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[K-enter] Jennie's "Ruby" named Best Album of 2025 by Billboard

2025/06/26 15:37

Let's kick off today with Jennie. She has received more amazing recognition? Jennie's solo album "Ruby" has been named one of the best albums of the year by Billboard. On Tuesday, Billboard announced, on its official website, the list of "The 50 Best Albums of 2025 So Far" and Jennie's first full-length album "Ruby" ranked 21st on the list. She was the only K-pop artist on this list. Billboard noted that "Ruby" shows confidence, elegance, and intense energy. In particular, the title track "like JENNIE" showcases a confident Jennie through direct and assertive lyrics, and this energy flows throughout the entire album. Earlier, the renowned American music magazine Rolling Stone and the media outlet Complex also selected Jennie's "Ruby" as one of the "Best Albums of 2025." Jennie will make a comeback with the rest of BLACKPINK in July. So proud of Jennie and can't wait for BLACKPINK's comeback! We will now move onto NewJeans. and their ongoing dispute with the agency ADOR. What's the latest update? The court injunction banning members of NewJeans from independent activities outside their management company was confirmed on Wednesday as they did not make an appeal to the Supreme Court. Last week, on June 17th, the Seoul High Court upheld a district court's decision to accept the injunction pursued by the group's agency, ADOR, to prevent the five members from independently signing advertising contracts and pursuing separate music activities, as part of a legal dispute between the two parties. Under the current law, the appeal to the Supreme Court must be made within one week of a high court ruling. The court's decision to ban the group's independent activities was finalized on Wednesday as NewJeans did not file an appeal within the deadline. Back in November, NewJeans began pursuing independent activities after accusing ADOR of violating the terms of their exclusive contract, and the dispute between the two is ongoing. And now let's end off on an upcoming movie. What kind of movie is it? Soa, do you like zombie movies? Well, a fresh take on the zombie genre is hitting the big screen. The upcoming film "My Daughter is a Zombie," starring Cho Jung-seok, has confirmed its premiere date. Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, the film has already gained attention for its unique concept and unpredictable storyline. Unlike typical zombie movies, "My Daughter is a Zombie" stands out with its imaginative plot. The story follows Su A, the last remaining zombie in the world, and her father Jeong-hwan, who begins a secret training project to protect his daughter. Cho Jung-seok plays Jung Hwan and Su A is played by Choi Yu-ri. "My Daughter is a Zombie" will premiere in theaters on July 30th. Looking forward to that. Thank you Bella for today's stories. Now, let's go over to our AI anchor Ari, for other culture-related news. Ari, over to you!

K-wave AI News

2025/06/26 15:36

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. With just seven months to go until the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, the organizing committee says preparations are well on track, drawing key lessons from the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Speaking at an official briefing held in Seoul, the CEO of the committee, Andrea Varnier, said the PyeongChang Games served as a valuable reference, particularly in areas such as information and communications technology, ICT, venue sustainability, and transportation. Varnier also expressed hopes of welcoming Korean athletes and fans, given the country's strength in winter sports. Also attending the event was former Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yuna, who encouraged the athletes to fully enjoy what may be the most impactful moment of their lives. The National Palace Museum of Korea will partially close from July 8 to 27 for renovation work. Exhibition halls on the first floor and basement will remain open from July 8 to 20, but the entire museum will shut down from July 21 to 27. Museum officials say the renovations aim to upgrade aging lobby facilities, enhance visitor guidance, and improve the overall flow of foot traffic. The New York Philharmonic, often called the heart of American classical music, is set to perform in Korea for the first time in 11 years. At a press conference, conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen expressed his excitement about returning to Korea with the orchestra, stating that the tour in Korea feels like a family trip. He also highlighted the significance of reuniting with world-renowned pianist Krystian Zimerman after more than 30 years, praising Zimerman's performance as "pure as water." The program features Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 and Symphony No. 3 'Eroica', along with French repertoire including Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite." The stages will be presented at the Arts Center Incheon today, and at the Seoul Arts Center this Friday and Saturday. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[K-wave] Remembering the Korean War by Capturing the Faces of Its Veterans: Project Soldier

