South Korean President Park Geun-hye said on May 8 her country is facing down North Korea's threats 'resolutely but calmly' and called on Pyongyang to end the cycle of tension and short-lived stability on the Korean peninsula.

The United States played down a company's purchase of Iranian oil in South Korea, saying the American ally shares the objective of keeping pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program through sanctions.

South Korea's defence minister publicly apologized over the security lapse at the heavily fortified border following revelations that a North Korean defector crossed over undetected.

A South Korean pastor who runs a "baby box" where mothers can leave unwanted infants has seen a sharp increase in the number of newborns being left there because, the pastor says, of a new law aimed at protecting the rights of children.

South Korea's trade balance posted a surplus of 1.9 billion pounds last month as imports contracted at a faster pace than exports, a government report showed.

Baegunbong Peak

Baegunbong (alt. 940m) is a sharp pointed peak that sits on the border between Yangpyeong-eup and Okcheon-myeon in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do Province.

South Korean companies' direct financing through issuing stocks and bonds dropped 22.2 percent last month as demand for funds weakened broadly amid the protracted European fiscal crisis and the global economic slowdown, data by a financial watchdog showed.

South Korea's sovereign debt risks fell sharply after rating appraiser Fitch upgraded the country's sovereign rating to "AA-minus", data showed.

South Korea's automobile production plunged 25.9 percent in August from a year earlier due to frequent partial strikes by major automakers, a government report showed.

South Korea's consumer price index rose 1.2 percent in August from a year earlier, staying in the 1 percent level for two straight months, a report by the statistical agency showed.