News

N. Korea begins dismantling symbolic facility near border that hosted meetings for war-separated families

2025/02/13 20:00

Moving on. North Korea now starts destroying a reunion center for separated families near the inter-Korean border amid strained ties with the South. Seoul urges the regime to immediately stop its actions. Our Correspondent Bae Eun-ji reports. The Inter-Korean Family Reunion Center, located at Kumgangsan Mountain has been a symbol of peace as it has been used to host tearful reunions of families separated for decades by the Korean War. Since 2009, it has hosted five meetings between families from the two Koreas, and the last family reunion was held there in August 2018. But on Thursday, the South Korean government said the North has begun dismantling the facility, in the latest sign of strained inter-Korean ties, after the regime described the South as "its principal enemy." The Unification Ministry spokesperson urged the North to immediately halt its actions, adding that the government plans to consider legal measures over the action and a joint response with the international community. "The demolition of the facility is an anti-humanitarian act that tramples on the wishes of separated families, and a violation of South Korea's assets." Upon an agreement between the two Koreas, the 12-story reunion center was built in July 2008, at a cost of over 35 million dollars. The building was the last remaining South Korean-owned facility in the Kumgansan Mountain tourist region as the North has been demolishing facilities there over the past few years. After the Hanoi summit between the United States and North Korea ended in failure in February 2019, Kim Jong-un visited the resort area later that year in October.. and ordered the removal of South Korean facilities there, saying they were "shabby," and that they looked like "makeshift tents in a disaster-stricken area." Since 2022, the regime has destroyed other facilities including a hotel, a fire station, and a golf clubhouse leaving only the reunion center, which it has also started to tear down. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Trump held phone calls with Russia, Ukraine discussing peace talks; What next?

2025/02/13 20:00

Talks could start sooner than later to end the crisis in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump held phone calls with the leaders of both Russia and Ukraine and signaled a potential breakthrough in ending the war. Park Kun-woo takes a closer look. Hopes of peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war are growing. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had a phone call lasting over an hour with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing securing a ceasefire in the near future. "I can say with great confidence he wants to see it ended also. That's good. And we're going to work toward getting it ended and as fast as possible." He added he ordered top U.S. officials to begin talks aimed at ending the war. Both leaders also agreed to meet in the future, with Putin inviting Trump to Moscow. Aside from that, Trump said their first meeting would probably take place in Saudi Arabia. Trump also had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, which Zelenskyy described as a long and meaningful discussion. "We believe that America's strength, together with us and all our partners, is enough to pressure Russia and Putin into peace." However, one expert says some uncertain factors, including Ukraine's potential membership in NATO, remain that can complicate the peace talks from proceeding. "I think Ukraine's stance to join NATO will not be accepted. Instead, Ukraine will still likely negotiate to secure at least some form of security assistance from the U.S." Setting territorial boundaries for Russia and Ukraine is another issue. "Since Russia's goal was to gain more territory, this is a part it cannot easily concede. However, the justification for this is weaker than opposing Ukraine's NATO membership. But it seems likely that Russia will give up some territory in exchange for things like U.S.' sanctions relief." This comes with Russia currently occupying around 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that were taken before 2022. But the expert also stressed that it's unfortunate to see such a colonial-style expansion well after World War Two as countries had previously agreed to stop, and that it will now be remembered as a very bad precedent. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Conflicting statements continue as Constitutional Court schedules extra hearing for President Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/02/13 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial is nearing its end, but clashes continued at the Constitutional Court today. The Court has decided to add an extra hearing for next week to summarize the arguments. Our Correspondent Oh Soo-young begins our coverage. The battle of narratives continued at President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, as the eighth and initially last session was extended with another hearing scheduled for next Tuesday. Cho Sung-hyun, the Head of the Capital Defense Command's 1st Security Group, said he had been ordered by his Commander Lee Jin-woo to pull out legislators from the parliamentary building. Lee Jin-woo who was questioned at the Court last week had refused to answer whether he'd been given such an order by Yoon, due to his ongoing criminal trial, while the President has denied issuing such instructions. Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun has claimed the order was to pull out "agents" or "yo-won" , not "legislators" or "ui-won" , while Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun said the President said "persons" or "in-won" . More conflicting statements emerged during the session. National Intelligence Service chief Cho Tae-yong cast doubt over the claims made by his deputy last week that the President ordered the arrest of politicians on the night of December 3rd. Deputy Director Hong Jang-won had said he had heard fourteen to sixteen public figures named as targets for arrest by Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung which he wrote down on a notepad outside the Director Cho's residence. He claimed his secretary helped decipher it later, thus there are two notes in total. However, Cho says, based on CCTV footage, Hong was not outside, but in his office at the time he said he wrote the memo. The Director also said there appeared to be four versions of the note, appearing to suggest there's been some fabrication on Hong's part. Cho questioned Hong's political neutrality, adding he heard last year in a parliamentary committee meeting that Hong had made seven separate requests regarding personnel appointments to a former opposition party lawmaker who previously worked at the NIS under the last administration. On Thursday, former Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kim Bong-sik also testified. Kim said that he had deployed police to the National Assembly to ensure public safety,.. and denied he'd been given orders to make arrests. As witness statements continue to clash, the President's side today also reapplied for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to be called as a witness, whom the Court rejected on Tuesday, and asked to re-summon Hong Jang-won. They also asked for National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho to be made to stand as a witness, as he failed to show up twice due to health reasons. Justices will review the new witness applications on Friday. So far, the court has accepted a total of 15 witnesses in the impeachment trial—seven requested by the National Assembly and eight by President Yoon's side. This compares to the 36 approved during former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial. "For now, the Court has scheduled a ninth hearing for next Tuesday at 2 PM, where each legal team will have two hours to summarize their arguments. If the hearings conclude next week, observers say the ruling could be made around early March. Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld after 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed after 14 days. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News."

