YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea articles from September 2007

YON - Yonhap News Agency of Korea archives from September 2007

What really happened?
September 1, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Sept. 1): The six-week hostage crisis in Afghanistan has ended with the release of 21 of the 23 church aid workers kidnapped by Taliban insurgents. Regrettably, two male hostages were killed in the early...

U.S.-N.K. talks: Reciprocal approaches needed toward normalization of relations.
September 1, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Sept. 1): Working-level officials from the United States and North Korea plan to meet in Geneva, Switzerland this weekend to discuss issues of mutual concern toward normalization of bilateral relations. The...

Who pays the hostage bill?
September 1, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Sept. 1): The crisis of the South Korean hostages in Afghanistan has came to an end after 43 days. However, it is creating a strong aftermath. One issue of debates is whether the government should ask the...

Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers.
September 1, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major Korean newspapers on Sept. 1. Vernacular dailies -- Hostages say they were held in dungeon-like basement, forced to move 12 times at night (Kookmin Daily) --...

U.S. looking to guarantee progress at next six-party talks.
September 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The top U.S. nuclear envoy on Friday said he would be looking for signs from North Korea that the upcoming denuclearization talks in September will produce a tangible agreement. Arriving in Geneva for the...

Released hostages arrive in Dubai, blame mounts on both captives, kidnappers.
September 1, 2007... DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Former South Korean hostages arrived in Dubai Friday for an overnight stay on their way back home amid accusations that they ignored safety precautions. Their Taliban kidnappers and the South Korean...

North Korean taekwondo team to tour U.S. in October.
September 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean taekwondo team will visit the United States for the first time in October for a goodwill tour in major cities, an Internet web site said Friday. Taekwondo Times, a magazine on martial arts, said...

Released hostages in Afghanistan likely to return home over weekend.
September 1, 2007... By Byun Duk-kun SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Nineteen South Koreans released by Taliban kidnappers will likely return home Sunday, following a 43-day hostage crisis that left two male hostages dead. They left Kabul Friday for Dubai on a U.N....

Gov't committed to helping farmers cope with U.S. FTA: agriculture minister.
September 1, 2007... By Lee Joon-seung SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The government will faithfully take steps to help farmers cope with challenges that might result from a free trade pact with the United States, South Korea's new agriculture minister said Friday....

Seoul issues statement of appreciation on hostage release.
September 1, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government on Friday issued a statement declaring its commitment to international anti-terrorism efforts and expressing its deep gratitude to allied countries and international...

S. Korea, Russia agree to step up implementation of six-party accord.
September 1, 2007... MOSCOW, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Russia on Friday agreed to step up efforts to implement a multilateral agreement on North Korea's denuclearization, officials said. South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon, who arrived in...

U.S. medical aid arrives in flood-stricken N. Korea: report.
September 1, 2007... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's foreign minister Friday met with a U.S. delegation bringing emergency medical supplies to help North Korean victims of recent floods, the North's official news outlet said. The reclusive country has...

Yonhap News Summary.
September 1, 2007... The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday. ------------------ (LEAD) Roh's office denies ransom payment to Taliban captors SEOUL -- The office of President Roh Moo-hyun Friday indirectly...

Roh's office denies ransom payment to Taliban captors.
September 1, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The office of President Roh Moo-hyun Friday indirectly denied news reports alleging that the South Korean government has paid a hefty ransom to the Taliban in return for the recent release of South...

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan vow cooperation in N. Korea nuclear talks.
September 1, 2007... By Byun Duk-kun SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Song Min-soon and his new Japanese counterpart Nobutaka Machimura Friday agreed to work closely together to denuclearize North Korea at an early date, the Foreign Ministry said. ...

Roh's office denies ransom payment to Taliban captors.
September 1, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The office of President Roh Moo-hyun Friday denied news reports alleging that the South Korean government has paid a hefty ransom to the Taliban in return for the recent release of South Korean...

Hyundai Motor calls on union leaders to resume talks as strike looms.
September 1, 2007... SEOUL/ULSAN, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co.'s senior executives called on its labor union to resume wage negotiations Friday, as they wait for the results of the vote on whether to strike for more pay. "I wish we could resolve...

