Yonhap News Summary

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

■ U.S. expresses 'understanding' of S. Korea's unease over USFK commander's remarks: source

SEOUL -- The United States has expressed an "understanding" of South Korea's pushback against the top U.S. military commander's recent remarks about the inter-Korean border and Seoul's move to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, a source said Monday.

Seoul has voiced protest after U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson described the southern fence line along the border with North Korea, formed under the armistice following the 1950-53 Korean War, as where South Korean territory begins.

■ Gyeonggi Gov. Choo apologizes again over remarks criticized as disparaging firefighters

SEOUL -- Gyeonggi Province Gov. Choo Mi-ae apologized again Monday over her controversial remarks describing firefighters as a "fiscal drain" after her earlier apology, seen as lacking sincerity, drew public backlash.

"I sincerely apologize to all firefighters who were hurt by my recent remarks," Choo said during a parliamentary audit of the Gyeonggi provincial government at the local government's office in Suwon, south of Seoul.

■ (LEAD) Chief of national museum apologizes over wrongful attribution of item on display

SEOUL -- The director of the National Museum of Korea issued a formal apology Monday after a calligraphic work from his private collection was found to have been wrongfully attributed and put on display at the museum.

Speaking during an annual parliamentary audit of the museum, You Hong-june bowed his head twice and described the incident as a "grave mistake and oversight."

■ S. Korea to launch solid-fuel space rocket postponed in June by year-end

SEOUL -- South Korea plans to push for the launch of a solid-fuel space rocket by the end of this year, after it was postponed in June due to safety concerns, the defense ministry said Monday.

The Mir space rocket was initially scheduled to lift off on June 30 off the southern coast of Jeju Island, but the launch was canceled due to a set of issues detected in the final stages.

■ (2nd LD) Seoul shares end higher on institutional buying amid AI investment concerns

SEOUL -- Seoul shares ended higher Monday, supported by institutional buying, as investors weighed concerns over whether heavy spending on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure would generate sufficient returns.

The Korean won was trading higher against the U.S. dollar.