most likely have relished the opportunity to highlight racism and other shortcomings in American society, especially given the international criticism it receives for human rights abuses.

The UN Security Council is due to hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss the human rights situation in North Korea for the first time since 2017.

Ahead of its comments on Travis King, North Korean media had put out a statement on the UN meeting, which will be led by the US.

"Not content with fostering racial discrimination and gun-related crimes, the US has imposed unethical human rights standards on other countries", it read.

Source: BBC 

Hyundai Santa Fe MX5 vs Kia EV9

Box-shaped cars never go out of style even in the age of the new normal and Hyundai has decided to think outside the box with their all-new, fifth-generation Santa Fe which is now, you guessed it, a boxy crossover.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

Starting at 35,460,000 Korean Won plus additional costs, the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe is no longer the Santa Fe that millennials remembered because it went through a radically different approach but it promises to behave like most crossovers should. So, what's it all about the Santa Fe MX5?

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

Ditching the sleek silhouettes of its predecessors, the Santa Fe MX5 features a boxy shape that can be awkwardly mistaken for either a Range Rover or a Ford Flex. Either way, Roblox jokes aside, it's not just limited to its cube looks because the headlamps, the front bumper, and the rear lamps are marked with the letter H because...it's Hyundai's kind of fetish.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe interior

If you had enough of staring at its Roblox-ish looks, take a look at the interior. Thanks to its squarish design, it's roomier compared to its TM predecessor although the dashboard feels like it's straight out of Grandeur because of the Grandeur-sourced steering wheel and the gear lever positioned behind it. It now boasts a long monitor where the first half is for the instrumental panel while the second half is for the touchscreen. Minimalism aside, there are knobs for the radio and the aircon, which are rather useful indeed. In expensive variants, you can wirelessly charge up to two smartphones just in case as well as the digital key feature where you will let your gadgets do the unlocking, the digital rearview mirror, and the rather controversial fingerprint authentication system.

Although it only has room for six to seven passengers, depending on the variant, the Santa Fe MX5 is roomier than its TM predecessor. Boot space is decent for a boxy SUV like this, making it more than enough to flex its daily conveniences as an all-rounder.

2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

Believe it or not, the Santa Fe MX5 runs on the same bits and bobs as the Kia Sorento MQ4, meaning it behaves just like its compatriot. Although a lot different to drive compared to its predecessor, the HTRAC all-wheel-drive system with rough road driving modes made it capable through tarmac, gravel, and snow, good enough for a weekend picnic at Hannibal's. Dynamics aside, the available Alcon monobloc brakes deliver a dramatic braking feel unheard of in a Korean SUV.

Because the Santa Fe MX5 is built for the new normal, there is no diesel powertrain offered. Only a choice of a 1.6L turbo-hybrid powertrain with a total power output of 235PS mated to a 6-speed AT, and a powerful Smartstream G2.5T-GDi mated to an 8-speed AT, producing 281PS of power and a combined 10.1km/L of fuel economy. 

The Santa Fe MX5 marks the first time a Hyundai vehicle has a hybrid variant mated with the all-wheel-drive system. That's something that should have been done a long time ago.

Back to the new normal, the Santa Fe MX5 features an improved Hyundai SmartSense with Highway Driving Assist 2, navigation-based smart cruise control, blind spot collision avoidance assist, forward collision avoidance assist, rear parking collision avoidance assist, and Lane Keeping Assist 2. Coupled with the multiple anti-collision automatic braking systems, advanced rear passenger notification, reverse guiding lamp, and 10 airbags, it really is the safest Santa Fe ever made.

The fifth-generation Hyundai Santa Fe is no longer the Santa Fe that millennials remembered because of its Roblox-ish exterior design that intrigues insiders everywhere but with its spacious interior, turbocharged performance, HTRAC, and tech, it has progressed into utilitarian status. It truly is innovation in motion for the new model.

However, if you're unhappy about the Santa Fe MX5's squarish looks and because this is the new normal, here comes the more expensive alternative that makes the all-new Santa Fe look like Oxford, the Korean Lego of course.

2024 Kia EV9

This is the first-ever Kia EV9 electric full-size crossover SUV. With prices starting at 77,280,000 Korean Won plus additional costs, it is the most expensive in the Kia SUV lineup, although it's less expensive than the BMW iX3, a meager bargain of the season.