Roh, Bush to discuss goals of inter-Korean summit, six-party talks: White House.
September 1, 2007... WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The United States hopes to discuss the goals of the upcoming inter-Korean summit and how it will advance the six-nation North Korean denuclearization process when the presidents of the two countries meet next...

S. Korean football star inks four-year deal with Dutch club.
September 1, 2007... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Lee Chun-soo, a leading forward of the South Korean national football sqaud, has agreed to join the Dutch team Feyenoord Rotterdam, on a four-year contract worth 2 million euros (US$2.7 million). Lee, who plays...

U.S., N. Korea to hold diplomatic normalization talks in Geneva.
September 1, 2007... By Byun Duk-kun SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- A working group of U.S. and North Korean officials will meet in Geneva this weekend to discuss ways to normalize diplomatic ties between their two countries, the Cold War-era foes since the outbreak...

Roh accepts resignation of environment minister: Cheon.
September 1, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Environment Minister Lee Chi-beom offered to resign Friday and President Roh Moo-hyun will accept his resignation, presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said. "Lee called...

S. Korean gov't finds no traces of lost uranium.
September 1, 2007... By Lee Joon-seung SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government said Friday that it has failed to find traces of 2.7 kilograms worth of uranium samples mistakenly removed from its storage area and destroyed in May. The Ministry...

Today in Korean history.
September 1, 2007... Sept. 1 1946 -- The Rodong Sinmun, which later became North Korea's official newspaper. is published for the first time. 1952 -- South Korea introduces compulsory military service. 1955 -- South Korea institutes an annual census....

Yonhap News Summary.
September 1, 2007... The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday. ------------------ Leading pro-government contender upbeat after approval rating breaks 10 percent barrier SEOUL -- The leading pro-government...

S. Korea recoups 570.9 bln of public funds in July.
September 1, 2007... By Kim Joo-young SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government said Friday it recovered 570.9 billion won (US$607.9 million) of public funds in July either through receiving dividends or selling assets. The government has...

Leading pro-government contender upbeat after approval rating breaks 10 percent barrier.
September 1, 2007... By Kim Hyun SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The leading pro-government presidential hopeful, Sohn Hak-kyu, Friday expressed optimism in his uphill battle against the more popular opposition rival as his approval rating broke the 10 percent...

Hyundai Motor's auto-parts unit to build US$60.5 mln factory in Czech Republic.
September 1, 2007... SEOUL, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Mobis Co., an auto-parts affiliate of South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor Co., said Friday it will spend 56.8 billion won (US$60.5 million) to build a factory in the Czech Republic to supply the parent...

S. Korea to send resource exploration team to Africa.
September 2, 2007... By Lee Joon-seung SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will send a fact-finding team to three Central African countries this week to explore cooperation in natural resources development, the government said Sunday. The 12-person team,...

Freed Korean hostages return home from Afghan ordeal.
September 2, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- Nineteen South Korean aid workers freed by the Taliban last week after 45 days of captivity in Afghanistan arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on a Korean Air flight around...

N. Korea, U.S. make progress in talks on normalizing ties, denuclearization: envoys.
September 2, 2007... GENEVA, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Rare bilateral talks between North Korea and the United States on normalizing their ties and denuclearizing the communist nation began here Saturday on an upbeat note, signaling that the six-nation negotiations on...

Spy chief ambiguous in denial of ransom payment to Taliban.
September 2, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's spy chief on Sunday reacted ambiguously to foreign news reports alleging that Seoul had paid a hefty ransom to the Taliban in exchange for the release of Korean hostages in Afghanistan. "I can say...

(News Focus) Liberal presidential hopefuls remain optimistic as primary race approaches.
September 2, 2007... By Kim Hyun SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- Despite their poor approval ratings, pro-government presidential contenders are far from frustrated. They claim that once they field a single candidate, the liberal standard-bearer will pick up enough...

S. Korean hostages leave Dubai for home.
September 2, 2007... DUBAI, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Nineteen South Koreans released by Taliban kidnappers left Saturday to fly home, following a 43-day hostage crisis that left two male hostages dead, officials said. The South Koreans held captive in Afghanistan by...

U.S., N. Korea start diplomatic normalization talks.
September 2, 2007... GENEVA, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- A working group of American and North Korean officials met here on Saturday to discuss ways to normalize diplomatic ties between their two countries, foes since the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War. The two-day...

