Yonhap News Summary

The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.

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(4th LD) S. Korea, U.S. hold missile drills as N. Korea claims key ICBM technology
By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States staged a massive combined ballistic missile exercise Wednesday, sending a warning message to North Korea, the allies' militaries said, a day after the communist country claimed a successful long-range missile test.

They fired a barrage of missiles, including the South's Hyunmoo-2A and the U.S. Eighth Army's ATACMS, into the East Sea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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(2nd LD) Seoul confirms N. Korean ICBM test

SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's defense ministry on Wednesday confirmed North Korea's test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), identifying it as an upgraded two-stage version of its KN-17 or Hwasong-12 missile.

During a parliamentary briefing, Defense Minister Han Min-koo said that the ministry put the missile's range at between 7,000 kilometers and 8,000 km but found no definitive evidence to prove its atmospheric re-entry capability.

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U.N. Security Council to hold emergency meeting on N. Korean ICBM launch

SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will convene an emergency meeting to discuss the international community's actions over North Korea's recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

"The emergency UNSC meeting will be held Wednesday (New York time) at the request of South Korea, the United States and Japan," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

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Allies say N. Korea endangering armistice
By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- Top South Korean and U.S. military commanders were united Wednesday in sending a tough warning message to North Korea for its long-range missile test.

"Self-restraint, which is a choice, is all that separates armistice and war," Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) and the allies' Combined Forces Command, said in a joint statement with Gen. Lee Sun-jin, chairman of the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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Exports to continue to drive S. Korea's growth in H2: IBs

SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- Exports will continue to serve as the locomotive of South Korea's economic growth in the second half of the year amid the ongoing global recovery and the boom in the IT industry, foreign investment banks said Wednesday.

South Korea's exports rose for the eighth consecutive month in June helped by surging oil prices and recovery in worldwide trade. This is a turnaround following two years of minus growth in 2015 and 2016, when oil prices fell dramatically.

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S. Korea to take immediate action against any turbulence in market

SEJONG, July 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Wednesday that it will take swift and firm action against any turbulence in the local financial market over North Korea's test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

On Tuesday, North Korea claimed it successfully carried out its first intercontinental ballistic missile test as it is pushing to build a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the United States.

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Samsung Electronics named top brand in Asia for 6th year

SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday the company was named Asia's most popular brand for the sixth consecutive year backed by its successful launch of the Galaxy S8 smartphones.

Citing the report released by Campaign Asia-Pacific and Nielsen, the South Korean tech giant said the company was the No. 1 player among Asia's top 1,000 brands. U.S. tech giant Apple Inc. was the runner-up, trailed by Japan-based Sony Corp. and Switzerland-based Nestle.

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(LEAD) Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo make surprise wedding announcement

SEOUL, July 5 (Yonhap) -- Star actors Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, who appeared as a fictional couple in the hit TV series "Descendants of the Sun," announced Wednesday they are getting married in October.

"Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo plan to marry on Oct. 31," said Blossom Entertainment and UAA, the companies representing the two stars.
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