▪ S. Korea reports 621 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday
▪ EU’s regulatory body says final approval is underway for Johnson and Johnson’s single shot COVID-19 vaccine
▪ Another new COVID-19 variant seen in the UK
▪ S. Korea, China FMs hold phone talks; Beijing reaffirms Xi Jinping’s will to visit Seoul
▪ N. Korean leader’s wife Ri Sol-ju makes public appearance for first time in over a year
▪ N. Korea shortens mandatory military service period to deploy young labor force: NIS
▪ S. Korean gov’t urged to take Japan to ICJ over wartime sex slavery
▪ U.S. outraged by rocket attack in Iraq while Iran rejects accusation
▪ Myanmar military claim takeover ‘not a coup’, pledge to hold elections
▪ Bitcoin price surpasses $50,000 for first time
▪ Cold snap grips most of Korea, heavy snow in southwest
* 2021-02-17, 10:00 (KST)
