SOUTH KOREA

Government to Take Steps to Help Economy: The government has announced special measures to address the nation’s growing economic difficulties. At a meeting of economic ministers last week, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Gak-Kyu said the government will use “all possible measures” to stabilize the economy, which has been marred by rising prices and a growing current-account deficit. By tightening money supply and slowing economic growth, South Korea hopes to achieve “economic stability,” said Choi, who also serves as the country’s economic planning minister. Steps that the government is considering include actions to expand savings and boost exports, while maintaining the current tight monetary policy.