2025/06/26 15:35

Honoring history begins with remembering it. Marking the 75th anniversary of the Korean War a recent exhibition showcased a project dedicated to photographing Korean War veterans and sharing their stories. Arirang's defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung was there. An American war veteran, with a Korean flag next to him. He is a veteran of the Korean War, one of one-million-950-thousand soldiers from 22 countries who fought for freedom on the Korean Peninsula. Some call it "the Forgotten War, " but with the belief that the war, and veterans' memories should not fade away, photographer Rami has been documenting Korean War veterans under an initiative named "Project Soldier." Since he started in 2013, Rami has met more than 25-hundred Korean War veterans, recording their stories. "Out of the 2,500 veterans we've interviewed so far, was there any veteran's story that stood out to you?" "All the interviews were meaningful, but Colonel William Weber stood out. When veterans see their photos that make them feel like real heroes, they often tear up and ask about the price of the frame. I usually say 'I'm just repaying a small debt.' But Colonel Weber told me I was wrong—that as a professional soldier, he simply did his duty, and Koreans owe them nothing." Photographer Rami's journey to document the veterans is not just to leave their stories behind; It is to let people know the value of freedom --and that freedom is not free. Sometimes, military items were used in the photos to show that. "The helmet is more than just equipment; it has a symbolic meaning of protecting freedom and peace. Each veteran wrote their name, military unit, and service time on a helmet before taking the photo — showing the lasting symbol of the freedom they helped defend." For freedom to truly endure, the sacrifices of veterans must be remembered—a message that resonates even with soldiers currently serving in Korea. Humbled, one said he was moved by how the photos capture the deep sincerity of senior veterans' commitment to freedom. "Even for me who's currently still serving, it has inspired me to make sure I do as good as I can every day in support of the ROK-US alliance and UNC right now. And then I'm really hopeful that our younger generation can come and see the why life is so great here in Korea." The photographer now aims to go beyond documenting war veterans—to share the stories of those who protect our freedom today. "After them, many others have stood to protect freedom—U.S. veterans in Korea, police, firefighters. I'll be sharing more stories of the guardians of freedom today." ( . , , , .) Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

[Hallyu People] Meet the author of "Sgt. Reckless", a Korean warhorse in the Korean War

2025/06/26 15:34

In 1950, when the Korean War broke out, almost two million United Nations troops from 22 countries took part in the conflict, be it through military or medical support. But it wasn't just humans that fought in this war. Today, we want to listen to the story of a heroic warhorse called "Reckless", often referred to as America's greatest warhorse. For that, we now connect to the bestselling author of "Reckless" or "Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse", Robin Hutton. Hello Ms. Hutton! "Sgt. Reckless" is your book about a horse that was involved in the Korean War. In the U.S., it's a required book for enlisted Marines. 10 years after it was first published, its translated Korean version was released in April this year. How do you feel about the publication in the country "Reckless" fought for and the country she originated from? Ms. Hutton, you are known for your affection for military animals. Among them you even decided to write a book dedicated to the warhorse "Reckless". Why was it this horse and what was it that you wanted to convey through her story? Reckless was originally named "Achimhae", which translates into "flame of the morning." It was actually quite small in size, but how come Reckless was chosen to become a military horse? It's very impressive and touching to hear about the efforts of animals during wartime. So, more specifically, what role did Reckless play in the Korean War? Sergeant Reckless was not only the first animal to be officially promoted to the rank of Sergeant, but was also awarded with two Purple Hearts. Please tell us about the significance of this medal. Memorial Day parades in the U.S. also involve a horse similar to Reckless? Can you tell us more about that event? This year marks the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. Back then, 1,789,000 U.S. troops served in the war. Among them more than 90,000 were wounded. The Reckless monuments in the U.S. were said to be a kind of healing symbol and helped veterans who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder? Tell us more about this story. There are six monuments of Sergeant Reckless in the U.S. and two in Korea, one in Yeoncheon , Gyeonggi-do Province and one on Jeju Island, that was erected last year. What does the presence of these statues and the horse itself mean to the two countries respectively and in terms of their bilateral relationship? Thank you very much Ms. Hutton for connecting with us and sharing this incredible story about Sgt. Reckless in your book. Just as the Korean War should not be a forgotten war, let's not forget the noble deeds of war animals like Reckless. Thank you Bella, we'll see you back very soon.

