YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea articles from September 2006

YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea archives from September 2006

SKT to build nationwide telecom networks for HSDPA next year.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co., South Korea's largest mobile carrier, said Friday that it will complete building nationwide networks for faster and more seamless wireless communications next year in a bid to secure a lead in the...

Kia Motors, union workers reach agreement to end six-week strike.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, said Friday its labor union tentatively agreed to end a six-week strike, joining Hyundai Motor Co. and Ssangyong Motor Co. in settling labor disputes this...

S. Korean builders clinch $11.8 bln in orders abroad Jan.-Aug.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean builders are cashing in on booming construction markets in the Middle East amid high-flying oil prices, an industry body said Friday. The combined orders received by local construction firms between...

Seoul shares tick down after strong start.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks edged down Friday on selling by institutional investors. The main Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 2.12 points, or 0.16 percent, to 1,350.62 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The...

World's first ginseng expo to open doors in Geumsan.
September 1, 2006... Geumsan, South Korea, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- There are bad days when the crop is all washed away by heavy rains or devoured overnight by wild boars, but Im Chun-jae, 48, says he is proud of being a ginseng farmer. Im succeeded his father and...

S. Korea's economy gains 5.3 percent on-year in Q2: BOK.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's central bank said on Friday that South Korea's economy grew 5.3 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, matching an initial estimate. The economy expanded 0.8 percent in the April-June...

Kia Motors, union workers reach agreement to end six-week strike.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp. said Friday its labor union tentatively agreed to end a six-week strike, joining Hyundai Motor Co. and Ssangyong Motor Co. in settling labor disputes this year. In their agreement, Kia Motors will...

Seoul, Tokyo to hold EEZ talks next week.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Japan will hold talks in Seoul next week to demarcate the boundary of their exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in the East Sea between the two neighboring nations, Seoul's Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said...

Bank of Korea retains Q2 growth rate.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's central bank said on Friday that South Korea's economy grew 5.3 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, matching initial estimates. The economy expanded 0.8 percent in the April-June period...

GNP in disarray: opposition party doesn't know what to do.
September 1, 2006... (EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Sept. 1)The major opposition Grand National Party (GNP) may think that its winning of the coming presidential election is almost certain as the approval rating for the ruling camp slides dramatically. But that...

Voice truth on housing.
September 1, 2006... (EDITORIAL from JoongAng Daily on Sept. 1)The government said it plans to expand supply of medium and large rental apartment units for middle-class families. The government also said the nation's real estate markets are stabilizing, helped by...

Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major Korean newspapers on Sept. 1. Vernacular dailies -- Extension of troop deployment in Iraq swirls into debate (Kyunghyang Shinmun) -- Students of disgraced...

Hollow promises.
September 1, 2006... (EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on Sept. 1) The administration had intended to unveil a long-term, big-ticket welfare project, "Vision 2030," on Aug. 21. But it had to delay the announcement in the face of opposition from the ruling Uri Party. ...

Seoul proposes diplomatic efforts to match sanctions on North Korea.
September 1, 2006... WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea made proposals to the United States that would give diplomacy the same extent of efforts as sanctions in dealing with North Korea, its top nuclear envoy said Thursday. Chun Yung-woo, South...

Korean Agent Orange victims appeal to White House for compensation.
September 1, 2006... WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Vietnam War veterans said they will deliver a letter of appeal to the White House on Thursday seeking recognition and compensation for their suffering from deadly defoliants the United States used...

Arrest warrant sought for key figure in widening gambling scandal.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean prosecutors sought an arrest warrant Thursday night on a key suspect in a gambling scandal that may involve influential politicians and government offficials. Kim Min-seok, chairman of the Korea Computer...

South Korea investigating alleged smuggling for sex education fair.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean customs officials have begun investigating some participatns in an ongoing sex education expo on charges of smuggling some of the exhibition items, the customs authority said Thursday. "Some explicit...

