Briefly

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Minister resigns over peninsula tensions

The country's unification minister, its point man for relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, stepped down on Friday over heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, days after Pyongyang blew up its liaison office with Seoul. ROK President Moon Jae-in "accepted Unification Minister Kim Yeonchul's offer to resign", the presidential Blue House said in a statement, after warning it will "no longer tolerate" the DPRK's unreasonable behavior in an unusually stern criticism earlier this past week. Kim had offered to leave on Wednesday, a day after the DPRK demolished the liaison office near the border, saying he "takes responsibility" for the worsening of inter-Korean relations.

AFGHANISTAN

Taliban 'no threat' to West as US pulls out

The Taliban on Friday played down concerns that Afghanistan could be used as a launching ground for future attacks on the West, after the United States said it had so far upheld its pledge to reduce its military presence in the country. The top US commander for the region said it cut the number of troops to around 8,600 in line with a deal agreed with the insurgents in February, but warned conditions must be met for a full withdrawal by next year. General Kenneth McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, said:"Conditions would have to be met that satisfy us－that attacks against our homeland are not going to be generated from Afghanistan."

JAPAN

Shoppers line up for breathable masks

Japanese shoppers queued at Uniqlo stores and crashed its website on Friday as the clothing chain began selling face masks with breathable fabric used in the brand's popular underwear, preparing for the coronavirus outbreak lasting through summer. Scenes of people standing in the rain waiting for stores to open were seen throughout Japan and broadcast on Twitter, while Uniqlo's online store apologized for crashing and later selling out of the washable Airism masks. The company said more will become available as it was stepping up production. The masks are sold in three-piece packs for 990 yen ($9.26) plus tax, and are available in three sizes. Prospects of a prolonged crisis have encouraged Japanese consumers to buy and make reusable, washable versions even as disposable masks, initially in short supply, have become more easily available.

Xinhua - Agencies