Yonhap News Summary

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency
on Monday.

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N. Korea couples nuclear blast with missile launch: source
SEOUL -- North Korea appears to have test-fired a short-range missile Monday on
its east coast after it conducted its second nuclear test, a South Korean source
said.
The missile, with an estimated range of 130 kilometers, was fired from the
coastal site where North Korea launched its long-range rocket on April 5, the
source said.
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(3rd LD) S. Korea condemns N. Korean nuclear test as unpardonable provocation
SEOUL -- The South Korean government on Monday issued a statement strongly
denouncing North Korea's latest nuclear test as a "serious threat and challenge"
to the international community.
The statement read by presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan in a news conference
also vowed to call on the United Nations Security Council to take strong
countermeasures to punish the communist nation.
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(News Focus) N. Korea moving fast in timetable of provocative steps
SEOUL -- North Korea's second nuclear test came as no surprise to South Korean
officials on Monday, but they said the unpredictable communist nation pulled out
its trump card earlier than expected.
"North Korea seems to want a speedy game," a senior South Korean government
official handling the nuclear issue said. "It seems to be seeking to create a
condition favorable to itself as early as possible, rather than dragging its
feet."
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China notified of N. Korea's nuke test in advance: source
BEIJING -- North Korea gave advance notice to China that it was preparing to
conduct a second nuclear test, a diplomatic source here said Monday.
The source did not provide details, such as the exact timing of the notification
or through what channel.
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(LEAD) Financial markets largely unscathed by N. Korean nuke test
SEOUL -- South Korea's financial markets were little affected Monday by North
Korea's announcement of another nuclear experiment as most investors shrugged off
its fallout, analysts said.
After a roller-coaster session, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index
(KOSPI) fell 2.85 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,400.90, with the local currency
ending at 1,249 won to the U.S. dollar, down 1.6 won from Friday's close.
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(LEAD) Watchdog vows to ease jitters over N. Korea's nuke test
SEOUL -- South Korea's top financial regulator said Monday the watchdog plans to
make utmost efforts to ease possible jitters stemming from a second nuclear test
conducted by North Korea.
"(We have to) closely monitor market situations," Chin Dong-soo, chairman of the
Financial Services Commission (FSC), told reporters at an emergency financial
meeting. "The watchdog will make efforts to dispel market jitters by closely
cooperating with the finance ministry and the Bank of Korea (BOK)."
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S. Korea forms task force on economic impact of N.K nuke test
SEOUL -- South Korea's government said Monday that it formed a task force to
monitor the impact of North Korea's nuclear test on the local economy and
financial markets.
Pyongyang announced earlier in the day that it successfully conducted a second
nuclear test to prop up its nuclear deterrent for self-defense. North Korea
conducted its first nuke test in October 2006.
(END)