SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks plunged 3.72 percent Friday as
foreign investors dumped shares on jitters over the local currency, analysts

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- On her first trip to South Korea as the U.S. secretary

SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Yonhap) -- An upcoming South Korean defense white paper will not
include an account of North Korea's alleged possession of nuclear weapons, the

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