Seoul drops bid for U. N. Security Council.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Thursday it has decided to temporarily halt its drive to become a member of the United Nations Security Council in order to focus its efforts on the race for the next U. N. chief. South Korean...

Seoul drops bid for U. N. Security Council.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Friday it has decided to temporarily halt its drive to become a member of the United Nations Security Council in order to focus its efforts on the race for the next U. N. chief. South Korean...

President Roh apologizes for gambling arcade scandal.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun apologized on Thursday for his government's failure to curb the nationwide spread of video gambling arcades. "I feel deeply sorry for making the people concerned about the unfolding video...

Lee rejects transfer offer by AS Roma for 'personal reasons'.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Premier Leaguer Lee Young-pyo has decided to stay with Tottenham Hotspurs for "personal reasons," rather than religious reasons, he said during a news conference Thursday at Incheon International Airport....

Yonhap News Summary.
September 1, 2006... The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday. ------------------- (Yonhap Interview) Amateur guitarist wins overnight fame with Web video SEOUL -- In a dingy basement room rented for...

S. Korean singer becomes a 'friend' of Ralph Lauren.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- A popular South Korean singer has been selected to serve as a public relations ambassador for the Ralph Lauren collection from September, the singer's management firm said Thursday. Bi, often called the Korean...

S. Korea to provide incentives for residents near U. S. Air Force bombing range.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will provide incentives for fishermen or neighbors as compensation for possible damage from an expanding air-to-surface bombing range for U. S. Air Force troops stationed here, a senior South Korean Air...

Seoul flexible in negotiations on taking back wartime control.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- A top presidential security official said Thursday South Korea and the United States are engaged in flexible negotiations over the timetable for the transfer of wartime control. "The U. S. proposal makes sense,...

Festivals Calendar - September 2006.(Calendar)
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The following are the major cultural and tourist festivals to be held in South Korea in September. * Cheongju Jikji Festival When: Sept. 4-10 Where: Cheongju Arts Hall and Cheongju Early Printing Museum...

Seoul's quota in IMF may nearly double, ministry says.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's voting stake in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may be raised to 1.35 percent from 0.76 percent at present, the country's Finance Ministry said Thursday. The 184-member international...

S. Korean labor union boycotts ILO meeting.
September 1, 2006... BUSAN, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- A major South Korean umbrella labor group said Wednesday it would pull out of ongoing International Labor Organization (ILO) meetings here in protest against what it calls the government's hostile policy toward labor....

Seoul urges anti-FTA protesters to stay away from talks in U. S.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged the country's farmers and laborers to refrain from staging protests in Seattle next week, when Seoul and Washington will hold the third round of talks on a...

Seoul shares end higher on heavy program buying.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed higher Thursday as heavy program buying pushed the market higher. The South Korean won held steady against the U. S. dollar. The main Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 11.39...

Amateur guitarist wins overnight fame with Web video.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- In a dingy basement room rented for 10,000 won (US$10) per hour in a corner of Seoul's bustling Hongdae district, Im Jung-hyun used to practice his guitar and dream of making a recording one day with his band -- like...

Sex Expo forced to cancel strip, lingerie fashion shows.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Organizers of South Korea's first-ever "Sex Expo" cancelled strip and lingerie fashion shows Thursday amid mounting controversy over the event. "I am sorry for failing to implement the scheduled strip shows and...

Unionized teachers to stage work-to-rule protest against FTA.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- A reform-minded nationwide teachers' union said Thursday that it will stage a work-to-rule leave in October to oppose a proposed free trade agreement between South Korea and the United States. "The South Korea-U....

S. Korea to open three new embassies this year.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to open embassies in Azerbaijan, Slovakia, and Honduras later this year as part of efforts to cope with global energy competition and support business by South Korean companies in those countries,...

S. Korea to provide free physical checkups for all soldiers.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will provide free physical checkups for all its conscripts starting in 2008 as part of efforts to improve their welfare, government and ruling party officials said Thursday. In their plan, the...

