South Korean general strike threat

The government in South Korea has promised to take a tough stand over a nationwide strike planned for Wednesday by a hardline trade union group.

A government spokesman called the threatened strike illegal and said stern measures would be taken against the leaders if the protest went ahead.

He said there were concerns that a strike would damage South Korea's credibility overseas.

Share prices fell sharply on fears of renewed labour unrest despite the lifting of restrictions on foreign stock ownership.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has vowed to press ahead with the strike.

It says workers are bearing the brunt of the pain from the country's economic crisis because of rapidly rising unemployment.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service