News

N. Korea fires SRBMs, signaling military strength amid rising tensions before U.S. inauguration

2025/01/14 20:00

Shifting gears. North Korea test-fired a series of short-range ballistic missiles earlier this morning, posing its second act of provocation for the new year in just over a week as the Trump administration is poised to return to the White House next week. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil has more. At around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from the Ganggye area in Jagang-do Province. The missiles flew approximately 250 kilometers before landing in the East Sea, The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that South Korea and U.S. intelligence detected North Korea's launch preparations early and tracked the missiles in real time. "Our military has increased its surveillance and readiness to prepare for any additional launches while closely sharing related information with the U.S. and Japan." Tuesday's SRBM launches mark North Korea's second missile test this year. Yang Moo-jin, President of the University of North Korean Studies, explains North Korea's possible intentions. "First, North Korea aims to speed up the completion of its five-year defense development plan. Second, it's testing new short-range missiles. Third, it's showing confidence in its ability to launch various types of missiles anytime and anywhere. Lastly, it's a display of military dominance over Seoul and the greater capital region." In response, Acting President Choi Sang-mok condemned Tuesday's launch as a clear violation

Ruling party announces its version of special probe into Yoon bill, excludes allegations of "instigating insurrection" among others

2025/01/14 20:00

The rival parties are now each pushing at the National Assembly their respective versions of a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into President Yoon. The ruling party announced its draft "excludes unlawful components" as stated in the opposition's while the main opposition urged the PPP to propose a more concrete plan. Our National Assembly correspondent Lee Shi-hoo reports. The ruling People Power Party announced it has decided to propose its own version of a bill for a special investigation into President Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law that excludes what the party calls the "unlawful components" of the version drafted by the opposition parties, and with further restrictions on its scope and depth. Floor Leader Kweon Seong-dong told reporters on Tuesday that the PPP's proposal leaves out "unconstitutional and toxic clauses" stated in the proposal by the main opposition Democratic Party. These are mainly the allegations that Yoon and his aides "instigated an insurrection" and purposefully "induced foreign aggression." Kweon further urged the DP to "engage in negotiations as suggested by Acting President Choi Sang-mok." If the DP does not agree, Kweon warned that his party will ask the acting president to veto the bill. Tuesday's announcement follows seeming discord among PPP members earlier, who up until the day before, were divided on whether the party should pursue an investigation into its conservative president. Following Kweon's announcement, DP Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said, "The opposition is open to discussions once the ruling party has proposed a concrete draft," adding that the PPP's bill appears to be more of "an idea" at the moment. Kang said that if such negotiations take place before Thursday, the day the opposition parties plan to put their bill up for a National Assembly vote at a plenary session, it's possible a negotiated bill could replace it. Earlier Tuesday, DP Floor Leader Park Chan-dae said the ruling party's "refusal to investigate allegations of insurrection in itself is an acknowledgment of its involvement in the insurrection," and urged the PPP to cooperate with the opposition. The primary focus of the opposition's proposal is to uncover whether President Yoon unlawfully instigated an insurrection and violated the Constitution in the process. The initial version of its bill was vetoed by Acting President Choi two weeks ago. The opposition's goal is to have the bill officially go into effect before the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.

Live from presidential residence: operations being planned for arrest warrant execution

