Yonhap News Summary

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

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(LEAD) Seoul, Washington won't share THAAD radar info with Japan

SEOUL -- South Korea and the United States will not share with Japan the information they obtain from the radar of an advanced anti-missile system that will be set up by late 2017, a government source said Monday.

Their remarks come amid speculations that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to be deployed in South Korea is part of a wider move to integrate the South into the broader missile defense (MD) system operated by the U.S. and Japan.

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(LEAD) S. Korea holds hearing on Volkswagen Korea's emissions scandal

SEOUL/INCHEON -- South Korea's government held a hearing on German carmaker Volkswagen's emissions scandal Monday before finalizing a decision that can revoke the certifications of dozens of its vehicle models implicated in the scandal.

The Ministry of Environment conducted the hearing at the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) in Incheon, west of Seoul, which was attended by Johannes Thammer, the chief of the automaker's South Korean unit, and several other company officials.

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Seoul says THAAD decision is due to Pyongyang's nuke ambitions

SEOUL -- Seoul's recent decision to deploy an advanced U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea was triggered by North Korea's increasing nuclear ambitions, the unification ministry said Monday, amid the North's continued bashing of the deployment plan.

North Korea has stepped up its criticisms against the South after July 8 when the plan was announced to allow the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the country by 2017. The move is aimed at better defending South Korea from evolving nuclear and missile threats.

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Former sex slaves protest against foundation to be launched this week

SEOUL -- South Korean women who were sexually abused by Japanese soldiers during the country's colonial occupation period (1910-45) denounced the government for "unilaterally" pushing forward with a foundation dedicated to the victims.

In December, South Korea and Japan reached a landmark deal in which Tokyo apologized for its colonial-era atrocities and agreed to provide 1 billion yen (US$9.4 million) for the creation of a foundation aimed at supporting the victims, euphemistically called comfort women.

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(LEAD) China, N. Korea's top diplomats hold talks during ASEAN meetings

VIENTIANE -- The top diplomats from China and North Korea sat down for talks on Monday during Southeast Asian countries' meetings in Vientiane as the traditional allies seem to be moving toward mending their frayed ties in the wake of Beijing's diplomatic row with Seoul over a military deployment plan.

The meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho began at noon at the National Convention Center in the Laotian capital on the sidelines of the regional forum of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, known as ARF.

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S. Korean trade minister sees further drop in exports due to labor strike

SEJONG -- South Korea's exports may continue to drop from a year earlier this month partly due to a series of labor strikes at major automakers, its trade minister said Monday.

While meeting with reporters in Sejong, Trade Minister Joo Hyung-hwan noted the country's auto output may be reduced by up to 16,000 cars this month due to partial walkouts held at leading automakers Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp.

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(LEAD) S. Korean stocks end almost flat

SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed almost unchanged Monday as investors took to the sidelines waiting for a slew of key data and economic events in the coming days. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 1.98 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 2,012.32. Trade volume was slim at 346.73 million shares worth 4.14 trillion won (US$3.64 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 436 to 374.
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