Business watch and what we need to know

North Korea digging tunnels in South

 

Gen. Hahn Sung-Chu never believed North Korea could dig a tunnel that reached Seoul -- until now.

Standing inside a basement of an apartment block in the heart of the capital, the for-mer two-star general in the South Korean military says, "This is a kind of invasion, North Korean soldiers working underneath us."

Hahn says residents had complained of underground vibrations, but the subway does not run beneath them.

He says dowsers detected three tunnels, 13 to 16 feet (4 to 5 meters) wide at a depth of up to 39 feet (12 meters). His team drilled two bore holes to lower a camera, but before they could, they detected two underground explosions and their drill holes were blocked. Hahn is certain that North Korean soldiers were working beneath their feet, protecting the tunnel.

 

Secret Service Director Julia Pierson resigns

 

Julia Pierson, the first female director of the Secret Service, resigned Wednesday in the aftermath of a fence-jumper gaining access to the White House on September 19 and a subsequent congressional inquiry uncovering other security lapses.

Homeland Security Director Jeh Johnson announced the resignation in a statement. He also announced that the Department of Homeland Security would take over an in-ternal inquiry of the Secret Service and that he would appoint of a new panel to re-view security at the White House.

Joseph Clancy, formerly a special agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Divi-sion of the Secret Service, was named interim director, Johnson said in his statement.

 

Hong Kong leader refuses to step down amid protests

 

A midnight deadline imposed by pro-democracy demonstrators calling for Hong Kong's top official to step down passed Friday, with Chief Executive C.Y. Leung vow-ing to stay and warning of "serious consequences" should protesters cross police lines.

Leung said Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, who is second in command, will meet with representatives of the Hong Kong Federation of Students to discuss "constitutional development matters." He urged protesters not to occupy the space outside official buildings, including government headquarters, police headquarters and Government House.