Yonhap News Summary

The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday. ----------------- ■ (2nd LD) S. Korea logs largest-ever current account surplus in March: BOK SEOUL -- South Korea posted its largest-ever monthly current account surplus in March, driven by strong exports amid booming overseas demand for semiconductors, central bank data showed Friday. The current account surplus totaled US$37.33 billion in March, up from $23.19 billion in February, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260508001552320?section=economy-finance/economy This file photo taken March 21, 2026, shows crowds on a street in Myeongdong, downtown Seoul. (Yonhap) ----------------- ■ Ex-commander sentenced to 3 yrs in prison over 2023 death of young Marine SEOUL -- A Seoul court on Friday sentenced a former Marine commander to three years in prison in connection with the death of a young Marine during a search mission for victims of heavy rains in 2023. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence for Lim Seong-geun, a retired two-star general and former commander of the 1st Marine Division, finding him guilty of failing to uphold safety obligations during the operation. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260508005700315?section=national/national ----------------- ■ (2nd LD) U.S. trade court rules against Trump's 10 pct global tariffs WASHINGTON/SEOUL -- The U.S. trade court ruled Thursday against President Donald Trump's 10 percent global tariffs in another legal setback to his trade policy, as his administration is already working to replace its emergency duties struck down by the Supreme Court in February. In a 2-1 ruling, the three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade concluded that the sweeping tariffs are not justified under Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, which Trump invoked to impose the levies, according to Reuters and the Associated Press. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260508000752315?section=national/diplomacy ----------------- ■ Seoul shares down late Fri. morning on profit taking amid resurfaced Mideast tensions SEOUL -- South Korean stocks traded 1.6 percent lower late Friday morning as investors locked in profits amid resurfaced military tensions in the Middle East. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 120.01 points, or 1.6 percent, to 7,370.04 as of 11:20 a.m. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260508005500320?section=economy-finance/economy ----------------- ■ Finance chief says economy maintains 'solid fundamentals' amid Middle East crisis SEOUL -- Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Friday the economy continues to maintain its "solid fundamentals" but pledged a continued emergency posture as uncertainties stemming from the Middle East standoff persist. South Korea posted its largest-ever monthly current account surplus in March, totaling US$37.33 billion, while the country's exports exceeded $80 billion for the second consecutive month in April. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260508002600320?section=economy-finance/economy ----------------- ■ (LEAD) Trump could ask Xi for suggestions on engagement with Kim during upcoming summit: Campbell WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump could ask for Chinese President Xi Jinping's suggestions for engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their upcoming summit in Beijing, a former senior U.S. diplomat said Thursday, as he has repeatedly expressed his desire for dialogue with Pyongyang. Former Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell made the remarks during a press meeting amid questions over whether the agenda for the Trump-Xi meeting, set for May 14 and 15, would include efforts to address North Korean issues, and whether Trump would seek to rekindle his personal diplomacy with Kim during his trip to China. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260508000651315?section=national/diplomacy (END)