Roh calls Afghan, Indonesian leaders to thank them for help in hostage release.
September 2, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Saturday held separate telephone talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to thank them for their...

S. Korea's top diplomat denies ransom paid for release of hostages.
September 2, 2007... SEOUL, Sep. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Foreign Minister Song Min-soon on Saturday denied reports that the country paid a ransom in order to secure the freedom of its citizens taken hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Nineteen Christian...

Today in Korean History.
September 2, 2007... Sept. 2 2000 -- South Korea repatriates 63 former North Korean spies as part of Seoul's reconciliation with Pyongyang. The ex-spies were freed after serving long prison terms of up to 40 years. (THROUGH ASIA PULSE)

Hyundai Motor workers postpone walkout until next week.
September 2, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Unionists at South Korea's largest carmaker Hyundai Motor voted to launch a strike but postponed the move until next week, their spokesman said Saturday, amid intense public pressure to resolve the wage dispute...

S. Korean footballer Seol Ki-hyeon signs with Fulham.
September 2, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean winger Seol Ki-hyeon from Reading in the English Premier League was signed a three-year deal with league rival Fulham, with Fulham's Liam Rosenior moving in the opposite direction, the teams announced on...

U.S. expresses willingness to discuss resumption of food aid to N.K.
September 2, 2007... WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (Yonhap) -- The United States said Friday it is willing to talk with North Korea about resuming "significant" food aid to help relieve flood damage, a shift from a decision in 2005 to suspend the assistance due to lack of...

S. Korean economy expands 1.8 pct in Q2.
September 3, 2007... By Kim Yoo-seung SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economy expanded a revised 1.8 percent in the second quarter from three months earlier, up from an earlier 1.7 percent estimate, mainly on strong manufacturing of semiconductors,...

Regular session.
September 3, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Sept. 3): The National Assembly is opening a regular session today. During the 100-day sitting, it will have to write new laws, revise some existing ones and abolish others, if necessary, as it does during...

Corruption case -- Anger grows over failure to probe ex-presidential aide.
September 3, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Sept. 3): A bribery case involving a tax official and a former presidential aide has raised a question about the law enforcement agencys willingness to crack down on corruption. This case apparently shows how...

Afghan honesty.
September 3, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Sept. 3): Nineteen South Koreans freed by the Taliban finally returned home to their loved ones Sunday. It is with great relief that we can now discuss this incident in the past tense. Now, it is time to be...

Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major Korean newspapers on Sept. 3. Vernacular dailies -- Intelligence chief under fire for breaching anonymity rules in hostages' release(Kookmin Daily) -- N.K....

U.S. says P'yang will meet nuclear commitments by yearend, N.K. cites progress on normalization.
September 3, 2007... GENEVA. Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea agreed to declare its nuclear stockpile and disable its atomic weapons programs by end of this year, U.S. envoy said Sunday after two days of negotiations with his Pyongyang counterpart. Kim Kye-gwan,...

Taliban accuses Seoul of breaking promise, threatens to attack S. Korean facility.
September 3, 2007... DUBAI, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- Afghan's militia on Sunday threatened to attack South Korean facilities, accusing Seoul of not pulling out all of its citizens as promised in exchange for release of South Korean hostages last week. Qari Yousuf...

Taliban beat S. Korean hostages as punishment for refusing to convert, pastor says.
September 3, 2007... ANYANG, South Korea, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- A pastor at the South Korean church whose volunteers were held hostage for six weeks by Afghanistan's Taliban said Sunday some of the captives were "severely beaten" by the insurgents when they refused...

LG Electronics sees operating loss of 4-5 percent in display business in 2007.
September 3, 2007... BERLIN, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc., South Korea's second-largest consumer electronics maker, expects its display division to post an operating loss of between 4 and 5 percent this year, hit by weak panel prices and higher raw...

Kim Dae-jung to visit U.S. this month for discussions on N. Korean nukes.
September 3, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- Kim Dae-jung, a former South Korean president known for his "sunshine policy" of engaging North Korea, will make a two-week trip to the United States later this month to share his expertise on the communist nation,...

