Yonhap News Summary

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

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(2nd LD) N.K., U.S. positive about recent talks: KCNA
SEOUL -- North Korea said Friday that direct talks with the U.S. got off to a
good start and that the two sides would continue efforts to narrow their
differences over the resumption of the stalled six-party nuclear talks.
U.S. envoy Stephen Bosworth's three-day trip to Pyongyang that began on Tuesday
produced "a series of common understandings on the need to resume the six-party
talks and the importance of implementing the September 19 Joint Statement," the
North's foreign ministry said through an unidentified spokesman.
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(2nd LD) Court to decide fate of Ssangyong Motor next week
SEOUL -- The fate of Ssangyong Motor Co. was thrown into the hands of a
bankruptcy court Friday after the ailing automaker failed to win enough support
from creditors to push forward its turnaround plan, court officials said.
With the plan failing to win enough backing from the creditors for the second
time, the Seoul Central District Court said it will make a decision on Thursday
whether to forcefully approve it or liquidate the carmaker.
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Seoul to seek transparent distribution of Tamiflu in N. Korea
SEOUL -- Seoul will hold consultations with Pyongyang to ensure transparency in
the distribution of anti-viral drug Tamiflu among North Koreans, following the
latest inter-Korean agreement to jointly fight the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1)
in the North, officials in Seoul said Friday.
North Korea, which earlier this week acknowledged the outbreak of H1N1 infections
on its soil, said Thursday it was willing to enlist South Korea's aid in its
fight against the highly infectious disease. Shortly after the North's
announcement, South Korea offered to send some 500,000 doses of Tamiflu across
the border.
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S. Korea, EU customs authorities agree to enhance cooperation
SEOUL -- South Korea and the European Union have agreed to step up cooperation in
customs-related measures in a move that is expected to further increase bilateral
trade, customs officials said Friday.
According to the Korea Customs Service (KCS), the agreement was made in a meeting
held in Brussels on Thursday where high-ranking officials from the two sides
discussed issues of mutual concern in relation to customs policies. The meeting
was the seventh of its kind.
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Vietnam awards GM Daewoo unit with labor medal
SEOUL -- The Vietnamese government awarded Friday a state medal to GM Daewoo Auto
& Technology Co., honoring its business achievements and contributions in the
Southeast Asian country, the company said.
Vietnam Daewoo Motor Co., the wholly-owned auto assembly plant of GM Daewoo, was
decorated with the Labor Medal by Vietnamese Vice State President Nguyen Thi Roan
at a ceremony to mark the 16th anniversary of the GM Daewoo unit.
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(LEAD) Hana Card agrees to sell 49 pct stake to SK Telecom
SEOUL -- The board of Hana Financial Group Inc. approved Friday a bid by South
Korea's fourth-largest financial firm to sell a 49 percent stake in its credit
card unit to SK Telecom Co.
"Earlier in the morning, SK Telecom reached the final agreement to take over a 49
percent share in Hana Card Co. for some 400 billion won (US$343.9 million)," a
source familiar with the deal said.
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(LEAD) Seoul stocks finish 0.25 pct higher on institutional buying
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed 0.25 percent higher Friday, led by massive
purchases among institutional investors, analysts said. The local currency rose
against the U.S. dollar.
Erasing opening losses, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI)
added 4.17 points to end at a fresh seven-week high of 1,656.9. Volume was
moderate at 430 million shares worth 5.3 trillion won (US$4.6 billion) with
gainers outnumbering losers 546 to 244.
(END)