[NEWs GEN] World Drug Day: Inside the war on global youth drug use

2025/06/26 13:33

[NEWs GEN] World Drug Day: Inside the war on global youth drug use

2025 SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET SPEECH

2025/06/26 12:40

Thanks for joining our special live coverage of the speech on this year's supplementary budget. It's 10 AM here in Seoul, and President Lee Jae Myung is expected to deliver his budget speech at the National Assembly. In just a few moments, President Lee will likely address lawmakers on the second extra budget plan, aimed at boosting spending and reviving the country's economy. Lee is expected to ask for bipartisan support on the plan,.. now that the supplementary budget bill --the second this year and the first since President Lee took office earlier this month --was approved by the Cabinet last week. The extra budget plan, worth 30-point-5 trillion Korean won, or 22 billion U.S. dollars, includes 20-point-2 trillion won of new spending to spur economic growth, and 10-point-3 trillion won to make up for an expected shortfall in tax revenue. A large amount of that new spending will be used to hand out cash to consumers to boost spending. The government is looking to give 10-point-3 trillion Korean won in vouchers ranging in value from 150 thousand won to 500 thousand to every citizen, depending on income levels. Since taking office earlier this month, President Lee Jae Myung has been working to get bipartisan support for the budget plan. Today's speech comes after President Lee met with leaders of the country's two major political parties over the weekend. He spoke to leaders of the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party at the presidential residence on Sunday.. where he acknowledged differing views on the proposed supplementary budget but stressed the need to build consensus to swiftly tackle economic challenges. Again, we are expected to see the president make his speech on the second supplementary budget. We see President Lee Jae Myung entering the National Assembly shaking hands with 000. There, we just saw him shaking hands with all the lawmakers before making his budget speech. LEE'S 2025 BUDGET SPEECH LEE ADDRESSES PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT'S BUDGET SPEECH Now that was South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung delivering his speech on the second supplementary budget. He has now addressed lawmakers on the extra budget plan, asking for bipartisan support. The plan, worth 30-point-5 trillion Korean won.. will include a universal cash handout scheme for consumers as the government seeks to boost spending and revive the country's economy.

Trump says U.S. to meet with Iran next week to discuss potential nuclear deal

2025/06/26 12:39

U.S. President Trump announced plans for talks between the U.S. and Iran next week about a potential nuclear agreement. He also warned that tensions between Israel and Iran could flare up again. Our Shin Ha-young reports. Speaking at a press conference at the end of the NATO summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. will meet with Iran next week to discuss a potential nuclear agreement, which had been put on hold amid conflict between Israel and Iran. "We're going to talk to them next week, with Iran. We may sign an agreement, I don't know. The only thing we would be asking for is what we're asking for before, about -we want no nuclear. But we destroyed the nuclear, in other words, it's destroyed." Although Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire after 12 days of fighting, Trump did not rule out the possibility that the conflict could reignite --possibly soon. "And they are both tired, exhausted, they fought very, very hard. And can it start again? I guess someday, it can, it could maybe start soon." Citing a report from the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission, Trump reaffirmed that Iran's nuclear facilities were completely destroyed by U.S. military strikes last weekend. He also criticized CNN and The New York Times for reporting that the damage was limited. "Some great statements just came out from the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission and from Iran, as you know, there was complete total destruction. And CNN turned out to be fake news, as always. That's why they have no credibility. The New York Times and CNN make up a phony story to get some hits." CNN reported on Tuesday that, according to an early U.S. intelligence assessment, last weekend's U.S. strikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities did not destroy the core components of Tehran's nuclear program and likely only set it back by months. Meanwhile, Iran's state-affiliated news outlet Nournews reported that Iran's parliament approved a bill on Wednesday to stop working with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran will suspend cooperation with the IAEA until the security of the nuclear facilities is guaranteed. He also said that Iran will speed up its peaceful nuclear program. This means it will no longer allow the agency to inspect or verify its nuclear sites and activities. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Monsoon rains take a brief break, scattered rain this morning in some parts

