YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea articles from May 2004

YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea archives from May 2004

Regional Economic Cooperation and North Korea.
May 1, 2004... The long-cherished desire to nurture financial and economic cooperation in the Asian region is gaining momentum again: finance ministers from 13 countries in the region will meet on Jeju Island at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula this...

North Korean PM Thanks South Korea for Assistance.
May 1, 2004... PYONGYANG, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's prime minister expressed thanks Saturday for South Korea's assistance for victims of a recent devastating train explosion there. "Please pass on my gratitude to every sector (of South Korean...

(LEAD) South Korea's Footballers Seal Olympic Qualification.
May 1, 2004... By Eoghan Sweeney SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Goals from Cho Jae-jin and Kim Dong-jin just either side of half-time in Changsha Saturday evening sent South Korea's footballers on their way to Athens. The 2-0 Olympic qualifying win over China...

(3rd LD) N. Korea Calls for Parallel Development of Military and Economy.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea urged its people Saturday to simultaneously strengthen its military and economic power as it observed international May Day. North Korea's Premier Pak Pong-ju and other senior officials stressed during...

South Korea footballers qualify for Olympics.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's U23 footballers sealed qualification for the Athens Olympics with a 2-0 win over China in Changsha, China Saturday evening. Goals from Cho Jae-jin and Kim Dong-jin just either side of half-time...

(LEAD) Two Key Officials of Uri Party Could Join Cabinet by June.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Two key officials of the pro-government Uri Party, which became the new majority party in the general election last month, may be appointed to the Cabinet in the coming two months, party officials said. Party...

China v South Korea result.
May 1, 2004... CHANGSHA, China, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Asian region group A Olympic qualifier result: China 0, South Korea 2 (Cho Jae-jin 45, Kim Dong-jin 47) (THROUGH ASIA PULSE)

(LEAD) Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrives in North Korea.
May 1, 2004... PYONGYANG, May 1 (KCNA-Yonhap) -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda met his North Korean counterpart Paek Nam-sun Saturday as he began the first of his consecutive visits to the two Koreas. "The two sides exchanged opinions on ways...

China v South Korea half-time score.
May 1, 2004... CHANGSHA, China, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Asian region group A Olympic qualifier half-time score: China 0, South Korea 1 (Cho Jae-jin 45) (THROUGH ASIA PULSE)

North Korea Accuses U.S. of Aerial Espionage.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea accused the United States Saturday of conducting hundreds of aerial spy missions against it last month in what it called "undisguised moves" to "stifle" it by force of arms. "The U.S. imperialists...

South Korea's Home Run King Hits Fifth Homer in Japan.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean slugger Lee Seung-yeop of Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines hit a three-run homer in the first inning of Saturday's game against the Seibu Lions. The home run, the player's fifth this season, comes on the...

(2nd LD) S. Korean Workers Mark May Day Amid Joy Over DLP's Success.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Thousands of South Korean workers and students rallied in Seoul Saturday to commemorate May Day amid a festive mood over the first-ever parliamentary representation by a pro-worker party. "We accomplished a...

(2nd LD) N. Korea Calls for Parallel Development of Military and Economy.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea urged its people Saturday to simultaneously strengthen its military and economic power as it observed international May Day. North Korea's Premier Pak Pong-ju and other senior officials stressed during...

(LEAD) N. Korea Calls for Parallel Development of Military and Economy.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea urged its people Saturday to simultaneously strengthen its military and economic power as it observed international May Day. North Korea's Premier Pak Pong-ju and other senior officials stressed during...

Japan, U.S. Agree to Put Pressure on Pyongyang.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Japan has concurred with the United States that the two countries will continue applying pressure on North Korea while also engaging in talks with it, according to a report by Japanese broadcaster NHK Saturday. Abe...

Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrives in North Korea.
May 1, 2004... PYONGYANG, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda arrived here Saturday on the first leg of his 12-day trip to the two Koreas and China to discuss the North Korean nuclear standoff, North Korean media reported. The...

S. Korean Medical Team to Attend Forum in Pyongyang.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean medical delegation will arrive in Pyongyang Saturday to attend a medical conference next week and possibly discuss measures to help victims of last month's devastating train blast in North Korea, local...