2025/01/14 20:00

We move now onto the latest regarding the attempt to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol. For details, Arirang's Moon Hye-ryeon joins us live from the president's residential neighborhood. Hye-ryeon, I believe there was a three-way meeting earlier this morning among anti-corruption officials, the police, and the presidential security team. What has been shared about that? That's right, so the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the police, and the presidential security team held a meeting this morning to discuss the execution of the warrant to detain President Yoon. The CIO has said that the discussion will not influence their plans and that they simply "listened to opinions" raised. According to a CIO official, the discussions were centered on ensuring a peaceful execution of the warrant, but no conclusions were reached. The CIO noted that it is waiting for a more solid response from the presidential security service, without setting a specific deadline and further added that there are no additional meetings planned as of now. This comes following the public appeal from the President's Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk this morning, which said the Presidential Office is willing to cooperate with the police and the CIO. This included options for investigation at a neutral location or through a visit. However, the CIO commented that they have yet to receive a formal request regarding alternative arrangements. In this morning's statement, Chung further emphasized that Yoon must be allowed to fully exercise his right to defend himself and present his position, as should be guaranteed for all South Korean citizens. What has been shared about the timing of the second arrest attempt? It's been more than a week since the new warrant to detain Yoon was issued, and actually, this just in — it has been reported that the CIO and the police have been granted permission to enter the presidential residence by the Capital Defense Command's 55th Guard Corps. But it has been reported that the police held another meeting today to discuss matters related to the execution of the warrant. The meeting took place this morning at 10 AM, lasting for around two hours, between the special investigation team of the National Office of Investigation and commanders from the criminal task forces of the Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Incheon police agencies. The execution of the warrant could begin as early as 5 AM tomorrow, and authorities aim to complete the execution within this week. Discussions focused on concrete plans on how to enter the heavily fortified presidential residence in Hannam-dong behind me, which is secured with barricades and barbed wire. Specific strategies were reportedly discussed, including measures to suppress resistance from the presidential security team, searching the residence, and detaining President Yoon. Approximately one thousand personnel from the security investigation teams and regional investigation units of the four metropolitan police departments will be deployed for the execution of the warrant. This includes 301 investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's regional investigation unit. These personnel have completed the necessary procedures to be dispatched to their temporary assignment to the CIO set for January 15th to the 17th so tomorrow until Friday. This suggests preparations for a potential two to three-day operation as formerly reported, should the presidential security service resist the execution of the warrant. Meanwhile, what is the atmosphere around the president's residential area like as we speak? Well, Jung-min, it looks as though there's quite a crowd gathering by the presidential residence behind me despite the less-than-favorable conditions out here. Tensions are mounting alongside expectations of a second attempt at executing the detainment warrant happening within the next twenty-four hours. The proximity of the rally locations for both sides has raised concerns about potential clashes, and to prepare for any possible incidents, the police have positioned riot squad vehicles between the groups to separate them. Security around the presidential residence remains tight, with the presence of armed guards becoming more prominent photos were taken yesterday showing heavily armed security personnel patrolling the area wearing helmets, masks, and tactical gear. It appears that the presidential security team is further reinforcing security measures inside the residence, with barbed wires and chains placed in various areas within the grounds. That's all I have, back to you, Jung-min. All right Hye-ryeon, thank you for that coverage. That was our Moon Hye-ryeon reporting live from the president's official residential neighborhood.

President Yoon's first impeachment trial hearing over in 4 minutes due to absence