Spy chief ambiguous in denial of ransom payment to Taliban.
September 3, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's spy chief on Sunday reacted ambiguously to foreign news reports alleging that Seoul had paid a hefty ransom to the Taliban in exchange for the release of Korean hostages in...

S. Korean owner-families' share in conglomerates decrease.
September 3, 2007... By Tony Chang SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- The portion of shares of South Korean family-owned business conglomerates owned by conglomerate heads and their families dropped in 2007 from a year earlier, the country's corporate watchdog said...

S. Korea's trade dependence on U.S., Japan falls this year.
September 3, 2007... By Nam Kwang-sik SEOUL, Sept. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade dependence on the United States and Japan dropped in the first seven months of this year from a year ago, while its trade with China is increasing, officials said Sunday. ...

Seoul names new ambassadors to Iran, Vietnam and Vatican.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- The Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday the appointment of Im Hong-jae, ambassador to Iran, as new envoy to Vietnam. In a partial reshuffle of diplomatic posts, Ambassador Kim Young-mok, an advisor to the...

A question of dignity.
September 4, 2007... (EDITORIAL from Joongang Daily on Sept. 4): Korea is losing its dignity. In fact, this is nothing new. President Roh Moo-hyun has been acting and speaking imprudently, damaging the countrys reputation. Recently, in a meeting with TV producers,...

Promising signs of detente North Korea, US move fast to set up diplomatic ties.
September 4, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on Sept. 4): North Korea has agreed with the United States to disable all its nuclear facilities before the end of the year in exchange for the U.S. provision of a package of political and economic compensation....

Ransom controversy.
September 4, 2007... (EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Sept. 4): Did the Seoul government pay $20 million to the Taliban insurgents for the release of 19 Korean hostages, or did it pay any amount of ransom at all? Days after the Christian volunteers returned home...

Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major Korean newspapers on Sept. 4. Vernacular dailies -- HSBC agrees to buy Korea Exchange Bank (Kookmin Daily) -- N. Korea says it is preparing for possibility that...

S. Korea's foreign reserves inch up in August.
September 4, 2007... By Kim Yoo-seung SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's foreign exchange reserves marginally rose in August from a month earlier on increased investment profits, the central bank said Tuesday. As of the end of August, the country's...

Roh proposes dialogue with senior journalists over media reform policy.
September 4, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun on Monday proposed that he and senior journalists hold direct dialogue to narrow differences over his government's controversial media reform policy. "The door to dialogue...

Roh asks Japan to have correct history recognition.
September 4, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun on Monday urged Japan to have a correct recognition of the shared history in order to foster future-oriented bilateral relations. During a meeting with...

Gov't to submit Korea-U.S. FTA to parliament for ratification this week: minister.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government is planning to submit a free trade agreement (FTA) signed with the United States to the National Assembly for ratification within the week, the country's top economic policymaker said...

HSBC agrees to buy 51 pct of Korea Exchange Bank for US$6.3 bln.
September 4, 2007... By Kim Yoo-seung SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- HSBC Holdings plc said Monday it has agreed to buy a majority stake in South Korea's fifth-largest lender, Korea Exchange Bank (KEB), from U.S. private equity fund Lone Star. HSBC Asia Pacific...

U.S. decides to delist NK from group of terror-sponsoring nations: N. Korea.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's Foreign Ministry said Monday that the United States has decided to remove the communist country from its list of terror-sponsoring nations and make political and economic measures for "compensation,"...

Gov't bans sale of baby formula tainted with bacteria.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- The government on Monday banned the sale of a brand of baby formula after discovering a container tainted with harmful bacteria. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said a full recall of an organic formula...

Foreign Minister Song heads to Sydney for APEC ministerial meeting.
September 4, 2007... By Byun Duk-kun SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon will depart later Monday for Sydney to attend an annual meeting of ministers from 21 Asia-Pacific economies that will address a new round of trade...

Yonhap News Summary.
September 4, 2007... The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday. ------------------ Roh instructs right of indemnity be exercised against freed hostages SEOUL -- President Roh Moo-hyun Monday instructed that...

Hyundai Motor offers new proposal to union during resumed talks.
September 4, 2007... By Koh Byung-joon SEOUL/ULSAN, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's largest automaker, proposed a new offer to its labor union during resumed negotiations Monday in an apparent effort to avert a strike, but the offer still...