Catastrophes Frequently Occurred in N. Korea: Defector.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- The highest-ranking North Korean ever to defect to South Korea claimed here Saturday that huge accidents similar to the recent train explosion frequently occurred in the communist state. Appearing on an...

S. Korea's April Exports Hit Record High.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports in April jumped 38 percent year-on-year to a record US$21.7 billion, extending the country's trade surplus for the 13th month in a row, government figures showed Saturday. The record exports...

N. Korea Blasts U.S. for Alleged Aerial Espionage.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea accused the United States of committing 210 acts of aerial espionage last month over its military facilities near the military demarcation line separating the two Koreas, Pyongyang's state-run news agency...

Artists Born in North Korea to Raise Funds for Train Blast Victims.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- A group of North Korean artists who defected to the South will hold a street fundraising event in Seoul on Saturday to help the victims of a train blast in their homeland, a major conservative organization here said....

(LEAD) S. Korean Workers Mark May Day Amid Joy Over DLP's Success.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Thousands of South Korean workers and students prepared Saturday to hold an annual rally to commemorate Labor Day in Seoul amid a festive mood over the first-ever parliamentary representation by a pro-worker party,...

Two Key Officials of Uri Party Could Join Cabinet by June.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- Two key officials of the pro-government Uri Party, which became the new majority party in the general election last month, may be appointed to the Cabinet in the coming two months, party officials said. Party...

Seoul Opens New Plaza for Relaxation, Cultural Events.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- A new square in front of Seoul City Hall was opened on Saturday after two months of construction. A ceremony for Seoul Plaza took place at 10 a.m. attended by about 350 citizens and public officials, including...

Court May Reach Tentative Verdict on Impeached President Next Week.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Constitutional Court is set to reach an initial conclusion on the unprecedented impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun as early as next week. "The tentative conclusion will be reached next week,"...

N. Korean Parliamentary Leader to Attend Joint May Day Celebration.
May 1, 2004... PYONGYANG, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's parliamentary leader will join South and North Korean workers in a joint celebration of May Day in Pyongyang, South Korean participants here said Saturday. Kim Yong-nam, chairman of the Presidium of...

Saturday's Weather Forecast.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May. 1 (Yonhap) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea's 13 major cities at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. Temperature (C) Condition Possibility High/Low of Rain (%) Seoul 23/12 Cloudy ...

N. Korea Sends First Thank-you Note to S. Korean NGO for Aid.
May 1, 2004... SEOUL, May 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has sent a letter of appreciation to a South Korean non-governmental organization for sending aid supplies for its train blast victims, marking the first time Pyongyang has thanked a private group in Seoul,...

U.S. Dismisses Rewards for N.K. to Resolve Nuclear Impasse.
May 1, 2004... WASHINGTON, April 30 (Yonhap) -- The United States reiterated its opposition on Friday to rewarding North Korea as a way to resolve the 18-month standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear arms program. "We're not going to pay to get them not to do...

South Korean Aid to N. Korean Blast Victims Totals 12.15 Bil Won.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has sent 12.15 billion won (US$10.57 million) in aid as of Sunday to North Korea for the victims of a recent train blast there, government officials said. The aid, which has been delivered by ship and...

Pyongyang Blasts Washington for Sponsor of Terrorism Label.
May 2, 2004... PYONGYANG, May 2 (KCNA-Yonhap) -- North Korea blasted the United States Sunday for retaining it on the list of seven "state sponsors of terrorism" in a recent report, saying Washington's hostile policy toward Pyongyang has remained unchanged....

Iranian Movie Awarded as Best Film at Jeonju Film Festival.
May 2, 2004... JEONJU, South Korea, May 2 (Yonhap) -- An Iranian movie took the award for best film at the fifth annual Jeonju International Film Festival (JIFF), which closed here Sunday. "Silence Between Two Thoughts" by director Babak Payami was...

Ultra Construction Chairman Dies of Illness.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Kang Seog-hwan, chairman of Ultra Construction & Engineering Co., a mid-sized South Korean construction firm, died of an illness Sunday. He was 58. Kang started a construction company in California in 1984 and in...

Overland Transport of Aid to N. Korea Likely This Week.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Construction equipment and building materials from South Korea for recuperation of the area affected by last week's train explosion in North Korea are likely to be sent by land this week, government officials said...

