ID :
54837
Fri, 04/10/2009 - 19:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/54837
The shortlink copeid
Yonhap News Summary
The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
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(LEAD) (News Focus) Kim Jong-il paves way for successor: analysts
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had two aims in appointing his
brother-in-law to the country's powerful military board and reshuffling its
lineup, analysts said Friday -- to cement his standing and solidify leadership
that could function once he is out of the picture.
Kim, 67, now back in control after a reported stroke last summer, considerably
amplified the National Defence Commission (NDC) in a meeting of the newly elected
parliament Thursday, increasing the number of its members to 13 from eight and
bringing in new members from outside the military.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul shares end 1.5 pct higher on financial gains
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks rose 1.5 percent Friday as investors scooped up
financial shares amid eased woes over the health of the U.S. banking sector,
analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 19.69 points to
1,336.04. Volume was heavy at 911.7 million shares worth 8.98 trillion won
(US$6.75 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 525 to 300.
-----------------
(LEAD) Chung quits main opposition party to run independently in by-election
SEOUL -- Chung Dong-young, a former Cabinet minister and head of the main
opposition Democratic Party (DP), withdrew from the party on Friday and vowed to
run independently in an upcoming by-election after having failed to win a
nomination for his hometown district.
The defection of the political heavyweight, a former contender in the 2007
presidential election, is expected to deal a blow to the opposition party's
reputation, already tarnished by an unfolding bribery scandal involving key
members as well as former President Roh Moo-hyun and his family.
-----------------
Militant labor group in crisis as affiliates jump ship
SEOUL -- The Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) appears to be sinking
deeper into trouble as affiliated labor unions are moving to quit their
membership in protest over corruption within the group's leadership.
Unions for Incheon Rapid Transit Corp., a subway operator in the port city west
of Seoul, and Incheon International Airport Corp. said Friday that unionized
workers are expected to approve their withdrawal from the KCTU in a vote expected
to continue through Friday evening.
-----------------
(2nd LD) POSCO Q1 net drops 69 pct on weak demand
SEOUL -- POSCO, the world's fourth-largest steelmaker, said Friday that its
first-quarter profit tumbled 69 percent from a year earlier due to declining
demand from automakers and builders.
Net profit reached 325 billion won (US$244 million) in the January-March period,
down 68.5 percent from a year earlier, POSCO said in a regulatory filing. Sales
fell 22.1 percent to 6.69 trillion won, with operating income plunging 71 percent
to 373 billion won.
(END)
-----------------
(LEAD) (News Focus) Kim Jong-il paves way for successor: analysts
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had two aims in appointing his
brother-in-law to the country's powerful military board and reshuffling its
lineup, analysts said Friday -- to cement his standing and solidify leadership
that could function once he is out of the picture.
Kim, 67, now back in control after a reported stroke last summer, considerably
amplified the National Defence Commission (NDC) in a meeting of the newly elected
parliament Thursday, increasing the number of its members to 13 from eight and
bringing in new members from outside the military.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul shares end 1.5 pct higher on financial gains
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks rose 1.5 percent Friday as investors scooped up
financial shares amid eased woes over the health of the U.S. banking sector,
analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 19.69 points to
1,336.04. Volume was heavy at 911.7 million shares worth 8.98 trillion won
(US$6.75 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 525 to 300.
-----------------
(LEAD) Chung quits main opposition party to run independently in by-election
SEOUL -- Chung Dong-young, a former Cabinet minister and head of the main
opposition Democratic Party (DP), withdrew from the party on Friday and vowed to
run independently in an upcoming by-election after having failed to win a
nomination for his hometown district.
The defection of the political heavyweight, a former contender in the 2007
presidential election, is expected to deal a blow to the opposition party's
reputation, already tarnished by an unfolding bribery scandal involving key
members as well as former President Roh Moo-hyun and his family.
-----------------
Militant labor group in crisis as affiliates jump ship
SEOUL -- The Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) appears to be sinking
deeper into trouble as affiliated labor unions are moving to quit their
membership in protest over corruption within the group's leadership.
Unions for Incheon Rapid Transit Corp., a subway operator in the port city west
of Seoul, and Incheon International Airport Corp. said Friday that unionized
workers are expected to approve their withdrawal from the KCTU in a vote expected
to continue through Friday evening.
-----------------
(2nd LD) POSCO Q1 net drops 69 pct on weak demand
SEOUL -- POSCO, the world's fourth-largest steelmaker, said Friday that its
first-quarter profit tumbled 69 percent from a year earlier due to declining
demand from automakers and builders.
Net profit reached 325 billion won (US$244 million) in the January-March period,
down 68.5 percent from a year earlier, POSCO said in a regulatory filing. Sales
fell 22.1 percent to 6.69 trillion won, with operating income plunging 71 percent
to 373 billion won.
(END)
