In a bid to streamline its money-losing television business, the Japanese technology giant is turning over production capacity to its South Korean partner, Samsung.

The Korean partner, Kia Motors, has gone bankrupt, an early victim of the Asian financial crisis.

Somehow, Mr. Mataga persuaded his Korean partners, who were growing increasingly concerned, to go ahead with the deal.

"We have a joint working group with our Korean partners to study ways to move this out of the central city," said the American ambassador, Thomas C. Hubbard.

"The Korean partners complain the Americans are going to take valuable assets at far below equity."

It also agreed to transfer technology to its South Korean partners - a promise that some fear might harm G.E. later.

We're talking to our South Korean partners as well as to the Chinese, the Japanese, the Russians and others.

The airline is a joint venture between Thai businesswoman Manika Sawadipan and her Korean partners.

Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, indicated that Moscow would remain an important North Korean partner.

So far, the foreign acquisitions have tended to involve industrial companies buying out Korean partners in ventures.