THIS IS THE TRANSCRIPTS OF ARIRANG NEWS THAT AIRED ON DECEMBER 11

(THIS IS THE TRANSCRIPTS OF ARIRANG NEWS THAT AIRED ON DECEMBER 11, 2008- 19:00 KST.)

Title : 1900 OPENING

 Hello and welcome to the newscast.
I'm Kang Minji.

 

Title : Six-Party Talks to End Thursday

 The latest session of six-party nuclear talks in Beijing... appears to be coming to an end.
Arirang's foreign ministry correspondent Ahn Jisu ... joins me now on the phone... with the latest from the Chinese capital.
Jisu, fill us in.

 Minji, nuclear talks are expected to end soon... here in Beijing.
Chief US nuclear envoy, Christopher Hill, has left Diaoyutai State Guest House... and is expected to head back home tonight.
It's still unclear if consensus was reached this afternoon on how to verify North Korea's nuclear declaration... but we expect China to at least release a chairman's statement.
A statement is not binding... and is weaker than a press communique... such as was released in July by the six parties... with measures on how to wrap up phase two of Pyeongyang's denuclearization.
Although talks were scheduled to end Wednesday... top nuclear negotiators stayed in Beijing a day longer to try to reach an agreement.

 So, Jisu, what were the main issues... discuseed during this session of multilateral talks?

 One of the main stumbling blocks was agreeing on key elements of the verification process... such as taking samples from North Korea's nuclear facilities.
Members of the talks also emphasized the importance of the International Atomic Energy Agency in the verification process and North Korea's eventual return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ... both of which rose as conflict points with Pyeongyang.
 North Korea conflicted with the IAEA in the 1990s... resulting in the first North Korean nuclear crisis.
The communist state also voiced opposition on South Korea's stance to link economic and energy aid for the North... with progress on the verification protocol. Back to you, Minji.

 Alright, Jisu. Thanks for the report.
That was our Ahn Jisu ... reporting from Beijing, China.

 

Title : President Lee Heads to Japan for East Asian Summit

 A trilateral summit among the leaders of Korea, Japan and China... will be taking place this weekend in Fukuoka, Japan.
President Lee Myung-bak, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao... are expected to sign a joint statement... pledging a closer partnership of the three countries on various issues.
Kim Bumsoo  has details.
 President Lee Myung-bak is leaving for Fukuoka, Japan, to sit down with his Japanese and Chinese counterparts.
A top Presidential aide told reporters Thursday... that President Lee will hold two separate meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso... and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Saturday.
The official also confirmed... that the three countries will discuss expanding the size of existing currency swap arrangements... at these bilateral meetings.
He said... that the governments are currently coordinating on the swap deal... with an expectation that an agreement would be reached in Fukuoka.
However... the aide and other officials declined to elaborate on the size of the financial arrangement.
Currency swaps will also be up for discussion at the trilateral summit... where joint measures to deal with global economic crisis are to be the overall focus.
They will be talking about speeding up the creation of an 80-billion-dollar fund... with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations... to allow multilateral currency swaps in the region.
North Korea-related issues, as well as joint responses to terrorism and natural disaster developments are also on the agenda.
 The three East Asian nations have held a total of eight summits in the past... but always on the sidelines of the Asean Plus Three summits.
This is the first time a trilateral meeting will be held independently... in one of the three countries.
The Presidential Office says that the three partner countries will sign a joint statement on the future course of a trilateral partnership.
Kim Bumsoo, Arirang News.

 

Title : Japanese Media: Japan to Raise Foreign Exchange Swap Volume to US$30 Bil.

 While the presidential office here in Seoul... has not elaborated on the size of the curreny swap deal... to be expanded among the three Northeast Asian countries... Japanese media reports say... the arrangement will cover 30 billion US dollars... instead of the current 13 billion.
Chang Yeojeong  reports.
 In an effort to prevent the further devaluation of the Korean won... Japan plans to expand its currency swap lines with Korea to 30 billion US dollars from the current 13 billion dollars.
This is according to Japanese media... who are also saying that the Chinese government is looking into a similar move with Korea.
This reported decision coincides with an agreement made last month by finance ministers from Korea, China and Japan... where they decided to raise the size of currency swap arrangements between their countries.
Media also reported that the latest proposal will be officially announced at the Korea-China-Japan summit to take place in Fukuoka, Japan, on December 13th.
If the swap lines between Korea and Japan are increased, Korea could sell the yen provided by Japan to buy US dollars, which would... in turn, prevent the value of the won from falling.
 Korea's foreign reserves fell by 11-point-7 billion dollars last month compared to a year ago... to 200-point-5 billion... which was the lowest level in almost four years.
Chang Yeojeong, Arirang News.