2025/06/26 12:38

The monsoon rains will take a brief break. However, scattered rain will continue until this morning in the capital area, Gangwon-do, and Chungcheongbuk-do Province. It will be less than 5 millimeters before clearing up. Other regions will see mostly cloudy skies. Temperatures are set to rise again. The capital will be much more bearable, hovering in the upper twenties, but those in Daegu need to brace for a scorcher with temperatures peaking at 34 degrees by Sunday! High humidity will only make it feel more uncomfortable. Even today feels like temperatures will be a couple of degrees higher than these numbers. Seoul will reach 27 degrees, Daejeon 28, Gwangju at 29 degrees. Looking ahead, monsoon rains will return to most parts of the country starting this weekend. Rain will begin in the central region early Saturday morning, then expand to the southern regions by afternoon. The Seoul metropolitan area can expect the rain to continue on and off into early next week.

Bezos' Venice wedding party relocated over security concerns

2025/06/26 12:37

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez have moved their wedding party in Venice to a more isolated location. The change was made due to security concerns and the risk of protests. The couple had planned to celebrate in the popular Cannaregio district. However, after local groups threatened to block access to the venue, organizers moved the event to the historic Arsenale hall in the eastern Castello district. The wedding ceremony's exact date and location remain secret, but it is expected to take place between Thursday and Saturday. Around 200 to 250 high-profile guests from entertainment, politics, and finance are expected to attend.

Trump says he's weighing '3 to 4' candidates to replace Fed chair Powell

2025/06/26 12:37

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he is considering three to four candidates to replace Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Speaking at a press conference following a NATO summit in The Hague, Trump did not name any specific individuals but strongly criticized Powell and emphasized the need for a change in leadership at the Fed. The remarks came amid tensions between Powell and Trump over interest rate policies. This week, Powell criticized Trump's tariff policies during a congressional testimony and indicated that the central bank plans to hold interest rates steady for now to control inflation. Powell's current term as Fed chair runs through May 2026.

World News 2: Nvidia shares hit fresh record high

2025/06/26 12:37

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, as President Trump declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Shares of Nvidia in particular jumped over 4%, closing at a record high for the first time since January. The strong performance helped lift the Nasdaq Composite by about 0-point-3 percent. The S&P 500 briefly touched an all-time intraday high before slipping slightly to close at a little over 6-thousand-92. Nvidia's market capitalization has now reached 3.77 trillion dollars, making it the world's most valuable company, narrowly ahead of Microsoft. Analysts say investors remain confident in Nvidia's dominance in the AI sector, despite tightened export controls to China under the Trump administration.

At least 16 killed, hundreds injured in Kenyan protests

2025/06/26 12:37

Good morning, I'm Yoon Se-young, and this is The World Now. We begin in Kenya today, where according to Amnesty Kenya, at least 16 people have been killed and over 400 injured in anti-government protests across the country. Most of the fatalities reportedly occurred during violent clashes with the police in the capital, Nairobi. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on Wednesday, marking the one-year anniversary of last year's deadly protests against a controversial tax bill. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, leading to numerous casualties. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority, a government-funded watchdog, reported that at least 61 people were arrested nationwide during the unrest. Last year's demonstrations resulted in over 60 deaths and a dramatic storming of the parliament building. The latest protests reflect public frustration with government policies and the use of excessive force by security agencies.

