Yonhap News Summary

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

■ (3rd LD) N. Korea fires nearly dozen ballistic missiles after S. Korea's dialogue offer

SEOUL -- North Korea fired about a dozen short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, the South Korean military said, in an apparent cold rebuff to Seoul's offer for talks aimed at easing border tensions sparked by a recent land mine blast.

The missiles were launched from the Wonsan area on the North's east coast at around 12:30 p.m. and flew about 250 kilometers, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, adding that further analysis of other specifications was under way with coordination with the United States.

■ U.S. official says Washington sees scope for nuclear fuel-cycle cooperation with S. Korea

SEOUL -- The United States sees potential for nuclear fuel-cycle cooperation with South Korea, including uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing, a U.S. government official said Thursday.

"I think across the board we have opportunities for collaboration with each country with respect to the enrichment, reprocessing," the official said during a background briefing in Seoul, noting that the two countries had conducted joint fuel-cycle studies over an extended period.

■ N. Korea appears to test propaganda loudspeakers along border

SEOUL -- North Korea appears to have conducted a test broadcast of its propaganda loudspeakers in areas along the inter-Korean border Thursday, a week after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister issued a warning.

Residents in the South Korean border city of Paju said that loudspeaker broadcasts from North Korea began at 6 a.m., adding the volume was relatively low, but the sounds were audible from the early morning.

■ (LEAD) N.K. leader may have discussed potential talks with U.S. during China visit: spy agency

SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have conveyed Pyongyang's position on potential talks with the United States during his recent visit to China, Seoul's spy agency told lawmakers Thursday.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) made the assessment during a closed-door parliamentary intelligence committee audit, according to Rep. Youn Kun-young of the ruling Democratic Party and Rep. Yoo Yeong-ha of the main opposition People Power Party.

■ (2nd LD) Seoul shares down 1.24 pct as Samsung disappoints on shareholder returns

SEOUL -- South Korean shares dropped 1.24 percent Thursday following Samsung Electronics' third-quarter earnings that slightly missed expectations and disappointed investors by providing no updates on its shareholder-return plan. The Korean won gained ground against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 74.78 points to close at 5,937.66, after rising as high as 6,100.11