 

Title : Central Bank Lowers Key Interest Rate to Record-Low

 The Bank of Korea has lowered its key interest rate by one percentage point... to three percent... the lowest in years since the prime-rate system was introduced in 1999.
 The decision comes amid a sluggish domestic economy hit by slowing consumption and investment... both at home and abroad.
The Korean economy's main driving force, exports... has been slowing at a rapid rate... while the global financial market remains unstable.
Inflation, meanwhile, is increasing at a slower rate... despite the weakened Korean won.
The central bank elaborated... improving liquidity is and will remain a big factor behind its monetary decisions.

 

Title : Russian School Offers Class on Korea

 It looks like more and more people in Russia... are becoming interested in issues concerning Korea.
Recently... Russian scholars held a forum... to discuss the significance of Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo... which Japan has been claiming as its own.
Sam Len tells us more.
 A Russian academy is holding a series of lectures on Korea... and the subject of the first seminar showcasing the Asian country... was Korean geography.
The purpose of the lecture was to help Russians gain a better understanding of Korea... by learning about diplomatic issues surrounding the Korean peninsula.
Around 30 Russian academics who teach history and geography attended the lecture... which took place at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
 The participants say... Japan's territorial claim to Korea's eastermost islets of Dokdo... was of particular interest.
That's because Tokyo also claims ownership over the Russian-controlled Kuril Islands off the northern coast of Japan.

 

[INTERVIEW : Valeriy Glushkov, Asst. Director,Russian Academy of Sciences] ''Korea and Russia share the same challenges faced by Japan's territorial claims. We are on the same boat.''

Dr. Glushkov says he sympathizes with Korea's position as Japan has persistently laid claim over Dokdo.
Russian teachers who attended the lecture... say they will return to their classrooms with fuller understanding of Korea's concerns.

[INTERVIEW : Elena Koroleva, Professor,Moscow State University] ''The information will be very useful for teachers like us.''

The academy plans to hold more lectures on Korea.
The series of talks are sponsored by the Korea Foundation... a non-profit organization affiliated with Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Sam Len, Arirang News.

 

Title : Ski Resorts See Brisk Business Amid Economic Downturn

 'Tis the season of winter sports... with ski resorts across the country welcoming enthusiasts... including those from overseas... where snow is scarce.
As our Kim Nari  tells us... the current economic hardship doesn't seem to be getting in the way of having fun hitting the slopes.
 People in colorful suits with fancy winter sports gadgets... are shoop-shoop-shooping their way down the bunny trails... creating waves of fresh powdered snow... at already-opened ski resorts across the country.
At last... winter has finally arrived in Korea.
 Now... although the falling snowflakes may perk up people's excitement... some may think it's an extravagance to enjoy expensive winter sports... given the current global financial crisis.
But... it seems the falling economy has failed to cool people's love of these pursuits... as this ski resort manager says... the number of people booked to come to this resort... has already exceeded that of the same period last year.

(Korean)

[INTERVIEW : Lee Jaechan, Manager,Vivaldi Park Ski Resort] ''This winter season, the serious economic recession coupled with rising foreign currencies, has led people who usually go abroad to ski to come to resorts in Korea, instead. There has actually been a big increase in the number of people coming from Southeast Asia. So, we expect about a 10 percent increase from last year, in overseas visitors coming here to ski.''

People from places where it never snows... plan to spend their weekends in Korea... enjoying snow covered spots.

(Standup)

[REPORTER : Kim Nari,[e-mail]] ''The excitement of sliding down the slopes is priceless for ski and snowboard lovers... especially from Southeast Asia... who come to Korea every winter for that thrill.''

People from China are among the most numerous of those enjoying Korea's ski resorts... followed by the Taiwanese and others from various Southeast Asian countries.
And the freezing cold is not a problem... for those who have never seen or touched snow before.

(English)

[INTERVIEW : Ivan Su,Tourist from Taiwan] ''It's my first time to see snow and it's very interesting and fun. It looks like ice cream.''

And it's not just people who don't have a lot of experience with winter.
Ski bums whose countries are currently experiencing summer... like Australia... come to Korea to enjoy the colder weather.

(English)
 ''We are in summer so it's cool that we come to ski here.''

 Most of the ski resorts in Korea have been open since the end of November... and at this resort... about one-thousand tons of water are being used to create snow hourly on the slopes... to provide the best quality and quantity of the white stuff for skiers and snowboarders.
So... for people who want to experience the thrill of flying down a mountain... cutting through the cold air... Korea's ready for you!
Kim Nari, (effect) Arirang News.

 

Title : Korean Shares Up on BOK Rate Cut

 Turning to the local stock market in Seoul...
Shares rose this Thursday... thanks to the central bank's drastic interest rate cut... and overnight Wall Street gains.
 The benchmark KOSPI added nine points... to end the session at 1-thousand-154... while the tech-laden KOSDAQ inched up four points.
On the F-X counter... the Korean currency traded at 13-hundred-59 won against the US dollar.

 

Title : 1600 & 1900 WEATHER

 Let's now get a check of the global weather picture.

 

Title : 1900 CLOSING

 That wraps up the newscast for now.
Thank you for watching.

THE TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.)