Yonhap News Summary

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

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(LEAD) Moon, Kim take historic trip to summit of Mount Paekdu

SEOUL/PYONGYANG -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un embarked on a rare trip Thursday to the summit of Mount Paekdu in an event designed to enhance their personal ties and also highlight the success of their bilateral summit in Pyongyang.

The leaders left Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport at around 7:30 a.m., each using his own presidential jet. Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, were first to arrive at Samjiyon airport near the North Korean mountain.

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(2nd LD) Trump cites 'tremendous progress' with N. Korea

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that there has been "tremendous progress" with North Korea following another summit between the two Koreas' leaders.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Pyongyang on Tuesday and Wednesday and jointly reaffirmed their commitment to make the peninsula free of nuclear weapons.

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(3rd LD) Pompeo: U.S. prepared to engage in talks with N. Korea

WASHINGTON -- The United States is prepared to "immediately" engage in talks with North Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday, signaling a breakthrough in stalled negotiations to dismantle the regime's nuclear weapons program.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reaffirmed his commitment to a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula during his third summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in earlier in the day.

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(LEAD) N. Korea's media extensively report on summit agreements

SEOUL -- North Korea's media extensively reported Thursday on a joint declaration signed by the leaders of the Koreas following their third summit talks in Pyongyang.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed the joint declaration Wednesday, pledging to make the Korean Peninsula a land of peace free of nuclear weapons and nuclear threats.

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(News Focus) Koreas' summit rekindles talk of 2nd Trump-Kim meeting

WASHINGTON -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's renewed commitment to denuclearize, expressed at this week's meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, fanned expectations Wednesday of a second summit between the reclusive leader and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The White House said early last week that Trump had received a letter from Kim, in which the North Korean leader requested a second meeting between the two. Planning for that meeting was already under way, according to the White House press secretary.

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Parliament confirms industry minister nominee

SEOUL -- The National Assembly confirmed the nomination of Sung Yun-mo as the country's new industry minister Thursday.

The parliamentary committee on trade and industry approved his nomination after a hearing on Wednesday. Sung, 55, will replace the incumbent minister, Paik Un-gyu.

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(LEAD) Korean Air chief quizzed over embezzlement allegations

SEOUL -- Cho Yang-ho, chief of Korean Air Lines Co., appeared for prosecution questioning on Thursday as part of an ongoing probe into a series of allegations, including embezzlement and tax evasion.

Cho, chairman of Hanjin Group, which includes the national flight carrier, arrived at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office at around 9:30 a.m. for his fourth round of interrogation by police and prosecution. He underwent questioning in late June and early July, and last Wednesday.

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U.S. excludes S. Korean steel product from tariffs

SEOUL -- A South Korean steel product has been exempted from U.S. tariffs for the first time since Washington imposed an import quota on South Korean steel months ago, industry sources said Thursday.

The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday accepted a request from American medical equipment maker Micro Stamping to exclude superfine stainless steel tubes made by South Korea's SL tech.

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Seoul stocks up late Thursday morning

SEOUL -- South Korean stocks traded higher late Thursday morning, as foreign investors scooped up big-cap tech shares while setting aside concerns over a full-blown global trade war.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 15.95 points, or 0.69 percent, to 2,324.41 as of 11:20 a.m.

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(LEAD) World No. 2 Brooks Koepka to play at PGA Tour event in S. Korea

SEOUL -- World No. 2 Brooks Koepka will play at the only PGA Tour event in South Korea next month, the event's organizers said Thursday.

CJ Group, the host of the CJ Cup@Nine Bridge, said Koepka, a three-time major champion, will join a strong field that also features defending champion Justin Thomas and 2015 PGA Championship winner Jason Day, both of them former world No. 1. Thomas committed to the tournament last Thursday.
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