Yonhap News Summary

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

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■ (LEAD) Marine Corps resumes full-scale live-fire drills on border islands for 1st time in 7 years

SEOUL -- The Marine Corps on Wednesday resumed a full-scale live-fire exercise on islands near the tensely guarded western inter-Korean maritime border for the first time in seven years after South Korea's suspension of an inter-Korean pact restricting such drills.

The resumption came after South Korea fully suspended the 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction accord in early June that calls for banning live-fire drills in waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) -- the de facto inter-Korean maritime boundary.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240626006251315?section=national/defense

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■ PM says S. Korea not at stage to consider nuclear armament 'for now'

SEOUL -- Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that South Korea is not at a stage to consider its own nuclear armament "for now," given the United States has agreed to use its nuclear weapons to defend its ally.

Han made the remark during a meeting with reporters when asked to respond to calls for South Korea's nuclear armament, which have grown since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty last week that committed each other to mutual defense.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240626006100315?section=national/diplomacy

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■ Yoon vows to expand systemic support for mental health services

SEOUL -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday the government will step up systemic support for mental health services encompassing prevention, treatment and recovery to assist those in need.

Yoon made the remark during a meeting of the presidential committee on mental health policy to address worsening mental health issues, as illustrated by the highest suicide rate among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240626002600315?section=national/politics

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■ Drug offenders exceed 20,000 for 1st time in 2023 amid increase among youth, women

SEOUL -- The yearly number of drug offenders surpassed the 20,000 mark for the first time last year, driven by increases among young people and women, a report showed Wednesday.

A record high of 27,611 people were apprehended for drug-related offenses last year, marking nearly a 50 percent increase from the corresponding figure of 18,395 in 2022, according to the annual drug crime report compiled by the Supreme Prosecutors Office.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240626003900315?section=national/national
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