Yonhap News Summary

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

S. Korea to develop unmanned research, surveillance ship
SEOUL -- South Korea will invest about 20 billion won (US$18.4 million) over the next five years to develop an unmanned ship and related technologies as part of efforts to enhance its maritime research and surveillance capacity, officials said Tuesday.
The envisioned ship and technologies will be developed in cooperation with the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute, according to the officials from the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

-----------------------
N. Korea leases pier on northeastern port to Switzerland
SEOUL-- North Korea has leased a pier on its port located near China and Russia to Switzerland, a source said Tuesday, citing an unidentified Chinese government official.
North Korea has already leased two other piers on Rajin port to China and Russia, and various consultations are also under way for three other piers, according to the source who has knowledge on the North Korean economy.

------------------------
S. Korea to beef up efforts to curb household debt
SEOUL -- South Korea plans to beef up efforts to curb the growth of household debt and mend the practice of extending home loans in a bid to prevent household indebtedness from increasing market instability, the financial watchdog said Tuesday.
South Korea's household debt stood at 801.4 trillion won (US$738.2 billion) as of the end of March, accounting for 86 percent of the country's gross domestic product. The number was higher than the average of 77 percent for members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

-------------------------
Hyundai, Kia claim record share of Canadian car market
SEOUL -- The combined market share of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. in Canada reached a record high in May, a U.S. report said Tuesday, amid setbacks of Japanese rivals still reeling from the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake.
According to U.S. automotive magazine Ward's Auto, the combined sales of the two South Korean automakers in Canada came to 20,895 units last month, accounting for 14.1 percent of all new passenger vehicles sold there.

--------------------------
S. Korea's 'core productive population' drops in 2010
SEOUL-- South Korea's "core productive population" declined for the first time in 2010, data showed Tuesday, raising fears the nation's economy could lose its vibrancy down the road due to a lack of working people.
According to the data offered by Statistics Korea, the core productive population came to 19.54 million last year, down 367,000 from 2005 when the figure stood at 19.91 million. Core productive population refers to people aged 25-49, who are regarded as most active in participating in economic activities.

--------------------------
S. Korea mulled FTA with N. Korea in 2007: ex-trade official
WASHINGTON -- South Korea considered proposing a free trade agreement (FTA) with North Korea when they held summit talks in 2007, a former top trade official said Monday.
Kim Hyun-chong, who served as Seoul's trade minister from 2004-2007 and ambassador to the United Nations for the next two years, said he made the offer to then President Roh Moo-hyun in light of projected reunification costs.

--------------------------
Seoul's chief nuclear envoy to coordinate N.K. dialogue strategy with Japan
SEOUL, June 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's chief nuclear envoy said Tuesday he will discuss with his Japanese counterpart ways to revive dialogue with North Korea, after the communist state recently declared a break-off in relations with Seoul.
During his two-day visit to Tokyo that starts Tuesday, Wi Sung-lac is scheduled to meet Shinsuke Sugiyama, Japan's chief envoy to the stalled six-party denuclearization talks, and discuss recent developments in inter-Korean relations as well as details of their latest exchanges with other member nations to the multilateral forum, according to the foreign ministry here.
(END)