Yonhap News Summary

The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency
on Thursday.

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U.S., China agree to resume six-party talks soon: State Dept.
WASHINGTON -- The United States and China have agreed to resume six-party talks
as soon as possible to persuade North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons
programs, the U.S. State Department said Wednesday.
The agreement was made at a meeting between Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special envoy
for North Korea, and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Beijing earlier in
the day, deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid said in a daily news briefing.
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N. Korea may conduct second nuke test: think tank
WASHINGTON -- North Korea may conduct a second nuclear test in the near future to
increase its bargaining power in negotiating with the United States, a private
think tank said Wednesday.
"The new administration and Congress should not be surprised if Pyongyang
precipitates a crisis, perhaps in the near term, to elevate its importance in a
crowded U.S. foreign policy agenda," the Seattle-based National Bureau of Asian
Research said in a report titled "Shock of the New: Congress and Asia in 2009."
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Kim Jong-il ranks second in 2008 N. Korean media appearance
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was only No. 2 in the communist country
in terms of media appearance during 2008, topped by the country's ceremonial head
Kim Yong-nam, data showed Thursday.
Kim Yong-nam, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly,
appeared 322 times in the country's main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, last year,
compared to 202 times for Kim Jong-il, according to the count by Seoul's Ministry
of Unification.
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S. Korean civic group to build rehabilitation center for disabled in N. Korea
SEOUL -- A Seoul-based welfare group said Thursday that it will break ground for
construction of a rehabilitation center for disabled North Koreans in Pyongyang
in May.
The joint project was initially scheduled to begin last year but was put off due
to rising political tensions between the two Koreas, said Sue Kinsler, a
Korean-American and lead organizer with the Lighthouse Foundation.
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S. Korea's economy continues slide amid global turbulence: report
SEOUL -- South Korea's economy continues to suffer in the wake of global
financial turmoil, hit by falling exports and domestic demand amid recessions in
key markets, a government report said Thursday.
"An economic downturn continues, hit by sluggish domestic demand and exports amid
worldwide financial turbulence and global recessions," the Finance Ministry said
in its monthly report on current economic trends.
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Gov't ready to intervene to stabilize currency market: vice minister
SEOUL -- The government is ready to take "action" when the currency market
suffers excessive fluctuations, a top economic policymaker said Thursday.
"The government's basic stance is that foreign exchange rates should be decided
by economic fundamentals and supply and demand in the market," Vice Finance
Minister Hur Kyung-wook said on a local radio program.
(END)