Netherlands Ambassador to Seoul on 75 years of Korean War, NATO cooperation, and "pragmatic diplomacy"

2025/06/26 12:36

As we mark 75 years since the outbreak of the Korean War, our correspondent Oh Soo-young spoke with the Ambassador of the Netherlands, on the values and challenges South Korea and Europe face for deeper security cooperation. Seventy-five years after the Korean War began, the Netherlands' Ambassador to Seoul says new security challenges call for continued cooperation between South Korea and the nations that defended it. In an interview with Arirang News, Ambassador Peter van der Vliet reflected on the bilateral partnership, built on the sacrifices made by thousands of Dutch troops, who fought for South Korea's freedom and sovereignty. When North Korean and Chinese forces invaded the South in 1950, the Netherlands sent over 5,000 troops to help the South as part of the United Nations Command. At least 125 Dutch soldiers lost their lives. Even after the ceasefire in 1953, the Netherlands to this day remains committed to peace on the peninsula. "We are certainly for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. That is also a reason that we are still with the United Nations Command because the United Nations Command is there to promote stability on the Korean Peninsula." As global conflicts blur traditional lines between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, the ambassador stresses that South Korea's security is becoming deeply linked to Europe's. "The best example of that is the Russian military strategic cooperation with North Korea, with North Korean weapons and troops going to Russia to help Russia in its war of aggression against a sovereign state, Ukraine. But also in the other direction, the things that North Korea gets from Russia, including military technology and other items." As such, South Korea has been increasing its cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supplying NATO countries with artillery shells, tanks, howitzers, and light combat aircraft. Since 2022,.. South Korea has been invited to the annual NATO Summits --which this year, takes place at the Hague. "It's also a historic summit because the European members of NATO will take a larger, greater responsibility for Europe's defense. And I think that also offers opportunities for Korea to be even more involved in defense cooperation." Beyond defence, the Ambassador says economic security has emerged as another central area of cooperation, as countries work to secure supply chains, protect critical technologies, and shield their economies from strategic vulnerabilities. The two countries, in 2023, agreed to collaborate in the semiconductor industry, the most consequential component that powers all things digital. Going forward, as South Korea's new administration sets out its so-called "pragmatic diplomacy", hinting at engagement with Beijing and Moscow, the Dutch envoy says pragmatism is inherently grounded in principles. "Pragmatism is also based on a foundation of certain values and principles. Just a pragmatic policy without values or principles is really what is it really? And I think the values that we have in common should be treasured. .. Respect for the international legal order, a rule-based international system for peace, for democracy." Seventy-five years after the war began and still continues, South Korea and the Netherlands face new security tests --but stay bound by the shared values that first brought Dutch forces to this distant shore. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Final confirmation hearing for PM nominee fails ends due to disputes over data request

2025/06/26 12:35

The final confirmation hearing for President Lee Jae-myung's pick for Prime Minister ended Wednesday without resuming, after clashes between rival parties. This comes as the main opposition People Power Party walked out in the afternoon, accusing nominee Kim Min-seok of not submitting essential documents, mainly about his wealth and family. The ruling Democratic Party hit back, saying the opposition was making politically motivated attacks. With the PPP unlikely to agree to adopting the confirmation hearing report for Kim, the DP said it will push for a parliamentary vote to approve him by July 4.

[On-point] New S. Korean gov't seeks to boost economy through extra budget plan --Will it revive the economy?

2025/06/26 12:35

President Lee Jae Myung has just delivered his speech on the second supplementary budget. For more on this and the country's economic policy, we're joined by Professor Shin Se-don, professor at the Division of Business Economics at Sookmyung Women's University. Professor Shin, thanks so much for your time this morning. So we just heard the president give his speech — what's your overall assessment of the extra budget plan? The bill includes a universal cash handout scheme for all citizens. Will this help revive the country's economy? What is the number one priority the Lee administration should focus on in its economic policy? Another key issue the government faces is tariffs, and the country's top trade negotiator is in Washington to hold the first tariff talks since President Lee took office. What leverage does South Korea have in tariff negotiations with the U.S.? South Korea faces reciprocal tariffs of 25%. If this measure takes effect, how would that affect Korean businesses? Alright. Professor Shin, thank you so much for your insight. We appreciate it.