2024 Kia EV9

With styling that stays true to its concept car roots, the EV9 signals a new design approach for Kia recreational vehicles in the future, meaning the styling will heavily influence the fate of upcoming people movers from the said brand. Apart from its Mohave-sized proportions and the side view reminiscent of the Infiniti QX80, the EV9 has a surprising show-off feature when you switch the front lights on as the hidden parts lurking around the grille-less front view light up like a Rina-chan board. Get it?

2024 Kia EV9 interior

Although the exterior design has some cyber vibes to it, the interior is all about first-class comfort in every way. On the driver's side, you will be greeted with the steering wheel emblem lighting, a column-type shift lever positioned behind the wheel, a panoramic wide display where the first half is for the instrumental panel while the second half is for the touchscreen, dual color ambient lighting, and the available Meridian Premium Sound System. The GT-Line variant adds digital side mirrors, a digital rearview mirror, and a hidden touch button on the console, among others.

Inside, the full-sized EV9 can accommodate six or seven passengers and has decent boot space not bad for a full-size electric SUV but the six-seater variant has a party piece no luxury people mover has, not even today's Toyota Alphard; swiveling second-row seats. When coupled with the Lounge Package, you get yourself a luxury cruiser fit for taking high-rollers from Seoul to Busan.

2024 Kia EV9

Speaking of Seoul to Busan, the electric powertrain is capable of up to 501km of range for rear-wheel-drive variants while 4WD variants, especially the GT-Line, are good for around 454km, but driving conditions can vary. Running on a 100kWh Li-ion battery pack and the Electric Global Modular platform, rear-wheel-drive variants produce 150kw of power while 4WD variants produce a powerful 283kw of power. That's 385PS to you and me.

Although the driving feel is nothing compared to the Mohave or today's Santa Fe mentioned above, the EV9, even in 4WD GT-Line guise, feels like driving a Toyota Alphard in different directions and because of its electric drivetrain, it's surprisingly quiet as well. It even packs a wide array of safety features such as high beam assist, Highway Driving Assist 2, navigation-based smart cruise control, Remote Smart Parking Assist 2, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist 2, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, and Rear Parking Collision Avoidance Assist, among others.

Which would you go for? The Roblox-esque Hyundai Santa Fe MX5 or the heavyweight ultra-luxurious Kia EV9 with a front view that makes the Rina-chan board look like...Tobot Big Boss? It's an interesting question because even though they behave differently, they look futuristic in every way but in every way, it's hard to pick the definitive winner in this round of Unanswered Questions. Only time will tell.

Photo: Hyundai/Kia

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: UK scouts pulled out of camp after S Korea heatwave

 

UK scouts are set to leave an international event in South Korea that has been hit by extreme heat.

Hundreds have fallen ill at the outdoor World Scout Jamboree, which is attended by more than 40,000 young people from around the world, amid 35C (95F) heat.

The British group of more than 4,000, the largest in attendance, is moving from Saemangeum to Seoul, the Scout Association confirmed.

The South Korean government said it was sending water and medics to the site.

The jamboree, described as the world's largest youth camp, gathers scouts from around the world every four years, each time in a different country.

This is the first since the pandemic and is due to run until 12 August.

Many of the parents the BBC has spoken to have said their children spent years preparing to attend the event, often raising thousands of pounds to do so.

Thunderstorms are forecast for the region in which it is taking place, while temperatures will feel hotter than 40C due to high humidity, according to AccuWeather.

The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the largest international Scouting organisation, said it had asked the Korean Scout Association, which is hosting the event, to consider ending early.

The movement said that the host "decided to go ahead with the event" and assured participants that it was doing "everything possible to address the issues caused by the heat wave".

The WOSM called on the South Korean government to "honour" its commitments to provide extra resources and make the health and safety of participants its "top priority".

UK Scouts, the country's largest scouting organisation, said its group would be moved to hotels over the next two days to "alleviate the pressure on the site overall".

It added that its volunteers and others had worked to give their members "enough food and water... shelter from the unusually hot weather... and toilets and washing facilities appropriate for an event of this scale."

The group will travel home on 13 August as planned.

Parents of children at the campsite told the BBC that no activities were taking place due to the heat, and some people with specific dietary requirements were not being catered for.

Others have defended the event, saying their children were disappointed that they had to leave.

One mother from the north-east of England said that what was meant to be a "great life experience" had turned into a "survival mission" for her 16-year-old daughter.

"She knew it would be hot but not as hot as it is. They cannot cool down, their tents are too hot," said the mother, who did not wish to be named.

