Yonhap News Summary

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

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(Yonhap Interview) 'Wolgyesu' kept me up in my final days: late actress Kim Young-ae

SEOUL -- Kim Young-ae, the life-long South Korean actress who recently passed away from pancreatic cancer, said her final work on the KBS 2TV series "The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop" is what kept her persevering in her final days.

In an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency before her passing, Kim said that "I would have let myself go if it wasn't for this drama," referring to "Wolgyesu," the weekend drama series that finished its broadcast in February.

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Google willing to invest 1 tln won into LG Display's OLED panel supply: sources

SEOUL -- U.S. Internet giant Google Inc. is willing to make an investment totaling some 1 trillion won (US$876 million) into LG Display Co.'s flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels, industry sources said Monday, in an apparent bid to secure a stable supply.

Industry watchers said the latest move by the tech company is in line with its plan to use LG Display's OLED panels in its Pixel smartphones.

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(News Focus) U.S. sends navy strike group in warning against N.Korea

SEOUL -- As North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is constantly testing U.S. President Donald Trump's resolve, the Pentagon is reacting with a clear warning message by placing a host of formidable strategic assets near the Korean Peninsula.

The return of the Carl Vinson Strike Group, which belongs to the San Diego-based 3rd Fleet, toward the peninsula is the latest U.S. show of force against North Korea, coming on the heels of Tomahawk cruise missile strikes on Syria.

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S. Korea to announce inspection schedule for salvaged Sewol later this week

MOKPO -- The South Korean government said Monday that it will disclose later this week detailed plans on how it will search for the remains of the nine missing victims from the salvaged Sewol ferry that has been placed ashore.

The government-led salvage team has transferred the ship onto a dry dock at the port of Mokpo from a semisubmersible transport ship Sunday, around three years after the ferry sank.

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Unification minister negative about pre-emptive U.S. strike on N.K.

SEOUL -- South Korea's unification minister on Monday expressed a negative view about the United States' possible pre-emptive strike against North Korea, citing its influence on South Koreans' safety and security.

Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo made the remarks amid reports that the U.S. is reviewing "a full range of options" to the nuclear and missile threats North Korea poses to Washington and its allies.

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N. Korea may conduct nuke test before launch of new gov't in Seoul: expert

SEOUL -- An expert said Monday that North Korea may carry out an upgraded nuclear test before a key anniversary in late April to have an upper hand in relations with the next South Korea government.

The possible test is also likely to be the last before Pyongyang sophisticates its nuclear capability, according to Cheong Seong-chang, a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute.

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Rocket engine test puts N.K. closer to launching ICBM, satellite: report

SEOUL -- North Korea is close to launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a geostationary satellite, advanced by a recent test of a new rocket engine, a pro-North Korean newspaper based in Japan reported Monday.

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S. Korea target quarterfinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup: coach

PAJU -- South Korea men's under-20 football coach Shin Tae-yong on Monday said the primary goal of his side at the upcoming FIFA competition at home is to reach the quarterfinals.

South Korea will host the FIFA U-20 World Cup from May 20 to June 11 in six cities. Shin's side will face Argentina, England and Guinea in Group A at the 24-team tournament. The top two teams from six groups will advance to the round of 16, along with four third-place teams.

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S. Korea, China warn of strong response to N. Korea nuke, ICBM tests

SEOUL -- South Korea and China warned Monday that they will take strong action if Pyongyang conducts more nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests.

The chief South Korean and Chinese negotiators on North Korea's

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Record overseas S. Koreans to vote in presidential election

SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- A record number of overseas South Korean nationals will take part in the country's upcoming presidential election, the election watchdog said Monday.

According to the National Election Commission (NEC), a total of 294,633 overseas voters have signed up for the May 9 election. Registration for overseas voters ended March 30. The number includes 247,336 people who will cast absentee votes due to their temporary stay in overseas countries.

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