[Weather] Milder conditions all over the country through the weekend

2025/02/13 20:00

Even though it was a freezing morning across the country, early spring-like weather will be seen tomorrow with Seoul rising up to 10 degrees Celsius during the day. These milder conditions will continue throughout the weekend. In the meantime, the atmosphere is still drying up in east coast areas with dry weather advisories in place. In addition to dry conditions, there are preliminary warnings for strong winds in the same areas. Please take extra care not to cause any fire-related accidents. Tomorrow morning, Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Gyeongju will start off at minus 2 degrees, Chuncheon at minus 6 degrees. Daily highs will get up to around 10 degrees all over the country with Gwangju, Busan, and Jeju at 11 degrees. It is expected to rain on the coastal areas of Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do Provinces, and Jeju Island this weekend. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

[Econ & Biz] DeepSeek's impact on AI market: what is it and what does it mean?

2025/02/13 20:00

Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek is making waves with what it says is a cost-efficient model. But with alleged data privacy risks, it has prompted global scrutiny, market upheaval, and government crackdowns. Our business correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon joins us in the studio with this topic. Hye-ryeon, can you explain the controversies surrounding DeepSeek? As you said, Jung-min, DeepSeek is currently under global scrutiny after claiming its new "R1" model can rival existing AI models in the market such as ChatGPT at just a fraction of the cost. With this news, its AI chatbot topped ChatGPT in app store downloads as users began to try this new model for themselves to test the claim. But as more and more users gathered, concerns over excessive data collection such as keyboard stroke patterns that could be used to identify specific users, have sparked privacy fears. "Collecting keystroke patterns to identify individuals doesn't necessarily mean a better service, so that's why it seems a bit excessive." And another issue with DeepSeek's data collection is that users can't opt out of having their data collected, unlike ChatGPT. Along with these fears regarding user data is speculation of third-party access, as the information is stored in servers in China something that South Korea's National Intelligence Service confirmed on Sunday, as it cited that Chinese advertisers are being given unlimited access to DeepSeek's user data. Reports of content censorship also raised questions about DeepSeek's AI chatbot failing to produce accurate information due to heavy reliance on China's official stance on certain subjects. With these controversies, how have investors and industry insiders been responding? With doubts surrounding DeepSeek's development process, Microsoft and OpenAI launched a probe into suspected data exfiltration by individuals that could be linked to the Chinese firm. Companies in non-AI-related sectors, such as those in South Korea, responded to data privacy concerns by restricting employee access to DeepSeek on work computers. However, global investors indicated their anticipation for DeepSeek by wiping billions of dollars off Nvidia's market value – resulting in the biggest market cap loss ever for a U.S. company. There are mixed views from experts and industry insiders on these reactions regarding whether this attention is warranted, with some saying that DeepSeek had the second-mover advantage. "When you have an amazing solution coming from OpenAI, you know that it can be done. Then the question changes a little bit – shifts towards, "How can we do that in a more efficient way." And with the current competition between the U.S. and China, how are global leaders and governments responding to this AI race? South Korea, Australia, and Japan's government ministries moved to also block DeepSeek access on computers connected to external networks, while Italy has blocked the app from app stores altogether, citing user data privacy. But some are saying that the reason why DeepSeek even came about in the first place is because of such restrictive regulations. Here's what an expert said. "I think that it symbolizes that the AI competition will be severe, and although one country will like to restrict the AI development of the other country, they will AI will always find innovative ways of how to develop." But global leaders and firms gathered in Paris amid calls for universal AI regulation where 60 countries signed a statement listing priorities such as transparency, safety, and sustainability for future AI development. The U.S. and the UK, however, refused to sign the statement. "The United States of America is the leader in AI, and our administration plans to keep it that way." U.S. Vice President Vance shared the view that too many regulations can "kill" a developing industry such as AI as it takes off and stated the Trump administration's plans to take full "advantage" of its position in the market. The U.S. recently billed "The Stargate Project" which aims to build AI infrastructure in the U.S. worth 500 billion U.S. dollars. As the AI race between Washington and Beijing heightens and countries seek to establish regulations to keep them in check in an increasingly complex technological landscape, eyes are on how the balance of innovation with security will play out. Thank you for the wrap-up, Hye-ryeon. Thank you for having me.

