Yonhap News Summary

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

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(3rd LD) N. Korea must be held accountable unless denuclearized: Obama
WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday he is committed to
diplomacy in seeking the nuclear dismantlement of North Korea and Iran, but
warned they will be held accountable if they refuse international calls for their
denuclearization.
"I am committed to diplomacy that opens a path to greater prosperity and a more
secure peace, for both nations, if they live up to their obligations," Obama told
the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.
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Seoul likely to host next G-20 summit in 2010: official
NEW YORK -- South Korea will likely host the next round of the Group of 20
countries aimed at tackling the ongoing global economic crisis, a South Korean
official said Wednesday. The 20-nation forum is expected to have clout in global
governance beyond the current crisis.
"The host city of the next G-20 summit will be decided at the third meeting to be
held in Pittsburgh on Friday, but South Korea is one of the strongest candidates
as of now," the official told reporters, asking not to be identified.
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(LEAD) Lee, Hatoyama agree to work on N. Korea's denuclearization, bilateral ties
NEW YORK -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama reaffirmed Wednesday the necessity of maintaining current
international penalties on North Korea while urging the communist state to return
to talks on its denuclearization.
"It is better to resolve the issue through dialogue, but we need to keep pressure
on the North through international cooperation if necessary," the Japanese leader
was quoted as telling Lee.
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KDB skeptical about talks with General Motors on GM Daewoo
SEOUL -- Officials at South Korea's state-run bank expressed skepticism Thursday
over talks with General Motors Co. to provide fresh loans to keep afloat the
local unit of the U.S. carmaker.
Since February, cash-strapped GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. has been in talks
with Korea Development Bank (KDB) to receive about one trillion won (US$835.8
million) in new loans after exhausting a $2 billion credit line.
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Steinberg due in Seoul on North Korea, other issues: State Dept.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg will embark
Friday on a weeklong trip to Asia, including South Korea, to discuss bilateral
and regional issues, the State Department said in a statement.
Steinberg will lead an interagency delegation to Seoul Tuesday on the fourth leg
of his five-nation tour, which will also bring him to Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur,
Beijing and Tokyo.
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ASEM members begin interfaith dialogue in Seoul
SEOUL -- Religious leaders and government officials from the 45 members of the
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) began a new round of interfaith talks here Thursday,
seeking solutions to religious and socio-political conflicts.
Participants of the fifth ASEM Interfaith Dialogue, co-hosted by Korea and
Finland, will discuss regional and interfaith conflicts, the ongoing global
economic crisis and cultural diversity during the two-day forum.
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S. Korea, China, Japan to discuss N. Korea, envisioned regional community
SEOUL -- South Korea, China, and Japan will discuss ways to deal with North Korea
and build an EU-style regional community when their top diplomats meet in
Shanghai early next week, officials here said Thursday.
Seoul Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan, his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi, and
Japan's new foreign minister, Katsuya Okada, also plan to prepare for the annual
summit of their leaders to be held in Beijing on Oct. 10, the officials added.
(END)