Her daughter had told her that the showers and toilets were "appalling and unsafe", with "floating rubbish, plasters and hair" blocking drains.

She said she was delighted that her daughter was being moved to Seoul, which is about 120 miles (197km) from the campsite.

Another parent said the situation was so bad they put their daughter on a plane back to the UK on Friday. "My priority was my daughter's welfare," they said.

However Peter Naldrett told the BBC that his two children were "frustrated, upset and angry" about having to leave.

"My kids have said that the toilets are a bit grim but it's manageable," he said.

Shannon Swaffer, whose 15-year-old daughter is at the event, said the children were "all devastated that it's ended early".

"By all accounts the heat is intolerable and adults and kids alike can't continue there," she said, adding that her family were "lifelong Scout people" and that the leaders had been "absolutely phenomenal".

Rebecca Coldwell said her 17-year-old daughter had received "outstanding" medical care for an infected wound, and that she was "heartbroken" about having to move to hotels.

UK Scouts has been asked for comment regarding claims of poor sanitation.

The Foreign Office said on Thursday that it had officials on the ground supporting British scouts.

South Korea is experiencing a sweltering summer and authorities have issued the country's highest hot weather warning for the first time in four years.

The majority of those attending the camping event are aged between 14 and 18. There are groups from 155 countries.

Officials told Reuters that at least 600 people had been treated for heat-related illnesses in recent days. Their nationalities were not specified.

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced that aid was being sent to the site amid criticism from some that authorities failed to plan for extreme heat.

"The government will use all its resources to ensure that the jamboree can end safely amid the heatwave," he said.

Air-conditioned buses, water trucks and medical staff were being dispatched.

Source: BBC

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea confirms custody of US soldier

 

North Korea has confirmed custody of Travis King in its first response to requests for information on the US soldier's whereabouts, the UN Command has said.

The 23-year-old private dashed across the border from South Korea on 18 July while on a guided tour.

The UN Command said it would not give more details about Pyongyang's response at this time.

It said it "did not want to interfere with the efforts to bring him home".

However, the reply indicates Pyongyang could be ready to start negotiating.

The UN Command, which polices the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), had sought information on Private 2nd Class (PV2) King using its direct phone line to the North Korean Army [KPA] in the Joint Security Area.

"KPA has responded to the United Nations Command with regards to PV2 King. In order not to interfere with our efforts to get him home, we will not go into details at this time," a statement said.

The North Koreans had previously acknowledged the request but this is the first time they have responded, confirming the US solider is in their custody.

North Korea has not publicly acknowledged custody of PV2 King.

Before he crossed the border, PV2 King served two months in detention in South Korea for assault charges. He was released on 10 July.

He was supposed to fly back to the US to face disciplinary proceedings but managed to leave the airport and join the DMZ tour.

He is a reconnaissance specialist who had been in the army since January 2021 and was in South Korea as part of his rotation.

The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separates the two Koreas and is one of the most heavily fortified areas in the world.

It is filled with landmines, surrounded by electric and barbed wire fencing and surveillance cameras. Armed guards are supposed to be on alert 24 hours a day.

The DMZ has separated the two countries since the Korean War in the 1950s, in which the US backed the South.

The war ended with an armistice, meaning that the two sides are still technically at war. Tens of thousands of US troops remain in the South.

As the US and North Korea do not have diplomatic relations, the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang tends to negotiate on behalf of the US. Currently its diplomatic staff are not in the country, because of the ongoing border closure since the pandemic.

Both the UN Command, that runs the border area, and the South Korean military have direct phone lines to the North Korean military, that they call daily to check in, though the North Koreans do not always pick up.

In recent years, a number of American citizens who illegally entered North Korea - excluding those convicted of criminal activity there - have been released within six months.

The detention of the soldier presents a major foreign policy headache for US President Joe Biden. PV2 King is believed to be the only American citizen currently in North Korean custody. Six South Koreans remain in detention there.

Source: BBC

Hyundai Sonata DN8 The Edge

Launched in 2019, the eighth-generation Hyundai Sonata was meant to be the evolution of what's known to be Korea's people's car of the generation but due to today's motoring climate, it seems that more and more Koreans are starting to wane off from it and it faces the risk of its demise. 

Not giving up, Hyundai unleashed the facelifted DN8 Sonata with prices starting at 280,800,000 Korean Won plus additional costs. The question is, is the big minor change made the Sonata the best-looking Korean midsize sedan yet?

