Yonhap News Summary

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

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■ S. Korea's level of arms supply to Ukraine hinges on Russia's actions: presidential office

SEOUL -- South Korea will determine the extent of its arms supply to Ukraine based on Russia's stance toward its relations with North Korea, a presidential official said Friday.

National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin said Thursday South Korea will review the possibility of supplying weapons to Ukraine after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact pledging mutual defense in the event of war.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240621006000315

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■ Putin warns S. Korea's potential arms supply to Ukraine would be 'very big mistake'

SEOUL -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned it would be a "very big mistake" if South Korea provides lethal weapons to Ukraine after Seoul suggested such a possibility in response to Russia's commitment to military cooperation with North Korea.

The South Korean government said Thursday it will reconsider its stance on its arms supply to Ukraine after North Korea and Russia signed a treaty that involves military assistance without delay if one of them is attacked.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240621001300315

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■ (LEAD) S. Korea to call in top Russian envoy to protest new treaty with N. Korea

SEOUL -- South Korea is expected to call in the top Russian envoy in Seoul on Friday to lodge a protest over a new treaty signed with North Korea calling for immediate military assistance if either is attacked.

First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun will call in Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev later in the day to deliver Seoul's position on the "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty inked between Moscow and Pyongyang at their leaders' summit Wednesday, diplomatic sources said.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240621003551315

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■ (LEAD) N. Korean soldiers cross border for 3rd time in June on Thursday: JCS

SEOUL -- North Korean troops working in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas have briefly crossed the border into the South before returning to their side after the South fired warning shots, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Friday.

The North Korean soldiers crossed the Military Demarcation Line within the DMZ in the central section of the border at around 11 a.m. Thursday, the JCS said in a message to reporters.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240621004351315

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■ N. Korean defectors send anti-Pyongyang leaflets again to N. Korea

SEOUL -- A North Korean defectors' group said Friday it has sent more balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets to North Korea the previous day, after the North warned of counteractions against such a leaflet campaign and Seoul's propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts.

The Fighters for a Free North Korea (FFNK) said it sent 20 balloons carrying some 300,000 leaflets, USB sticks and U.S. dollars across the border on Thursday night in the border city of Paju.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240621003800315

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■ (LEAD) S. Korea excluded from U.S. 'monitoring list' for FX policy for 2nd straight time

WASHINGTON -- The United States took South Korea off its list of countries to monitor for their foreign exchange policies for the second consecutive time while adding Japan to the list, a Treasury Department report showed Thursday.

The department released the semiannual "Report to Congress on Macroeconomic and Foreign Exchange Policies of Major Trading Partners of the United States" following its November report, where South Korea was excluded from the list for the first time since April 2016.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240621000352315

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■ Hanwha Group acquires U.S. shipyard Philly for US$100 mln

SEOUL -- Hanwha Group said Friday it has invested US$100 million in Philly Shipyard Inc. to acquire a 100 percent stake in the U.S. shipbuilder, marking the first entry of a South Korean company into the U.S. shipbuilding industry.

The acquisition involves the group's two defense units, Hanwha Systems Co. and Hanwha Ocean Co., according to Hanwha Group.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240621002600320
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