2025/01/14 17:00

We start at the Constitutional Court today where the president's impeachment trial began with the first hearing taking place in his absence. For more I have Oh Soo-young standing by live at the court. Soo-young welcome. Now the first session lasted some four minutes. Do tell us more. Good afternoon. Yes, the first trial hearing on the President's impeachment was over in just four minutes, as the Constitutional Court is obliged to adjourn the meeting if the main party is not present at the first hearing. Take a listen to what Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae said. "As the respondent is absent, proceedings will not continue today in accordance with Article 52, Paragraph 1 of the Constitutional Court Act." His absence was largely expected by the Court which already scheduled the next hearing for Thursday. If Yoon also skips that session, the justices can proceed without him. Now you'll notice that the number of justices present was eight including Justice Chung Kye-sun who the President's lawyers filed to recuse. They cited her and her husband's affiliation with the Democratic Party and the National Assembly impeachment panel's chair Kim Yisu. However, Justice Moon said the whole bench had agreed to reject the recusal request in a meeting earlier today. Yoon's attorney said the decision was deeply regrettable. Right and the president's defense team continues to raise objections about the proceedings at court Soo-young ? Yes, Yoon's lawyers have disputed the speed and the manner in which the Constitutional Court is conducting the trial. It submitted four requests on Monday including a recusal for Justice Chung Kye-sun, as well as an objection to the first trial hearing, and the scheduling of five hearing dates without consultation. The Court's acting chief justice refuted that the bench's announcement of trial dates aligns with the Constitutional Court Act. So it seems the Court is determined to move ahead with the proceedings, while President Yoon's side is aiming to slow it down, as they call for the Court to conduct a "sufficient" trial procedure observing the 180-day trial period stipulated by law. Following the first hearing, the President's attorney Yoon Gap-geun indicated that the legal team will continue to contest the fairness and legality of the court's procedures. "The rushed scheduling of hearings is unnecessary. Even if hearings were scheduled through February 4th, there was ample opportunity during today's or the January 16th hearing to consult with and notify the defense counsel. Such omissions cast doubt on the fairness and neutrality of the trial process." Meanwhile, the National Assembly's impeachment team called for expedited proceedings and also called on the President himself to attend his trial. "The respondent is expected to continue employing various measures, even after today, in order to hinder the swift and smooth progression of the trial." Soo-young the second hearing is scheduled for this coming Thursday. Do we know whether the president will be there? The full-fledged trial will indeed begin on Thursday but it's unclear whether Yoon will attend and how far the arguments can progress. During their two pre-trial sessions, President Yoon's lawyers and the National Assembly failed to narrow their differences over the main grounds for impeachment, due to various sticking points. First, Yoon's team says the National Assembly's panel removing charges of insurrection as a main argument for impeachment makes no sense as the Assembly's motion to remove him from power cited insurrection as a major reason. They called for another vote for impeachment at the National Assembly without insurrection charges, if they wish to drop it from the impeachment trial. The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on this matter. Also, Yoon's team filed an objection to the Court's decision to obtain records from ongoing trials and criminal investigations over the martial law declaration, arguing that it violates the Constitutional Court Act. On top of the procedural complaints raised by the team observers note that these challenges if accepted by the court, could delay the trial from moving forward on schedule. I see. All right Soo-young thank you for the latest on the impeachment trial.

[Weather] Cold morning again tomorrow, cold wave warnings in some areas

2025/01/14 17:00

It was relatively easy to do outdoor activities during the day today. However as the cold air will move south from the northwest from tonight, the weather will get cold again tomorrow morning across the country. Seoul will drop to minus 6 degrees Celsius tomorrow morning. Cold wave warnings and advisories have been issued for northeastern parts of Gyeonggi-do Province as well as Gangwon-do Province and the mountainous areas of northeastern Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. On the other hand, along the east coast, where there is no news of rain or snow, the atmosphere remains extremely dry. Please be careful not to cause any fires. Tomorrow morning, most areas will start off below zero degrees. Highs will reach minus 1 degree in Seoul and Chuncheon. Busan hits 4 degrees. Temperatures are expected to rise again from Thursday. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Final draft made in talks over Israel-Hamas ceasefire

