Yonhap News Summary

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

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(LEAD) Lee, Obama meeting likely at April G-20: minister
SEOUL -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak is expected to hold his first
meeting with incoming U.S. President Barack Obama in London in early April on the
sidelines of the G-20 economic summit, Seoul's foreign minister said Friday.
"We need to consult with the U.S. on the issue, but President-elect Obama will
likely focus on domestic issues, including the economic crisis, rather than
foreign affairs once he takes office," Yu Myung-hwan told reporters.
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N. Korea to improve ties with U.S., get tougher on S. Korea: report
SEOUL -- North Korea demonstrated its commitment to denuclearization and improved
relations with the United States through its New Year message, a pro-Pyongyang
newspaper in Japan said Friday.
The communist state, however, has no intention of budging on inter-Korean
relations and the current stalemate will likely continue, said Choson Sinbo, a
Korean newspaper in Japan widely seen as reflecting the views of North Korea.
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S. Korea to discuss N. Korean defector issue with Myanmar, Laos
SEOUL -- A senior South Korean foreign ministry official will leave for Myanmar
and Laos this weekend to discuss the issue of North Korean defectors who are
increasingly seeking shelter there, ministry sources said.
The ministry said earlier Friday that Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon will
seek ways of promoting economic and political ties with the Southeast Asian
countries during his visit from Jan. 3-7.
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S. Korea's spy chief vows to closely watch N. Korea in New Year
SEOUL -- The chief of South Korea's spy agency said Friday he will closely
monitor North Korea in the New Year, saying national security is a precondition
for the country's economic revival.
"The eyes of all the Korean people and the center of the state administration are
now focused on breaking the economic impasse," Kim Sung-ho, director of the
National Intelligence Service, said in a New Year message.
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N. Korea reports brisk work in agriculture, energy industry
SEOUL -- North Korean media on Friday reported brisk work in its agriculture and
energy industry, following Pyongyang's New Year message that emphasized
rebuilding the national economy and ties with the U.S.
In a joint newspaper editorial on Thursday that summed up the North's policy
goals for 2009, Pyongyang called for all-out effort in resolving the nation's
chronic food shortages "on our own" and reviving a post-war reconstruction
movement to rebuild the country's frail infrastructure.
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S. Korea to slap anti-dumping duties on Chinese, Taiwanese yarn
SEOUL -- South Korea will slap anti-dumping duties on polyester yarn products
from China and Taiwan for the next three years, the government said Friday.
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said it has accepted the results of
investigations conducted by the country's trade commission and decided to slap
punitive duties of 2.97-6.26 percent on polyester filament partially oriented
yarn (POY) from the two countries.
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(LEAD) Seoul shares start new year on high note
SEOUL -- South Korean shares got off to a strong start for the new year on Friday
with the key index surging 2.93 percent on strong shipbuilder gains, analysts
said. The local currency plummeted against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 32.93 points to
1,157.4. on the first trading day of 2009. Volume was moderate at 335.98 million
shares worth 3.95 trillion won (US$2.99 billion), with winners outpacing losers
586 to 267.
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Korean carmakers' 2008 sales edge up, but Dec. shipments dive
SEOUL -- South Korean carmakers' sales rose slightly in 2008 from a year earlier,
but their shipments tumbled in December amid a deepening global economic
downturn, the companies' data showed Friday.
Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., Renault
Samsung Motors Corp. and Ssangyong Motor Co. sold a combined 5.35 million
vehicles last year, up 2.4 percent from the previous year, according to the data.
(END)