ARIRANG NEWS 18:00
Welcome to our newscast.
I′m Daniel Choy.
Pres. Park to attend a series of multilateral summits
President Park Geun-hye is set to embark on a ten-day diplomatic tour at the end of the week.
She will attend a series of multilateral summits, starting with the G-20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, on Saturday.
After that, she will attend an APEC session in the Philippines on November 17th, and the ASEAN Plus Three and EAST Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, starting on the 20th.
According to the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, the president′s participation in these gatherings will help Korea expand its diplomatic scope.
Talks between rival party floor leaders break off
The floor leaders of Korea′s two main rival parties have broken off talks aimed at a reconciliation, following last week′s boycott by the main opposition party.
The meeting between ruling Saenuri floor leader Won Yoo-cheo... and his opposition party counterpart Lee Jong-kul... broke up less than three hours after it started.
A major point of contention was about when a full parliamentary session would be held.
They did, however, agree to continue a parliamentary committee session on the 2016 budget on Monday.
The Saenuri Party had previously called the committee session on Friday, in the midst of the opposition′s boycott,... held to protest the government′s decision to re-take control of history textbook publishing for secondary schools.
Korea′s home minister offers to resign, raising speculation about his political ambitions
There is growing speculation that Korea′s Home Affairs minister may be planning to run in next April′s general election.
Chong Jong-sup... offered to resign today,... a move that appears to support the speculation about his political ambitions.
The former law professor said he offered to resign so as not to be a burden on state affairs.
When asked whether he is seeking a parliamentary seat, he said he would decide AFTER gathering public opinion.
Under Korea′s election law, civil servants seeking to run for public office must resign from their posts at least 90 days before an election.
In addition to the speculation about Chong,... observers believe President Park Geun-hye will carry out another partial Cabinet reshuffle... to free ministers from their posts so they can launch their own campaigns.
N. Korea to hold state funeral for military marshal Ri Ul-sol
North Korea is preparing for a state funeral this week after one of its iconic military marshals died on Saturday.
Most of the regime′s top officials are part of the committee preparing for the event with the exception of one powerful figure close to leader Kim Jong-un,... which has led to speculation about the figure′s whereabouts.
Kim Ji-yeon tells us more.
94-year-old Ri Ul-sol , an iconic North Korean politician and military official, died of lung cancer on Saturday.
He was part of an anti-Japanese guerrilla movement in the first half of the 20th centu