2025/01/14 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Starting with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks. Mediators, including officials from Qatar, Qatar, Egypt, and the United Nations, have reportedly handed over on Monday, local time, a final draft of a deal that could end the conflict in Gaza. According to officials, Hamas is expected to release up to 33 hostages as part of the deal. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed optimism in a speech on Monday, stating that the U.S. is "pressing hard to close this." The final details of the ceasefire negotiations are set to be completed in Doha on Tuesday morning during another scheduled round of talks. The release of hostages will be the first phase of the agreement, with negotiations on the second phase, aimed at ending the war, commencing on the 16th day after the ceasefire deal is implemented. In Greenland, the country's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, announced on Monday, the nation's intent to strengthen defense and mining collaborations with the United States, emphasizing that any agreements will be established on Greenland's terms. This follows President-elect Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the mineral-rich Arctic island in recent weeks, highlighting the region's strategic significance. Also on Monday, Denmark, which currently manages Greenland's foreign affairs and defense, expressed a willingness to discuss the increased U.S. military presence on the island. The dialogue aims to address security concerns and ensure Greenland's safety while avoiding any scenario of American annexation. Over in the U.S., the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has for the second time postponed the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Initially scheduled for January 17, then moved to January 19, the nominations will now be revealed on Thursday, January 23. In a statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang cited the active fires as the reason for extending the voting period, allowing members additional time. Also, the annual Oscar nominees' luncheon set for February 10 has been canceled. Despite these changes, the 97th Academy Awards ceremony remains scheduled for March 2. In India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the world's largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela, also known as the Great Pitcher Festival, kicked off on Monday. Held every 12 years, the festival is expected to draw over 400 million Hindus over the next six weeks. During the festival, devotees take part in rituals such as the Shahi Snan or the Royal Bath, where they immerse themselves in the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, known as the sacred waters. The act is believed to cleanse sins and help people reach salvation. Choi Chi Hee, Arirang News.

Hyundai, Kia's eco-friendly car exports record all-time high in 2024

2025/01/14 17:00

Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors have set a new record for exports of eco-friendly vehicles. According to the two automakers on this Tuesday they exported over 7-hundred-7-thousand eco-friendly cars last year UP three percent on year. This is the highest figure ever and includes EVs, hybrid EVs, and fuel cell EVs. According to company officials the latest surge was driven by a 44-point-6 percent on-year jump in exports of hybrid EVs as well as efforts to better respond to global market trends.

S. Korea's ICT exports reach new high in 2024 on record chip exports

2025/01/14 17:00

In other news. Korea's exports of information and communication technology products soared almost 26 percent on year in 2024. Our correspondent Lee Soo-jin covers this latest data. South Korea's tech shipments reached a new annual high in 2024, led by record chip exports. Data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy showed that ICT exports last year came to 2-hundred-35 billion dollars, up nearly 26 percent compared to the same month the year before. This marks a fresh high on a yearly basis, surpassing the previous record set in 2022, as ICT exports have continued to see year-on-year rises for 14 straight months. The ministry attributed this mainly to outbound semiconductor shipments reaching an all-time annual high of 1-hundred-42 billion dollars in 2024, boosted by robust global demand for AI-related products. That's up a whopping 42-point-5 percent compared to the year before. Chip exports also surpassed the 10-billion dollar mark for the eighth consecutive month, as shipments of memory chips, including high-bandwidth memory semiconductors, showed significant growth. And a shift to a double-digit growth in mobile phones as well as large demand for solid-state drives also contributed to 2024's record-high tech exports. By country, exports to Vietnam and the United States, which showed a sluggish performance in 2023 due to a slump in the global economy, both recorded their highest-ever export value last year. China, South Korea's top export destination, accounted for over 40 percent of Korea's total ICT exports last year, on the back of strong chip demand. As for exports in December alone, shipments reached more than 22 billion dollars, up more than 24 percent year-on-year. But it wasn't just December that saw solid monthly exports, as shipments surpassed the 20 billion dollar mark for five straight months starting last August. And exports in the last month of the year were also bolstered by chip shipments, with both memory and system semiconductors showing significant increases compared to the previous year. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Trump's second term 1 week away, Cabinet confirmation hearings begin