S. Korea adds more Winter Asian Games medals in women's figure skating, biathlon

2025/02/13 20:00

South Korea continues its strong performances at the Winter Asian Games in Harbin. 17-year-old Kim Geon-hui won the gold medal in the men's halfpipe event on Thursday, after the final was canceled due to weather conditions. The rising star had ranked first in the qualification round the day before. Lee Ji-o got the bronze. Another gold medal came in women's figure skating with Kim Chae-yeon impressing the judges the most. Meanwhile, the team of Ekaterina Avvakumova, Mariya Abe, Ko Eun-jung, and Jung Ju-mi secured silver in the women's biathlon 4-by-6-kilometer relay.

FM Cho Tae-yul to meet U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio in Munich

2025/02/13 20:00

Seoul and Washington's top diplomats are to hold their first talks this weekend in Germany, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. It's the first one-on-one meeting between South Korean foreign minister Cho Tae-yul and his counterpart U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, since President Trump took office in January for his second term. The talks are likely to take place on Saturday. The officials are expected to discuss North Korean nuclear issues, trilateral cooperation with Japan, and bilateral economic cooperation. South Korea and the U.S. are also reportedly coordinating details to hold a trilateral meeting with Japan.

Trump reciprocal tariffs could come by Thursday: White House

2025/02/13 20:00

In other news. Trump's reciprocal tariffs on American trade partners are expected to be announced on Thursday local time. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump will announce his reciprocal tariffs sometime this week,.. in response to tariffs being imposed on U.S. exports by other countries. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Trump will announce his latest tariff plan before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this Thursday. Amid criticism over Trump's trade policies, the press secretary reiterated the U.S. president's call for even trade, adding that such policies are needed to benefit American workers and improve its national security. "And it's very simple logic as to why the president wants to impose reciprocal tariffs. It's the golden rule, which we all learned, when we were growing up in school. Treat others the way you want to be treated. And far too many nations around this world have been ripping off the United States of America for far too long. And that's why the president believes this will be a great policy that will benefit American workers and improve our national security. " Meanwhile, with the reciprocal tariff announcement looming countries have been in talks with Trump's trade officials. Earlier on Wednesday, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said that Washington is in talks with other countries on reciprocal tariffs. According to Reuters, European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič held phone talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer as well as Hassett. Pundits say, despite Trump's looming announcement on reciprocal tariffs, it's likely that he will disclose his plans for how to proceed with the tariffs first, rather than immediately announcing the tariffs to be imposed on each country. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump kick starts summit diplomacy with world leaders

