On Monday night, the most powerful quake to date in the Korean Peninsula occurred in Gyeongju, 371 km southeast of Seoul. Gyeongju reported over 100 minor aftershocks following the magnitude 5.1 and 5.8 quakes that caused some people to evacuate their homes. Aside from that, the Korea Meteorological Administration reported 3.1 and 3.2 magnitude quakes early Tuesday. About 14 people were hurt and 642 property damage claims have been filed so far. The South Korean government will assess the situation and draw up measures for post-quake relief and rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, South Korea and the United States will beef up measures to deal against threats from North Korea following their fifth nuclear test. After a two-day Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue, the Ministry of National Defense and the US Department of Defense issued a joint statement that called for the North to renounce its nuclear program in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible" manner.
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Tuesday that the areas that need close ties with Japan are increasing following the latest threats from North Korea. Yun's remark came amid the two nations seeking tougher sanctions against North Korea in defiance of continued calls from the international community to stop its nuclear program. It also came after the issue of signing the General Security of Military Information Agreement was discussed during the summit meeting between President Park Geun-hye and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in Laos last week.
Source: Arirang News
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