2025/01/14 17:00

And in the U.S. Preparations are underway for the inauguration of America's 47th President on January 20th. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. President-elect Donald Trump will return to the Oval Office as the 47th President of the United States at noon on January 20th, which is the third of four days of related events. Two days before inauguration day on January 18th, the president's reception will take place, along with a fireworks display at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. Later that night, a Cabinet reception and vice president's dinner will take place. On the following day, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The official inauguration day will begin with a service at St. John's church, where Trump will be sworn into office. Trump will then head over to the President's Room near the Senate chamber, where as part of tradition, he will sign nominations. After a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the presidential parade will take place from the Capitol to the White House. The parade will be followed by an Oval Office signing ceremony, before Trump attends the "Commander in Chief Ball," the "Liberty Inaugural Ball" and the "Starlight Ball." On the last day on January 21st, inaugural activities will conclude with the National Prayer Service in the morning. Ahead of the inauguration ceremonies across various locations in the U.S. capital, security in the city has been significantly strengthened. "More than 30 miles of anti-scale fence will be used for the inauguration -more than any other NSSE (National Special Security Event) ever before the Secret Service. This comprehensive security plan will continue to use drones as part of our protective posture." Officials expect nearly a quarter of a million people will attend the inauguration, with many more expected in the downtown area of D.C. for demonstrations. Ahead of the inauguration,.. the U.S. Senate is also set to hold its confirmation hearings for the Cabinet nominees. In particular, attention is focused on the confirmation hearing for the U.S. Secretary of Defense, held on Tuesday. This comes amid controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth, who was investigated by police over sexual assault allegations. More than a dozen other confirmation hearings will take place over a span of a week, as the country prepares for the inauguration of Trump. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea, U.S. and Japan reaffirm commitment to counter N. Korea's cryptocurrency theft

2025/01/14 17:00

Separately Seoul Washington and Tokyo shared a joint statement today condemning Pyongyang's theft of cryptocurrency. Underscoring the threats posed by Pyongyang on cyber-security across the Indo-Pacific region the three governments reaffirmed their commitment to sanction individuals and institutions behind North Korea's illicit cyber activities. They also spoke of enhancing their response mechanism through trilateral working groups.

N. Korea fires SRBMs, signaling military strength amid rising tensions before U.S. inauguration

2025/01/14 17:00

North Korea test-fired a series of short-range ballistic missiles earlier on this Tuesday morning posing its second act of provocation for the new year in just over a week as the Trump administration is poised to return to the White House next Monday. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil reports. At around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from the Ganggye area in Jagang-do Province. The missiles flew approximately 250 kilometers before landing in the East Sea, a frequent target in North Korean missile tests. The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that South Korea and U.S. intelligence detected North Korea's launch preparations early and tracked the missiles in real time. "Our military has increased its surveillance and readiness to prepare for any additional launches while closely sharing related information with the U.S. and Japan." Tuesday's SRBM launches mark North Korea's second missile test this year. On January 6th, North Korea fired an intermediate-class hypersonic solid-fuel ballistic missile from the Pyongyang area.Some analysts tie the launches to the upcoming U.S. presidential transition, while others point to broader strategic motives. Yang Moo-jin, President of the University of North Korean Studies, explains North Korea's possible intentions. "First, North Korea aims to speed up the completion of its five-year defense development plan. Second, it's testing new short-range missiles. Third, it's showing confidence in its ability to launch various types of missiles anytime and anywhere. Lastly, it's a display of military dominance over Seoul and the greater capital region." In response, Acting President Choi Sang-mok condemned Tuesday's launch as a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, vowing a firm response in coordination with the U.S. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Gov't confirms Jan. 27 as holiday as Acting-President pleads for spending on local goods

