News

On-point: Is there any room for tariff negotiations between Trump and Xi Jinping?

2025/02/05 10:00

And this tit-for-tat tariff cycle between the U.S. and China feels like déjà vu considering what we witnessed 6, 7 years ago. Is there any room for negotiations so that the trade war doesn't become a repeat of the past? For more, we turn to Professor Yang Hee-dong. Welcome back. 1. Agricultural machinery, pick-up trucks, also some large cars Why is China targeting and hitting back with these select items? 2. China's tariffs on the U.S. are due to begin next Monday, the 10th. Why wait until the 10th? Is this some sort of a strategic move? To make negotiations for the next 5-6 days? 3. Then what kind of deals do you think Trump and Xi will try to make if they talk on the phone? What kind of deals will satisfy both of them? 4. How long would you say it'll take to see if the tariffs take a toll on South Korea and its economy? Why that long? Or that soon? 5. Then during this time, what is there for us to do? Is this where large conglomerates step in and make deals with the U.S.? Or what should and can the South Korean government do during this time? Thanks so much for your insight and your time this morning. We appreciate it.

S. Korea's consumer prices up 2.2% y/y in Jan., marking three months of rising inflation

2025/02/05 10:00

Inflation in South Korea rose back into the two percent range for the first time in five months, spurred by rising oil prices. Data from Statistics Korea on Wednesday showed that the country's consumer price index rose two-point-two percent in January compared to the same month the year before. January marks the third month in which consumer prices have seen a year-on-year rise after inflation dropped to one-point-three percent last October. Notably, prices of petroleum products jumped by more than seven percent – marking the highest rise since July last year.

Trump and Xi talks delayed as tariff war looms

2025/02/05 10:00

As Washington moves forward with sweeping duties on Chinese imports, Beijing is responding with targeted measures of its own, though possible talks between the leaders of the two sides have not been completely ruled out. Our Moon Hye-ryeon reports. U.S. President Donald Trump says he's in no rush to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping as tensions rise between the world's two largest economies. This comes as the U.S. imposed an additional ten percent tariff on all Chinese imports starting Tuesday – prompting a measured response from Beijing in the form of tariffs on American goods such as coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as possible sanctions on major U.S. companies. When asked about the tit-for-tat levies, Trump remained unfazed and reportedly said, "That's fine." A White House official said that no call between the two leaders has been scheduled as of Tuesday. Beijing's tariffs are due to take effect starting next week, leaving room for negotiations. However, Trump has hinted that even higher tariffs could be on the table unless China addresses the supply of chemicals used to make the powerful opioid fentanyl to countries including Mexico, which is then smuggled into the U.S. Trump also suggested that the European Union could be next, prompting Brussels to keep a close watch on this latest round of trade measures. The head of the EU's executive European Commission spoke out and said it is prepared to protect its own interest if the U.S. shifts its attention to the EU. "We will be ready for tough negotiations where needed and to find solutions where possible, to work out any grievances and to set the foundations for a stronger partnership. We will be open and pragmatic in how to achieve that but we will make it equally clear that we will always protect our own interests however and whenever that is needed." She said it is simply "smart business" for the U.S. and the EU to strike the right balance between safeguarding security and working on where their mutual interests converge in trade and investment. Mexico was also part of Trump's lineup for steep tariffs, but a deal to send 10 thousand members of the country's National Guard to curb fentanyl trafficking at the border pushed back the levies for a month. On Tuesday, it was reported that Mexico began moving its troops to its northern border as part of its deal, with photos and videos circulating on social media showing reinforcements arriving in regions where some cities are frequently affected by drug cartel violence. The Mexican President said that the troops would also assist in maintaining overall security at the border. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Lawmakers plan prison hearings for Yoon and Kim, though both are likely to be absent

2025/02/05 10:00

Today, the National Assembly's special committee investigating the insurrection allegations against President Yoon will attempt to hold prison hearings. However, it seems that both the President and former Defense Minister are likely to skip these sessions. For more, we have our Kim Jung-sil on the line. Good morning Jungsil, fill us in here. Certainly, Dami. The special committee, composed of lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, is currently conducting a field investigation at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center to question former Minister Kim Yong-hyun. We are receiving live footage, and it appears the ruling party seats are empty, as they had indicated a likely boycott over the selection of President Yoon as a witness. As a result, the field investigation is proceeding with only opposition lawmakers. Later today, at 2 PM, the committee is scheduled to move to Seoul Detention Center to question President Yoon. However, with both Yoon and Kim having already expressed their intention to skip the questioning, it remains uncertain whether any substantial testimonies will be gathered today. I see, now what about President Yoon's recent request to cancel his detention? What are his reasonings behind this move and what's expected next? Yes, that's correct. President Yoon's legal team has filed a request with the court for the cancellation of his detention, arguing that the legal grounds for his arrest have either expired or no longer apply. They claim that the detention period, based on the arrest warrant, expired at midnight on January 25th, making the detention on January 26th unlawful. However, according to reports, the prosecution considers the detention period to expire on the 27th. The court is expected to decide on the request by the end of this week, specifically by February 7th. President Yoon's defense team also contends that the charges, particularly regarding the declaration of martial law, should not be classified as insurrection. Under South Korean criminal procedure law, the court must cancel the detention if the grounds for the arrest no longer exist or have expired. Critics, particularly from the opposition party, say the defense's actions seem to be yet another attempt to exploit legal loopholes. That's all from me this morning, back to you Dami. Thank you Jung-sil, for that report.

