South Korea's central bank held interest rates steady on Thursday and maintained an accommodative monetary stance, as policymakers were cautious about high household debt and warned of "significant" economic uncertainty from U.

The country’s new president, in office for a little over a month, had just dispatched his senior deputies to Washington to try to work out a trade deal.

South Korea has proposed a comprehensive package encompassing economic and security aspects in its tariff negotiations with the United States. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac suggested a presidential summit to further discussions.

South Korea on Wednesday repatriated six North Koreans across the maritime border in the East Sea, months after they drifted into southern waters and were rescued.

The fishermen’s boats had drifted into South Korean waters, officials said. The South’s new president has been trying to improve ties with North Korea.

South Korea returned on Wednesday six North Koreans who had become stranded at sea earlier this year after their vessels had drifted south, Seoul's Unification Ministry said on Wednesday.