Yonhap News Summary

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

-----------------
S. Korea seeks window into Obama's foreign policy
SEOUL -- A team of senior South Korean officials and academics left for
Washington on Tuesday as part of efforts to glean incoming U.S. President Barack
Obama's foreign policy direction.
The six-member group, led by Kim Tae-hyo, President Lee Myung-bak's secretary for
national strategy, plans to meet with some of Obama's diplomatic aides and Korea
experts at Washington-based think tanks during its three-day trip.
-----------------
N. Korean leader visits power plant in New Year economic drive
SEOUL -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has visited a newly-built hydroelectric
power plant, the North's news agency said Tuesday, following a mass rally in
Pyongyang to support his New Year economic blueprint.
Kim called for greater energy production during his visit to Wonsan Youth Power
Station on North Korea's southeast side, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
said, giving no date for the visit as usual.
-----------------
N. Korean envoy in Geneva played key role in drawing Egyptian investment: source
SEOUL -- The recent launch of North Korean mobile service by Egypt's Orascom
Telecom -- the biggest foreign investor yet in the communist state -- came under
the baton of the North Korean ambassador to Switzerland, a source said Tuesday.
Ri Chol, who is also known as the manager of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's
secret funds abroad, played the middleman in Orascom's deal with Pyongyang in
December to invest US$400 million over the next three years, the source
well-versed in North Korean affairs said on condition of anonymity.
-----------------
Hyundai offers car return program in U.S.
SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, said Tuesday it is
offering a generous incentive program that allows U.S. customers who have
recently lost jobs to return their vehicles free of charge.
Under the program, U.S. buyers of Hyundai vehicles who can't make their payments
due to layoffs, personal bankruptcy or accidental health issues can return their
vehicles within a year of purchase, Hyundai said in a statement.
-----------------
Gov't to invest 50 tln won in 'green' projects
SEOUL -- The government will invest 50 trillion won (US$37.87 billion) in
"eco-friendly" development projects over the next four years to create jobs and
bolster the slumping economy, the finance ministry said Tuesday.
The investment plan, which was endorsed at an earlier cabinet meeting, comes as
the government is stepping up efforts to generate more jobs and kick-start the
economy, which is slowing at a faster-than-expected pace.
-----------------
Opposition ends parliament occupation ahead of talks
SEOUL -- South Korea's main opposition party on Tuesday ended its sit-in of the
National Assembly amid imminent talks to resolve a standoff over hotly contested
bills, including a trade deal with the U.S. and deregulation of the media
industry.
"We will normalize the National Assembly to swiftly process bills aimed at public
welfare," Democratic Party Chairman Chung Se-kyun said while party lawmakers and
staffers filed out of the assembly's plenary session hall.
(END)