Portals Target Mobile Phones

By Kim Tong-hyung Staff Reporter Mobile phone firms and portals are moving to popularize accessing the Internet on smart phones but the much-talked-about mobile Internet explosion has yet to happen. Smart phone users are still hesitant in subscribing to ``expensive'' mobile Internet services, even as carriers are spending heavily to convert their desktop applications for use on handsets, competing for a head start in the potentially lucrative market. NHN, the operator of Naver (www.naver.com), the country's most popular Web site, revealed a new Web portal (m.naver.com) for use in ``smart'' phones, PDAs and other mobile Internet devices this month. Since it is optimized for handsets, which can't compete with laptops in power or speed, mobile Naver is basically a watered down version of its computer equivalent, with the fancy designs and multimedia features replaced by simplified menus and search bars. NHN is actually a latecomer to the mobile party, although as the undisputed Internet industry kingpin, it could afford to do so. Daum (www.daum.net), the No. 2 Web portal, has been operating Daum Mobile since January, while SK Communications, which operates Nate (www.nate.com) and the immensely popular Cyworld (www.cyworld.com) social networking services, launched ``Mini Cyworld'' for wireless users last December. KTH, the Internet unit of telecommunications giant, KT, and operator of Paran (www.paran.com), also unveiled an upgraded version of its mobile portal, ``Paran Mini'' (mini.paran.com), Wednesday. Although Internet companies are racing to unleash mobile portals, there is little differentiation between the products, as the companies have yet to gain a firm grasp about what will work and what won't. The traffic to mobile portals remains miniscule, as most wireless users won't touch their expensive data services. So it's difficult for Internet companies to discuss and predict business models, although banner advertisements are obviously out of the question. ``It's more about allowing computer users to access similar services when they are on the road, rather than delivering something new for the mobile environment,'' said a KTH official. ``Business models are unclear, but Internet companies can't afford to be committed onl　y half way. With wireless operators introducing more fixed-rates, and the popularity of smart-phones rising, the mobile Internet explosion is close, and the introduction of a killer device, such as the iPhone or Android handsets, could make a lot of difference,'' he said. thkim@koreatimes.co.kr

Seoul Plaza Will Remain Cordoned Off

Police buses are parked bumper to bumper, encircling Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall to block people from holding anti-government demonstrations there, Monday. / Korea Times Photo by Hong In-ki By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Monday that it will continue to keep the Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall off limits to the public ``for a while.'' Its Commissioner Joo Sang-yong told reporters that: ``We should look into the matter of opening the plaza in a comprehensive manner, taking legal issues into consideration.'' His remarks come as disputes are mounting over the police blockade of the plaza with buses in a bid to prevent civic groups from holding unauthorized demonstrations there. However, they have been criticized for ``abusing'' their power by cordoning off the plaza that is supposed to be open to the public. It was widely assumed that the blockade was out of concern that citizens who are grieving over the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun would rally against the current administration. The plaza, which has been tightly guarded by police since May 23, the day of Roh's death, was temporarily opened for a day last Friday, for the funeral. It was closed off again the next day. However, critics say it was a police decision to restrict access, without a request from the Seoul Metropolitan Government which has the right to ask for protection of its facilities. A police agency official said police have the right to shut or block all places involving public security without a request from the relevant administration, in the case of an emergency. Many people question whether Seoul Plaza, initially made for the leisure of citizens, is a space for public security such as military facilities. Such blockades cause immense damage to other events, observers claim. A market parade conducted by five regional governments nationwide as well as a five-day-cultural event by the Seoul government were cancelled due to the blockade Monday. ``How can someone think public security is in danger when no illegal protest has taken place yet?'' Lee Jae-keun of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, said. The plaza covered with grass was initially made to hold cultural meetings, an ice-skating rink in winter and other events. It was favored by many civic groups to hold various promotional events, but was used as the main spot for candlelit protests against the government's resumption of U.S. beef imports last year. bjs@koreatimes.co.kr

