Briefly

DPRK

Washington, Seoul urged to halt drills

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Tuesday urged the United States' military to leave the Korean Peninsula, pledging to build up the DPRK's nuclear weapons in response to the upcoming joint US-ROK military drills. Kim Yo-jong, vice-department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea of the DPRK, said in a statement that Washington and Seoul desperately started joint military exercises, further accelerating the unstable situation "despite the unanimous denunciation and rejection at home and abroad".

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Samsung scion to be released on parole

Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong will be released on parole this week after the billionaire spent 18 months in prison for his role in a massive corruption scandal that triggered nationwide protests and led to the ousting of the country's previous president. In a nationally televised announcement, Justice Minister Park Beom-kye said Lee will be released with about 800 other convicts on Friday morning, ahead of a national holiday celebrating Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II.

UNITED STATES

Prince Andrew sued for alleged sex abuse

The United Kingdom's Prince Andrew was sued in a New York court on Monday for alleged sexual abuse of a woman who said she was "lent out" for underage sex by the late US financier Jeffrey Epstein. The filing at the Manhattan district court listed Virginia Giuffre as the plaintiff in the case against the defendant named as "Prince Andrew, Duke of York". The 61-year-old prince has vehemently denied claims he had sex with Giuffre, and said he has no recollection of meeting her. The allegations against the prince threaten to damage the British royal family.

SOUTH AFRICA

Zuma's graft trial postponed to Sept 9

The long-running corruption trial of South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma over an arms deal dating back more than two decades was postponed on Tuesday to next month after he was hospitalized last week. The 79-year-old was admitted to hospital for observation on Friday for an undisclosed condition, which prompted Tuesday's hearing to be held virtually rather than in open court.

Agencies - Xinhua