S. Korea, Japan defense ministers to hold talks, Gov't to lower fuel prices

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

■ (LEAD) Defense ministers of S. Korea, Japan to hold talks in Seoul over weekend SEOUL -- Defense ministers of South Korea and Japan will hold talks in Seoul over the weekend, Seoul's defense ministry said Friday, as the two neighbors seek to enhance defense cooperation amid a positive mood in bilateral ties.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back will meet one-on-one with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi for talks on Sunday, less than a month after their previous bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a defense forum in Singapore.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260626003251315?section=national/diplomacy

■ (2nd LD) Gov't to lower cap on fuel prices, freeze utility rates in H2 SEOUL -- South Korea will lower the cap on fuel prices to reflect the recent decline in global crude oil prices, the finance minister said Friday, while freezing electricity and gas rates in the second half.

Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol made the remarks during a meeting with economy-related ministers, noting the cap system will remain in place until consumer prices are fully stabilized.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260626001652320?section=economy-finance/economy

■ KRX activates sell-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp fall SEOUL -- South Korea's bourse operator on Friday activated a sell-side sidecar for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) as the index slid sharply.

Program trading for the KOSPI was suspended for five minutes around 11:13 a.m., according to the Korea Exchange (KRX).

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260626004200320?section=economy-finance/economy

■ Lee calls for U.S.-N. Korea, inter-Korean dialogue for peace on Korean Peninsula WASHINGTON -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday called for the resumption of dialogue between the United States and North Korea, as well as between the two Koreas, to achieve lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee made the call in a written message to a peace forum in Washington, as his administration has sought to restart diplomacy with Pyongyang amid questions over whether the reclusive state would accede to Seoul's peace overtures amid its deepening ties with Russia and China.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260626001400315?section=search

■ Lee's approval rating sinks to lowest point since taking office: Gallup poll SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating dropped to 51 percent, marking its lowest level since he took office in June last year, a poll showed Friday.

The survey, conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,000 people aged 18 and older, showed that the positive assessment of Lee's performance fell 6 percentage points from the previous survey released two weeks earlier.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260626004000315?section=national/politics