Yonhap News Summary

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

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(LEAD) Lee, Xi agree on closer cooperation on N. Korea, climate change
SEOUL -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Chinese Vice President Xi
Jinping agreed Thursday to step up joint efforts to denuclearize North Korea and
stem climate change, Lee's office said.
"For South Korea, China is not a mere economic partner but a very close partner
in dealing with the North Korean nuclear problem and various other issues," Lee
told Xi in their one-hour meeting here, according to presidential spokesman Park
Sun-kyoo.
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Ssangyong Motor awaits key ruling on turnaround plan
SEOUL -- Ailing Ssangyong Motor Co. was awaiting a bankruptcy judge's ruling on
Thursday over whether to approve a turnaround plan by South Korea's smallest
automaker.
Approval of the plan by the Seoul Central District Court, in spite of the
apprehension expressed by bondholders, will provide a much-needed lifeline for
the troubled Ssangyong, which entered bankruptcy protection in February of last
year, while rejection means the company will eventually be liquidated.
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(LEAD) End of currency swap with U.S. to have little impact on Korea: BOK
SEOUL -- The Bank of Korea (BOK) said the possible end of its swap arrangement
with the U.S. Federal Reserve would have little impact on South Korea's foreign
exchange markets.
On Oct. 30, 2008, the Fed reached a US$30 billion currency swap arrangement with
the BOK in the midst of rising global financial turmoil, a move which helped
stabilize the local financial markets. The accord was extended twice through Feb.
1.
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S. Korea committed to 'voluntary' greenhouse gas reduction: official
COPENHAGEN -- South Korea supports a "voluntary" reduction of greenhouse gases
for developing countries, a government official said at ongoing climate change
talks in Copenhagen on Thursday.
The official, who wished to remain anonymous, said Seoul looks favorably on the
recommendations made by an ad hoc working group on long-term cooperative action
that differentiates between advanced economies and developing nations.
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S. Korean president heads to Copenhagen for U.N. climate summit
SEOUL -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was due to arrive in Copenhagen
later Thursday for the U.N. conference on climate change where he will deliver a
keynote speech, urging immediate global action and the establishment of a global
partnership for new green technologies.
The South Korean leader will attend a climate summit Friday that will also
involve the leaders of over 100 advanced and developing countries, including the
United States, China and Russia.
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S. Korea unsure if N. Korea has contained H1N1 flu
SEOUL -- South Korea expressed uncertainty Thursday over the credibility of a
recent North Korean report to the World Health Organization that no additional
cases of H1N1 flu have emerged since the recovery of the first infected patients
there.
The Unification Ministry said it has intelligence that contradicts what North
Korea has officially told the world body, which is part of the reason why Seoul
is going ahead with its plan to ship US$15 million worth of Tamiflu and other
anti-viral drugs to its isolated neighbor.
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S. Korea develops human-powered aircraft: Air Force
SEOUL -- The Air Force said Thursday it has developed a human-powered aircraft
that can be pedaled off the ground and propelled with human energy to fly.
The "Sky Runner," which weighs just 40 kilograms but has a wingspan of 30 meters,
managed to fly 150m and 100m in its two preliminary flight tests last week, an
Air Force official said.
(END)