By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- The commander of U.S. forces in Asia and the Pacific
met with South Korea's defense minister on Friday as U.S. Secretary of State

N. Korean leader promotes loyal aide in military shakeup
(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead, ADDS detail)

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Steel Co., South Korea's second-largest steel
maker, said Friday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mechel to buy

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il promoted a close
confidante to the post of vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, the

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday
that Washington will continue to hold talks with Seoul regarding South Korea's

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Friday called
on the new U.S. government to strengthen cooperation with Seoul in resolving the

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES with additional comments on N. Korean regime, its
leadership, background)
By Lee Chi-dong and Tony Chang

(ATTN: UPDATES with Clinton's comments on N.K. leadership, S. Korean minister's
comments)
By Lee Chi-dong and Tony Chang

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign debt fell in 2008 from a year
earlier, the first drop in seven years, as banks used dollars provided by

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- The number of unsold housing units in South Korea rose
to an all-time high last year, affected by a protracted economic slowdown, a