Briefly

ROK

Military pact with DPRK suspended

The Republic of Korea on Monday decided to suspend the Sept 19 military agreement with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, according to the presidential office. The decision was made during the National Security Council working-level meeting, presided over by Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo. The decision to suspend the agreement now awaits the ROK cabinet's approval, the presidential office said. The pact was signed by defense chiefs of both countries during the 2018 inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang, to prevent all hostile acts across the border.

ICELAND

Investor Tomasdottir declared poll winner

Businesswoman and investor Halla Tomasdottir was on Sunday declared the winner of Iceland's presidential election, final results showed, beating former prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir. Jakobsdottir conceded defeat on Sunday and congratulated Tomasdottir. Iceland's president holds a largely ceremonial position in the parliamentary republic, acting as a guarantor of the constitution and national unity. Tomasdottir, 55, won 34.3 percent of votes, ahead of 48-year-old Jakobsdottir, who garnered 25.5 percent after stepping down as prime minister in April to run in Saturday's election.

JAPAN

Multiple earthquakes collapse many homes

Earthquakes early on Monday struck Japan's north-central region of Ishikawa, still recovering from the destruction left by a powerful quake on Jan 1. A magnitude-5.9 temblor on the northern region of the Noto Peninsula was followed minutes later by several smaller quakes, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. Five houses that had been damaged in the Jan 1 quake collapsed in Wajima city. The Nuclear Regulation Authority said no abnormalities were found at two nearby nuclear power plants.

Agencies - Xinhua