North Korea May Launch Ballistic Missile

By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter North Korea appears to be accelerating preparations to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and provoke an incident near the western sea border, military and intelligence authorities here said Monday. Tension has been growing on the Korean Peninsula since the communist state's second nuclear test and test-firings of short-range missiles last week. An object presumed to be an ICBM was recently transported by train to the Dongchang-ri missile site, a newly-built long-range missile site located on North Korea's western coast, according to authorities. In a related move, the North also banned ships from waters off its west coast until the end of July, an apparent sign of a further provocation near the sea border. Citing an unidentified government official, Yonhap separately reported that North Korea has doubled ammunition for its patrol ships and artillery units deployed near the western coast and increased the number of joint live-fire exercises. ``North Korea has strengthened its military training exercises near the western sea border. Intelligence shows that the North has also conducted amphibious attack exercises, using high-speed landing vessels,'' the official was quoted as saying. Observers expect North Korea to conduct an ICBM test-firing near the middle of this month when the South Korea-U.S. summit takes place in Washington, in a bid to further ratchet up tension on the peninsula and add pressure on U.S. President Barack Obama's administration. ``As it did before, North Korea will weigh in much on political impacts before provocative acts,'' Rep. Hwang Jin-ha of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) said in an interview. ``I believe that would be the case this time.'' Hwang, a retired major general, said North Korea appears not to have fully secured the ICBM technology. Many other analysts still believe Pyongyang has not mastered the technology of miniaturizing a nuclear warhead to mount on a missile. North Korea's Taepodong-2 ICBM is believed to have a striking range of between 4,000 and 6,700 kilometers and be able to hit Alaska. Last September, South Korea's Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee confirmed that North Korea had almost completed a new missile launch site in Dongchang-ri, North Pyeongan Province. North Korea has another long-range missile site in Musudan-ri on the eastern coast, where a Taepodong-2 missile and several short-range and medium-range missiles were test-fired toward waters off Japan in July 2006. A senior official of the U.S. Department of Defense said last week that the U.S. military would activate its ground-based interceptors to shoot down an incoming missile from the North should Pyongyang fire an ICBM. On April 5, North Korea fired a rocket from the Musudan-ri site, which was widely seen as a disguised test of the Taepodong-2 test. The rocket splashed down in the Pacific Ocean about 3,000 kilometers after launch, South Korea and U.S. intelligence officials said. The Alaskan coast is about 4,800 kilometers from North Korea. gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Allies Raise Surveillance Alert Level on N. Korea

Marines aboard a truck patrol on Yeonpyeong Island near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea, Thursday, after the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command upgraded its surveillance level on North Korea, following the North’s nuclear test and firing of six short-range missiles Monday and Tuesday. / Korea Times Photo by Hong In-ki United Nations Command Reaffirms Korean Armistice By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter The South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) has upgraded its surveillance level on North Korea, Thursday, following the latter's nuclear test and firing of six short-range missiles Monday and Tuesday, the Ministry of National Defense said. The CFC, led by a four-star American army general, raised its Watch Condition (WATCHCON) to the level two, which denotes vital indications of a security threat, early in the day, ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said. It is the first time in 31 months that the CFC has raised its military-alertness level since October 2006, when Pyongyang conducted its first-ever nuclear test, Won said. ``WATCHCON 2 went into effect as of 7:15 a.m.,'' the spokesman said. ``Once the level is raised, the number of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets will be increased for a tighter watch on suspected moves in North Korea.'' The South Korean military's Defense Condition (DEFCON) level, however, has been kept at level four, its usual level, he said. The WATCHCON hierarchy, normally raised by agreement between the South Korean and U.S. militaries, has four stages ― WATCHCON 4 for normal peacetime posture, 3 for important indications of a security threat, 2 for vital indications of a security threat and 1 for wartime situation. In normal situations, the surveillance level remains at 3. An official of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the CFC had already increased its operations of U-2 spy aircraft and RF-4 reconnaissance jets near the border with North Korea since the May 25 nuclear test. ``We have not seen any particular sign of imminent provocations by North Korean troops, but have been closely monitoring their moves near the Demilitarized Zone, the Joint Security Area and the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea,'' the official said, asking not to be named. The surveillance posture will be further strengthened during the upcoming ASEAN-Korea summit on the southern island of Jeju from June 1 to 2, he added. Meanwhile, the United Nations Command (UNC) reaffirmed the armistice agreement signed at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, in response to North Korea's latest threat of nullifying the truce. ``The armistice has served as the legal basis for the cease-fire in Korea for over 55 years and significantly contributes to stability in the region,'' the UNC said in a statement. ``The armistice remains in force and is binding on all signatories, including North Korea. The U.N. Command will adhere to the terms of the armistice and the mechanisms that support it.'' The commander of USFK and CFC concurrently leads the UNC. Both Koreas remain technically at war since the Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The truce was signed by the United States, North Korea and China. On Wednesday, Pyongyang said it no longer considered itself bound by the terms of the armistice, denouncing South Korea's decision to fully participate in the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative aimed at interdicting ships carrying suspicious cargoes to prevent trafficking of weapons of mass destruction. ``Any hostile act against our peaceful vessels, including search and seizure, will be considered an unpardonable infringement on our sovereignty,'' a spokesman for the North's army told the North's official Korea Central News Agency. ``We will immediately respond with a powerful military strike.'' South Korea responded that it would sternly deal with any provocative acts by the North Korean military. Its military has deployed a high-tech destroyer in waters off the NLL, where two bloody naval battles occurred in 1999 and 2002, and positioned artillery units on islands near the sea border to counter possible artillery attacks from the North. gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Military on High Alert for N. Korean Provocations

