SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- The following is the full text of President Lee
Myung-bak's New Year's message to the nation released on Wednesday.

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- North Korea will receive no economic aid from South
Korea in the new year if it continues to boycott dialogue, Seoul's unification

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will seek to clinch a free trade deal with
the European Union (EU) by March and launch trade talks with Australia and five

By Lee Chi-dong
Seoul, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will focus diplomatic efforts next year on
making "substantial progress" in six-way talks on the North Korean nuclear

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will spend over 7 trillion won (US$5.4
billion) in the first half of next year on purchasing weapons or other defense

By Yoo Cheong-mo
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday issued his New
Year's message, calling on the nation to unite to overcome the financial crisis.

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's central bank will focus its 2009
monetary policy on bolstering the fast slowing economy as inflationary pressure

(URGENT) Seoul will not give aid to N. Korea in 2009 if it continues boycotting
talks: unification minister
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)

YEONPYEONGDO, South Korea, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean family of four has
defected to the South on a small boat on western waters and is currently under

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will face a more challenging year in 2009
with deepening concerns that a global recession could make it tougher for the