Yonhap News Summary

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

-----------------

■ (2nd LD) Samsung Electronics posts record profit in Q3 on AI chip supercycle

SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Thursday its third-quarter net profit jumped more than sixfold from a year earlier as strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related semiconductors boosted earnings.

Net profit for the July-September period came to 75.13 trillion won (US$56.2 billion), up 514.6 percent from 12.22 trillion won a year earlier, the world's largest memory chipmaker said in a regulatory filing.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261029002652320?section=economy-finance/economy

-----------------

■ S. Korea seeks 'top-down' approach with U.S. for breakthrough in OPCON transfer

SEOUL -- South Korea will seek a "top-down" approach with the United States for a breakthrough in the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition, the defense ministry said Thursday, dismissing the view that a delay of the allies' annual security talks signals a setback in the transfer timeline.

The allies announced Wednesday the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), a key dialogue between their defense chiefs, has been pushed back to early next year, following bilateral talks between Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Philippines earlier in the day.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261029006500315

-----------------

■ Lee vows to leave no suspicions unresolved on 4th anniv. of Itaewon crowd crush

SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung vowed Thursday to leave no suspicions unresolved regarding the deadly 2022 Itaewon crowd crush as he marked its fourth anniversary.

Lee made the promise during a memorial event at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, which brought together some 1,000 people, including victims, bereaved family members and lawmakers.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261029006600315

-----------------

■ N. Korea fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: JCS

SEOUL -- North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea on Thursday, the South Korean military said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch, without elaborating.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261019003500315

-----------------

■ Special counsel again seeks death penalty for ex-President Yoon over martial law declaration

SEOUL -- A special counsel team on Thursday sought the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol during his appeal trial on insurrection charges stemming from his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team requested the sentence during proceedings at the Seoul High Court, eight months after a lower court sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment for staging a riot through his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261029005700315

-----------------

■ FM Cho leaves for U.S. for G20 meeting, talks with Rubio

SEOUL -- Foreign Minister Cho Hyun departed for the United States on Thursday to attend a Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting and hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on key bilateral issues, officials said.

Cho is scheduled to visit Atlanta through Monday to attend the two-day G20 gathering, where participating countries will discuss ways to jointly address geopolitical crises, energy and food security, supply chains, and other global challenges, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261029005600315

(END)