Uri, GNP Leaders to Meet Monday to Discuss Pending Issues.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- The leaders of South Korea's de facto ruling party and main opposition party are to sit together Monday for discussions on major pending issues, their first meeting since the April 15 general election. Uri Party...

Contributions for N.K. Train Blast Victims Exceed 2.9 Billion Won.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean individuals, businesses and others have donated a total of 2.94 billion won (US$2.5 million) as of noon Sunday for the victims of a train blast in North Korea, South Korea's Red Cross said Sunday. The...

Funeral for Dead Governor Scheduled for Monday.
May 2, 2004... GWANGJU, May 2 (Yonhap) -- The funeral service for a provincial governor who committed suicide last week will be held here Monday morning, officials said Sunday. Park Tae-young, 63, governor of South Jeolla Province, took his own life last...

Labor Party to Request Halt to Sale of Daewoo Heavy Industries.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's progressive Democratic Labor Party (DLP) plans to request the government Monday to suspend the sale of Daewoo Heavy Industries & Machinery Co., sources said Sunday. The Korea Asset Management Corp....

(LEAD) Prosecution to Summon Three Well-known Political Figures Next Week.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- The prosecution said Sunday that it plans to call in three former and current politicians next week who are suspected of receiving illegal funds. It will summon Kim Jong-pil, former leader of the splinter United...

Koreas to Hold Minister-level Talks This Week.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea plan to hold minister-level talks this week as scheduled amid growing inter-Korean exchanges following a train blast in the North late last month. The talks, the 14th of their kind, are...

(LEAD) Mexico Shows Lukewarm Attitude Toward FTA with S. Korea: Minister.
May 2, 2004... MEXICO CITY, May 1 (Yonhap) -- A free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and Mexico is likely to be further delayed as the North American country has a lukewarm attitude toward Seoul's proposal on the bilateral pact, a visiting South...

Mexico Shows Lukewarm Attitude Toward FTA with S. Korea: Minister.
May 2, 2004... MEXICO CITY, May 1 (Yonhap) -- A free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and Mexico is likely to be further delayed as the Latin American country has a lukewarm attitude toward Seoul's proposal on the bilateral pact, a visiting South...

Three Killed in Fire at Car Repair Shop.
May 2, 2004... SEOCHON, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Three people were killed in a predawn fire at a car repair shop in this city in South Chungcheong Province, police said Sunday. The casualties include two children, aged 7 and 8, they said. The blaze, which...

Card Firms' Delinquency Rate Falls in March.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- The delinquency rate at South Korea's seven credit card companies dropped nearly 3 percent in March from the previous month thanks to their massive disposal of bad debts. The Financial Supervisory Service said...

Dividend Payments on DRs Jump 25 Pct in 2003.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean companies' payments of dividends on their overseas depositary receipts (DRs) surged 25 percent in 2003 compared to the previous year, a securities custodian said Sunday. Twenty-three domestic...

Pyongyang Unlikely to be Admitted to ADB Soon: Bank President.
May 2, 2004... MANILA, the Philippines, May 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is unlikely to join the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the time being due to opposition from the United States and Japan, the bank's top official said Sunday. "North Korea wants to...

Three Chinese Fishing Boats Seized Near Incheon.
May 2, 2004... INCHEON, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Local maritime police seized three Chinese fishing boats Sunday for illegally operating inside South Korean waters in the Yellow Sea, police spokesmen said. According to the Incheon Maritime Police Agency, the...

N.K., Japan Likely to Meet Before Working Group Talks: Report.
May 2, 2004... TOKYO, May 2 (Yonhap) -- The Japanese government plans to send a delegation to China soon for talks with North Korean officials over the communist state's abduction of Japanese citizens during the past few decades, a Japanese newspaper...

U.S. Makes Direct Contact with N. Korea to Offer Assistance.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- The United States directly contacted North Korea recently to offer medical assistance for victims of last month's devastating train explosion, a U.S. diplomat said. "We're waiting for their response," Mark Minton,...

Rainfall Expected to Continue Through Monday.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rain of more than 100 millimeters fell in Jeju Island Sunday morning, and the entire peninsula is expected to have rain through Monday, the country's weather agency said. Some areas in the southern part of the...

