2003.12.03

Hotel Hooker Killings (Mainichi) Former deputy train stationmaster arrested for killing Chinese prostitute, reportedly admits to three other suspected similar homicides.   2003.12.03

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DPRK-Six Way Talks (Kyodo) Six-way talks hits a snag with disagreement about statement seen as too favorable to Pyongyang, according to Kyodo sources.   2003.12.03

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ROK-Parliamentary Boycott (VOA) South Korea's main opposition party has agreed to end a legislative boycott that has crippled the nation's legislature for more than a week.     2003.12.03

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Praise for Japan's banking policy. [BBC News ] Japan's handling of its banking crisis wins praise from the OECD.   2003.12.03

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Princess Masako Ill Japan's Princess Masako is suffering from  herpes zoster (shingles) -- may be admitted to the hospital, according to Imperial Household Agency officials.   2003.12.03

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ROK Wants to Send Iraq Troops Without Delay (Reuters). South Korea will not delay sending more troops to help U.S.-led forces in Iraq once parliament approves the plan, President Roh Moo-Hyun said today.   2003.12.03

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Japan-Markets Nikkei falls nearly 84 points. Euro hits a record high against the U.S. dollar during the Asia currency trading session but the greenback holds its ground against the yen.   2003.12.03

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Japan-SDF Iraq (Kyodo) Japan's Army (aka Ground Self Defense Force) tells its troops to say they are not worried about heading to Iraq.     2003.12.03

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ROK to launch W-CDMA 3G service . [ITU Strategy & Policy Unit Newslog] The Korea Herald reports that South Korea is set to launch the W-CDMA third-generation mobile service this month, despite growing concerns about overlapping investment and the poor chance of commercial success. "SK Telecom and KTF have secured the licenses for W-CDMA services, but they are now reluctant to invest heavily in the new technology. The main reason is that today's cdma2000 1x technology adopted by Korean carriers is already offering full multimedia mobile services. W-CDMA, in other words, is unlikely to provide any innovative additional features to local customers, analysts and experts said." The article went on to say that despite all the skepticism, the Information Ministry is maintaining its policy in favor of a dual mobile system.   2003.12.03

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US Officials: Six-Party DPRK  Talks May Be Delayed (Reuters). Planning for six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program has hit a snag and the talks may not take place until January or February instead of December as expected.     2003.12.03

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Japan - Mobile Number Portability. [ITU Strategy & Policy Unit Newslog] The Japanese Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT) has began a Study Group on Mobile Number Portability (MNP) with the objective of deliberating upon MNP, to improve users' convenience and to promote competition among mobile telephone carriers.   2003.12.03

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