2025/02/13 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. U.S. President Donald Trump's recent diplomatic moves are making waves on the global stage. His push for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has sparked fresh hopes, while his bold Gaza transformation proposal is stirring heated geopolitical debate. Meanwhile, Trump's hardline trade policies with allies like Japan and growing gaps in diplomacy with South Korea raise questions about the future of U.S. partnerships in Asia. For more on how Trump's high-stakes diplomacy continues to unfold, we invite Lim Eun-jung, Professor of International Studies at Kongju National University. Welcome. Also joining us is Michael Allen, Professor of Political Science at Boise State University's School of Public Service. (LIM) 1. So Professor Lim, on Wednesday, Trump announced that he had separate phone calls that day with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as he ordered top U.S. officials to begin truce negotiations. He mentioned that a ceasefire is to come in the not-too-distant future, raising hopes for a peaceful resolution. How significant is this breakthrough, and what challenges might arise in implementing an agreement between the two nations? (ALLEN) 2. Given Trump's direct communication with President Putin and the agreement to start peace negotiations immediately, how do you assess the likelihood of a sustained ceasefire? Could this move shift the dynamics of U.S.-Russia relations? (LIM) 3. President Trump's proposal to take control of Gaza and transform it into a Mediterranean tourist hub has sparked global debate. How do you view this plan from a geopolitical and political feasibility perspective? (ALLEN) 4. King Abdullah II of Jordan firmly rejected the proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan. How significant is this rejection for U.S.-Jordan relations and the broader Middle East peace process? (LIM) 5. Meanwhile, following the Washington-Tokyo summit, Japan agreed to double its defense budget by 2027. We are aware that Japan has been cautious about increasing its military presence due to its pacifist constitution. What do you think triggered the latest decision? (ALLEN) 6. Trump's recent meeting with Japan's prime minister focused heavily on defense spending and trade. But despite the good atmosphere, Trump pushed through by slapping 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. The U.S.-Japan relationship is often described as an "economic partnership." Do you think this tariff policy could fracture that partnership? (LIM) 7. With a one-month grace period before the tariffs take effect, how could Japan leverage diplomatic channels to negotiate an exemption or soften the impact of this policy? (ALLEN) 8. President Trump is set to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later today U.S. time. Given Trump's emphasis on trade deficits and protectionist policies, what do you expect will be the main focus of the U.S.-India summit? (ALLEN) 9. South Korea is facing a prolonged absence of high-level diplomacy with President Trump's second administration, especially compared to other nations actively engaging in summits. How do you interpret the impact of this diplomatic void on U.S.-Korea relations? (LIM) 10. The lack of early communication between South Korea's acting president and President Trump has raised concerns. How critical is it for Korea to secure a summit soon, and what issues should be prioritized in such talks?

K-STEEL AMID TRUMP'S 25% BLANKET TARIFF

2025/02/13 17:00

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Thursday February 13th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Starting today our panel session will INLCUDE a WEEKLY focus on sectors of the South Korean industry that look to be affected by Trump tariffs. Accordingly today we touch upon the steel industry and more amid the announcement of the first blanket tariffs of 25 percent on all steel and aluminium imports into the U.S. market. For more I have Steven Borowiec with Japanese news magazine Nikkei Asia here in the studio. Steven as always it's good to have you here. I also have Professor Shin Sang-hyup of International Relations at Kyung Hee University. Professor Shin it's a pleasure. 1) Steven, let's start with Mr. Trump's 25-percent tariff on all steel and aluminium imports into the U.S. market starting mid-March. South Korean steel makers are among those to be much affected. First then, what has been the response here? 2) Steven, Trump tariffs on steel are not new. He imposed them during his first term in office back in 2018 as well. How did South Korea deal with this import duty back then? 3) Steven, Canada is the largest supplier of steel and aluminum to the U.S. How is Canada and its related industries responding? 4) And now, Professor Shin, with regard to Mr. Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminium imports DURING his FIRST term, the World Trade Organization EARLIER ruled them "in violation" of global trade rules. Do remind us about this ruling. 5) Professor Shin, some American businesses are also expected to be negatively affected by Trump tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. What more can you share? 6) Meanwhile, Professor Shin, how capable is South Korea of effectively navigating these trade initiatives by the Trump administration amid its current political paralysis? 7) Steven, also on the local front. What can you tell us about the Korean steel industry and its prospects going forward? 8) Steven, Mr. Trump has also vowed reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trade partners. What exactly does this mean, and how do they look to affect all involved? 9) Professor Shin, speaking as a scholar, what does history tell us about the practice of reciprocal tariffs? 10) Steven, U.S. industry insiders fear U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium imports will drive up car costs within their country. Do share this outlook with us. All right.

DeepSeek's impact on the AI market: what are they and what does it mean?

