Yonhap News Summary: Ministerial Reports Adopted, N. Korea Rejects IAEA Denuclearization Calls

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

(LEAD) Confirmation hearing reports adopted for justice, defense minister nominees

SEOUL -- Parliamentary confirmation hearing reports were adopted for the justice and defense minister nominees Thursday amid objections from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).

The parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee adopted a confirmation hearing report for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won as the ruling Democratic Party (DP) forged ahead despite PPP lawmakers' boycott, protesting that allegations surrounding Kim were not fully addressed.

(LEAD) N.K. leader's sister dismisses IAEA's denuclearization calls, reiterates nuclear status

SEOUL -- Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on Thursday rejected international calls for denuclearization as "all noises," calling the regime's nuclear status "absolute."

She made the remarks in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) as the 70th regular session of the IAEA General Conference is currently under way in Vienna, Austria.

(2nd LD) Seoul stocks end almost flat as investors weigh Fed's first rate hike in 3 yrs

SEOUL -- Seoul stocks closed almost flat Thursday, paring earlier gains, as investors digest the Federal Reserve's first rate hike in over three years. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.

After opening higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed down 2.56 points, or 0.04 percent, to 6,715.41.

No dialogue with N. Korea possible if denuclearization comes first: unification minister

SEOUL -- Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Thursday that resuming dialogue with North Korea would never be possible if Pyongyang is asked to denuclearize first.

He made the remarks in an opening address at a ministry-hosted academic forum on peaceful coexistence with North Korea.

(2nd LD) (Asiad) S. Korean player reaches semifinals in men's singles as teqball makes debut

NAGOYA, Japan -- South Korea's Lee Jun-suk reached the semifinals of the men's singles in teqball as the sport made its Asian Games debut in central Japan on Thursday.

Lee ran the table on the first day of the teqball tournament at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Nagoya City Higashi Sports Center, tucked in the northern part of Nagoya.