Yonhap News Summary

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

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U.S. won't switch to two-way talks with N. Korea: official
WASHINGTON -- The United States will refuse any attempt by North Korea to shift
towards bilateral dialogue with Washington and away from the six-party
disarmament talks, a senior U.S. official said Sunday.
"The North Koreans have their own reasons for wanting to talk bilaterally. They
would like to get out from the six-party framework and the (related) agreements,"
the official said, asking for anonymity. "We won't accept, but can talk to them
if it will help convince them to live up to their obligations."
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(LEAD) S. Korea reports seventh flu-related death
SEOUL -- A South Korean man infected with the Influenza A (H1N1) virus has died,
the second flu-related death in the day that brings the local death toll from the
contagious disease to seven, South Korea's health authorities said Monday.
The 78-year old man, who has long suffered from high blood pressure,
hepatocirrhosis and other diseases, was presumed to have died from complications
stemming from the new flu on Sunday, according to the Ministry of Health and
Welfare.
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Technical glitches delay S. Korean trips to North
SEOUL -- South Koreans' trips to the North were briefly delayed Monday morning by
technical glitches in an aged inter-Korean hotline, officials said, which
Pyongyang previously demanded Seoul replace.
North Korea approved the trips belatedly by phone instead of by fax, the
customary means of inter-Korean communication, which did not function in the
morning, said Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung.
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S. Korea, Italy agree to increase cooperation, economic ties
SEOUL -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and visiting Italian President
Giorgio Napolitano agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and work together
for an early signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the
European Union.
"President Lee welcomed the Italian president's trip here, the first of its kind
in 125 years since the countries established diplomatic ties in 1884, and noted
that bilateral exchanges and cooperation between the countries in various fields
including political, economic and cultural sectors have steadily improved,"
Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.
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Economy may contract less than 1 pct: official
SEOUL -- The South Korean economy may contract by less than 1 percent this year,
a government official said Monday, citing noticeable signs of a rebound.
The assessment is much more optimistic than negative growth of 1.5 percent,
forecast by the finance ministry for 2009 in late June.
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S. Korea logs trade surplus for 7th straight month in Aug.
SEOUL -- South Korea posted a trade surplus for a seventh straight month in
August as imports declined sharper than exports amid a global economic slowdown,
a government report showed Monday.
According to the report by the Korea Customs Service (KCS), South Korea's trade
surplus amounted to US$1.7 billion last month, down sharply from over $4.4
billion tallied for the previous month.
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S. Korean court says Microsoft broke anti-trust laws, again
SEOUL -- A South Korean court has again ruled that software giant Microsoft Corp.
broke anti-trust laws by bundling programs with its dominant Windows operating
system, court officials said Monday.
Local software company Dideonet filed the suit, claiming financial damages as a
result of the practice.
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Shin Ji-yai grabs third LPGA victory of season
SEOUL -- Rookie Shin Ji-yai of South Korea lifted her third LPGA trophy of the
2009 season at the US$1.8 million P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers,
Arkansas, on Sunday (local time), her agent here said.
The 21-year-old hit nine under in the final round alone, after starting the round
at 24th place seven shots shy from the leader, to jump over to a playoff round
with her compatriot Yoo Sun-jung and American Angela Stanford.
(END)