Yonhap News Summary | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and mitigate the broad impact from the war in the Middle East. Lee addressed concerns over uncertainties in global energy supply chains following summit talks with Macron, during which the two leaders discussed ways to deepen economic ties and strengthen coordination on security issues. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260403001553315?section=national/politics President Lee Jae Myung (R) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of their talks at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 3, 2026. (Yonhap) ----------------- ■ Lee to meet with rival party leaders next week to discuss Mideast crisis SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung will meet leaders of rival parties next week to discuss ways to support an economy hit by the war in the Middle East, a senior aide said Friday. Lee is scheduled to meet with Democratic Party (DP) leader Jung Chung-rae, DP floor leader Han Byung-do, People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok and PPP floor leader Song Eon-seok on Tuesday at Cheong Wa Dae, presidential secretary for political affairs Hong Ik-pyo told reporters. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260403007100315?section=national/politics ----------------- ■ Police refer notorious 'drug kingpin' to prosecution for trafficking over 10 bln won worth of drugs UIJEONGBU, South Korea -- Police said Friday they have referred a notorious drug smuggler repatriated from the Philippines to the prosecution for allegedly trafficking over 10 billion won (US$6.6 million) worth of illegal drugs. The first ladies toured the exhibition hall of the Uigwe -- royal protocol manuscripts from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) -- which have historical ties to France, as Brigitte accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron on his state visit to South Korea. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260403008300315?section=national/politics (END) Keywords #summary Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (URGENT) BTS earns 7th No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart with 'Swim' Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (LEAD) S.

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The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
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■ (3rd LD) Lee says S. Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz
SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and mitigate the broad impact from the war in the Middle East.
Lee addressed concerns over uncertainties in global energy supply chains following summit talks with Macron, during which the two leaders discussed ways to deepen economic ties and strengthen coordination on security issues.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260403001553315?section=national/politics
President Lee Jae Myung (R) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of their talks at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 3, 2026. (Yonhap)
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■ Lee to meet with rival party leaders next week to discuss Mideast crisis
SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung will meet leaders of rival parties next week to discuss ways to support an economy hit by the war in the Middle East, a senior aide said Friday.
Lee is scheduled to meet with Democratic Party (DP) leader Jung Chung-rae, DP floor leader Han Byung-do, People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok and PPP floor leader Song Eon-seok on Tuesday at Cheong Wa Dae, presidential secretary for political affairs Hong Ik-pyo told reporters.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260403007100315?section=national/politics
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■ Police refer notorious 'drug kingpin' to prosecution for trafficking over 10 bln won worth of drugs
UIJEONGBU, South Korea -- Police said Friday they have referred a notorious drug smuggler repatriated from the Philippines to the prosecution for allegedly trafficking over 10 billion won (US$6.6 million) worth of illegal drugs.
Park Wang-yeol, who arrived in his home country under police custody last week, is accused of smuggling, distributing and selling or attempting to sell 13.1 billion won worth of drugs in South Korea.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260402004851315
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■ (LEAD) S. Korea to move up deployment of Iron Dome-like interceptor against N. Korean threats to 2029
SEOUL -- South Korea will advance the deployment of a homegrown interceptor system akin to Israel's Iron Dome by two years to 2029 in a bid to better counter North Korea's long-range artillery threats, the state arms procurement agency said Friday.
The country will seek to deploy a prototype of the Low-Altitude Missile Defense (LAMD) system designed to simultaneously intercept incoming artillery rounds by 2029, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260403004051315?section=national/defense
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■ First ladies of S. Korea, France visit National Museum of Korea
SEOUL -- First lady Kim Hea Kyung and French first lady Brigitte Macron visited the National Museum of Korea on Friday to view key exhibits with cultural ties between the two countries and exchange views on cultural cooperation.
The first ladies toured the exhibition hall of the Uigwe -- royal protocol manuscripts from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) -- which have historical ties to France, as Brigitte accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron on his state visit to South Korea.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260403008300315?section=national/politics
(END)
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- The first ladies toured the exhibition hall of the Uigwe -- royal protocol manuscripts from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) -- which have historical ties to France, as Brigitte accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron on his state visit to South Korea. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260403008300315?section=national/politics (END) Keywords #summary Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (URGENT) BTS earns 7th No. 1 song on the Billboard singles chart with 'Swim' Most Saved Oscar-winning 'KPop Demon Hunters' directors promise 'bigger,' more 'eventful' sequel Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold (LEAD) S.

### Implications
- Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and mitigate the broad impact from the war in the Middle East.
- Lee addressed concerns over uncertainties in global energy supply chains following summit talks with Macron, during which the two leaders discussed ways to deepen economic ties and strengthen coordination on security issues. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260403001553315?section=national/politics President Lee Jae Myung (R) shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of their talks at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 3, 2026. (Yonhap) ----------------- ■ Lee to meet with rival party leaders next week to discuss Mideast crisis SEOUL -- President Lee Jae Myung will meet leaders of rival parties next week to discuss ways to support an economy hit by the war in the Middle East, a senior aide said Friday.
- Park Wang-yeol, who arrived in his home country under police custody last week, is accused of smuggling, distributing and selling or attempting to sell 13.1 billion won worth of drugs in South Korea. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260402004851315 ----------------- ■ (LEAD) S.
- Korean threats to 2029 SEOUL -- South Korea will advance the deployment of a homegrown interceptor system akin to Israel's Iron Dome by two years to 2029 in a bid to better counter North Korea's long-range artillery threats, the state arms procurement agency said Friday.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers korea, lee, lead topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 745.