Yonhap News Summary

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

S. Korea, U.S. to cooperate on N.K. nuke, to hold talks again in June
LONDON -- South Korea and the United States agreed to closely cooperate in
addressing the North Korean nuclear issue and the pending bilateral free trade
agreement at their first summit talks here on Thursday, South Korean spokeswoman
said.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will visit the United States on June 16 for
further talks with U.S. President Barack Obama, the spokeswoman said.
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(LEAD) N. Korea deploys fighter jets to guard rocket launch: officials
SEOUL -- North Korea has deployed a fleet of MiG-23 fighter jets to apparently
guard against any foreign attempt to intercept its rocket which Pyongyang says
will carry a satellite into orbit in days, South Korean officials said Thursday.
The officials declined to give the size of the deployment, which comes as
Pyongyang warned it will "mercilessly deal deadly blows" at anyone trying to
interfere with the launch expected between April 4-8.
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S. Korea, U.S., Japan eye new U.N. resolution against N. Korea: official
SEOUL -- South Korea, the U.S. and Japan have agreed to push for a new U.N.
Security Council resolution against North Korea if it goes ahead with its planned
rocket launch, a senior South Korean government official said Thursday.
But whether such a resolution will be adopted at the 15-member council is
uncertain, as two of the standing members -- China and Russia -- may oppose it.
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S. Korea reroutes flights ahead of N. Korean launch
SEOUL -- The South Korean government ordered the nation's two major airlines
Thursday to redirect their flight routes as a precaution against North Korea's
imminent rocket launch.
A daily average of 20 flights will be subject to the forced detour and are
required to stay "as far as possible" from "dangerous" areas when heading for
Japan, the continental U.S., Russia and Hawaii, the Ministry of Land, Transport
and Maritime Affairs said in a statement.
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Korean won rises 3.37 pct to U.S. dollar on stock rally
SEOUL -- The South Korean currency jumped 3.37 percent against the U.S. dollar on
Thursday as foreign investors bought local stocks, sending the Seoul bourse
sharply higher, dealers said.
The local currency closed at 1,334.5 won to the dollar, up 45 won from Wednesday
and marking the largest daily gain since Dec. 10 when it climbed by 53.2 won.
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(LAED) Seoul stocks surge 3.54 pct on recovery hopes
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks soared 3.54 percent Thursday as investor sentiment
got a lift from improving economic indicators, analysts said. The local currency
jumped against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) spiked 43.61 points to
1,276.97, the highest close since Oct. 15 last year. Volume was heavy at 720.2
million shares worth 7.8 trillion won (US$5.8 billion), with gainers outnumbering
losers 727 to 138.
(END)