INCHEON, October 19, 2013 (AFP) - The world number two from Norway carded her second straight three-under-par 69 at the Sky72 Golf Club in Incheon, west of capital Seoul.
Pettersen is seeking her fourth win of the season, and third since September, as she tries to overtake South Korean Park In-Bee on the money list and the world rankings.
Swedish golfer Nordqvist and Australia's Hull-Kirk both have identical scores of 67 and 70 over the first two rounds of the 54-hole tournament.
On Saturday, Nordqvist had four birdies against two bogeys, while Hull-Kirk had a more eventful day with five birdies and one eagle negated by three bogeys and one double bogey.
Joining Pettersen on six-under-par were South Koreans Amy Yang and Park Ju-Young. Both shot a one-under 71 on Saturday.
Park, the younger sister of two-time US LPGA winner Park Hee-Young, is playing in her first LPGA tournament. Park Hee-Young shot 75 to drop to four-over 148, good for only a tie for 53rd.
The crowded leaderboard has four golfers at five-under 139, including the 2011 US LPGA Rookie of the Year Seo Hee-Kyung.
Park In-Bee drifted out of contention with a one-over 73, which left her tied for 22nd . She made four birdies but also had three bogeys and a double bogey.
Park, winner of the season's first three majors, had six victories by the end of June but has since gone winless.
Kim Sei-Young, currently leading the South Korean tour in money, also moved to five-under after a 68 on Saturday, picking up five birdies and making one bogey.
Pak Se-Ri also had a 68 to reach three-under for the tournament.
Leading scores after the second round of the $1.9 million LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship on Saturday (par 72, 54 holes)
137 - Katherine Hull-Kirk (AUS) 67-70, Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 67-70
138 - Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 69-69, Park Ju-Young (KOR) 67-71, Amy Yang (KOR) 67-71
139 - Kim Sei-Young (KOR) 71-68, Alison Walshe (USA) 71-68, Seo Hee-Kyung (KOR) 71-68, Kim Ha-Neul (KOR) 69-70
140 - Shin Ji-Yai (KOR) 69-71
141 - Pak Se-Ri (KOR) 73-68, Chella Choi (KOR) 73-68, Kang Hae-Ji (KOR) 72-69, Kim Hyo-Joo (KOR) 71-70