The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- Household loans extended by South Korean financial firms grew by the largest amount in five months in May, the central bank said Friday, underscoring concerns about snowb

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign ministry is ready to take "various countermeasures" against Japan unless Tokyo lifts its planned ban on diplomats' bookings with Korean Air in prote

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   SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korea repatriated the body of a South Korean civilian found dead in North Korean waters, Seoul's Red Cross said Friday.

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- A renowned South Korean designer of traditional hanbok costumes plans to hold a fashion show on the country's easternmost islets of Dokdo next month on the occasion of th

   HONG KONG, July 15 (Yonhap) -- China said Friday that it will maintain its export quota of rare earth elements at nearly the same level as last year, in a move to try to pacify its trading partn

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 0.4 percent higher late Friday morning, helped by gains in technology companies and retailers, analysts said.

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- Antitrust authorities of South Korea and the European Union agreed Friday to ensure equal treatment of foreign companies in dealing with international cartel cases, Seoul

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has agreed to repatriate the body of a South Korean civilian found dead in North Korean waters, Seoul's Red Cross said Friday.

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- Domestic gold prices have rallied to all-time highs on the back of recent surges in international prices of the precious metal and the weak U.S.