Yonhap News Summary

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
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S. Korea confident of nuclear talks despite N. Korea's missile launch
SEOUL -- South Korea's chief nuclear envoy dismissed worries Wednesday that North
Korea's rocket launch in early April could put an end the already-troubled
six-way talks on its atomic weapons program.
Pyongyang threatened Tuesday to abandon the talks also involving the U.S., China,
Russia, and Japan, if sanctioned for what it says is a launch of a space vehicle
carrying a communication satellite. The communist nation declared its intention
to go ahead with the launch between April 4-8, snubbing repeated warnings by
South Korea and its allies that it would lead to sanctions under U.N. Security
Council Resolution 1718 that prohibits Pyongyang from all activities linked to
its ballistic missile program.
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N. Korea likely to set up rocket around weekend: source
SEOUL -- North Korea is likely to set up its rocket on its launch pad around this
weekend, a South Korean source said Wednesday.
North Korea said it will launch what it claims to be a communications satellite
between April 4-8 from its east coast. Neighbors say it could be a pretext for
the communist country to test-fire its most advanced missile, the Taepodong-2.
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S. Korean won hits 2-month high to dollar
SEOUL -- The South Korean currency rose to a two-month high against the U.S.
dollar on Wednesday as exporters and foreign stock investors unloaded the
greenback, dealers said.
The local currency closed at 1,363 won to the dollar, up 20.5 won or 1.5 percent
from Tuesday and the highest level since Jan. 19.
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(LEAD) Seoul shares close up 0.6 pct on liquidity hopes
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks gained 0.6 percent Wednesday on expectations of
increased market liquidity, analysts said. The local currency rose sharply
against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 7.32 points to
1,229.02, rising for a fourth session. Volume was moderate at 488.53 million
shares worth 5.02 trillion won (US$3.68 billion), with gainers outpacing losers
494 to 320.
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S. Korea-Chile FTA boosts trade volume fourfold
SEOUL -- Trade volume between South Korea and Chile nearly quadrupled five years
after the countries sealed a free trade pact, the Trade Ministry said Wednesday.
The two countries signed the trade pact, Seoul's first-ever free trade agreement,
in early 2003 and put it into effect a year later.
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S. Korea poised to ease bond oversupply
SEOUL -- The South Korean government said Wednesday that it will delay issuing a
portion of bonds intended for an earlier buyback of Treasurys in a bid to ease an
expected oversupply in the domestic bond market.
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance said that it will delay issuing a total of
9.6 trillion won (US$7 billion) worth of Treasurys, intended to pay maturing
government debts earlier than scheduled for this year. It had planned to issue
13.6 trillion won worth of bonds for the buyback.
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S. Korea pushing to introduce new presidential jet by 2014
SEOUL -- South Korea plans to introduce a new presidential airplane by 2014, its
defense procurement office said Wednesday, amid rising safety concerns over the
current presidential jet which has been in service for nearly 25 years.
Despite its status as the world's 13th-largest economy, South Korea has operated
a superannuated presidential plane with only 40 seats and a limited flying
distance since 1985. Due to the limitations, South Korean presidents have
chartered commercial airlines for long-distance overseas trips.
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