Seoul to discuss U.S. beef import expansion.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday that it will convene a meeting of a livestock quarantine consultation committee to receive advice on what changes could be made to current U.S. beef import rules. The committee, which...

Novartis Venture Fund eyes investment in S. Korea.
September 4, 2007... By Tony Chang SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Novartis Venture Fund, a private equity fund operated by multinational pharmaceutical Novartis International AG, said Monday it is preparing itself to tap into the South Korean equity market. ...

SK Telecom outperforms rivals in gaining new customers in August.
September 4, 2007... By Koh Byung-joon SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co., South Korea's largest mobile service operator, outpaced its two rivals in attracting new customers in August, according to data released by each company on Monday. SK Telecom...

S. Korea to endorse emergency aid to N. Korea.
September 4, 2007... By Sohn Suk-joo SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is to endorse the sending of 49.3 billion won (US$48 million) worth of emergency aid to North Korea, at a state-run committee meeting on Tuesday, the Unification Ministry said Monday. ...

Foreign Minister Song to head to Sydney for APEC ministerial meeting.
September 4, 2007... By Byun Duk-kun SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Song Min-soon will depart later Monday for Sydney to attend an annual meeting of ministers of 21 Asia-Pacific economies on a new round of trade negotiations under the World Trade...

Leading presidential candidate ready to open up to N. Korea on positive signs.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Lee Myung-bak, the front-running opposition presidential candidate, said Monday he will engage North Korea with a more open stance as president if the communist state shows "definite signs of change" in its steps to...

Roh instructs right of indemnity be exercised against freed hostages.
September 4, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- President Roh Moo-hyun Monday instructed that the government exercise its right of indemnity against Korean hostages released after a six-week captivity in Afghanistan "within legally possible...

S. Korea's August auto sales surge 22.4 pct on strong overseas demand.
September 4, 2007... By Koh Byung-joon SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean vehicle sales in August jumped 22.4 percent from a year earlier, fueled by strong demand in overseas markets, according to data released by the nation's major automakers Monday. ...

Roh's office welcomes N.K.-U.S. denuclearization accord.
September 4, 2007... By Yoo Cheong-mo SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- The office of President Roh Moo-hyun Monday welcomed the news on North Korea's agreement with the U.S. to declare and disable its atomic weapons programs by the end of this year. U.S. Assistant...

S. Korea denies report of U.S. influence in summit deferment.
September 4, 2007... By Sohn Suk-joo SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday denied reports that the United States exerted its influence on the postponement of inter-Korean summit talks until after a new round of six-party talks take place later this...

Kia Motors vehicle sales jump 73.8 pct in August.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, said Monday that its vehicle sales soared 73.8 percent from a year earlier in August. Kia Motors sold a total of 95,956 units last month. Exports jumped...

Hyundai Motor's vehicle sales grow 6.8 pct in August.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's largest automaker, said Monday that its vehicle sales rose 6.8 percent from a year earlier in August. Hyundai Motor sold 213,159 units last month. Domestic sales inched down 0.6...

Lawmaker accuses intelligence chief of stepping into negotiations with Taliban.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- A senior opposition lawmaker claimed Monday the national intelligence chief visited Afghanistan to take charge of negotiations with Taliban militants over the ransom payment to free 19 Korean hostages. Rep. Chung...

S. Korea's consumer prices grow 2 pct in August.
September 4, 2007... By Lee Joon-seung SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's consumer prices rose 2 percent in August from a year earlier, down from a 2.5 percent increase the previous month, the country's statistical office said Monday. The National...

Ssangyong Motor's vehicle sales more than quadruple in August.
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Ssangyong Motor Co., South Korea's smallest automaker, said Monday its vehicle sales more than quadrupled in August on increased demand at home and abroad. Ssangyong Motor sold a total of 11,421 units last month,...

Renault Samsung's vehicle sales rise 9.3 pct in August.(Financial report)
September 4, 2007... SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- Renault Samsung Motor Co., South Korea's second-smallest automaker, said Monday its vehicle sales rose 9.3 percent in August from a year earlier. Renault Samsung sold 14,707 units last month, with domestic sales...