Yonhap News Summary

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.

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N. Korea calls U.S. 'champion of human rights violations'
SEOUL -- North Korea slammed a recent U.S. human rights report that criticized
serious abuses by the communist state, saying the United States is "the champion
of human rights violations."
The latest Human Rights Record published by the U.S. government last week mainly
blasted China for what it called a worsening rights situation, but it also
described North Korea as a "dictatorship" where prison conditions are harsh,
torture occurs and pregnant female prisoners undergo forced abortions.
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(LEAD) Rival parties agree to vote on S. Korea-U.S. FTA in April
SEOUL -- South Korea's ruling and opposition parties reached a tentative
agreement Wednesday to vote on the nation's bilateral free trade agreement (FTA)
with the U.S. during parliament's extraordinary session in April, party officials
said.
Leading members of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification
Committee made the agreement to vote on the FTA next month "in accordance with
parliamentary procedures" and decided to ask their respective leadership to
endorse their agreement, said the officials.
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(3rd LD) S. Korean president eyes FTA, green technology on Australia visit
SYDNEY -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak called for joint efforts with
Australia to fight the global economic crisis and what he called a growing trend
toward protectionism as he began a two-day visit to the country Wednesday.
Lee is set to hold talks Thursday with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in
Canberra, where they will announce the start of talks for a free trade agreement
(FTA).
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(LEAD) New envoy to U.S. says more time, effort needed for FTA
SEOUL -- The new South Korean envoy to the U.S. welcomed on Wednesday
Washington's reaffirmed commitment to advance the ratification of a hard-won
bilateral trade pact, but admitted that a bumpy road lies ahead.
"I think more time and effort than initially expected will be needed to get the
free trade agreement (FTA) ratified in both countries," Han Duck-soo told
reporters here. He will depart for Washington to take up his post on Monday.
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(LEAD) Seoul stocks end up 3.29 pct on investment deregulation
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed 3.29 percent higher Wednesday as investors
were buoyed by expectations of rising corporate investment and exports to China,
analysts said. The local currency climbed against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surged 33.69 points to
1,059.26. Volume was moderate at 483.8 million shares worth 4.13 trillion won
(US$2.7 billion), with gainers outperforming losers 731 to 130.
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(LEAD) S. Korean IT exports sink 23.9 pct in Feb.
SEOUL -- South Korean exports of information technology (IT) products plunged
23.9 percent on-year in February as the worldwide economic slump weakened
overseas demand, a government report showed Wednesday.
Exports of semiconductors, mobile phones and other IT products reached US$7.73
billion last month, with imports dropping 32.1 percent to $3.94 billion for a
surplus of $3.79 billion, according to the report by the Ministry of Knowledge
Economy.
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