2025/01/14 17:00

Meanwhile it's official. January 27th this year has been declared a holiday to pave the path for a six-day lunar new year celebration that authorities hope will serve to encourage domestic spending. Our Kim Do-yeon has more. The government has confirmed that January 27th will be a temporary holiday making this year's Seollal or Lunar New Year a six-day holiday. While this had already been announced, the final confirmation vote by Cabinet was held on Tuesday during a weekly meeting. Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Finance Choi Sang-mok said this is to boost the suffering economy. "I hope citizens take the opportunity to recharge during the long holiday, while also boosting the domestic economy through local travel and 관광 및 책임 있는 소비를 통해 국내 경제를 활성화하는 데 기여해주시기를 바랍니다. 상호 성장과 연대의 정신을 함양하는 데 함께 참여해주시길 부탁드립니다." He said this year's Seollal needs to be used as an opportunity to help the economy recover. He also added that as previously announced the government decided on the biggest Seollal support package. This includes increasing the supply of 16 key grocery items by 150 percent, to help lower grocery bills as well as train ticket discounts. In the meantime, he also made a push for locally produced gift sets. "During this holiday, to promote domestic agricultural and seafood consumption, we ask that you actively participate in buying the highly discounted gift sets made of local rice or local beef, the key Seollal gift items." He also urged the members of the Cabinet to share the government's efforts saying if the public isn't aware of the policies then they are useless. Meanwhile, he also said that as government agencies' new year's briefings continue the government has been focusing on resolving major issues. But, he said speed is the most important aspect and called on Cabinet members to treat each day as if it were a month during normal times. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Live from presidential residence: operations being planned for arrest warrant execution

2025/01/14 17:00

We move now onto the latest regarding the attempt to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol. For details Arirang's Moon Hye-ryeon joins us live from the president's residential neighborhood. Hye-ryeon, it's good to have you on. Now I believe there was a three-way meeting earlier this morning among anti-corruption officials, the police, and the presidential security team. What has been shared about that meeting? That's right, so the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the police, and the presidential security team held a meeting this morning to discuss the execution of the warrant to detain President Yoon. The CIO has said that the discussion will not influence their plans and that they simply "listened to opinions" raised. According to a CIO official, the discussions were centered on ensuring a peaceful execution of the warrant, but no conclusions were reached. The CIO noted that it is waiting for a more solid response from the presidential security service, without setting a specific deadline and further added that there are no additional meetings planned as of now. This comes following the public appeal from the President's Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk this morning, which said the Presidential Office is willing to cooperate with the police and the CIO. This included options for investigation at a neutral location or through a visit. However, the CIO commented that they have yet to receive a formal request regarding alternative arrangements. In this morning's statement, Chung further emphasized that Yoon must be allowed to fully exercise his right to defend himself and present his position, as should be guaranteed for all South Korean citizens. He also expressed concerns over potential clashes between police forces and presidential security personnel, as well as the crowds gathering outside of the presidential residence. And Hye-ryeon, what has been shared about the timing of the second arrest attempt? It's been more than a week since the new warrant to detain Yoon was issued, but there has yet to be any movement from the CIO and the police at the presidential residence. But it has been reported that the police held another meeting today to discuss matters related to the execution of the warrant. The meeting took place this morning at 10 AM, lasting for around two hours, between the special investigation team of the National Office of Investigation and commanders from the criminal task forces of the Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Incheon police agencies. Discussions focused on concrete plans on how to enter the heavily fortified presidential residence in Hannam-dong behind me, which is secured with barricades and barbed wire. Specific strategies were reportedly discussed, including measures to suppress resistance from the presidential security team, searching the residence, and detaining President Yoon. The execution of the warrant is reportedly set to begin as early as 5 AM tomorrow. However, given the scale of the operation which could involve mobilizing around one thousand officers changes in the timeline remain possible as the plan continues to be finalized. It has been formerly reported that the operation could take two to three days should the presidential security service resist the warrant's execution. Meanwhile, what is the atmosphere around the president's residential area like as we speak? Well, Sunny, it looks as though there's quite a crowd gathering by the presidential residence behind me despite the less-than-favorable conditions out here. Tensions are mounting alongside expectations of a second attempt at executing the detainment warrant happening within the next twenty-four hours. The proximity of the rally locations for both sides has raised concerns about potential clashes, and to prepare for any possible incidents, the police have positioned riot squad vehicles between the groups to separate them. Security around the presidential residence remains tight, with the presence of armed guards becoming more prominent photos were taken yesterday showing heavily armed security personnel patrolling the area wearing helmets, masks, and tactical gear. It appears that the presidential security team is further reinforcing security measures inside the residence, with barbed wires and chains placed in various areas within the grounds. That's all I have for now, but I'll be back in a later newscast with more updates. Back to you, Sunny. All right Hye-ryeon, thank you for that coverage. That was our Moon Hye-ryeon reporting live from the president's official residential neighborhood.