2024 Hyundai Sonata

Beginning with the design, the big minor change retains the side view of the pre-facelifted DN8 Sonata but what happens at the front and back is a completely different story. The front features a Staria-styled nose while the back mimics its little brother, the Avante CN7. With such radical restyling, it looks like the once-boring executive midsize sedan for the commoners became a much fiercer, likable one. Touche.

2024 Hyundai Sonata

The interior has been heavily revised for this big minor change with the dashboard bearing a Hyundai-first panoramic curved display akin to today's Opel/Vauxhall models that were driving under the influence of Peugeot, if you catch my drift. With an extra-long monitor featuring a 12.3-inch instrumental and a 12.3-inch sat-nav touch screen positioned at the driver's side, it features a new steering wheel with a gear lever positioned behind it just like its big brother, the Grandeur GN7, repositioned switches for the climate control, and the similar creature comforts carried over from its pre-facelifted model, this is luxury reasserted for the heavily revised model.

2024 Hyundai Sonata

The choice of engines remains the same for this updated model ranging from the 180PS 1.6L Turbo, 2.0L petrol, 2.0L LPG, and 2.0L Hybrid, and for the N-Line model, a 290PS 2.5L Turbo petrol engine mated to an 8-speed DCT. 

Like the old one, the new Sonata can be either comfortable or sporty at the push of a button but drivers can use the CUSTOM feature to choose just how sporty or comfortable their car is to their liking, resulting in a more personalized driving pleasure. In the case of the N-Line model, the N-tuned parts add some spice to its dynamics if you're into that.

Apart from the driving pleasure for all, the new Sonata comes ready with the Hyundai SmartSense suite of safety features that will keep itself safe on the journey home unless you know what.

With the biggest update for the current-generation model, will this be Hyundai's last-ditch attempt to make the Sonata great again? You judge.

Photo: Hyundai Motor Company

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: US soldier held by North Korea after crossing border

 

North Korea is reported to have detained a serving US army soldier who crossed the heavily fortified border from South Korea without permission.

The man was on an organised tour of the UN-run zone dividing the two countries.

The crisis comes during a particularly tense time with the North, one of the world's most isolated states. The US tells its citizens not to go there.

A senior US commander said there had been no contact with the soldier.

Admiral John Aquilino Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command said he was "not tracking" contact with North Korea. He said the soldier had acted willingly by "making a run" but without authorisation, and the incident was being investigated by US Forces Korea.

Hours after the soldier's detention, North Korea launched two suspected ballistic missiles into the nearby sea.

The missile launch, which has been confirmed by South Korea's military, comes as tensions run high on the Korean peninsula. There has been no suggestion that the launch is tied to the soldier's detention.

It is unclear if the man has defected to North Korea or hopes to return. There has been no word yet from the North.

The Pentagon has identified the soldier as Private 2nd Class (PV2) Travis King. In a statement, a Pentagon spokesperson said that PV2 King had been in the army since January 2021.

He is a cavalry scout - a reconnaissance specialist - originally assigned to an element of the army's 1st Armoured Division on a rotation with the US military in South Korea.

The Associated Press reports that PV2 King was apparently facing disciplinary action after being held in South Korea on assault charges.

According to the BBC's US partner CBS News, PV2 King passed through airport security in Seoul but somehow managed to leave the terminal and get on a tour of the border, from where he crossed over.

The American military has said he did so "wilfully and without authorisation".

An eyewitness on the same tour told CBS they had visited a building at the border site - reported by local media to be the truce village of Panmunjom - when "this man gives out a loud 'ha ha ha' and just runs in between some buildings".

"I thought it was a bad joke at first but, when he didn't come back, I realised it wasn't a joke and then everybody reacted and things got crazy," they said.

The United Nations Command, which operates the Demilitarised Zone and joint security area (JSA), said earlier its team had made contact with the North Korean military to try to negotiate his release.

"We believe he is currently in DPRK custody and are working with our KPA [Korean People's Army - North Korea's military] counterparts to resolve this incident," it said.

It is unclear where or in what conditions PV2 King is being held.

Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the Washington DC-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, told the BBC that North Korean authorities were likely to "try pump information out of him" about his military service and "try to coerce him into becoming a propaganda tool".

The Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separates the two Koreas and is one of the most heavily fortified areas in the world.

It is filled with landmines, surrounded by electric and barbed wire fencing and surveillance cameras. Armed guards are supposed to be on alert 24 hours a day.

The DMZ has separated the two countries since the Korean War in the 1950s, in which the US backed the South. The war ended with an armistice, meaning that the two sides are still technically at war.

