Yonhap News Summary

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

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(3rd LD) Trump backs S. Korea's food aid for N. Korea: Cheong Wa Dae

SEOUL/WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support Tuesday for South Korea's possible humanitarian food assistance for North Korea in phone talks with President Moon Jae-in, Cheong Wa Dae said.

During the 35-minute conversation, Moon briefed Trump on his government's position on North Korea's launch of "short-range projectiles," including a tactical guided weapon, over the weekend.

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S. Korea to review size, format of N. Korea food assistance: Cheong Wa Dae

SEOUL -- South Korea's Moon Jae-in administration will soon begin official procedures associated with its plan for food aid to North Korea, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Wednesday.

The official, however, said it's still too early to talk in detail about the issue, as the government has yet to review the size, format and other specifics.

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(News Focus) With signature economic policies lagging expectations, Moon sets sights on investment

SEOUL -- Sluggish outbound shipments and the drawn-out global trade war between the U.S. and China could not have come at a worse time for President Moon Jae-in, whose key economic policies at home have not yet delivered the desired results.

His signature income-led growth strategy, among other policy moves, has lagged expectations and failed to avoid negative impacts on employment growth, particularly for the self-employed business sector.

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(News Focus) Moon's peace drive at a crossroads, no hype for his inauguration anniversary

SEOUL -- This week, President Moon Jae-in is marking his second anniversary in office apparently without fanfare.

His flagship initiative, the Korea peace process, has hit a snag, as the Hanoi summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in late February broke down unexpectedly.

Data shows that South Korea's economic woes are deepening, with political rifts over his reform measures intensifying.

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(LEAD) S. Korea's current account surplus narrows in March

SEOUL -- South Korea's monthly current account surplus narrowed in March from a year earlier amid slowing exports, central bank data showed Wednesday.

The country's current account surplus came to US$4.8 billion in March, down from $5.1 billion a year earlier, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). But the surplus widened from the previous month's $3.6 billion.

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New BTS album on Billboard 200 for 3rd week

SEOUL -- K-pop boy band BTS came in seventh on the Billboard 200 main albums chart for "Map of the Soul: Persona," staying in the top 10 for the third week in a row, chart data showed Wednesday.

The album debuted atop the album chart for the week ending April 27, before coming down to the third spot the following week.

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Foreign ownership of Samsung renews record in 18 years

SEOUL -- Foreign ownership of Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea's top market cap, has reached a new high in 18 years amid budding optimism about a recovery in the global chip business.

Foreign investors owned 57.33 percent of the world's No. 1 memory chip and smartphone maker as of Tuesday, exceeding the previous record of 57.3 percent as of end-March 2001, according to market data.

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Deputy nuke envoys of S. Korea, Russia agree on need to continue dialogue with N.K.

SEOUL -- The deputy nuclear envoys of South Korea and Russia have shared the view on the need to keep the momentum for dialogue with North Korea going, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday, despite tensions caused by Pyongyang's recent launch of short-range projectiles.

Jeong Yeon-doo, the ministry's director-general of the North Korean Nuclear Affairs Bureau, held talks with his Russian counterpart

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PM Lee proposes Ecuador send biz delegation to S. Korea for investment

QUITO -- Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Tuesday expressed hope that Ecuador could send a business delegation to South Korea to help Seoul better understand the South American country's move to attract foreign investment.

Lee made the proposal during his talks with Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno during his official visit to the country.

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(2nd LD) Finance minister calls for swift passage of extra budget

SEOUL -- South Korea's chief economic policymaker on Wednesday called on the National Assembly to swiftly pass the 6.7 trillion-won (US$5.8 billion) extra budget bill, as Asia's fourth-largest economy is facing downside risks.

"The timing and speed are crucial factors of the extra budget," Hong Nam-ki, the minister of economy and finance, said during a meeting on the revitalization of the national economy.

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(Yonhap Feature) KBO players, coaches trying to come to grips with new ball

SEOUL -- In a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season game against the KT Wiz on April 12 at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Samsung Lions' All-Star outfielder Koo Ja-wook launched a deep fly ball to straightaway center.

As Koo ran out of the batter's box, the ball seemed to be on its way over the wall, 122.5 meters away from the plate. And about halfway to second base, Koo raised his right arm in celebration of what he thought was a home run.
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