PRESS DIGEST - South Korean newspapers - Mar 27

SEOUL, March 27 (Reuters) - The following is a summary of major South Korean newspapers on Thursday, prepared by Reuters in Seoul. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not guarantee their accuracy.

CHOSUN ILBO

Military force should be kept on the table as an option in order for nuclear diplomacy to work, U.S. President George W. Bush said in a meeting in the United States with a group of Republican supporters.

JOONGANG ILBO

Candidates for the upcoming general elections have launched official campaigning with roughly two weeks left until election day.

MAEIL BUSINESS NEWSPAPER

Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) (015760.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is expected to sign a contract with the Azerbaijan government next month for the construction of a thermal power plant worth $1.2 billion, according to sources in the industry.

Steelmakers such as Hyundai Hysco (010520.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Dongbu Steel (016380.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) will raise the prices of cold-rolled steel by 13 percent next month, the companies announced.