Samsung Electronics leads world in 4G telecom technology.
September 1, 2006... JEJU, South Korea, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday succeeded in conducting a public demonstration of fourth-generation (4G) communications technologies for the first time in the world, paving the way for the South Korean...

Seoul shares end higher on heavy program buying.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed higher Thursday as heavy program buying pushed the market higher. The South Korean won held steady against the U. S. dollar. The main Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 11.39...

Seoul flexible in negotiations on taking back wartime control.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- A top presidential security official said Thursday South Korea and the United States are engaged in flexible negotiations over the timetable for the transfer of wartime control. "The U. S. proposal makes sense,...

Calcineurin protein a major cause of rheumatoid arthritis: scientists.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- A group of South Korean scientists claimed Thursday that it has discovered that a certain protein catalyzes the development of rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic disorder that attacks human joints. The team led by Kim...

More than 90 pct of all South Koreans live in cities: report.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The number of people residing in South Korean cities rose last year as people sought comfortable living conditions and jobs, a report by the Ministry of Construction and Transportation said Thursday. The 2006...

S. Korea's service output growth slows to 2.1 pct in July.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's service sector output in July grew at the slowest clip in more than one year, raising concerns that a quick turnaround in private spending is unlikely, a government report showed Thursday. Output in...

Ruling party confirms support for bill on return of abductees in N. Korea.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's governing Uri Party on Thursday agreed to support a government bill on the return of South Koreans abducted by North Korea, which would also allow the government to pay compensation to the families of...

S. Korea to square off against Iran in Asian Cup preliminary.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's national football team will be able to secure a berth in the final round of the Asian Cup if it beats Iran, one of the football powerhouses in Asia, in a preliminary game in Seoul this weekend. The...

Samsung Electronics unveils world's 1st 4G communications technology.
September 1, 2006... JEJU, South Korea, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea's leading electronics giant, on Thursday unveiled the world's first fourth-generation (4G) communications technologies that it claims will pave the way for a ubiquitous...

Vietnamese refugee shares lifelong friendship with his S. Korean rescuer.
September 1, 2006... TONGYEONG, South Korea, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Jeon Je-yong believes he did one of the most important things in his life in 1985 when he rescued nearly 100 Vietnamese boat people near Borneo in the western Pacific Ocean. Jeon, now 65, was the...

Daewoo Shipbuilding wins $1.27 bln in order from African firm.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world's third-largest shipyard, said Thursday it clinched an order worth 1.22 trillion won (US$1.27 billion) to build an oil drilling and production platform from an...

Today in Korean History: Sept. 1.
September 1, 2006... 1946 -- North Korea starts publishing its official newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun. 1952 -- South Korea introduces compulsory military service. 1955 -- South Korea institutes an annual census. 1980 -- Chun Doo-hwan is inaugurated as...

Seoul shares trade higher on overseas market rallies.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks remained higher Thursday morning as investor sentiment gained support from rallies in overseas markets. The main Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 17.96 points, or 1.34 percent, to...

S. Korea's service output growth slows to 2.1 pct in July.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's service sector output in July grew at the slowest clip in more than one year, raising concerns that a quick turnaround in private spending is unlikely, a government report showed Thursday. Output in...

Yonhap News Summary.
September 1, 2006... The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday. ------------------- State Department says no information on visit by N. K. leader to China WASHINGTON -- The United States has yet to confirm...

Seoul flexible in negotiations on taking back wartime control: presidential secretary.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- A top presidential security official said Thursday South Korea and the United States are engaged in flexible negotiations over the timetable of the transfer of wartime control. "The U. S. proposal makes sense, so...

FedEx Korea adds five weekly flights to U. S.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean unit of FedEx Corp., a U. S-based package delivery company, has added five more direct flights to the United States in a bid to meet growing demands and vie for a bigger share of the domestic market,...

