Yonhap News Summary

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

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Japanese teen takes 1st round lead at LPGA in S. Korea; Park Sung-hyun in hunt

INCHEON -- Japanese teenage sensation Nasa Hataoka took the first round lead at an LPGA tournament in South Korea on Thursday, with world No. 1 Park Sung-hyun lurking.

Hataoka carded a seven-under 65 to start the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship at Sky 72 Golf Club's Ocean Course in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on Thursday. The 19-year-old, who already has a victory this season, had eight birdies against just one bogey in blustery wind on the 6,316-yard layout.

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BTOB performs on special stage for BIFF

SEOUL -- K-pop boy band BTOB staged a performance at a special concert hosted by KT on Oct. 6, 2018.

The event was organized to celebrate the 10th anniversary of olleh TV, KT's HD IPTV service, on the sidelines of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in the port city.

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(LEAD) Trump's wording triggers controversy in S. Korea

SEOUL -- A controversy has erupted in South Korea over U.S. President Donald Trump's choice of words in a comment regarding South Korea's sanctions on North Korea.

Trump was responding to a reporter's question about reports from Seoul that South Korea is considering lifting some sanctions against North Korea.

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S. Korea reaffirms ban on initial coin offerings

SEOUL -- South Korea's top financial regulator on Thursday rejected calls for the government to allow initial coin offerings, saying raising money through virtual coins is too risky.

Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Choi Jong-ku told a parliamentary audit meeting that the government aims to promote the blockchain industry, but will maintain its strict regulations on cryptocurrency exchanges.

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Industry minister says renewable energy 'new growth engine'

SEOUL -- South Korea's industry minister said Thursday the government's renewable energy initiative is in line with inevitable global trends, stressing its role as a "new growth engine" for the national economy.

Rejecting lawmakers' skepticism, Sung Yun-mo, minister of trade, industry and energy, advocated the government's energy transformation roadmap, which aims to nearly triple the ratio of renewable energy to 20 percent by 2030.

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N. Korea appears to have altered launch pad fuel/oxidizer bunker: 38 North

SEOUL -- North Korea appears to have altered part of a launch pad at a key missile test site on the country's west coast that it has pledged to dismantle as part of its denuclearization commitment, 38 North, a U.S. website monitoring the communist state, has said.

Based on its review of commercial satellite imagery from spring to fall this year, the website noted "activity beyond the previously reported dismantlement steps" taken at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station, also known as Dongchang-ri.

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Iconic designer Karel Martens to Seoulites: Stay curious, test your limit

SEOUL -- When Karel Martens started practicing graphic design, the subject didn't even exist as a form of independent study. A graduate of fine art, Martens freely crossed the line between fine art and graphic design.

That experience gave him a broader perspective, allowing him to look at different things in combination and to experiment with various materials for artistic as well as commercial purposes, the 79-year-old Dutch artist said during a press conference in Seoul on Thursday.

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(LEAD) Moon says two Koreas will reach complete denuclearization

SEOUL -- South Korea will completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and establish permanent peace, President Moon Jae-in said Thursday, stressing the need for strong defense capabilities to support such efforts.

"The South and the North have now pledged to end their military confrontation and begun a journey toward complete denuclearization and lasting peace," Moon said at the International Fleet Review held in waters off the southern island of Jeju.

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S. Korea, UAE to launch high-level security dialogue this week

SEOUL -- South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will hold the inaugural meeting of their senior diplomats and defense officials in Seoul this week, Seoul's defense ministry said Thursday.

The "two plus two" dialogue will occur on Friday, in line with the March summit agreement between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to establish a vice ministerial communication platform.
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