Yonhap News Summary

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

----------------
(LEAD) Court to review arrest warrant for ex-President Lee Thursday

SEOUL -- A Seoul court said it will hold a hearing Thursday to determine whether to issue an arrest warrant for former President Lee Myung-bak, who is accused of a dozen corruption charges, including bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.

The Seoul Central District Court said Tuesday it will begin the hearing at 10:30 a.m. to judge the legality of his detainment. The court is expected to deliver its decision early Friday.

----------------
(LEAD) Koreas kick off talks on S. Korean art troupe's performance in Pyongyang

SEOUL -- South and North Korea kicked off working-level talks Tuesday to discuss a South Korean art troupe's planned performance in Pyongyang in early April.

Officials from both sides started the meeting at around 10 a.m. at the Tongilgak administrative building on the northern side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that bisects the two Koreas, according to Seoul's unification ministry.

----------------
(LEAD) Gov't proposal seeks to promote human rights of all people, not just citizens

SEOUL -- The government proposal for a constitutional revision seeks to promote and enhance the basic human rights of all people in the country, instead of just Korean citizens, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday.

"Considering the level of human rights the international community expects from us and more than 2 million foreign residents in our society, there is a need to expand the subject of basic human rights to people from citizens," Cho Kuk, the top aide to President Moon Jae-in for civil affairs, said.

----------------
Samsung marks 80th anniversary of founding in low-key manner

SEOUL -- South Korea's largest conglomerate Samsung is set to celebrate its 80th anniversary this week without official events, industry watchers said Tuesday, as it seeks to avoid public attention after the release of its de facto heir Lee Jae-yong from prison.

The family-controlled group, whose major affiliates include Samsung Electronics Co. and Samsung C&T Corp., has been embroiled in a political scandal that led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

----------------
Moon urges continued efforts to make PyeongChang Olympics true success

SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged his country to continue making efforts to make the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games a success Tuesday, insisting true success lies in the changes they will bring.

"Now we must work to turn the success of PyeongChang into a chance for our society to further develop," the president said in a Cabinet meeting held at his office Cheong Wa Dae.

----------------
(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S. to begin massive military drills April 1: ministry

SEOUL -- South Korea and the United States will kick off their large-scale combined military exercises April 1 that have been delayed amid an Olympics-driven peace mood, the defense authorities here announced Tuesday.

They stressed that there will no change in the overall size and program from previous exercises, although a field training period will be halved due to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

----------------
Trump should address human rights issue with Kim: ex-U.S. envoy

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump should press North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to improve the regime's human rights record if the two meet as planned, a former U.S. envoy said Monday.

Robert King, former U.S. special envoy for North Korea human rights, made the case in an op-ed piece to the Korea Economic Institute of America as the two countries appear set for an unprecedented summit in May.

----------------
Trump-Kim summit outcome hinges on S. Korea: ex-U.S. diplomat

WASHINGTON -- South Korea will have a large role in determining the success of a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a former senior U.S. diplomat said Monday.

Kurt Campbell, who served as the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia during the Barack Obama administration, said the recent flurry of diplomacy with North Korea could set the stage for South Korea's rise.

----------------
Park In-bee cracks top 10 in women's golf rankings after LPGA win

SEOUL -- South Korean LPGA star Park In-bee has cracked the top 10 in the women's world rankings following her latest victory.

Park jumped 10 spots to reach No. 9 in the rankings released Tuesday. She won the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in Phoenix over the weekend, for her first LPGA win in 12 months.

----------------
S. Korea, U.S. agree success of dialogue with N. Korea critical to peace: official

SEOUL -- South Korea and the United States have agreed to work together closely for the success of their upcoming dialogue with North Korea that could determine the fate of the countries and the world, Seoul's top security adviser said Tuesday.

"We have agreed the U.S.-North Korea summit must succeed not only for peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula but those of the entire world," Chung Eui-yong, head of the National Security Office, said of his meeting with his U.S. counterpart, H.R. McMaster.

----------------
(LEAD) Foreign ministers of S. Korea, EU vow cooperation for peaceful denuclearization of N. Korea

SEOUL -- The top diplomats of South Korea and the member countries of the European Union (EU) have reaffirmed that they will work closely together to achieve a peaceful and negotiated solution of North Korean nuclear issues, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council's meeting on Monday in Brussels, Belgium to give a briefing on the recent diplomatic developments on the Korean Peninsula and discuss cooperation between the two sides.

----------------
Preorders open for Kia K9 flagship sedan

SEOUL -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-biggest carmaker by sales, on Tuesday began to receive preorders for its K9 flagship sedan in a move to boost its domestic sales this year.

The K9 sedan, the first fully-revamped model in six years, comes with a package of advanced safety technologies and luxurious interior with a simple, elegant design, Kia Motors said in a statement.

----------------
Boy band Wanna One apologizes over hot mic gaffe on web broadcast

SEOUL -- K-pop rookie sensation Wanna One has apologized over a hot mic gaffe during a web broadcast marking its highly anticipated return.

On Monday evening, YMC Entertainment, the group's management agency, posted an apology on Twitter over the band's inappropriate comments aired on Star Live, a celebrity broadcast service run by Mnet. The group released its second EP album, "0+1=1 (I Promise You)," the same day.
(END)