U. S. needs to address trade remedies with South Korea: envoy.
September 1, 2006... WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top envoy to Washington complained strongly Wednesday about U. S. anti-dumping regulations, calling his country's experiences with them as "haunting." In a speech to a mostly American audience at...

S. Korea to conduct physical exams for 10,000 astronaut hopefuls.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Amid keen nationwide attention, South Korea will conduct an initial physical examination of nationwide applicants this week for those who wish to become the country's first astronauts, the government said Thursday. ...

Daewoo Shipbuilding wins $1.27 order from African firm.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world's third-largest shipyard, said Thursday it clinched an order worth 1.22 trillion won (US$1.27 billion) to build an oil drilling and production platform from an...

S. Korea to provide free physical checkups for all soldiers.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will provide free physical checkups for all its troops starting in 2008 as part of efforts to improve their welfare, government and ruling party officials said Thursday. In their plan, the military and...

Seoul shares up on overseas market rallies.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks rose Thursday morning as investor sentiment got support from rallies in overseas markets. The main Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 14.77 points, or 1.10 percent, to 1,356.12...

S. Korea to require foodstuff makers to fully disclose ingredients.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's food safety watchdog said Thursday it will require local manufacturers of processed foods to disclose all the materials used in their products starting next week. The Korea Food and Drug...

Samsung Electronics unveils world's 1st 4G communications technology.
September 1, 2006... JEJU, South Korea, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea's leading electronics giant, on Thursday unveiled the world's first fourth-generation (4G) communications technologies that it claims will pave the way for a ubiquitous...

S.Korean economy not in downward cycle, official says.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economy is still on a recovery track, a government official said Thursday, shrugging off concerns that Asia's fourth-largest economy has entered a downward phase. "It is too early to say that the...

China agrees to give custody of S. Korean POWs from N. Korea to Seoul.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The Chinese government has agreed to hand over South Korean prisoners of war who escape from North Korea to the South despite its agreement with Pyongyang to repatriate illegal migrants from the communist state, a...

NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 412 (August 31, 2006).
September 1, 2006... *** CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The following is a chronological review of major developments related to North Korea from August 24 to 30, 2006. August 24 The (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) says that Pakistan...

NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 412 (August 31, 2006)*** NEWS IN BRIEF (Part 2).
September 1, 2006... N. K. blasts Japan for blocking delegates to religious conference SEOUL (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Aug. 26 condemned Japan for not allowing six North Korean religious leaders to enter the country, saying only "death and destruction" will...

NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 412 (August 31, 2006)*** NEWS IN BRIEF (Part 1).
September 1, 2006... Pro-North Korea newspaper says nuclear test possible, justified SEOUL (Yonhap) -- A pro-Pyongyang newspaper published in Japan said on Aug. 26 that a nuclear test in North Korea is possible if the United States continues to take a hard-line...

NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 412 (August 31, 2006)*** INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS.
September 1, 2006... South Korea's Red Cross sends first flood aid to North Korea SEOUL (Yonhap) -- A freighter carrying the first shipment of the South Korean government's flood relief aid to North Korea left for a North Korean port on Aug. 30. The shipment is the...

NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 412 (August 31, 2006)*** PYONGYANG'S RHETORIC.
September 1, 2006... Politics of Attaching Importance to Youth Initiated by President Kim Il-sung The Youth Day, which falls on August 28, is being significantly observed in the DPRK (North Korea). The youth of the DPRK have fully displayed their dignity and...

NORTH KOREA THIS WEEK NO. 412 (August 31, 2006)*** TOPIC OF THE WEEK.
September 1, 2006... North Korea Expresses Desire to Attend Six-party Talks SEOUL (Yonhap) -- In a rare move, North Korea expressed its desire to attend the stalled six-party talks over its nuclear weapons program, in an apparent turnaround from its months-long...

