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

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; MODIFIES throughout)
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly speaker urged party leaders to

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to send a senior government official
to Afghanistan next month to seek ways of expanding its contributions there, a

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to send a senior government official
to Afghanistan next month to seek ways of expanding its contributions there, a

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- Unionized workers at Ssangyong Motor Co., which will
face liquidation unless its Chinese parent Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.