SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea vowed Friday to protect its companies operating in other markets after Japanese regulators told LY Corp., which runs the popular chat app Line, to reduce its dependence on Naver, the Korean partner in the venture.
Friction over Naver’s 50% stake in LY, a venture with Japan's SoftBank, surfaced after a major security breach at Naver’s cloud computing servers last year. The Japanese side instructed LY to improve its governance and rely less on Naver after the leak of more than 300,000 records, including information of Line users.
Some Korean politicians have accused Japan of pressuring Naver to reduce its stake in LY, demanding that President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government adopt a stern stance toward Tokyo.
A senior Korean technology ministry official spoke with reporters Friday after Naver confirmed it was discussing with SoftBank “all possibilities,” including selling its shares in LY Corp.
On Wednesday, LY’s president, Takeshi Idezawa, told reporters in Tokyo that Naver and SoftBank were discussing their shareholdings in the app operator with the premise that SoftBank would take a majority stake.
Kang Dohyun, South Korea’s second vice technology minister, told reporter in Seoul that the Korean government had confirmed that the instructions to LY from Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry do not specifically require Naver to reduce its stake in the company.
But he said Seoul regrets that the order was “being perceived as pressure” for Naver to do so.
“I would like to reiterate that the government is firmly committed to ensuring that our companies, including Naver, do not receive any disadvantages or unfair treatment in foreign businesses and investments,” Kang said. “We will respond sternly and strongly to any discriminatory measures taken against our companies.”
Since taking office in 2022, Yoon has focused on improving ties with Tokyo that had deteriorated due to longstanding grievances and strengthening mutual security cooperation with Japan and the United States in the face of North Korean nuclear threats.
Kang said the government would support whatever decision Naver makes about its stake in LY. If it decides to keep role in the joint venture, he said the technology ministry would help it strengthen its cybersecurity.
FILE - The logo of Japanese mobile provider SoftBank at its shop in Tokyo, Japan, on June 14, 2018. South Korea vowed Friday, May 10, 2024, to protect its companies operating in other markets after Japanese regulators told LY Corp., which runs the popular chat app Line in a joint venture with Japan’s SoftBank, to reduce its dependence on its Korean partner, Naver. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File)
FILE - The logo of Naver is seen at its headquarters in Seongnam, South Korea on Nov. 16, 2021. South Korea vowed Friday, May 10, 2024, to protect its companies operating in other markets after Japanese regulators told LY Corp., which runs the popular chat app Line in a joint venture with Japan’s SoftBank, to reduce its dependence on its Korean partner, Naver. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
Kang Dohyun, South Korea's second vice technology minister, speaks at a press briefing at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 10, 2024. South Korea vowed Friday to protect its companies operating in other markets after Japanese regulators told LY Corp., which runs the popular chat app Line in a joint venture with Japan’s SoftBank, to reduce its dependence on its Korean partner, Naver. (Lim Hwa-young/Yonhap via AP)
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Fast-moving storms with strong winds, large hail and apparent tornadoes swept Oklahoma and Kansas, blowing roofs off homes and blocking roads with toppled trees and downed power lines. Meanwhile, Houston made progress in recovering from last week's deadly storms.
Nearly 20 homes were damaged in western Oklahoma's Custer County, with two people injured in Butler, state emergency officials said late Sunday. Damage to a nursing home was reported in the town of Hydro.
Wind gusts well over 60 mph (about 100 kph) were reported in many areas as the storms, which began Sunday afternoon and lasted through the night, moved eastward. In central Kansas, a 100 mph (160 kph) wind gust was reported at the airport in Salina, the National Weather Service said.
Jacob Schwein, of Russell, Kansas, told television station KAKE that he spotted a funnel cloud from a storm that damaged his home and ripped apart a garage where he kept his race car, trophies and an array of tools.
“When I left work, I seen it,” Schwein said. “I seen it come down right over there on the on the next road.”
Overturned semitrailers were reported in Newton and Sedgwick counties, the office said.
“Due to the damage and debris please do not go out unless absolutely necessary!” the city of Halstead posted online.
The weather service said it received 13 tornado reports Sunday from Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado.
Schools were canceled Monday in several communities that were cleaning up. More storms were forecast for later in the day. The National Weather Service warned of an enhanced risk of severe storms late Monday night into early Tuesday in parts of Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. Thoe storms could produce large hail, gusts of up to 75 mph (121 kph) and some tornadoes.