2025/02/13 17:00

Now with regard to the global race for AI dominance the emergence of Chinese application DeepSeek has indeed been making tangible waves as it touts cost-efficiency while its rivals fear data security. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. DeepSeek a Chinese AI start-up is under global scrutiny after claiming its new "R1" model can rival ChatGPT at a fraction of the cost. But concerns over excessive data collection and speculation of third-party access have sparked privacy fears. "Collecting keystroke patterns to identify individuals doesn't necessarily mean a better service, so that's why it seems a bit excessive." Reports of content censorship also raised questions about DeepSeek's AI chatbot failing to produce accurate information due to heavy reliance on China's official stance on certain subjects. With doubts surrounding DeepSeek's development process, Microsoft and OpenAI launched a probe into suspected data exfiltration by individuals that could be linked to the Chinese firm. Companies in non-AI-related sectors, such as those in South Korea, responded to data privacy concerns by restricting employee access to DeepSeek on work computers. South Korea, Australia, and Japan's government ministries moved to do the same, while Italy has blocked the app from app stores altogether. However, global investors indicated their anticipation for DeepSeek by wiping billions of dollars off Nvidia's market value – resulting in the biggest market cap loss ever for a U.S. company. There are mixed views from experts and industry insiders on these reactions regarding whether this attention is warranted, with some saying that DeepSeek had the second-mover advantage. "When you have an amazing solution coming from OpenAI, you know that it can be done. Then the question changes a little bit – shifts towards, "How can we do that in a more efficient way." Amid DeepSeek dominating headlines, global leaders in AI gathered in Paris, where a statement signed by 60 countries listed priorities such as transparency, safety, and sustainability for future AI development – but the U.S. and the UK refused to sign it. "The United States of America is the leader in AI, and our administration plans to keep it that way." U.S. Vice President Vance shared the view that too many regulations can "kill" a developing industry such as AI as it takes off and stated the Trump administration's plans to take full "advantage" of its position in the market. As the AI race between Washington and Beijing heightens and countries seek to establish regulations to keep them in check in an increasingly complex technological landscape, eyes are on how the balance of innovation with security will play out. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

S. Korea's ICT exports in Jan. declined 0.4% on-year due to Lunar New Year holiday

2025/02/13 17:00

On the trade front. South Korea's ICT exports fell 0-point-4-percent on year in January owing to fewer workdays in light of the extended lunar new year holiday. According to the Trade Ministry here overseas shipments of ICT products amounted to nearly 16-point-3 billion U.S. dollars last month. Yet despite the overall decline semiconductor shipments remained strong amid the global race for AI dominance. Chip exports soared past 10 billion U.S. dollars posting 15 consecutive months of on-year growth.

How Trump's potential tariffs on cars, semiconductors may affect South Korea

2025/02/13 17:00

And as the government seeks to better support its corporate sector Korean businesses are bracing for strong headwinds given earlier remarks by Mr. Trump targeting cars chips and more. Our Bae Eun-ji covers the mounting concerns. Starting March 12th, the United States will be imposing 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports Announcing this, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he's also looking at tariffs on cars and semiconductor chips to create jobs. "But we'll be talking about other subjects like cars. We'll be talking about drugs and pharmaceuticals. We'll be discussing chips. And we're going to be doing some other things in addition to that, all of which will bring in a lot of jobs into our country. Cars is going to be a very big one and a very important one." Trump's comments have raised more concerns in South Korea, as cars and semiconductors take up more than 30 percent of the country's total exports to the United States. S&P Global Ratings said in a report released in November, that a potential 20-percent tariff on imports from South Korea could cut Hyundai and Kia's earnings by up to 19 percent. As for chips, experts say that the potential tariff hikes on chips are not likely to have a significant impact on Korean companies for the time being. "As for memory chips, there's not really a product in the market that can replace South Korean chips. So considering the time until the tariffs start to have an impact --for example, the time needed for South Korea to build a semiconductor factory in the U.S. --I don't think it will have that much of an impact in the semiconductor industry for now." But pundits warn the message that Trump is trying to say is clear: to pressure foreign companies. "Using tariffs, they're trying to pressure South Korean companies to make it more beneficial to the United States, when those companies invest in the U.S." To avoid tariff risks, industry watchers say that it's now more important than ever for Korean semiconductor manufacturers such as Samsung and SK hynix to secure deals with big tech companies in the U.S. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Lawmakers conduct gov't Q&A on issues related to economy

2025/02/13 17:00

Meanwhile against the backdrop of broader U.S. tariffs the National Assembly here in Korea opened its second day of interpellation earlier on this Thursday with the focus on the country's economy. Lawmakers are grilling related Cabinet members on the government's potential countermeasures to the Trump administration's protectionist trade campaign as well as on efforts to strengthen Korea's semiconductor industry and to support its AI ambitions. With regard to the chip sector debate continues over flexible work hours for those in the industry amid the current cap of 52 hours per week.

