Yonhap News Summary

The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency
on Friday.

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(2nd LD) S. Korea reports two 'probable' cases of swine flu
SEOUL -- South Korea's health authorities on Friday reported two additional
"probable" cases of swine flu, raising concerns that a person-to-person
transmission of the highly contagious disease took place in the country.
The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said in a statement
that a female patient in her 40s is suspected of having contracting the influenza
without traveling to affected countries. She lived with another woman who was
recently reported as the country's first probable swine-flu case on Tuesday.
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(LEAD) N. Korea deepens probe of detained S. Korean worker: state media
SEOUL -- North Korea is deepening its investigation into a South Korean worker it
has detained at a joint industrial complex for over a month, its state media
reported Friday.
The report also quoted an unnamed official in the North Korean border town of
Kaesong as warning of grave "consequences" should South Korea continue to raise
allegations of human rights violations over the detention.
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S. Korea cautious about 'Plan B' in efforts to denuclearize N. Korea
SEOUL -- North Korea is unlikely to rejoin the six-way talks on its nuclear
program for the time being, but it is too early to talk about a "Plan B," South
Korean officials said Friday, countering growing skepticism about the future of
the troubled framework.
"Nobody thinks that North Korea will return to the six-way talks anytime soon,
given its recent statements and behavior," a foreign ministry official handling
the nuclear issue said. "But we and other related nations share the understanding
on the need to resume the talks. It is premature to talk about an alternative."
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U.S. reviewing N. Korea's status in terrorism list: State Dept.
WASHINGTON -- The United States said Thursday it was reviewing the status of
North Korea to decide whether to relist it as a state sponsor of terrorism.
"The State Department is in the process of reviewing the DPRK's status as what
they call a not-fully-cooperating country," said Ronald Schlicher, acting
coordinator of counterterrorism at the State Department, at a news briefing to
mark the release of the department's annual country reports on terrorism. The
list does not include North Korea, formally the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea.
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U.S. hints at bilateral talks with N. Korea due to idled 6-way talks
WASHINGTON -- The United States Thursday hinted at its willingness to engage in
bilateral nuclear negotiations with North Korea amid slim chances that the North
will return to the six-party roundtable.
"If we have to look at other options, you know, diplomatic options, we certainly
will," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said. "There is skepticism about
the North's intentions, and it doesn't appear likely that the North, at least
from the signs we have seen so far, is willing to return to the negotiating
table."
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(LEAD) S. Korea's trade surplus hits record US$6 bln in April
SEOUL -- South Korea's trade surplus reached a record US$6 billion in April
mainly due to a sharp drop in imports and favorable exchange rates, a government
report showed Friday.
The country's exports reached $30.6 billion last month, falling 19.0 percent
on-year, with imports plummeting 35.6 percent to $24.6 billion, according to the
Ministry of Knowledge Economy.
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Roh's wife willing to cooperate with prosecutors' summons: aide
SEOUL -- Kwon Yang-sook, wife of former President Roh Moo-hyun, is willing to
respond to further questioning about her family's involvement in a widening
corruption scandal, an aide said Friday.
The former president was interrogated by prosectors Thursday over whether he was
aware that his wife allegedly took money from Park Yeon-cha, a disgraced
businessman who allegedly handed out billions of won to political heavyweights
under the Roh administration.
(END