[Weather] Wintry mix this morning, cold snap eases today

2025/01/14 10:00

The capital area woke up to icy road conditions, as yesterday's snow and freezing rain made their way across the capital. There will be more snow in the east of Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do through this morning with up to 5 centimeters of snow in the forecast with a heavy snow advisory issued. The cold snap takes a short break today with much more comfortable temperatures but they will go back below norms tomorrow. Meanwhile, today's short-lived warmth brings dusty air to the country. Most regions will see bad dust levels through late this afternoon. Afternoon highs will be 2 to 4 degrees Celsius higher than yesterday. Topping out at 6 degrees in the capital, Daegu and Gyeongju at 11 degrees. Mostly cloudy skies are expected for much of Korea. A sharp drop in temperatures overnight could bring back cold advisories to the country, Jeju and Jeolla-do Provinces could see a wintry mix mid-week. That's Korea for you, here's a look at the international weather conditions.

Maha Kumbh Mela religious festival begins in India

2025/01/14 10:00

Over in India, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the world's largest religious gathering, the Maha Kumbh Mela, also known as the Great Pitcher Festival, kicked off on Monday. Held every 12 years, the festival is expected to draw over 400 million Hindus over the next six weeks. During the festival, devotees take part in rituals such as the Shahi Snan or the Royal Bath, where they immerse themselves in the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers, known as the sacred waters. The act is believed to cleanse sins and help people reach salvation.

Oscar nominations postponed for second time because of wildfires

2025/01/14 10:00

For the second time, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has postponed the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. Initially scheduled for January 17, then moved to January 19, the nominations will now be revealed on Thursday, January 23. In a statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang cited the active fires as the reason for extending the voting period, allowing members additional time. Also, the annual Oscar nominees' luncheon set for February 10 has been canceled. Despite these changes, the 97th Academy Awards ceremony remains scheduled for March 2.

Pentagon says N. Korean troops make fighting 'much harder' for Ukrainians

2025/01/14 10:00

Washington says the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia's frontline region makes the fighting "much harder" for Ukrainian forces. According to Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder on Monday, North Korean troops are "relatively well disciplined and competent," adding that the 12 thousand troops sent by Pyongyang is a significant number that makes it much more difficult for Ukraine. He added that the U.S. is focused on working with the international community to make sure Ukraine has sufficient help to defend itself. Meanwhile, Ryder said the Pentagon continues to monitor the possibility of further troop deployment by North Korea closely.

On-point: Will South Korea's exports hold up during Trump 2.0?

2025/01/14 10:00

South Korea's exports for the new year started positively, rising 3.7% on-year in the first 10 days of January, on the back of strong demand for semiconductors. Will this be sustainable even in the second Trump era? Let's turn to Professor Shim Myung-kyu. Thanks for joining us. 1. Trump's tariffs, largely rooted in his protectionist trade policies, are expected to be on the way. For South Korea, which sector will be the hardest hit by Trump's return? 2. What about chip exports? Are they also going to be in trouble? Or is this an overreaction? 3. Diversifying export markets is being touted as a solution to handle Trump's aggressive tariffs. Would you also say that's the ultimate solution? Is there any other way out? 4. But can we say Trump's return will, on the other hand, offer opportunities for Korean defense firms to expand their exports? How? What other areas of export could benefit other than arms exports? 5. Will Trump view his country's growing trade deficit with South Korea as concerning and possibly negotiate a South Korea-U.S. FTA, like he did during his first term? How likely is it that there will be a repeat of that? Why? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us this morning. We appreciate it.