Trump reciprocal tariffs could come by Thursday: White House

2025/02/13 17:00

Also at the White House. Mr. Trump's reciprocal tariffs on American trade partners are expected to be announced on Thursday local time. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump will announce his reciprocal tariffs sometime this week,.. in response to tariffs being imposed on U.S. exports by other countries. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Trump will announce his latest tariff plan before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this Thursday. Amid criticism over Trump's trade policies, the press secretary reiterated the U.S. president's call for even trade, adding that such policies are needed to benefit American workers and improve its national security. "And it's very simple logic as to why the president wants to impose reciprocal tariffs. It's the golden rule, which we all learned, when we were growing up in school. Treat others the way you want to be treated. And far too many nations around this world have been ripping off the United States of America for far too long. And that's why the president believes this will be a great policy that will benefit American workers and improve our national security. " Meanwhile, with the reciprocal tariff announcement looming countries have been in talks with Trump's trade officials. Earlier on Wednesday, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said that Washington is in talks with other countries on reciprocal tariffs. According to Reuters, European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič held phone talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer as well as Hassett. Pundits say, despite Trump's looming announcement on reciprocal tariffs, it's likely that he will disclose his plans for how to proceed with the tariffs first, rather than immediately announcing the tariffs to be imposed on each country. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump, Putin agree to begin talks to stop war in Ukraine during phone call

2025/02/13 17:00

Beyond borders. U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly engaged in constructive dialogue with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in SEPARATE phone calls about ending the Kremlin's aggression against Kyiv. Choi Min-jung has details. The United States and Russia have reportedly agreed to begin talks to stop the war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media on Wednesday,. that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the almost three-year-long war. Trump said he had a "lengthy and highly productive phone call" with Putin, and that their respective teams have agreed to start negotiations immediately. "I think I can say with great confidence he wants to see it, end it also. And that's good. And we are going to work toward getting it ended and as fast as possible." The two leaders also agreed to meet in the future,.. with Putin inviting Trump to Moscow. Trump said he would likely meet with Putin in the "not too distant future," probably in Saudi Arabia. Trump also held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, which Zelenskyy described as a "long, substantive" discussion. "President Trump informed me of what Putin told him. We believe that America's strength, together with us and all our partners, is enough to pressure Russia and Putin into peace." Following Trump's separate phone calls with both the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, the White House confirmed that the conversations went very well and that all three sides were committed to peace. "It is time to stop this ridiculous war where there has been massive and totally unnecessary death and destruction." On Friday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to attend the Munich Security Conference, and reaffirm Washington's determination to end the war. The Vice President is scheduled to hold in-person talks with Zelenskyy that day as well. Meanwhile, European foreign ministers and officials warned that the future of Ukraine could not be decided without Europe or Kyiv. Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged unity against Moscow, stating that lasting peace for Ukraine depends on military and financial strength. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

[Weather] Milder conditions across the country, dry weather, strong winds for east coast areas

2025/02/13 17:00

It was freezing this morning, but the daytime temperatures rose about 1 to 7 degrees higher than yesterday nationwide. Tomorrow, the temperature in Seoul is expected to rise to 10 degrees Celsius, as mild as mid-March. These milder conditions will continue through the weekend. However, as the atmosphere dries up, there are dry weather advisories for the east coast areas. With preliminary warnings for strong winds in the same areas, it is very important to take extra precautions with fire. Tomorrow morning, Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Gyeongju will start off at minus 2 degrees, Busan at 1 degree. Daily highs will get up to around 10 degrees all over the country with Daejeon, Daegu, and Gyeongju at 12 degrees. During the weekend, there is rain forecast on the coastal areas of Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do Provinces, and Jeju Island. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Russia to get back jailed cybercrime boss from U.S. after freeing teacher Marc Fogel

