Yonhap News Summary
The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
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False bomb report causes evacuation of Samsung building
SEOUL -- A false bomb report led to the massive evacuation of a Samsung Life Insurance building in southern Seoul on Friday, police said.
No injuries or property damage were reported, police said, adding investigators are tracking down the source of the false report.
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Seoul stocks end lower on rising geopolitical tension
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed lower on Friday as investors sought safer assets amid the tension surrounding the Korean Peninsula, analysts said. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 13.73 points, or 0.64 percent, to close at 2,134.88. Trade volume was slim at 343 million shares worth 3.31 trillion won (US$2.9 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 592 to 207.
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(LEAD) Liberal nominee Moon promises market-friendly government
SEOUL -- Moon Jae-in, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party, on Friday strove to head off his image as an anti-business interventionist, promising transparent regulations and a market-friendly government.
"Do there still remain any concerns among our businesspeople that I, Moon Jae-in, might be business unfriendly? I will tell you for sure. That is the farthest from the truth," he said in a special meeting with members of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).
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Military to spend 246.5 bln won on cybersecurity over 5 years
SEOUL -- South Korea's defense ministry said Friday it will earmark 246.5 billion won (US$218 million) to enhance its cybersecurity over five years to fend off growing threats from North Korean hackers.
The ministry's plan to develop technology and train manpower for cyberwarfare was included in its midterm defense plan for 2018 to 2022.
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Preparations for massive military parade under way in Pyongyang
SEOUL -- North Korea is apparently preparing to stage a large-scale military parade as early as this weekend, officials here said Friday, amid rising tensions on the peninsula.
"There is intelligence that North Korea has controlled traffic in Pyongyang for a military parade," a South Korean government official said.
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(LEAD) N.K. says it will conduct nuke test when leader decides: report
SEOUL -- North Korea's vice foreign minister said that the country will conduct another nuclear test at any time upon the leadership's decision, a news report said Friday.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol said that the situation on the Korean Peninsula was in a "vicious cycle," adding that Pyongyang won't tolerate a U.S. pre-emptive strike.
(END)
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S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
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Ateez to drop new Japanese EP next week
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(2nd LD) BTS wins three Billboard Music Awards, marking 6th year to win an award
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Crypto investor probed over allegedly visiting house of Terraform's CEO
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(2nd LD) N. Korea still unresponsive to S. Korea's outreach for talks on COVID-19: official
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S. Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
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(LEAD) Yoon, PPP lawmakers travel to Gwangju en masse to commemorate 1980 democracy uprising
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S. Korea to send condolence delegation to UAE over death of president
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(LEAD) At least 8 injured in S-Oil refinery explosion in Ulsan: firefighters
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(LEAD) Biden set to arrive in S. Korea for first summit with Yoon
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First lady Kim to greet Biden before state dinner
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(5th LD) Yoon, Biden agree to expand joint military exercises to cope with N.K. threats
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(2nd LD) Yoon, Biden hold first summit on N. Korea, economy
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(2nd LD) N. Korea reports nearly 220,000 new suspected COVID-19 cases, one more death
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Full text of joint statement issued after Yoon-Biden summit