Biden administration announces new curbs on AI chip exports

2025/01/14 10:00

The U.S. has imposed new restrictions on AI chip exports, aiming to block advanced chips from reaching China, which has strongly opposed the decision. Shin Ha-young has the details. With just a week left in office, the Biden administration on Monday announced new export restrictions on artificial intelligence chips. The new rule exempts 18 allies, including South Korea, Japan, and the UK, while introducing additional measures to block China's access to such tech. A total of 22 so-called tier three countries, including China, Russia, and Cuba, are already barred from purchasing advanced chips and will be newly subject to restrictions on the sale of closed-weight AI models. North Korea is also banned. Another key change is that entities in countries that are considered neither allies nor adversaries will now face new caps on the amount of computing power they can purchase. Non-verified end-user entities located outside of close allies can still purchase large amounts of computational power, up to the equivalent of 50-thousand advanced graphics processing units, which are used to power data centers needed to train AI models. Those meeting security requirements and based in countries that are not "of concern" can apply for National Verified End-User status, allowing them to purchase up to 320 thousand advanced GPUs over the next two years. The new regulations are seen as ways to block China from building AI capabilities in third countries, like in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, or from importing AI chips with U.S. technology from those countries. Regarding the announcement, China's Ministry of Commerce criticized the move, saying it creates obstacles for third parties engaging in normal trade with China. U.S. AI chip giant Nvidia saw its stock drop on Monday due to fears of reduced export volumes. Nvidia opposed the restriction, saying it threatens to derail innovation and global economic growth and would undermine America's leadership. Now, all eyes are on President-elect Donald Trump. The Biden administration believes new U.S. limits on global sales of AI chips will likely continue under Trump, citing bipartisan national security concerns surrounding China's pursuit of advanced technology. However, chip companies are pushing to roll back Biden's regulations and urging Trump to create new policies. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Trump's second term 1 week away, Cabinet confirmation hearings begin

2025/01/14 10:00

With one week to go until the launch of the second Donald Trump administration, the U.S. capital is preparing for the inauguration, with security greatly strengthened in the area. Lee Seung-jae has more. President-elect Donald Trump will return to the Oval Office as the 47th President of the United States at noon on January 20th, which is the third of four days of related events. Two days before inauguration day on January 18th, the president's reception will take place, along with a fireworks display at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. Later that night, a Cabinet reception and vice president's dinner will take place. On the following day, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The official inauguration day will begin with a service at St. John's church, where Trump will be sworn into office. Trump will then head over to the President's Room near the Senate chamber, where as part of tradition, he will sign nominations. After a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the presidential parade will take place from the Capitol to the White House. The parade will be followed by an Oval Office signing ceremony, before Trump attends the "Commander in Chief Ball," the "Liberty Inaugural Ball" and the "Starlight Ball." On the last day on January 21st, inaugural activities will conclude with the National Prayer Service in the morning. Ahead of the inauguration ceremonies across various locations in the U.S. capital, security in the city has been significantly strengthened. "More than 30 miles of anti-scale fence will be used for the inauguration -more than any other NSSE (National Special Security Event) ever before the Secret Service. This comprehensive security plan will continue to use drones as part of our protective posture." Officials expect nearly a quarter of a million people will attend the inauguration, with many more expected in the downtown area of D.C. for demonstrations. Ahead of the inauguration,.. the U.S. Senate is also set to hold its confirmation hearings for the Cabinet nominees. In particular, attention is focused on the confirmation hearing for the U.S. Secretary of Defense, held on Tuesday. This comes amid controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth, who was investigated by police over sexual assault allegations. More than a dozen other confirmation hearings will take place over a span of a week, as the country prepares for the inauguration of Trump. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.