Yonhap News Summary

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

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U.S. welcomes N. Korea's proposals for inter-Korean business ties resumption
WASHINGTON -- The United States Monday welcomed North Korea's decision to allow
resumption of inter-Korean tour projects and reunions of families separated since
the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
In a daily news briefing, Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public
affairs, however, said Washington will continue sanctioning North Korea until
Pyongyang takes irreversible steps toward its denuclearization.
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N. Korean leader inspects thermal plant, coal mine
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has inspected a thermal power plant and
a coal mine and demanded efficient management of the facilities to maintain a
stable supply of the country's electricity, the North's media reported Tuesday.
Kim gave "field guidance" to the Pukchang Thermal Power Complex and the Feb. 8
Jikdong Youth Coal Mine, both in South Pyongan Province, the North's Korea
Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The report gave no date for the visits as usual.
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Seoul may propose talks to N. Korea this week on family reunions
SEOUL -- Seoul is considering proposing talks to Pyongyang this week to follow up
on pledge by Pyongyang to resume inter-Korean family reunions in October,
according to an informed source Tuesday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and South's Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun
Jeong-eun on Sunday agreed on a series of steps which, if officially endorsed by
Seoul, will resuscitate stalled tourism projects and restart the reunion of
families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War. The Hyundai Group is the main
North Korean counterpart in cross-border business ventures.
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Ruling party chief vows to quit ahead of October by-elections
SEOUL -- Park Hee-tae, chairman of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP), said
Tuesday that he will step down from the party's top post before running in
by-elections slated for October.
Park, a former five-term lawmaker who currently does not hold a parliamentary
seat, recently notified President Lee Myung-bak of his intention to run in the
upcoming by-election in the Yangsan district of South Gyeongsang Province.
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Parliamentary leader thanks U.S. Congress for Korean War veterans act
SEOUL -- South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o expressed his
gratitude Tuesday to a visiting U.S. congressional delegation for introducing the
Korean War Veterans Recognition Act.
Rep. Howard Berman, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, is on a
three-day trip here from Monday, leading a seven-member delegation, including Eni
Faleomavaega, chairman of the subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global
Environment, and Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA), who co-sponsored the act.
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Kia Motors readies Venga subcompact for Europe
SEOUL -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest carmaker, said Tuesday it
will unveil the Venga subcompact car next month as it battles to boost sales in
the European market.
The new four-door, four-seat model, which will make its debut at the Frankfurt
Motor Show starting Sept. 15, features either a 1.4-liter or a 1.6-liter engine
as well as fuel-efficient technologies, Kia said in a statement.
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S. Korea gains valuable rocket building experience with KSLV-1
NARO SPACE CENTER -- South Korea has gained valuable experience with the building
of the Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1) rocket which can fuel the future
development of its budding aerospace industry, a state-run institute said
Tuesday.
Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said that the rocket scheduled to be
launched on Wednesday has effectively allowed Seoul to understand how rockets are
designed, built and tested.
(END)