Global tensions and prospects for peace: U.S.-Russia dialogue on Ukraine War

2025/02/04 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring you today's most pressing issues from across the globe, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As the war in Gaza entered a ceasefire, the world is keeping close tabs on how the three-year-old war between Russia and Ukraine will unfold, especially with new leadership in the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that his administration has already had very serious discussions with Russian officials about the war and that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin could soon take significant action toward ending the conflict. Putin echoed Trump's assertions that the crisis could have been avoided if he remained in office, indicating his willingness to engage in dialogue. NATO's ongoing support for Ukraine and talks of potential peace negotiations are also ongoing as the world struggles to find a path to end the war. For more on this, we invite Ban Kil-joo, Assistant Professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Welcome, Professor. Also joining us is Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Thank you for joining us. (DAVIS) 1. So let's start with Dr. Davis, Trump has suggested that the U.S. is engaging in "very serious" discussions with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict. What are the possible implications of such talks, and how could they impact future diplomatic efforts in the region? (BAN) 2. Now to Professor Ban. How do you assess the potential benefits and risks of direct U.S.-Russia negotiations in this context? (DAVIS) 3. So the war in Ukraine is ongoing for the third year, at this point Dr. Davis, what role can the U.S. realistically play in ending the conflict, and how might this role evolve under the Trump administration? (BAN) 4. Putin has echoed Trump's claim that the conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided if Trump had remained in office. Professor Ban, Do you agree with this assessment? What could have been different in U.S.-Russia relations during Trump's first term that may have prevented the current crisis? (BAN) 5. NATO Chief Mark Rutte mentioned having "ideas" for potential peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia but kept them a secret. However, he says it will be effective in preventing Putin from trying to conquer Ukraine again. Professor, How realistic is this goal, and what steps should NATO and the West take to ensure this happens? (DAVIS) 6. According to Rutte, NATO's primary focus should be supporting Ukraine with weapons and training. Dr. Davis, How effective do you think this approach has been so far in helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia's military advances? (BAN) 7. Meanwhile, as for North Korean involvement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently warned that North Korea could send an additional 20,000 to 25,000 troops to Russia. How do you see the changes and how significant is this development Professor Ban? (DAVIS) 8. Dr. Davis, How do you view Russia's increasing ties with North Korea? With North Korea's recent military support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, what impact could this have on Russia's military capabilities and its position on the global stage? (BAN) 9. With the reported losses of North Korean troops in Russia and the fact that they are gaining modern warfare experience, how might this influence the future military capabilities of North Korea Professor Ban, especially if they return to their home country? (DAVIS) 10. Russia's increasing collaboration with the likes of Iran and North Korea has raised concerns about a new "axis" forming. Dr. Davis, How do you assess the strategic significance of this alliance for Russia? What does it mean for global security?

STOCK

2025/02/04 20:00

2025. 2. 4. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,481.69 ▲27.74 +1.13% KOSDAQ : 719.92 ▲16.12 +2.29% KOSPI200 : 328.72 ▲4.17 +1.28% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 38,798.37 ▲278.28 +0.72% HANG SENG : 20,789.96 ▲572.70 +2.83% SHANGHAI : CLOSED WALL STREET (February 3) DOW JONES : 44,421.91 ▼122.75 -0.28% NASDAQ : 19,391.96 ▼235.49 -1.20% S&P500 : 5,994.57 ▼45.96 -0.76% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,462.90 (-4.30) JPY : 941.56 (-2.71) CNY : 199.89 (0.00) EUR : 1,505.98 (+2.61)

Live: President Yoon denies major martial law allegations at impeachment trial, claiming 'nothing really happened'

2025/02/04 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start today at the Constitutional Court where the fifth hearing of the impeachment trial against President Yoon Suk Yeol began this afternoon. For more, our correspondent Oh Soo-young is standing by live. Soo-young , today's hearing's still ongoing and it includes a line-up of key witnesses and eyes are on what they said. Yes, the fifth hearing of President Yoon's trial began at 2 PM today with the President in attendance, and three testimonies of 90 minutes each. Now, the three witnesses today included key figures involved in executing the December 3rd Martial Law. Based on their previous statements, the focus of the questions today is on whether they were ordered to: break into the National Assembly, prevent a parliamentary vote to revoke martial law, and arrest key political figures. First up was Lee Jin-woo, former commander of the Capital Defense Command, who is currently under arrest. Lee has reportedly said he'd receive phone calls from Yoon to enter the National Assembly by force, firing weapons if necessary, and drag out legislators to stop them from overturning martial law. However, when he showed up at the Court today, he denied he'd been ordered by Yoon to arrest lawmakers. He also said he was not ordered by former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun to enter the Assembly building and prevent a vote to lift martial law. Lee refused to confirm or answer most questions posed by the National Assembly about whether he had received calls or orders from President Yoon, despite records showing he stated Yoon called him three times. Former Chief of the Defence Counterintelligence Command Yeo In-hyung also testified while under arrest. He reportedly received orders to "arrest and detain key figures, including opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and former ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon." But he also avoided answering key questions, citing his ongoing legal case. The questioning of former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won also began. He reiterated what he'd previously stated at the National Assembly, that he'd been ordered to "clear up completely" but wasn't sure who or what the target was. Q2. So it seems the questioning session had some twists and turns, with President Yoon commenting as well. That's right. There were clearly some discrepancies in the testimonies compared to investigation records, showing the need for the justices to verify whether the President directly issued orders on the night of the martial law. As for the President, he spent most of the trial with his eyes closed. The Court banned him from questioning witnesses today, so he was unable to address his former officials himself as he did with the former Defence Minister. But when given the chance to speak, Yoon showed cynicism with the questioning, emphasizing that "nothing had happened," and that discussing whether instructions were given or received seemed pointless. He once again cast doubt over allegations that he'd ordered lawmakers to be dragged out of the National Assembly, and for political figures to be detained. He said he'd ordered troops to be pulled out, and that soldiers deployed that evening must have misinterpreted directions from him and the Defence Minister. But,.. he also said he'd told the former Defense Minister to send troops to the National Election Commission, once again, raising suspicions of election fraud, as a pretext for declaring martial law. During his previous hearings, the President has denied the major allegations that he'd ordered martial law decrees to be executed. It may be tough to tell but when can we expect an actual verdict? Well, for now, there are three more hearings scheduled until next Thursday, but it's unclear whether the Constitutional Court will be able to wrap up the case by then, or choose to hear from more witnesses, which would inevitably prolong the trial. The conflicting testimonies may require more witnesses for cross-checking and verification of whether Yoon directly issued martial law orders, whether the decrees were unconstitutional, and whether he had pre-planned the martial law. Yoon's team has applied for at least 31 witnesses, and the Court is still reviewing the candidates. Also, as Yoon's representatives continue to challenge the Court's proceedings, experts say the trial could be lengthened. However, most believe the ruling will be made before two justices retire from the bench on April 18th, to avoid further procedural delays and complications. All right Soo-young thank you for that coverage. That was our Oh Soo-young with the latest on the president's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court.

What does Kim Jong-un have in mind with Trump planning to reach out to him

2025/02/04 20:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has recently shown his intention to engage in talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but this gesture looks to be met by Kim maintaining a hard-line approach. Today, we take a closer look at another possible dialogue between these two men. Our correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung joins us in the studio. Bo-kyoung, North Korea's first response towards the Trump administration was not that friendly. Tell us more about that. And what is Pyongyang thinking? As you have already said, North Korea recently released its first official criticism of the Trump administration, condemning Secretary Rubio for calling Pyongyang a "rogue state" during an interview with a journalist. Regarding this, the regime's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that Rubio's remarks reaffirm how Washington's hostile policy toward the North remains unchanged, and that the regime will not tolerate any provocation by the U.S. This comes after Trump said late last month that he planned to engage with Kim. “He happens to be a smart guy. Kim Jong Un is a smart guy.” This raised the prospects of a potential dialogue between Trump and Kim. Instead of responding to this, however, Pyongyang is sending a message to Washington via its foreign ministry, which said that if there was no change in words or actions from the U.S. regarding its "hostile policy" then the North would continue its hard-line approach, and also with Kim visiting a nuclear material production base. One expert says Pyongyang wants preconditions to be met for a dialogue to resume. "Pyongyang is demanding the U.S. to respect its sovereignty, not to interfere in its internal affairs, and to suspend South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises." If Pyongyang and Washington do engage in potential dialogue, what are the chances of Trump going for the so-called "small deal?" To answer that question, we would have to first talk about what exactly the "small deal" is. A "small deal" can be seen as an initial or intermediate step to achieve the ultimate goal of complete denuclearization. For now, however, a "big deal" is unfeasible at the moment, with even officials and experts being pessimistic about it. And thus the small deal is deemed a more pragmatic approach, primarily focusing on reducing the nuclear and missile threat North Korea poses to the U.S. such as with a nuclear freeze and halt to weapons tests particularly ICBMs. Trump would want to see some achievement within his term, so he will likely go for this first. And experts say even such a "small deal" would be a big achievement. "If the small deal goes well and mutual trust is built, it can serve as a foundation for the next step, ultimately leading to complete denuclearization. However, the current level of distrust between North Korea and the U.S. is so deep that even achieving a small deal would be considered a significant success." One thing we need to note is that while the U.S. aims to manage North Korea’s nuclear threats through a disarmament deal instead of complete denuclearization, there is the possibility the U.S. might suspend joint military exercises with South Korea. "In the past, a moratorium was implemented with Pyongyang agreeing to suspend nuclear tests and ICBM launches, while Washington scaled down South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and stopped the deployment of strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula. Trump could consider such similar measures again." When Kim and Trump do start such negotiations, some express concerns that South Korea could be left out. What do you think? Right, given that North Korean leader Kim is sending messages to Trump hinting at preconditions for the talks to start again, it seems clear that direct dialogue between those two is soon approaching. Considering the political turmoil South Korea is dealing with, we cannot say Seoul's preparations for a potential Kim-Trump summit are enough. Experts say however, the U.S. would not be able to just leave out its ally's say regarding the issue. "There will be sufficient discussions between Seoul and Washington over the agenda, location and timing of the talks before Washington starts contacting Pyongyang. Also, the U.S. will try to persuade North Korea to engage in inter-Korean dialogue, either before the North Korea-U.S. talks or concurrently with them." Alright, thank you Bo-kyoung for the explanation. We appreciate it. My pleasure. <div></div>

[Weather] Cold spell across the country, heavy snow on the west coast

2025/02/04 20:00

There is a strong cold spell all over the country. Cold wave warnings and advisories are in effect in most parts of the country with freezing conditions. The coldest place this morning was Mountain Seorak, where temperatures plummeted to nearly minus 23 degrees Celsius. This cold spell will be seen tomorrow as well. As the heavy snow warnings continue to expand, snow will become thicker on the west cost of Chungcheongnam-do Province. Heavy snow of as much as 40 centimeters will fall in the mountainous areas of Jeju Island, and more than 30 centimeters in Jeollabuk-do Province by Thursday. Tomorrow morning, Seoul will be as cold as today, dropping to minus 12 degrees, Daegu and Gyeongju at minus 9 degrees. Seoul will move up to minus 5 degrees, and Gwangju will move up to minus 1 degree. This cold spell will continue throughout the week. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

STOCK

2025/02/04 20:00

2025. 2. 4. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 2,481.69 ▲27.74 +1.13% KOSDAQ : 719.92 ▲16.12 +2.29% KOSPI200 : 328.72 ▲4.17 +1.28% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 38,798.37 ▲278.28 +0.72% HANG SENG : 20,789.96 ▲572.70 +2.83% SHANGHAI : CLOSED WALL STREET (February 3) DOW JONES : 44,421.91 ▼122.75 -0.28% NASDAQ : 19,391.96 ▼235.49 -1.20% S&P500 : 5,994.57 ▼45.96 -0.76% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,462.90 (-4.30) JPY : 941.56 (-2.71) CNY : 199.89 (0.00) EUR : 1,505.98 (+2.61)

Live: President Yoon denies major martial law allegations at impeachment trial, claiming 'nothing really happened'

2025/02/04 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start today at the Constitutional Court where the fifth hearing of the impeachment trial against President Yoon Suk Yeol began this afternoon. For more, our correspondent Oh Soo-young is standing by live. Soo-young , today's hearing's still ongoing and it includes a line-up of key witnesses and eyes are on what they said. Yes, the fifth hearing of President Yoon's trial began at 2 PM today with the President in attendance, and three testimonies of 90 minutes each. Now, the three witnesses today included key figures involved in executing the December 3rd Martial Law. Based on their previous statements, the focus of the questions today is on whether they were ordered to: break into the National Assembly, prevent a parliamentary vote to revoke martial law, and arrest key political figures. First up was Lee Jin-woo, former commander of the Capital Defense Command, who is currently under arrest. Lee has reportedly said he'd receive phone calls from Yoon to enter the National Assembly by force, firing weapons if necessary, and drag out legislators to stop them from overturning martial law. However, when he showed up at the Court today, he denied he'd been ordered by Yoon to arrest lawmakers. He also said he was not ordered by former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun to enter the Assembly building and prevent a vote to lift martial law. Lee refused to confirm or answer most questions posed by the National Assembly about whether he had received calls or orders from President Yoon, despite records showing he stated Yoon called him three times. Former Chief of the Defence Counterintelligence Command Yeo In-hyung also testified while under arrest. He reportedly received orders to "arrest and detain key figures, including opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and former ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon." But he also avoided answering key questions, citing his ongoing legal case. The questioning of former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won also began. He reiterated what he'd previously stated at the National Assembly, that he'd been ordered to "clear up completely" but wasn't sure who or what the target was. Q2. So it seems the questioning session had some twists and turns, with President Yoon commenting as well. That's right. There were clearly some discrepancies in the testimonies compared to investigation records, showing the need for the justices to verify whether the President directly issued orders on the night of the martial law. As for the President, he spent most of the trial with his eyes closed. The Court banned him from questioning witnesses today, so he was unable to address his former officials himself as he did with the former Defence Minister. But when given the chance to speak, Yoon showed cynicism with the questioning, emphasizing that "nothing had happened," and that discussing whether instructions were given or received seemed pointless. He once again cast doubt over allegations that he'd ordered lawmakers to be dragged out of the National Assembly, and for political figures to be detained. He said he'd ordered troops to be pulled out, and that soldiers deployed that evening must have misinterpreted directions from him and the Defence Minister. But,.. he also said he'd told the former Defense Minister to send troops to the National Election Commission, once again, raising suspicions of election fraud, as a pretext for declaring martial law. During his previous hearings, the President has denied the major allegations that he'd ordered martial law decrees to be executed. It may be tough to tell but when can we expect an actual verdict? Well, for now, there are three more hearings scheduled until next Thursday, but it's unclear whether the Constitutional Court will be able to wrap up the case by then, or choose to hear from more witnesses, which would inevitably prolong the trial. The conflicting testimonies may require more witnesses for cross-checking and verification of whether Yoon directly issued martial law orders, whether the decrees were unconstitutional, and whether he had pre-planned the martial law. Yoon's team has applied for at least 31 witnesses, and the Court is still reviewing the candidates. Also, as Yoon's representatives continue to challenge the Court's proceedings, experts say the trial could be lengthened. However, most believe the ruling will be made before two justices retire from the bench on April 18th, to avoid further procedural delays and complications. All right Soo-young thank you for that coverage. That was our Oh Soo-young with the latest on the president's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court.

Reigning for 30 years, The Last Empress returns to stage

2025/02/04 20:00

On the cultural front. There's exciting news, especially for musical lovers. One of Korea's longest-running and most beloved homegrown musicals is back on stage in downtown Seoul. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin, gives us a closer look. "I am the queen of Joseon!" It's one of the most iconic lines in Korean musical history, bringing the final moment of Queen Min to life on stage. "The Last Empress" tells the story of Queen Min, also known as Empress Myeongseong, the wife of Gojong, the 26th king of the Joseon Dynasty and the first emperor of the short-lived Korean Empire. She was assassinated in 1895 by Japanese forces, who saw her as a threat to their growing influence in Korea. This homegrown musical premiered in 1995, exactly a century after her death. "When I was creating this production, I was searching for a story that could teach history while also being moving and entertaining. Later, when we took the production abroad, people were amazed that we had transformed such a painful chapter of our history into art." Over the past 30 years, "The Last Empress" has earned its reputation as a "living legend," of Korean musicals. It was the first Asian musical to be staged on Broadway and the West End. Even in its 22nd season now, the production continues to evolve. "The show was mostly sung-through, but we've gradually incorporated more spoken dialogue to enhance storytelling. We've also revived key musical numbers and restructured some scenes to make historical events and information clearer for audiences." This season boasts its most star-studded lineup to date. Renowned musical actresses Kim So-hyun, Shin Young-sook, and Cha Ji-yeon take turns portraying Queen Min. The cast includes both returning veterans and fresh faces, bringing new energy to the production. "I think this musical stays alive because it never settles, always pushing forward. Being part of it pushes me too. Just when I think I've given my all, I discover new emotions, new ways to interpret the role. That's the beauty of this show. It grows with time, just like we do." "Even before I entered musical theater, I knew 'The Last Empress' was legendary, as even my mother had seen it before. It's also one of the few historical musicals in Korea. Now, being part of it, I realize just how special and timeless this production is. It's an honor to carry on its legacy." And the show isn't resting on its legacy, setting its sights on a future spanning over a century. That effort continues, live on stage, night after night. "The current season of the musical 'The Last Empress' is on stage at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' Sejong Grand Theater until March 30th. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News."

Trump pauses tariff imposition on Mexico and Canada

2025/02/04 20:00

U.S. tariffs on Canada and Mexico have been delayed for 30 days BUT the additional 10-percent tax on Chinese imports have been put in place. China responded with retaliatory tariffs. Ahn Sung-jin reports. U.S. President Donald Trump's 10-percent tariff on Chinese products took effect just after midnight Tuesday. This means that all Chinese goods going into the country will be levied under the trade measures. China immediately hit back with retaliatory taxes of its own. The country's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced that certain U.S. products such as petroleum or agricultural machinery will have a 10 percent tariff while coal and LNG will be levied 15 percent, starting on the 10th. This comes as Trump stated that he will be talking with China on deals regarding stopping the flow of fentanyl, and the Panama Canal. However, whether Trump will strike a deal with China remains unclear as Beijing's ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong reaffirmed the country's position during a press conference at the UN headquarters early Tuesday, stating that China will file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization and implement countermeasures regarding Trump's tariffs. Unlike China, less than a day ahead of Trump's imposition of 25-percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, the tariffs have been postponed for at least a month. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday local time posted on X that he had "a good call with President Trump" signaling that a deal has been struck. The deal includes implementing a 1-point-3 billion U.S. dollar border plan which includes reinforcing the border with nearly 10-thousand front-line personnel as well as strengthening resources to respond to fentanyl and money laundering. The agreement with Canada comes only hours after Trump announced a similar deal with Mexico. Just a day before U.S. tariffs were to take place, Mexico agreed to also place 10-thousand national guard troops along the U.S. border to prevent the flow of drugs. "I told him we wanted him to pause the tariffs, so we reached that agreement. I'm sure that during this month we'll be able to deliver good results for his people and the people of Mexico." Over the next month, the U.S. and Mexico will be negotiating on trade and security issues before a final decision on whether to implement full tariffs. Concerns over a global tariff war sparked by Trump are still high as he also warned of tariffs to the European Union. "When targeted unfairly or arbitrarily, the European Union will respond firmly." Whether these trial periods for Canada and Mexico will lead to successful tariff deals is unclear negotiations could see the U.S. adding on trade issues and concrete results may not appear regarding drug trafficking or illegal immigration issues. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

OpenAI's Sam Altman meets with conglomerate heads to expand market presence in S. Korea

2025/02/04 20:00

Open AI founder Sam Altman is here in Seoul for a number of events and meetings aimed at advancing AI collaboration. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin covers his agenda here. ChatGPT developer OpenAI is looking to expand its presence in the South Korean market, as Chinese start-up DeepSeek poses a challenge to its position in the tech industry. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during a closed-door workshop held in Seoul on Tuesday said that with its robust semiconductor and energy industries, Korea is a country that is actively adopting artificial intelligence. This marks Altman's third visit to South Korea and the first time an official OpenAI event took place in the country. As part of its efforts to stay competitive, OpenAI announced that it has entered into a joint strategic partnership with South Korea's leading messaging app operator Kakao. "I think we have a shared vision for what AI can do. We are particularly interested in AI in messaging. I think there is a really rich thing to explore there that can improve the experience a lot for users." Kakao CEO Chung Shin-a said on Tuesday, that upcoming key Kakao services such as Kanana, an AI-integrated messenger app, will utilize Open AI's latest AI technology APIs,.. application programming interfaces that allow developers to integrate OpenAI's language models such as ChatGPT into their own apps. But Kakao isn't the only Korean company OpenAI is planning to work more closely with as Altman also met with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won immediately after the workshop on Tuesday. Chey and Altman reportedly discussed potential areas of collaboration between OpenAI and SK Group, such as the supply of high-bandwidth memory from SK hynix and the construction of an AI data center by SK Telecom. And in the afternoon, Altman met with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, who flew in from Japan in the morning to attend the meeting,.. which lasted for two hours. This comes after SoftBank and OpenAI on Monday agreed to set up a joint venture in Japan, with SoftBank also committing to investing 3 billion U.S. dollars annually to utilize OpenAI's technology. The three discussed ways to expand AI collaboration, namely Samsung Electronics' potential participation in the Stargate Project, a 500 billion dollar AI infrastructure initiative supported by U.S. President Donald Trump. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Protestors gather at detention center ahead of Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/02/04 20:00

At the Seoul Detention Center EARLIER this afternoon, people backing the president gathered outside the center, braving the day's frigid conditions to share their moral support. Our Choi Min-jung was there. A freezing cold Tuesday. Despite the bitterly cold weather, dozens of President Yoon Suk Yeol's supporters gathered at the Seoul Detention Center, to cheer for Yoon with the president heading to the constitutional court for the fifth hearing of his impeachment trial. Supporters sang and chanted loudly, banging on drums. One supporter attempted to enter the detention center but was stopped by police. There was also a small number of people protesting in favor of Yoon's impeachment. "The police has deployed heavy security and buses on site to prevent any potential physical clashes between those for and against the impeachment." On Wednesday, officials from the National Assembly's special committee on the insurrection investigation,.. are scheduled to visit the detention center to question Yoon in person, as he has refused to attend previous committee hearings. But it remains to be seen whether Yoon will comply with the investigation. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

Former Army Special Warfare Commander reaffirms Pres. Yoon ordered removal of lawmakers from Assembly

2025/02/04 20:00

Meanwhile. Former Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-keun today reaffirmed that he was ordered by President Yoon Suk Yeol to drag lawmakers out from the National Assembly when martial law was imposed on December 3rd. At a hearing on Tuesday of an Assembly special committee investigating the Yoon administration's alleged insurrection plan, Kwak testified that at the time, no troop members were inside the building. His claim contradicts that of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun at a Constitutional Court hearing that Yoon ordered "members of the military," not "members of the Assembly," to be removed. Kwak will testify at the Constitutional Court's sixth hearing on Thursday.

TRUMP TARIFFS ON CANADA, MEXICO DELAYED

2025/02/04 17:00

Hello and welcome to Press Perspective for this Tuesday February 4th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we address the first set of tariffs announced by the Trump administration and their implications for other U.S. trade partners including South Korea. For more I have Lee Ji-hoon a correspondent for Reuters here in the studio. Ji-hoon welcome back. I also have Professor Yang Jun-sok at the Catholic University of Korea joining this talk virtually. Professor Yang it's good to have you with us. 1-1) Ji-hoon, let's begin with details about the decision to put on hold for 30 days the 25 percent U.S. tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Do walk us through the events that led to this dramatic pause. 1-2) Ji-hoon, what do we know about the additional 10 percent tariff on China? Is it set to go into effect on this Tuesday? 2) Professor Yang, what look to be the broader implications of such trade confrontations between the U.S. and its trade partners on the global economy? 3) Ji-hoon, pundits have voiced much concern about a potential surge in inflation in the U.S. amid Trump tariffs. Do tell us more. 4) Meanwhile Ji-hoon, for the first time in 16 months, Korea noted a fall in exports in January. How are market observers explaining this fall? 5) Professor Yang, the uncertain fates of the former Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act as well as the CHIPS and Science Act under the current Trump administration are causing much concern within Corporate Korea. What look to be the broader repercussions of a retreat from these acts by President Trump on Korean companies? 6) Ji-hoon, staying with local economic news. I believe the Korean stock market over the past week has been responding to news of remarkable advances in China's AI technology. What's the latest on the local bourse? 7) Professor Yang, on the corporate front. What are the implications of Chinese AI advances for Korean chipmakers? 8) Ji-hoon, moving forward. Korea's economy expanded 2 percent last year following a lackluster fourth quarter growth. How do you explain this latest finding? 9) Professor Yang, come Friday, that is February 7th, Mr. Trump will play host to his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba. What do you expect on their agenda? All right.

Fmr. Army Commander rejects most questions at President Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/02/04 17:00

We start today at the Constitutional Court where the fifth hearing of the impeachment trial against President Yoon Suk Yeol began this afternoon. For more I have our top office correspondent Oh Soo-young standing by live. Soo-young it's good to have you on. So I understand today's hearing included an interesting line-up of key witnesses? Yes, the fifth hearing of President Yoon's trial began at 2 PM today with the President in attendance, and three testimonies set for 90 minutes each. Now, the three witnesses today are key figures who were involved in executing the December 3rd Martial Law, and are considered unfavorable witnesses for Yoon given what they have told state investigators. The questioning began with Lee Jin-woo, former commander of the Capital Defense Command. Lee has reportedly claimed he received three phone calls from Yoon, and countless calls from former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, to deploy martial law forces, storm the National Assembly by force, and drag out legislators to stop them from overturning martial law. However, when he showed up at the Constitutional Court today, he refused to confirm or answer most questions posed by the National Assembly about whether he had received calls or orders from President Yoon. While Lee said he could not respond to certain questions relevant to his ongoing criminal case, he did selectively answer some. He in fact denied he'd been given any orders from President Yoon to arrest lawmakers. When asked whether the former Defense Minister instructed him to deploy forces to the parliament to prevent lawmakers from entering or to block them from lifting martial law, he said he had not. While emphasizing he hadn't known martial law would be declared, he said he did not consider it unlawful or unconstitutional but accepted it as a "strategic guideline" by the nation's leader, and followed orders by the defense minister prior to the declaration to standby at the base. Right. Soo-young I hear a second witness is on the stand as we speak? That's right. Yeo In-hyung, former chief of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, is being questioned. Yeo is said to have been ordered by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to arrest certain politicians. We'll have to see if he is more responsive to the questions. Next, is Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service. He has said he was informed of the arrests to be made and was told to "seize them all this time" for a "total clean-up." President Yoon has denied the major allegations so the hearing today could feature conflicting testimonies, but the Court banned him from asking them questions himself. Soo-young I realize it may be tough to tell but when can we expect an actual verdict? Well, for now, there are three more hearings scheduled until next Thursday, but it's unclear whether the Constitutional Court will be able to wrap up the case by then, or choose to hear from more witnesses, which would inevitably prolong the trial. So based on the Court's current schedule, a verdict could be out by the end of the month, or early March, given that it took 10 days to deliver a ruling on Park Geun-hye's trial, and 14 days in the case of Roh Moo-hyun. But the conflicting testimonies may require more witnesses for cross-checking and verification of whether Yoon directly issued martial law orders, whether the decrees were unconstitutional, and whether he had pre-planned the martial law. Yoon's team has applied for at least 31 witnesses, and the Court is still reviewing the candidates. Also, as Yoon's representatives continue to challenge the Court's proceedings, experts say the trial could also be lengthened. However, most believe the ruling will be made before two justices retire from the bench on April 18th, to avoid further procedural delays and complications. All right Soo-young thank you for that coverage. That was our Oh Soo-young with the latest on the president's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court.

[Weather] Cold wave reaches its peak, heavy snow on west coast

2025/02/04 17:00

With the first cold wave warning issued in Seoul this year, the cold wave reached its peak nationwide today. The coldest place this morning was Mountain Seorak, where temperatures plummeted to nearly minus 23 degrees Celsius. While the cold wave warnings continue to be expanded, this cold spell will freeze the country tomorrow as well. As this powerful cold wave passes through the West Sea, heavy snow clouds formed around the west coast areas and Jeju Island. Even more snow is expected from dawn tomorrow. By Thursday, heavy snow of 40 centimeters or more is expected in the mountainous areas of Jeju Island, and more than 30 centimeters in Jeollabuk-do Province. Tomorrow morning, Seoul will be as cold as today, dropping to minus 12 degrees, Gwangju and Busan at minus 6 degrees. Seoul will move up to minus 5 degrees, and Chuncheon will move up to minus 4 degrees. Freezing cold weather will remain this whole week. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: EU leaders meet in Brussels for informal talks focused on defence

2025/02/04 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. On February 3, European Union leaders gathered in Brussels for informal discussions centered on defense and security. The meeting addressed concerns over potential U.S. tariffs on European goods, as indicated by President Donald Trump. While French President Emmanuel Macron stressed Europe's need to assert itself, if its commercial interests are threatened, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed a preference for cooperation. Other leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, also highlighted the negative implications of a trade war and the importance of unity. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also joined the bloc's 27 leaders in the meeting. Starmer became the first UK prime minister to attend an EU leaders' meeting since the country left the bloc five years ago. In Greece, the tourist island of Santorini, is on alert after more than 200 undersea earthquakes were recorded between February 1 and 3. The most substantial quake, a magnitude 4.8, occurred on Monday local time, leading to landslides and rockslides on the island. In response, authorities have closed schools in related areas, advised residents and tourists to avoid abandoned buildings, and issued tsunami warnings. Emergency teams, including rescue units and medical personnel, have been deployed as a precaution. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has urged residents to stay calm and adhere to protection guidelines. The frequency and intensity of the recent quakes have led to many residents to temporarily leave the island. In Russia, an explosion in the lobby of a luxury apartment complex in Moscow has killed pro-Russian paramilitary leader Armen Sarkisyan and his bodyguard. Three others were injured. Russian authorities labeled the bombing in the Scarlet Sails luxury apartment complex on Monday, local time a "carefully planned assassination," as the explosive device reportedly detonated remotely just as Sarkisyan entered the lobby. Sarkisyan was the founder of the Arbat battalion, a pro-Russian militia operating in eastern Ukraine. He had been accused by Ukraine's Security Service of participating in illegal armed groups and organizing pro-Russian military units. In the UK, London Zoo on Monday celebrated the successful breeding of 33 endangered Darwin's froglets, following a rescue mission from a forest in southern Chile. In October 2024, a team of conservationists collected 52 healthy Darwin's frogs and transported them to London in climate-controlled conditions. A devastating fungus had caused a 90% decline in the population of Darwin's frogs in Chile since 2023. The amphibians, named after naturalist Charles Darwin, are known for their unique behavior where males carry developing tadpoles in their vocal sacs for safety. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.