Today's headlines_Dec 7

- A North Korean diplomat is reported to have said the US should withdraw its nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula if it wanted North Korea to give up its nukes, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.

- Bank of Korea kept its call rate on hold at 4.5 per cent in its four-consecutive month of freeze since September, rejecting expectation of rate increase in order to stabilize rising house prices and suggesting the bank has taken into consideration an unclear economic outlook for next year and a rising won against dollar.

- The Prosecution wrapped up its probe into the 2003 sale of KEB to Lone Star and concluded the deal was illegal. It said this morning to set up a special investigation team within the prosecution to resolve remaining issues.

- Japanese NHK reported that former Japanese PM Koizumi was considering visiting North Korea as Shinzo Abe’s special envoy to persuade it from abandoning its nuclear program.

- It is reported that Kim Geun-tae of Uri party will step down as party leader next week as he has difficulties in controlling the party amid mounting criticism from pro-Roh factions.

- 57.6 per cent of female CEOs from 250 middle-sized companies said they have experience of feeling difficulties managing the company just because they are women, a research done by Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Korean Women Entrepreneur Association shows.