'China Shock' Sends Top 10 Groups' Market Value Tumbling.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Stock prices of South Korea's top 10 groups took a beating last week from worries over a rate hike in China. The Korea Stock Exchange (KSE) said the total stock market capitalization of Samsung Group and nine other...

Major Nonlife Insurers Set to Raise Car Insurance Premiums.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major nonlife insurers plan to raise auto insurance premiums next month in desperate efforts to boost profits, industry sources said Sunday. The expected rate hike will come six months after the...

SK Corp. to Hold 1st Overseas IR Session of This Year in America.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- SK Corp., South Korea's top refiner, said Sunday it will hold this year's first overseas investor relations session in the United States late this month. The road show will be held in New York and four other U.S....

Korean Auto Firms Cut Domestic Sales Targets.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean carmakers are revising down their domestic sales targets for 2004 due to slumping consumption, industry sources said Sunday. At the start of the year, No. 1 Hyundai Motor and four other companies set...

Prosecution to Summon Three Well-known Political Figures This Week.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- The prosecution said Sunday that it plans to call in three former and current politicians this week who are suspected of receiving illegal funds. It will summon Kim Jong-pil, former leader of the splinter United...

Hutchison Whampoa Pushing to Buy Cell Phones from LG.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Hutchison Whampoa, Hong Kong's largest business group, is pushing to buy about US$1 billion worth of mobile phones from LG Electronics Co., a senior government official said Sunday. Hutchison Whampoa chairman Li...

Only 3 Out of 10 Firms Plan to Hire Workers in May, June: Survey.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Only three out of every 10 South Korean firms plan to increase their workforces in May and June, a survey showed Sunday. The results indicate that the country's job market remains mired in a slump due to the...

Ex-President Kim to Make First Overseas Trip Since Retirement.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- Former President Kim Dae-jung will soon make his first overseas trip since retirement in February 2003, officials said Sunday. Kim's trip is likely to begin on May 10 or May 11 and include stops in France and some...

Court Orders Disclosure of Tobacco-related Research Documents.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court said Sunday it has ordered the country's tobacco monopoly to make several hundred tobacco-related research documents available to the public. KT&G, the country's state-run tobacco manufacturer, must...

Korea's Trade with Chile Jumps Since FTA Implementation.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade with Chile has been rising fast since the implementation of a bilateral free trade agreement in April, officials said Sunday. South Korea's exports to Chile jumped 55.6 percent on-year to US$26...

S. Korea's Wage Level Higher Than Rivals in 2003.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's wage level was much higher than those of Hong Kong and Taiwan in 2003, but it lagged far behind advanced countries' pay levels, the Bank of Korea said Sunday. Citing data by the International Labor...

Sunday's Weather Forecast.
May 2, 2004... SEOUL, May. 2 (Yonhap) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea's 13 major cities at 9:00 a.m. Sunday. Temperature (C) Condition Possibility High/Low of Rain (%) Seoul 21/14 Rain ...

Embassy Tells Koreans in Baghdad to Be on Alert.
May 3, 2004... BAGHDAD, May 3 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Embassy in Baghdad on Monday asked Koreans to be watchful against possible kidnappings or car bombings targeting foreigners. "Information is coming in via various channels that rebel forces in...

Indonesian Foreign Minister Meets N. Korean Assembly Leader.
May 3, 2004... PYONGYANG, May 3 (KCNA-Yonhap) -- Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda met Kim Yong-nam, chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on Monday, the North's official Korean...

Koreans at Home, Abroad Hold Medical Forum in P'yang.
May 3, 2004... PYONGYANG, North Korea, March 3 (KCNA-Yonhap) -- Doctors and scholars from South and North Korea and abroad got together to discuss medical cooperation at the People's Cultural Palace here Monday, North Korean media reported. At the...

Troop Dispatch Location to Be Decided This Week: Source.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is expected to select the location in Iraq for the dispatch of 3,600 troops at the request of the United States, a Defense Ministry official said Monday. "We're currently discussing the dispatch location...

WiniaMando Sells Vehicle Climate Control Unit to Modine.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- WiniaMando Inc., a leading manufacturer in the South Korean climate control industry, said Monday it signed a deal with Modine Manufacturing Company to sell its vehicle climate control business unit to the U.S. firm....

