U.S. President George Bush has arrived in Seoul, South Korea on the first leg of an Asian trip that will also take him to Thailand, and China - for the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.

South Korean officials have issued their first formal response to recent moves by North Korea, labeling some of the North's recent statements "inappropriate." The exchange comes as high-level American and South Korean envoys warn time is running out in diplomacy to end North Korea's nuclear weapons programs.

New South Korean President Lee Myung-bak got straight to diplomacy on his first afternoon in office. As VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin reports, he promised the visiting U.S. Secretary of State he would improve on the outgoing administration's ties with the United States.

New South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office Monday with a promise to boost prosperity not only in his own country but in communist North Korea as well provided the communist state abandons its nuclear weapons.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy Tang Jiaxuan in Seoul Monday to discuss relations between China and South Korea and major international issues of common concern.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice leaves Washington Saturday on a mission to South Korea, China and Japan expected to be dominated by the issue of North Korea's nuclear program. Rice Friday ruled out a stop in North Korea. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

Hana Financial Group, one of the largest financial firms in South Korea, intends to buy Merrill Lynch shares worth $50 million.

Iraq has halted crude oil exports to South Korea, in protest of an exploration deal between Korean firms and the Kurdish regional government.

The owners of a Hong Kong-registered oil tanker involved in South Korea's worst oil spill say the South Korean decision to indict the ship's officers for the incident is unjust. The owners say the crew should in fact be commended. Claudia Blume reports from Hong Kong.

“South Korea's stock exchange (KRX) and the Cambodian government have agreed to set up a stock exchange in Phnom Penh in 2009, the latest signal of the optimism sweeping the fast growing but deeply impoverished country.

South korean president elect Lee Myung-bak said he would not shy away from criticising North Korea's authoritarian regime.

South Korean officials are confirming an election result that has been expected for weeks. Former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak has apparently won the presidency by about half of the popular vote. VOA's Kurt Achin reports from Seoul.