2025/02/13 17:00

This is The World Now, bring you the latest stories from around the globe. With expectations growing over a possible peace deal in Ukraine, the United States and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange, for the first time in six months, involving American teacher Marc Fogel and Russian cybercrime suspect Alexander Vinnik. On Wednesday, the U.S. released Alexander Vinnik, co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BT-e, who had been detained since 2017 on charges of laundering over 4 billion U.S. dollars through the platform. Vinnik admitted to being part of a money laundering scheme and was waiting to be sentenced in the U.S. Moscow released Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old American schoolteacher based in Russia, who was arrested in 2021 for having medically prescribed marijuana and was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison. Fogel returned to the U.S. on Tuesday and was welcomed by President Donald Trump. Following U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports earlier this week Mexico and Canada plan to seek exemptions through discussions. On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that top officials will engage in discussions with the United States over the 25% tariffs later this week. Mexico's economy minister emphasized that the levies are "unjustified," noting that the U.S. maintains a trade surplus in these metals with Mexico. Also on Wednesday, Canada made a diplomatic push by sending all 13 Canadian premiers to Washington, D.C. for the first time. They'll meet with U.S. senators and members of Congress to speak against the impending tariffs and highlight the negative impacts on industries that rely heavily on steel and aluminum in both nations. Inflation rose 3% in January, in the U.S., up from 2.9 percent in December last year, marking the highest rate since June. The figure is driven by increased costs of groceries, gasoline, and rent. Egg prices surged by 15.2%, due to an avian flu outbreak, 조류독감 발생으로 인해 계란 가격이 15.2% 급등하여 1다스 A등급 계란의 평균 가격이 4달러 95센트에 달했습니다.reaching a record average of 4 dollars 95 cents per dozen Grade A eggs. The Federal Reserve expressed concern over the persistent inflation, which challenges its plans for future interest rate cuts. President Trump has pledged to mitigate prices, but pundits believe his recent tariffs could increase costs in the short term. Finally, in Taiwan, the 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival for the Year of the Snake officially began on Wednesday, with an opening ceremony held in Taoyuan City. Daily light shows and a variety of lantern displays will be held across Taoyuan's 13 districts from 6 to 10 PM until February 23. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City also attracted thousands of visitors who participated in the release of illuminated lanterns into the night sky. The tradition symbolizes peace and prosperity for the new year. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

75th Berlin Film Festival opens on Thursday

2025/02/13 17:00

And in Germany. Curtains went up for this year's 11-day Berlin Film Festival back on Thursday with seven Korean productions on the invitation list. Among them director Bong Joon-ho's latest sci-fi film "Mickey 17" starring Robert Pattinson has been invited.. for the non-competitive special gala section and will be screened this coming Saturday. Meanwhile director Hong Sang-soo's 33rd film "What does that nature say to you?" is scheduled under the competitive section with its screening to be take place next Thursday that is February 20th.

Newly declassified inter-Korean talks reveal Pyongyang’s shifting stance on division

2025/02/13 17:00

Staying at the Unification Ministry. Officials there today made public a collection of past cross-border interactions that offers an interesting insight into North Korea's shifting policy toward South Korea. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil explains. Looking back at history may offer insights into the future, especially when it comes to inter-Korean relations. On Thursday, the Ministry of Unification released newly declassified records of inter-Korean talks from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance public access to information and deepen understanding of North Korea. One of the most striking revelations from these records is how North Korea's stance on inter-Korean division has dramatically changed—contradicting what it once asserted. In official transcripts from 1990, Pyongyang condemned South Korea's anti-tank barriers near the military demarcation line, calling them a "symbol of permanent division." It stated: "It is already heartbreaking that a military demarcation line exists within our nation, but having an artificial barrier built on top of it is nothing short of a national disgrace." North Korea further demanded the removal of these barriers saying , "The concrete wall in the southern part of the demarcation line must be removed." Yet fast forward to today, Pyongyang is building its own barriers along the DMZ, demolishing cross-border roads and railways, and rejecting reunification—declaring South Korea a hostile state. As North Korea reinforces division, the Ministry of Unification is shedding light on the past. It says these records provide critical insight into Pyongyang's evolving stance on division and inter-Korean relations. "Through these newly declassified documents, the public can get a vivid look at inter-Korean dialogue in the late 1980s and the records of preliminary meetings held in preparation for high-level talks in the 1990s." Those interested in reviewing these records can visit the Ministry of Unification's Inter-Korean Relations Management Bureau website or the Information Center on North Korea in Seoul. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.