Parts of Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota could also see some flooding with heavy rain swelling rivers and creeks, the weather service said.
Houston-area residents affected by deadly storms last week received some good news as officials said power was restored Sunday to a majority of the hundreds of thousands who had been left in the dark and without air conditioning during hot and humid weather.
Thursday’s storms left at least seven dead and brought much of Houston to a standstill. Thunderstorms and hurricane-force winds tore through the city of over 2 million, reducing businesses and other structures to debris, uprooting trees and shattering glass in downtown skyscrapers.
More than 225,000 homes and businesses in Texas remained without electricity Monday, mostly in the Houston area. More than 1,800 customers remained without power in Louisiana, which also was hit by strong winds and a suspected tornado.
In one Houston-area neighborhood, many residents without power picked up food, water and ice at a distribution site set up at a Boys & Girls Club. City and county buses were used as temporary cooling centers.
“I’m a mother of three girls … My house does not have electricity and I know what you are all suffering and we are here to help you,” Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones said in a video posted on the social platform X.
The weather service said Houston-area residents should expect “sunny, hot and increasingly humid days." Highs of about 90 degrees (32 Celsius) were expected this week, with heat indexes likely approaching 102 degrees (39 Celsius) by midweek.
A restoration crew works in a home while cleaning up storm damage on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. The suburban Houston area of Bridgeland suffered major damage last week after a line of powerful storms, that included a confirmed tornado, swept through the area. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
People walk through a Bridgeland neighborhood as families begin cleaning up storm damage on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Cypress. The suburban Houston area of Bridgeland suffered major damage last week after a line of powerful storms, that included a confirmed tornado, swept through the area. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Volunteers with Houston Independent School District and the Houston Food Bank work through the heat to give away food to people in the aftermath of a destructive storm Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center in Houston. Many Houstonians are still without power as temperatures climb. Staff and volunteers with Houston Independent School District and the Houston Food Bank worked in the heat to help residents around the school. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Margaret Cantu waits in the heat to get food and water from volunteers Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center in Houston. "I'm trying to forget the storm, it really scares me," she said. Cantu, 68, lives with her 70-year-old husband. She said they don't have power. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)
A man carries his propane tank after getting it filled up at 2650 Tidwell Road on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Houston, after a strong thunderstorm moved through Thursday evening. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP)
A runner passes a chopped up tree on the trail at Memorial Park on Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Houston, after a strong thunderstorm moved through Thursday evening. (Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Andrew Hallard, a mechanic with Harris County Precinct 4, works through the heat to distribute food and water in the aftermath of a destructive storm Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the Richard and Meg Weekley Community Center in Cypress. Texas. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)
A man carries water on his shoulder as volunteers at the Memorial Assistance Ministries distributed water and ice, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Houston. As of Saturday afternoon, 486,000 people in the Houston area remained without power after a Thursday's thunderstorms killed at least seven people. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Charlie Reyes reads in cooling center Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Tracy Gee Community Center in Houston. "I was at a loss, I didn't know what to do other than go hide," he said of the storm. "Since then it's been trying to keep myself OK." He said he was at the center to charge his devices. "My poor car can only charge so much." (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Volunteers prepare boxes of dry foods and fresh fruit to distribute as cars wrap around Houston Community College Eastside Campus Sunday May 19, 2024 to pick up dry foods, water, ice, milk and baby supplies following severe storms that passed through the area Thursday. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via AP)
Daniel Valdez places a fresh bag of ice in a cooler his brought on foot from his apartment as volunteers at the Memorial Assistance Ministries distributed water and ice, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Houston. As of Saturday afternoon, 486,000 people in the Houston area remained without power after a Thursday's thunderstorms killed at least seven people. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP)
A truck is covered in debris as a families in Bridgeland begin to recover from and clean up storm damage on Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. The suburban Houston area of Bridgeland suffered major damage last week after a line of powerful storms, that included a confirmed tornado, swept through the area. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
A truck is covered in debris as families in Bridgeland begin to clean up storm damage, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
A woman named Olga, who declined to give her last name, walks around her heavily damaged home as her family begins cleaning up storm damage, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
People walk through a Bridgeland neighborhood as families begin cleaning up storm damage, Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Cypress, Texas. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)