Dozens of people try to escape North Korea every year, fleeing poverty and famine, but defections across the DMZ are extremely dangerous and rare. The country sealed its borders in 2020 at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and has yet to reopen them.

The last time a soldier defected at the JSA was in 2017, when a North Korean soldier drove a vehicle, then ran by foot across the military demarcation line, South Korea said at the time. The soldier was shot at 40 times, but survived.

Before the pandemic more than 1,000 people fled from North Korea to China every year, according to numbers released by the South Korean government.

The detention of the soldier presents a major foreign policy headache for US President Joe Biden. PV2 King is believed to be the only American citizen currently in North Korean custody. Six South Koreans remain in detention there.

Relations between the US and the North plummeted in 2017 after a US student who had been arrested a year earlier for stealing a propaganda sign was returned to the US in a comatose state and later died. His family blames the North Korean authorities for his death.

Three US citizens were later freed during Donald Trump's presidency in 2018. But ultimately, a series of talks held between Kim Jong Un and the former US president did little to improve the relationship.

North Korea has since tested dozens of increasingly powerful missiles that could carry nuclear warheads, which have been met by a slew of sanctions by the US and its allies.

The detention of the US national comes on the same day as a US nuclear-capable submarine docked in South Korea for the first time since 1981.

The submarine was specifically supplied to help the country deal with the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. Ahead of its deployment there were threats of retaliation from the authorities in Pyongyang, which warned the US that sending nuclear weapons to the peninsula could spark a nuclear crisis.

Hours after PV2 King's detention, South Korea's military confirmed that two ballistic missiles were launched from North Korea and landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Source: BBC

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South Korea landslides, floods kill 7, over 1,000 evacuated

 

Seven people have died, three were missing, seven injured and thousands evacuated in South Korea on Saturday, officials said, as a third day of torrential rains caused landslides and the overflow of a dam.

As of 11 a.m. (0200 GMT), 1,567 people had been evacuated nationwide, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, and the number could rise as water overtopped the dam in North Chungcheong province.

Local governments' evacuation orders covered more than 7,000 people at various times, according to provincial authorities.

As of 9 a.m., more than 2,700 tonnes of water per second was flowing into Goesan Dam, the maximum it can discharge.

Korea Railroad Corp said it was halting all slow trains and some bullet trains, while other bullet trains might be delayed due to slower operation, as landslides, track flooding and falling rocks threatened safety.

A slow train derailed late on Friday when a landslide threw earth and sand over tracks in North Chungcheong province, the transport ministry said. The engineer was injured, but no passengers were on board.

In a meeting with government agencies on Saturday, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called for the military to actively join in rescue activities, working with government officials to mobilize equipment and manpower.

Source: Reuters

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: North Korea fires long-range ballistic missile

 

North Korea has fired a long-range ballistic missile, the South Korean military said Wednesday, days after Pyongyang threatened to down US spy planes that violated its airspace.

Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points ever, with diplomacy stalled and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un calling for increased weapons development, including tactical nukes.

In response, Seoul and Washington have ramped up security cooperation, vowing that Pyongyang would face a nuclear response and the "end" of its current government were it to ever use its nuclear weapons against the allies.

South Korea's military said it had detected the launch of a long-range ballistic missile fired from the Pyongyang area around 10 am (0100 GMT).

"The ballistic missile was fired on a lofted trajectory and flew 1,000 km (620 miles) before splashing down in the East Sea," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

A lofted trajectory involves firing a missile up and not out, a method Pyongyang has previously said it employs in some weapons tests to avoid flying over neighbouring countries.

The launch "is a grave provocation that damages the peace and security of the Korean peninsula" and violates UN sanctions on Pyongyang, the JCS said, calling on North Korea to stop such actions.

Pyongyang last fired one of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles in April -- the purportedly solid-fuelled Hwasong-18 -- and in February launched a Hwasong-15, which flew a similar 989 km.

The flight time of around 70 minutes is also similar to some of North Korea's previous ICBM launches, experts said.

"Given what we have at this point, it's about 90 percent certain that it was an ICBM launch," Choi Gi-il, a professor of military studies at Sangji University, told AFP.

He added that it could also have been North Korea attempting to re-test its satellite launch technology to prepare for another attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit, after a May launch failed.

- 'Provocative' US actions -

Wednesday's launch came after North Korea on Monday accused a US spy plane of violating its airspace and condemned Washington's plans to deploy a nuclear missile submarine near the Korean peninsula.

