Yonhap News Summary

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

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(News Focus) Ex-first lady Lee remembered as political buttress for husband, pioneer for women's rights

SEOUL -- The late former first lady Lee Hee-ho was a lifelong political companion of her late husband Kim Dae-jung, the architect of the "sunshine policy" of engaging North Korea, and a pioneer for women's rights.

Lee died at the age of 96 on Monday after battling liver cancer, according to her aides.

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Seoul likely to wire promised money this week to U.N. agencies for N.K. projects: official

SEOUL -- South Korea is expected to send a pledged donation of US$8 million to U.N. agencies this week to support their efforts to provide assistance to North Korean women and children in need, a unification ministry official said Tuesday.

Last week, the Seoul government endorsed the donation plan for the World Food Programme (WFP) and the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) for their projects to support the nutrition of children and pregnant women in North Korea, and address their health problems.

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Hungary to lift sunken tour boat

BUDAPEST/SEOUL -- Hungarian authorities will start salvaging a sunken tour boat from the Danube River early Tuesday (Budapest time), officials said, nearly two weeks after its deadly sinking left 26 South Koreans dead or missing.

Operations to lift the Hableany from waters beneath the Margit bridge in central Budapest will begin at around 6:30 a.m. local time (1:30 p.m. Korean time), the South Korean quick response team dispatched to the site told reporters.

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Samsung Electronics president grilled about accounting scandal at biotech affiliates

SEOUL -- Chung Hyun-ho, president of Samsung Electronics, was questioned by prosecutors on Tuesday about his suspected involvement in alleged accounting fraud at the company's biotech affiliates.

The 59-year-old Chung, known as one of the closest aides to Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, arrived at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office around 8:50 a.m. in compliance with a summons from the prosecution.

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N. Korea to hold elections to choose deputies for local assemblies

SEOUL -- North Korea will hold elections next month to choose new deputies for local assemblies of provinces, cities and counties across the country, Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday.

The elections will be held July 21, the Korean Central News Agency reported.

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N. Korea's May missile tests appear aimed at advancing solid fuel and guidance systems: CRS report

SEOUL -- North Korea's missile tests in May appear to be aimed at advancing solid fuel and guidance systems for its short-range ballistic missiles, according to a U.S. congressional report.

On May 4, North Korea test-fired a new type of tactical guided weapon, along with a barrage of projectiles, and launched two short-range missiles five days later. The North claimed they are part of its ordinary military drills to "inspect the ability of rapid reaction" of its defense units.

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(2nd LD) Exports down 16.6 pct in first 10 days of June

SEJONG -- South Korea's exports sharply fell 16.6 percent in the first 10 days of June mainly due to decreased shipments of semiconductors, one of the country's key items, customs data showed Tuesday.

The country's exports stood at US$10.3 billion in the June 1-10 period, compared with $12.3 billion in the same period last year, according to the Korea Customs Service.
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