A North Korean soldier monitors a Chinese tour boat through binoculars along the Yalu River dividing China and North Korea near Dandong, northeastern China’s Liaoning Province, Wednesday. / AP-Yonhap By Kim Sue-young, Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporters South Korean troops near the western sea border with North Korea have been placed on top alert Wednesday to brace for any possible North Korean provocative acts. The move comes as Pyongyang declared the nullification of the Korean War armistice earlier in the day and warned of a military response should South Korea attempt to intercept any of its ships after joining the U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). South Korea announced a day earlier that it would participate in the PSI in a full-fledged manner to help prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, following North Korea's second nuclear test and test-firing of short-range missiles Monday. Seoul has participated in the multinational ship-interdicting operations as a observer in an effort not to harm ties with Pyongyang. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul said in a statement that its military would ``sternly deal with'' any North Korean provocations based on the strong combined force readiness with the U.S. military. South Korean military authorities believe there is a high possibility that North Korea could soon provoke conflicts near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea, where two bloody naval battles occurred between the two Koreas in 1999 and 2002. The NLL, drawn up by the United Nations Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, has served as the de facto inter-Korean sea border. The North, however, has sought to nullify the sea border. The Navy deployed a 3,500-ton KDX-I light destroyer to waters off the country's western coast to counter a possible attack by North Korean patrol ships, according to JCS. The Army, for its part, has increased the number of K-9 howitzers and surface-to-air missile systems on islands near the sea borderline to counter potential North Korean artillery attacks. Pyongyang is said to have deployed thousands of weapons hidden in mountain caves and tunnels near the inter-Korean land and sea borders. The North Korean army has about eight 27-kilometer-range 130mm guns and eight other 76.2mm artillery units with a range of 12 kilometers on islands located just north of the NLL. Pyongyang is also believed to be deploying about 100 152mm howitzer guns with a range of 17 kilometers near the port of Haeju. ``I cannot elaborate, but we are constantly bolstering equipment,'' a JCS official said. ``We are also devising a range of countermeasures in accordance with scenarios on North Korea's provocative action.'' The North threatened a military response in retaliation for Seoul becoming a full participant in the PSI anti-WMDs campaign. ``Our revolutionary armed forces, as they have already declared, will regard the Lee Myung-bak group of traitors' full participation in the PSI as a declaration of war against the DPRK,'' said a statement issued by its military mission to the joint security area in the truce village of Panmunjeom. The DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. The anti-proliferation campaign calls for participating countries to interdict and seize ships and planes suspected of carrying WMDs. The statement continued, ``Accordingly, they will regard any hostile actions against the DPRK, including checkups and inspections of its peaceful vessels, as an unpardonable encroachment on the DPRK's sovereignty and counter them with prompt and strong military strikes.'' The North said it couldn't guarantee the safety of military vessels and private ships near the western sea border. ``We will not guarantee the legal status of the five islands under the South sides' control in our sides' territorial waters northwest of the extension of the Military Demarcation Line in the West Sea and safe sailing of warships of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces and the South Korean puppet navy and civilian ships operating in the waters around there,'' the statement said. ``The Korean People's Army will not be bound to the Armistice Agreement any longer since the present ruling quarters of the United States, keen on moves to stifle the DPRK, plugged the South Korean puppets in the PSI at last,'' it said. The international community, meanwhile, is poised to begin working on a new U.N. Security Council resolution in a bid to impose stronger sanctions on North Korea. ``We share a common set of objectives, which are to convey very clearly and unequivocally that the actions by North Korea run counter to the interest of regional peace and security, violate international law and need to be dealt with directly and seriously,'' U.S Ambassador Susan Rice told reporters after a meeting in New York with her counterparts from Britain, France and South Korea. ksy@koreatimes.co.kr gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr