News

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill more than 80 despite announcement of ceasefire

2025/01/17 17:00

In the Middle East. Despite the sealing of a ceasefire deal that is slated to start on Sunday local time Israeli assaults against Hamas in Gaza continue to raise the Palestinian death toll. Ahn Sung-jin has more. Many rejoiced at the news of a six-week ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. But just days before the deal is implemented on Sunday, Israel conducted more airstrikes in Gaza, killing at least three more Gazans, and raising the death toll to 86 since the news of the ceasefire agreement. According to Gaza's Civil Defense Service, the death toll includes 23 children and 27 women. During the same period, more than 250 Palestinians have been injured in the airstrikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a Security Cabinet meeting on Friday to discuss and ratify the ceasefire, which was successfully agreed on. According to local media, in a statement from Netanyahu's office, the prime minister has been informed of the release of hostages and has signed the deal. This comes after the vote was initially postponed with Netanyahu blaming a last-minute disagreement with Hamas for the delay. A full Cabinet meeting to give final approval to the ceasefire deal is expected to take place on Saturday, and considering the legal procedures, the first hostages could be released as early as the 20th. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the deal will start on time despite what he called a last-minute "loose end." "On the ceasefire, yes, I am confident, and I fully expect that implementation would begin, as we said, on Sunday. Look, it's not exactly surprising that in a process, in a negotiation, that has been this challenging and this fraught, you may get a loose end. We are tying up that loose end as we speak." Following the ceasefire agreement, the European Union on Thursday pledged 120 million euros,.. or over 123 million U.S. dollars in aid for Palestine. According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a post on X, the "ceasefire and hostage release agreement offers hope the region desperately needed," but added that Gaza's "humanitarian situation remains grim." The aid will provide assistance to address acute food insecurity and malnutrition, healthcare assistance, water, sanitation, and hygiene support,. shelter and protection assistance. The latest humanitarian assistance to Gaza from the bloc brings the total value to over 460 million US dollars since 2023. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korean companies-Westinghouse settle nuclear tech IP dispute; Green light for nuclear exports?

2025/01/17 17:00

Meanwhile in a rather promising development. A deal to end a nuclear technology dispute has been sealed between the Korea Electric Power as well as its nuclear power unit and the U.S.'s Westinghouse Electric. Park Kun-woo has details. A two-year-plus nuclear power dispute has come to an end. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Korea Electric Power Corporation said on Friday that they have resolved their intellectual property dispute with the U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Company. They added this will pave the way for stronger cooperation in the global nuclear energy market, while enhancing their competitiveness. The dispute began after Westinghouse filed a lawsuit in a U.S. court against KEPCO and KHNP in 2022, for "unauthorized" sharing of nuclear technology that it claimed to have the intellectual rights to. However, the South Korean companies maintained that there were no legal violations as they successfully reverse-engineered the technology. Details of the resolution between the two sides were not disclosed on Friday due to a mutual confidentiality agreement. But pundits say they may have agreed on collaborating in other regions such as Europe, where Westinghouse has traditionally operated, among others. They also expect the end of the dispute to provide a green light for Korea to secure a nuclear power project in the Czech Republic after it was selected as the preferred supplier last year. Also on Friday, Industry Minster Ahn Duk-geun welcomed the agreement, saying he looks forward to deeper cooperation with the U.S. This comes after a recent MOU on nuclear power exports and cooperation in related sectors between the two countries was signed last week. One expert also spoke about the significance of the agreement. "The two countries were in some sort of tangled relationship but started communicating and even signed the MOU. This means Korea can now negotiate with the Czech Republic more comfortably without any noise." He added that it will also be a chance to remove potential uncertainties when exporting and operating nuclear reactors in other regions in the future as well. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok pledges to closely monitor financial market amid uncertainties

2025/01/17 17:00

The government has reaffirmed its commitment to stabilizing the financial and foreign exchange markets amid much uncertainty at home and abroad. During a macroeconomic meeting with top related officials on this Friday acting President Choi Sang-mok pledged to closely monitor domestic as well as international financial markets as the U.S. ushers in a second Trump administration next Monday one that has vowed tougher tariffs. He also emphasized the importance of informing the international community about the "strong fundamentals" of the local economy to maintain overall confidence.

S. Korea's Jan. green book points to "greater downside risks" to economy

2025/01/17 17:00

Korea's political instability appears to be casting a darker cloud of uncertainty over its economy amid the presence of quote "greater downside pressure". Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin explains. South Korea is seeing greater downside risks to its economy, as uncertainties grow both at home and abroad. The somber assessment is from the latest economic green book,. a monthly economic assessment report, released by the Finance Ministry on Friday. "The term "concerns about increased downside risks" was previously used, but has now been replaced with "greater downside pressure." This change reflects the negative trends observed across industries during both October and November." It presents a bleaker outlook compared to last month's report when the government omitted the phrase "economic recovery" for the first time in over a year, as January's report also includes concerns about employment, an area where the government had previously been largely optimistic. In December, South Korea saw its first year-on-year decrease in employment figures in more than three years, as a downturn in industrial activity has begun to spill over into the labor market. This was mainly attributed to a larger drop in employment in the manufacturing sector last month, which continued to see a decline for the sixth straight month, and the construction sector for eight consecutive months. This comes as industrial output in November dropped point-four percent compared to the previous month, as the services and construction sectors remained weak, marking a fall for the third straight month. Services output declined by point-two percent, driven by decreases in the finance and insurance sectors. The construction sector also experienced a drop in production for the seventh consecutive month as building activity slowed, setting a new record for the longest continuous downturn since 1997. But retail sales, an indicator of consumer spending, rebounded by point-four percent compared to the previous month after seeing declines in both September and October. The finance ministry official said the month's report also placed less emphasis on concerns about inflation, as figures for December showed that consumer prices rose 1-point-9 percent year-on-year, marking the fourth consecutive month of inflation under the two percent mark. But with continued political unrest in the country as well as mounting concerns about potential changes in the trade environment during President-elect Donald Trump's second term, the government pledged to collaborate with relevant agencies and swiftly implement economic policy plans for 2025 to ensure economic stability. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Constitutional Court agrees to speed up impeachment trial testimony from fmr. Defence Minister

2025/01/17 17:00

The Constitutional Court has agreed to expedite the testimony of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun as earlier requested by President Yoon Suk Yeol's defense team. Earlier on this Friday the Court's press officer Cheon Jaehyun announced that Kim would testify first on January 23rd that is next Thursday two weeks earlier than initially scheduled. The Court has also approved requests by the presidential legal team for documents related to the National Election Commission amid their allegations of election fraud which they add was the basis for the president's brief imposition of martial law on December 3rd.

President Yoon continues to refuse to testify, claims investigation is illegal

2025/01/17 17:00

Now as mentioned the president has refused to re-visit the anti-graft headquarters for questioning choosing instead to remain at the Seoul Detention Center. Our Kim Jung-sil reports. President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to refuse investigative procedures. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) had asked Yoon to show up for questioning on Friday morning, but he didn't turn up. Since his arrest on Wednesday, Yoon has remained silent. During his initial 10-hour interrogation, he declined to answer questions, verify his testimony, or sign documents. On Thursday, President Yoon postponed the morning questioning due to health concerns and skipped the rescheduled afternoon session. The President has consistently argued that the investigation by the CIO is illegal, but legal experts disagree. "It's true that CIO does not have specific jurisdiction over insurrection. But what they do have is the jurisdiction to look at any related crime and here they are investigating Yoon's abuse of office. So, it's entirely within their jurisdiction and there's absolutely no problem." Professor Cho added that despite Yoon's silence, the CIO would still be able to indict him. Yoon is currently being held in a pretrial detention cell, separate from other detainees. The facility provides basic amenities such as a bed, table, and toilet. He is being given the same food as provided to other detainees, costing around 1,700 KRW or about U.S. $1.20 per serving to make. The Justice Ministry has assigned a special team to monitor Yoon's safety around the clock. Meanwhile, Yoon's legal team has filed complaints against the investigation, challenging his arrest. Due to his continued silence and refusal to cooperate, authorities are considering alternatives, such as on-site questioning or possibly forcibly escorting him for questioning, though this remains unlikely. Pundits suggest a detention warrant could be requested based on existing evidence and testimonies. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

PRES. YOON REMAINS DETAINED, MAINTAINS SILENCE

2025/01/17 17:00

Hello and welcome. You're watching Press Perspective for this Friday January 17th here in Seoul. Today we continue our talk on President Yoon Suk Yeol's arrest and its broader implications. For more I have Kelly Kasulis Cho with The Washington Post returning for a second time this week to share her own coverage of the political turmoil here. Kelly thank you for making time again. I also have our own foreign pundit Colin Marshall with his take on the political situation in Korea. Colin as always it's a pleasure. 1) Kelly, let's start with the updates regarding the president's arrest. 2) Colin, based on your reading of the foreign media coverage of the president's arrest and his trial, what appears to be the general assessment of the political situation here in Korea? 3) Kelly, you wrote a piece for The Washington Post about leaders here in Korea whose political careers were tainted by scandals. How does President Yoon Suk Yeol's story look to go down in history? 4) Colin, The Economist claims "the presidency of South Korea can be a treacherous job." Would you say this is a fair assessment? 5) Kelly, what has the response from South Korea's allies to its latest political predicament? 6) Colin, quite a number of foreign media outlets have also shed light on the deep political divide among Korea's youth amid its political turmoil. What are your observations here? 7) Kelly, foreign media coverage also laments that the reality that Korea's political polarization will not simply end with the arrest of its president. What have been some of the grim forecasts ahead? 8) Colin, some pundits here believe if the president is reinstated, it will set a disturbing precedent for future leaders. Does this belief merit some concern? 9) And Kelly, "hard-liners on both sides of the recent rallies have vowed civil war should the Constitutional Court not rule in their favor." Based on your coverage on the ground, what are the prospects of such a reality? All right.

Latest in K-Sports

2025/01/17 14:00

Time for some K-sports action! From new contracts to a new Olympic chief in Korea to winter sports in Asia. We will have it all covered with our sportscaster Jason Lee who is joining us in the studio. Jason, hello! Q1) The last time we spoke, Kim Hye-Seong was mere hours away from his deadline for signing with a Major League Baseball team. We found out the next morning that he signed with the LA Dodgers, which surprised a lot of people. Why was that? Q2) Speaking of contracts being signed, Son Heung-min also had his contract extended another year by Tottenham. How will this affect his long-term future with the team and is there still a chance that he gets transferred before his contract is up next summer? Q3) Son Heung-min scored a goal for Tottenham yesterday against Arsenal in the North London Derby. Tell us about the game. Q4) Let's move on to a big sporting event coming up next month the first in eight years The Asian Winter Games in China's Harbin. What can you tell us about the event and Korea's preparations for it? Q5) Korea has a new Olympic chief. Table tennis gold medalist Ryu Seung-min is the new president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee with Lee Kee-heung failing to be re-elected for a third term. How significant is this news for Korean sports going forward?

[Features reporter] 2025 Korea Image Awards for those who promote S. Korea

2025/01/17 14:00

Every year Seoul hosts an awards ceremony to acknowledge the efforts of those who served to enhance Korea's image overseas. Our News Features reporter Ahn Sung-jin was at the latest event. Gold-medal fencer Oh Sang-uk, table tennis medalist Shin Yubin and star chef Edward Lee. What these figures have in common is that they have played a key role in raising Korea's image. "Since 2005, the Corea Image Communication Institute holds its annual Korea Image Awards which not only honors those who raise Korea's profile abroad, but also those who represent and shine the country." Oh became the first Asian fencer to win a grand slam of golds at the Asian Games, Asian Championships, World Championships and Olympics. "When fencing at the Olympics, I never thought about being Asia's first, which is actually what helped me win the match." Fellow Olympic medalist, Shin Yubin, who won two bronze medals in table tennis, was given the "Korea Image Flowerstone Award." Shin went viral at the Games for her positive attitude and for the snacks she ate during her breaks. "It's an honor to receive this award, and I'm glad that my accomplishments can help promote the country. I've still got a long way to go, but I will do my best to further promote South Korea." The finalist on Netflix's Culinary Class wars, Edward Kyun Lee was given the "Korea Image Stepping Stone Bridge Award", for his efforts to introduce Korean cuisine with traditional ingredients and a modern twist. "For the past few months I was able to look back on who I am as Korean Lee Kyun. So many people from Korea have sent me love and support, and I was truly able to understand the meaning of "jeong" in Korea." These award winners show that it's not just K-pop and dramas that spread Korean culture around the world. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News. Congratulations to the award winners. Including chef Edward Lee, Right, who also made an appearance on the Kulture Wave last year. It's also great to see two athletes receive this honor. While it's K-pop and K-dramas that hallyu fans are exposed to every day it's interesting how sports stars seem to play a huge role in promoting a great image of Koreans out there. I remember a couple of years ago legendary figure skater Kim Yuna and swimmer Hwang Sun-woo were among the recipients as well. Korean sports figures seem to embody Korean people's character which is often described as one of diligence and perseverance. I agree.

K-wave AI News

2025/01/17 14:00

Welcome to The Kulture Wave AI News. Here's our first story of the day. Culture Minister Yu In-chon will attend the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2025 and the ASEAN+3 Tourism Ministers Meeting set for this weekend in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Korea is co-chair of this year's tourism ministers meeting, alongside Malaysia. Minister Yu is slated to hold a series of bilateral meetings with his ASEAN counterparts to bolster tourism cooperation with the region. He will also underscore the Korean government's unwavering efforts to ensure a safe and convenient travel environment for international visitors. The World Art Expo 2025, a global art fair showcasing diverse artistic genres, is underway at COEX in Seoul. Featuring over 130 booths from domestic and international exhibitors, the event spotlights emerging talents and introduces distinctive galleries poised to shape the future of contemporary art. A variety of programs, including webtoon exhibitions, special invitational showcases, and the OlympiArt, provide a platform to share Korea's vibrant artistic spirit with the world. The expo runs through this Sunday. The Leeungno Museum has opened an exhibition highlighting female Korean artists who shaped modern and contemporary Korean art. Titled "Glittering Water: Korean Modern and Contemporary Female Artists," the exhibition features 11 artists who shared artistic influences with Lee, including prominent painter Keum Dong-won and Kim Yun-shin, one of the few post-war female painters and sculptors. The exhibition aims to highlight the contributions of these women, whose work was often overlooked in the male-dominated art world, and reexamine their impact on the evolution of 20th-century Korean art. Lee Ung-no was a pioneering figure in the development of Korean abstract art. It will be open until April 6. That's all for now. Stay tuned for more cultural updates and insightful discussions ahead!

[K-enter] K-pop Groups Dominate U.S. CD Sales in 2024

2025/01/17 14:00

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Today, we start off with a big milestone by K-pop artists in the U.S. K-pop groups, including Stray Kids, Enhypen and Ateez, dominated CD sales in the United States last year. According to the Year-End Music Report released by music data tracking company Luminate, seven K-pop albums ranked in the top 10 CD sales in the U.S for the year of 2024. Stray Kids led the K-pop charge, securing the second-highest spot on the ranking, with their album “Ate” selling 442,000 copies. The group’s latest release, “Hop,” also performed well, ranking fifth. Another group who made the ranking is Enhypen with their album “Romance: Untold” making third, selling about 360,000 copies. In addition, Ateez made a strong showing with two entries in the top 10. The group’s “Golden Hour: Part. 1” and “Golden Hour: Part. 2” placed fourth and seventh, respectively. Tomorrow by Together’s “minisode 3: Tomorrow” ranked sixth and TWICE’s “With YOU-th” secured ninth place. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s “Tortured Poets Department” claimed the top spot with over 1.5 million copies sold. In the “overall sales” category, which combines physical CD album and digital album sales, Stray Kids and Enhypen made it into the top 10. Next, we will continue with another K-pop story. Which group are we talking about next Bella? The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation, or Komsco, has minted medals themed on the group Seventeen to celebrate the group’s 10th year anniversary. The medals have been created in collaboration with Seventeen’s agency Pledis Entertainment and its parent company HYBE. Komsco announced that the medals "encapsulate Seventeen’s identity and achievements." The design of the Seventeen 10th Anniversary Commemorative Medal features Seventeen’s official logo with a vinyl record pattern. A total of 1,000 one-ounce gold medals, 3,000 half-ounce gold medals and 13,000 silver medals will be available to buy. Lastly, you have an update on "Dark Nuns" which is a movie coming out soon. Prior to its release, “Dark Nuns” has been distributed to movie theaters in 160 countries. Its distributor, NEW, confirmed that the film will be screened to audiences from all over the world, starting with Indonesia, Taiwan, and Mongolia on January 24th. It will then open in the Philippines on January 29th, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand on February 6, and Vietnam on February 21st. The sequel, “Dark Nuns,” which comes 10 years after “The Priests,” tells the story of Sister Yunia and Sister Michaela, who go to a forbidden ceremony to save a boy possessed by a powerful evil spirit. The film will star Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-bin and it will be released in Korea on January 24th. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

[Short-form] The Four Seasons of Changdeokgung Palace

2025/01/17 14:00

Explore the charms of Changdeokgung Palace, where history and nature harmonize boasting timeless beauty in every season.

World Bank projects global economic growth rate of 2.7% in 2025

2025/01/17 10:00

The global economy is expected to grow by 2-point-7 percent in 2025 and again in 2026. That's according to the World Bank's World Economic Prospects report released on Thursday. It added that while the global economy stab, the economies of developing countries are expected to make a slow progress in catching up with the advanced economies. Among the advanced economies, the U.S. is expected to grow 2-point-3 percent this year, while Japan is forecast to grow just 1-point-2 percent. China is expected to see growth of 4-point-5 percent this year.

KHNP, KEPCO resolve IP dispute with Westinghouse, paving way for stronger nuclear energy cooperation

2025/01/17 10:00

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power and Korea Electric Power Corporation have resolved their intellectual property dispute with U.S.-based Westinghouse. The agreement, announced Friday, ends the legal dispute and paves the way for stronger cooperation in the global nuclear energy market. With KHNP the preferred bidder for a nuclear power project in the Czech Republic, the deal is expected to boost their chances of securing the project. KHNP said it aims to strengthen its position in the global market by forming a new strategic relationship with Westinghouse.

Seoul Central District Court dismisses Yoon's petition challenging legality of detention

2025/01/17 10:00

With a court rejecting a petition challenging President Yoon's detention, investigators can and will continue to try to question him, while also filing for a warrant on Friday to officially arrest him. Let's connect with our Kim Bo-kyoung at the investigators' office in Gwacheon City. So, Bo-kyoung, let's start with the court's dismissal of the petition. Good morning Dami. As you have already said, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed impeached President Yoon's request to challenge his detention, after hours of deliberation on Thursday. Yoon was taken into custody on Wednesday and detained by the CIO for questioning over his December 3rd martial law declaration, and has been refusing to speak or attend interrogations. Yoon's legal team tried to turn things around,.. by filing a petition to the Seoul Central District Court seeking a review of the legality of his detention. They argued the detention warrant against him, issued by the Seoul Western District Court was invalid, and that the CIO lacked jurisdiction over insurrection. The court convened a hearing at 5 PM to review Yoon's request, but as it rejected claims from Yoon's side, the president remains in custody as the investigation continues. Yoon's legal team expressed regret over the court's decision, saying it is unfortunate how illegal and unlawful actions are tolerated, while the rule of law is being undermined. Yoon's side added they will not comply with the CIO's investigations saying they cannot accept illegal procedures. Now, the next step for the investigators is seeking a formal arrest warrant for President Yoon. We should expect that to happen today, right? Yes, Dami. The CIO originally had to decide whether to seek a formal arrest warrant by 10:33 AM Friday, but the 48-hour deadline for holding the president was extended to around 9 PM as the court review was in progress. Since around 2 PM on Thursday, when investigators submitted documents, including evidence, to the court the detention period remained on hold, until the court returned the documents to the CIO investigators early this morning at 12:35 AM. Now with the court's decision, the CIO is expected to seek a formal arrest warrant late Friday night to keep him in detention for a longer period. If the formal warrant is issued, Yoon can be held for a total of 20 days, including the initial 48-hour detention period. The CIO will likely hold and question Yoon for eight more days, before transferring the case to the prosecution, which has the authority to indict a suspect. Both parties have already agreed to spend ten days each questioning Yoon. And I'm sure pro-Yoon protesters remain distressed and upset? After the court rejected Yoon's request, supporters gathered in front of the Seoul Central District Court and expressed their anger at the decision. They then reportedly moved to the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang City, to show their support for Yoon. The police unofficially estimated that around three hundred people were gathered in front of the court last night. A conservative group rally with an estimated three thousand participants is scheduled to take place in front of Seoul Detention Center at 1 PM today. That is all I have for now, but I will bring you more updates in a later newscast. Back to you, Dami. Thank you Bo-kyoung for the coverage. That was our Kim Bo-kyoung reporting live from the investigators' office.

[Weather] Frigid morning turns much milder this afternoon

2025/01/17 10:00

Frigid air continues in central regions, Gangwon-do Province is seeing lows below minus 10 to even minus 15 degrees Celsius. Icy roads out there for central regions and Jeollabuk-do Province. Please drive and walk with care. However, afternoon highs will rise rapidly to way above norms. Temperatures will go up further over the weekend. Next Monday marks Daehan, the last winter seasonal term so we should be having the coldest time of the year but temperatures have been rather generous and should stay above norms through next week and likely into the Seollal holiday. Checking on today's highs now, Seoul gets up to 5 degrees, Daegu at 8 degrees under sunny skies. Air quality will be normal in most parts except in Sejong during the morning. A dry weather advisory remains in place for the East Coast. Hikers should take extra caution against wildfires. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

U.S. film director David Lynch dies at the age of 78

2025/01/17 10:00

American filmmaker David Lynch has died at the age of 78. The director died due to complications from emphysema, a chronic lung condition, according to his family. His celebrated creations include Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Mulholland Drive, all of which received best director Oscar nominations, and the TV series Twin Peaks. Lynch's career began with the 1977 classic Eraserhead, and he received an Honorary Academy Award in 2019 for his contributions to cinema. While Lynch fought health challenges in recent years, he kept working on creative endeavors until his passing.

Two people die in Slovakia high school stabbing attack, student detained

2025/01/17 10:00

Over in Slovakia, an 18-year-old high school student has been detained after allegedly stabbing two people to death. The stabbings happened on Thursday, local time in the small town of Spisska Stara Ves in the north of the country near the Polish border. A deputy principal and a student were killed. The suspect fled the scene but was immediately detained by the police. While stabbings are rare in Slovakia, similar incidents occurred in 2020 and 2022, where the suspects were also young students. The Slovakian ministers of interior and education visited the town and committed to implementing measures to prevent future attacks and improve safety for students and teachers.

Iraq to sign deal with Halliburton to develop Nahr Bin Omar oilfield

2025/01/17 10:00

Moving to the Middle East, Iraq is finalizing a deal with U.S. oil firm Halliburton to develop the Nahr Bin Omar oilfield It aims to boost the oilfield's production from approximately 50-thousand barrels per day to 300-thousand barrels per day. The deal also includes plans to produce gas from the same field. It's part of Iraq's broader strategy to increase its oil and gas production. Iraq also plans to increase its output from the West Qurna 1 field, operated by PetroChina, to 750-thousand barrels per day by the end of the year. It is also working with the China Petroleum Engineering and Construction Corporation, on a 1.7 billion U.S. dollar gas project.

UK pledges 100-year partnership with Ukraine

2025/01/17 10:00

Let's begin today with the meeting between the Ukrainian president and the British prime minister. A historic partnership agreement was signed between the two states. That's right. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Kyiv on January 16th to sign a 100-year partnership agreement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The agreement aims to strengthen security ties, defense cooperation and economic collaboration, including supporting Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. During the visit, Starmer said the UK's "commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and security is steadfast and enduring." This visit is part of a broader initiative by European leaders, to reaffirm their support for Ukraine ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. Leaders from Germany and France have also recently visited Kyiv to show their solidarity with Ukraine.