Shinhan Financial to conduct audit of LG Card.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Shinhan Financial Group, South Korea's second-largest financial services company, said Thursday it will begin a detailed audit next month to acquire LG Card Co., the nation's top credit card company. A four-week...

U. N. command names new secretary for armistice commission.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The U. S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) has appointed Col. John W. Towers as new secretary of its Military Armistice Commission which oversees a cease-fire accord that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, UNC officials...

S. Korea's KIC to make initial investment of $6.2 bln in 4th quarter.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Korea Investment Corp. (KIC), launched last July to manage South Korea's foreign currency reserves, plans an initial investment of US$6.2 billion during the fourth quarter of the year, a government official said...

Shinhan Financial to conduct audit of LG Card.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Shinhan Financial Group, South Korea's second-largest financial services company, said Thursday it will begin a detailed audit next month to acquire LG Card Co., the nation's top credit card company. A four-week...

S. Koreans job seekers rank P&G as most desirable workplace.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean job seekers consider P&G Korea the most desirable workplace among multinational companies operating in the country, according to a survey released Thursday by a local recruiting agency. Of the 2,819...

Japan's gambling machine makers strengthen S. Korean business: sources.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Japanese video gambling machine makers are boosting operations in South Korea amid local authorities' crackdown on the proliferation of local gambling chains, industry sources said Thursday. Mounting suspicions...

S. Korean nylon fiber makers likely to cut production on material shortages.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major nylon fiber manufacturers are expected to reduce production due to a protracted strike at a domestic nylon material company, industry sources said Thursday. Capro Corp., South Korea's sole...

Parliament to open regular session Friday.
September 1, 2006... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's National Assembly is to open a 100-day regular session this week, which experts say will be dominated by the country's moves to regain full operational control of its military, free trade negotiations...

U. S. succeeds in defense test aimed at intercepting N. Korean missiles.
September 2, 2006... WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The U. S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said Friday that it successfully carried out a test on its ground-based defense system aimed at intercepting long-range ballistic missiles. The test involved the...

Word games don't help.
September 2, 2006... (EDITORIAL from JoongAng Daily on Sept. 2) Ban Ki-moon, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, admitted there are problems in the current state of Korea-U. S. relations at a conference at the Kwanghun Club in central Seoul. He said,...

Labor's boycott of labor congress.
September 2, 2006... (EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Sept. 2) It seems that the Korean labor's ability to disgrace the nation and itself knows no limit. The International Labor Organization (ILO) ended its 14th Asia-Pacific conference in Pusan Friday, a four-day...

Helpless opposition.
September 2, 2006... (EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on Sept. 2) A public opinion survey this week put President Roh Moo-hyun's approval rating at a record-low 14.6 percent. The survey, published by the Munhwa Ilbo on Thursday, found the ruling Uri Party also...

Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers.
September 2, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major Korean newspapers on Sept. 2. Vernacular dailies -- U. S. shows no sign of compromise on key FTA issues (Kyunghyang Shinmun) -- Trillions of won leave the country...

U. S. watchers of FTA skeptical of agreement on Kaesong: survey.
September 2, 2006... WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Many U. S. experts closely watching free trade agreement (FTA) talks with South Korea are skeptical that the two sides can strike an agreement on including a North Korea-located industrial park in their deal,...

U. S. report predicts lower rice production in N. Korea.
September 2, 2006... WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's rice production is likely to stop 75,000 tons short of initial projections for the 2006-2007 crop year because of bad weather conditions, the U. S. Department of Agriculture said in its monthly...

Key lobbyist detained in gambling scandal.
September 2, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Local prosecutors detained a key lobbyist for questioning Friday on suspicions that he bribed government officials and politicians to facilitate the nationwide business of a video gambling game called "Sea Story,"...

China wants early resumption of stalled nuke talks: report.
September 2, 2006... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- China, the host of the six-way talks aimed at resolving North Korea's nuclear ambitions, wants the North to return to the negotiation table at an early date, a Japanese media outlet reported Friday. According to...