Seoul National University Professor Wins Humboldt Award.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean scientist from Seoul National University has won a German research award for his contribution to cutting-edge technology, university officials said Monday. Yoo Han-il, 53, professor of the university's...

South Korea's Domestic Auto Sales Show Signs of Rebound.
May 3, 2004... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap)-- Domestic sales by South Korea's five major automakers in April increased 5.5 percent from the previous month to 99,125 units, marking their third consecutive month-to-month growth. Hyundai Motor...

'China Shock' Tails off in Financial Markets.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- Investor jitters over the fallout of China's ban on new bank lending tailed off in South Korea's financial markets Monday. The won rose by 1.5 against the U.S. dollar to close at 1,171.8. Government bond prices rose...

(LEAD) Two Koreas to Open Cabinet-level Talks Tuesday.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- South and North Korea are to resume Cabinet-level talks this week to review the progress of cross-border railway and other joint projects under way. A five-member South Korean delegation, led by Unification...

Prosecution Questions Two Politicians Over Corruption Charges.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors said Monday they were investigating two former politicians on corruption charges. The two are Kim Min-seok, a former legislator of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and Na Oh-yeon, who once served as...

GNP Opposes Reported Gov't Choice for New Prime Minister.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- Opposition leader Park Geun-hye denounced Monday a purported government move to nominate a former governor of South Gyeongsang Province as the next prime minister. Park, chairwoman of the main opposition Grand...

Seoul Stocks Rebound After Five Days of Losses.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks rebounded a bit on Monday after continuing a downward movement for five days. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.38 percent, or 3.27 points, to 866.11. The index of the tech-laden KOSDAQ...

Yonhap News Summary.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday. ----------------------- Int'l Submarine Rescue Drill Kicks off in S. Korean Waters SEOUL -- South Korea kicked off a...

(2nd LD) Rival Parties Agree to Seek Peace on Peninsula.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- The heads of rival political parties agreed Monday to push for the peaceful coexistence of the two Koreas in a manner that would improve bilateral economic cooperation, a joint statement said. It was the first time...

Two Koreas to Open Cabinet-level Talks Tuesday.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- High-level officials of South and North Korea are to open talks in Pyongyang Tuesday to work out details of a working-level meeting in Beijing next week on the North's nuclear arms program. A five-member South...

(LEAD) S. Korea's Sewon Telecom Files for Bankruptcy.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- Sewon Telecom Co., a South Korean mobile phone maker, said Monday it has filed a petition for court receivership with a bankruptcy court in Incheon, citing its debt burden. "We filed for bankruptcy in an effort to...

Defense Ministry Holds Sessions to Prevent Prisoner Abuse in Iraq.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- The Ministry of Defense said Monday that it is conducting special education sessions for its troops to be dispatched to Iraq on how to handle Iraqi prisoners of war. "We are making it clear that no basic principles...

Osan, Pyeongtaek Residents Sue Over Alleged U.S. Military Noise.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- People living near U.S. military bases in South Korea filed a suit on Monday alleging the bases cause noise pollution, and asked the government for compensation. The collective suit, signed by 368 residents around...

Civic Groups Criticize Iraq Troop Dispatch Plan.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- A group of South Korean civic organizations urged the government on Monday to scrap the plan to dispatch 3,600 troops to Iraq, saying it will have a disastrous effect on the country. "South Korean government and...

(LEAD) Rival Parties Agree to Seek Peace on Peninsula.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- The heads of rival political parties agreed Monday to push for the peaceful coexistence of the two Koreas and to improve bilateral economic cooperation, a joint statement said. It was the first time that the...

South Korea to Fly Third Batch of Relief Materials.
May 3, 2004... SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will fly a third batch of relief materials to North Korea Tuesday to help victims of last month's train explosion, officials said. A Korean Air cargo flight will depart for Pyongyang at 10 a.m., carrying...

'China Shock' to Have Positive Effect on S. Korean Economy: KOTRA.
May 3, 2004... By Lim Bo-mi SEOUL, May 3 (Yonhap) -- The latest move by the Chinese authorities to slow economic growth will be beneficial to South Korea's long-term development as it signals the establishment of a more stable investment environment in...