A spokesperson for the North Korean Ministry of National Defence said the United States had "intensified espionage activities beyond the wartime level", citing "provocative" spy plane flights over eight straight days this month.

"There is no guarantee that such shocking accident as downing of the US Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane will not happen in the East Sea of Korea," the spokesperson added.

Kim's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong said that a US spy aircraft had violated the country's eastern airspace twice on Monday morning, according to a separate statement.

Kim Yo Jong said North Korea would not respond directly to US reconnaissance activities outside of the country's exclusive economic zone, but warned it would take "decisive action" if its maritime military demarcation line was crossed.

The United States said in April that one of its nuclear-armed ballistic submarines would visit a South Korean port for the first time in decades, without specifying an exact date.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has ramped up defence cooperation with Washington in response, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and long-range heavy bombers.

Yoon is set to attend a NATO summit in Lithuania this week, seeking stronger cooperation with the alliance's members over North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.

"Kim Yo Jong's bellicose statement against US surveillance aircraft is part of a North Korean pattern of inflating external threats to rally domestic support and justify weapons tests," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"Pyongyang also times its shows of force to disrupt what it perceives as diplomatic coordination against it, in this case, South Korea and Japan's leaders meeting during the NATO summit."

Source: Agence-France-Presse

2023 CJ LOGISTICS SUPERRACE CHAMPIONSHIP - Inje Night Race

The 2023 CJ LOGISTICS SUPERRACE CHAMPIONSHIP continues in Inje Speedium with the first night race of the season. As the lights went dark, the fun begins for SUPERRACE contenders fighting their way to victory lane.

Screengrab from SUPERRACE

As Ecsta Racing's Lee Changuk nailed his second win of the season, the tightly-contested battle for second place ended with Kim Jaehyun of VOLLGAS nicking the said spot, leaving Lee Chanjoon the last spot in the podium with a third-place finish.

With two Ecsta Racing drivers nailing two wins this season, the standings became too close to call between Changuk and Chanjoon.

The next race of the 2023 CJ LOGISTICS SUPERRACE CHAMPIONSHIP will be another night race, this time at the Everland Speedway as part of the Summer Festival this August 19-20.

THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Tieup with SoKor boosts PH afri, fod sectors --- PBBM

 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. hopes the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and South Korea would improve the country's agricultural productivity and food security.

Marcos said this following the ceremonial signing of the MOU on Cooperative Partnership for Agricultural Machinery between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO) on Tuesday, June 6.

In his speech, the President stressed the importance of mechanization to agricultural production, saying it was the government's goal to boost food production, particularly rice.

"We all recognized very clearly the importance of mechanization for our country because we are trying to move the production; we are trying to make sure that at least the local supply for rice is sufficient and, of course, hopefully, also the other crops," he said.

"The key to all of this is mechanization and all of the things that we're trying to do. We have some programs to mechanize. We have the RCEF (Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund) program, in which the collections from the tariffs on rice importations are then applied also to mechanize," he added.

According to Marcos, establishing local machinery production is the first step toward agricultural development. It is expected to result in better yield and lower production costs, making Filipino farmers more competitive.

Among the salient features of the MOU include the establishment in the country of a local agricultural machinery manufacturing cluster, including an assembly production line, research and development of agricultural machinery technology, workforce training on agricultural machinery technology, and a grant of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to further explore potential projects.

Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, citing a KAMICO official, said that an initial investment of $30 million would be made in Phase 1 of the project and triple that amount in the second phase.

"The project is expected to result in food production self-sufficiency; the Philippines becoming a food-exporting country; increased employment and farmers' income; establishment of infrastructure on agricultural mechanization and industrialization; and technology transfer and production of specialized machinery," she said.

The Palace official said that the DA has been collaborating with KAMICO for some time now. Among the completed projects are adaptability testing of a self-propelled Mechanical Elevating Work Platform for mango production operations and technology performance verification and adaptation of a mechanized onion production system.

Ongoing projects, on the other hand, include pilot adoption and pre-commercialization of the Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) - KAMICO developed corn mill; technology advice and solutions from South Korea; Agricultural Mechanization Design and Prototyping Center project.

Established in 1962 and recognized by the Korean government, KAMICO has more than 650 members and is a significant player in the mechanization of Korea's agriculture sector.

KAMICO actively works in the global agricultural machinery industry by providing aid to developing countries, dispatching investment research groups to emerging markets overseas, and conducting training for international customers.

Source: Manila Bulletin