Yonhap News Summary

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

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(LEAD) New JCS chief vows stern actions against NK's provocations

SEOUL -- South Korea's new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff vowed Wednesday to take stern actions against any provocations by North Korea, stressing the need to strengthen combat readiness.

Army Gen. Lee Sun-jin made such a pledge at his inauguration ceremony at a time when North Korea has recently ratcheted up missile and nuclear threats.

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(LEAD) Seoul shares hit 2-month high on Samsung earnings boost

SEOUL -- South Korean stocks jumped to a two-month high on Wednesday, driven by a surge in top-cap Samsung Electronics Co. shares, after it announced forecast-beating quarterly earnings, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 15.19 points, or 0.76 percent, to close at 2,005.84. It is the highest level since Aug. 10, which also marks a rebound to above the psychologically-significant 2,000-point mark for the first time in two months.

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(4th LD) Samsung Q3 profit soars, stocks rally 9 pct

SEOUL -- South Korea's top tech behemoth Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday reported forecast-beating earnings for the third quarter on its robust chip and display businesses, sending its stocks almost 9 percent higher.

However, its flagship mobile division probably extended its slump amid fierce competition from Apple Inc. and other rivals, analysts said.

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Majority leader emphasizes standardizing history textbooks

SEOUL -- The chief of the ruling Saenuri Party once again emphasized Wednesday the importance of the government's plan to standardize history textbooks.

"There is no other choice but to standardize history textbooks to develop our country so that our future generations can develop positive and creative thinking," Rep. Kim Moo-sung said during a meeting of the party's senior members.

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Gov't under fire over TPP

SEOUL -- Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se faced fierce criticism from lawmakers Wednesday over the government's approach to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

In a parliamentary audit session, Yun reaffirmed that South Korea is moving "in the direction of" participating in the major Pacific Rim trade deal.

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(Yonhap Interview) BIFF director: Time to draw up long-term plan

BUSAN -- Many actresses come and go. But Kang Soo-youn is one of the rare ones who has remained active after more than 40 years.

This year, she rose to the top post in charge of orchestrating Asia's largest film festival.

"I didn't know it was such a hard job," the co-executive director of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday. "I went through a lot of heartache on opening day. I sighed when I looked out at the sea in Haeundae in the early morning on that rainy and windy day."
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