Direct train from Pyongyang arrives in Moscow

2025/06/26 12:34

The direct train between Pyongyang and Moscow, which resumed service after a 5-year suspension due to COVID-19, arrived in Moscow on Wednesday. According to Russia's TASS news agency, the train which departed from Pyongyang on the 17th of this month, arrived at the Yaroslavsky train station in Moscow. A representative of the North Korean railway authorities said that there were no passengers on the train, and only crew members. The service will be available twice a month with the train from Pyongyang departing on the 3rd and 17th of every month, and that from Moscow departing on the 12th and 26th. The one-way trip takes eight days and is reportedly the longest direct train journey in the world, spanning over 10-thousand kilometers.

Security chiefs of S. Korea, U.S. agree to pursue early summit

2025/06/26 12:34

South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac met with U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in the Netherlands. The two agreed on the need to arrange a bilateral summit as soon as possible and to maintain close contact. They also discussed ways to strengthen further what they referred to as the "successful alliance" between Seoul and Washington. While attending the two-day summit on behalf of President Lee Jae-myung, Wi held one-on-one talks with Japan's foreign minister as well as top national security and foreign policy advisers from the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, to explore ways to deepen cooperation.

NATO members agree to paying 5% of GDP on defense

2025/06/26 12:34

As NATO member states wrapped up their summit in the Netherlands, they agreed to increase their defense spending over the next ten years. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has been critical of the allies' lack of contribution. Lee Seung-jae has more. Members of the NATO alliance on Wednesday agreed to raise their defense spending target from the current two percent of GDP to five percent by 2035. In a joint declaration, the military bloc agreed to invest five percent annually to ensure its "individual and collective obligations." According to the declaration,.. the five percent figure is made up of "at least" 3-point-5 percent on "pure" defense", while the remaining 1-point-5 percent going to security and defense-related "critical infrastructure." In addition,.. member countries will be required to submit annual plans that show a "credible, incremental path to reach" the goal of 5 percent. The agreement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump had been critical of the military bloc for its lack of contribution to defense spending. Meanwhile, after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country could meet its commitments to NATO while spending much less than the new target of 5 percent of GDP, Trump threatened Spain with higher tariffs if it did not commit to the same target as all the members. "You what we're going to do? We're negotiating with Spain on a trade deal. We're going to make them pay twice as much and I'm actually serious about that." President Trump also held a closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday at The Hague, after which the U.S. president didn't rule out sending Ukraine monetary and defense aid. "So let me just tell you they do want to have the anti-missile missiles, okay, as they call them the Patriots, and we're going to see if we could make some available, you know they're very hard to get." Trump appeared to have shifted tone compared to last meeting with Zelenskyy, while the Ukrainian leader also offered similar praise of Trump,.. adding Ukraine is ready to buy more U.S. weapons. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Stock

2025/06/25 22:42

2025. 6. 25. KOREAN STOCK MARKET KOSPI : 3,108.25 ▲4.61 +0.15% KOSDAQ : 798.21 ▼2.72 -0.34% KOSPI200 : 419.51 ▲1.75 +0.42% ASIAN STOCK MARKET NIKKEI225 : 38,942.07 ▲151.51 +0.39% HANG SENG : 24,474.67 ▲297.60 +1.23% SHANGHAI : 3,455.97 ▲35.41 +1.04% WALL STREET (June 24) DOW JONES : 43,089.02 ▲507.24 +1.19% NASDAQ : 19,912.53 ▲281.55 +1.43% S&P500 : 6,092.18 ▲67.01 +1.11% EXCHANGE RATE USD : 1,362.40 (+2.20) JPY : 938.58 (+1.32) CNY : 190.07 (+0.50) EUR : 1,583.18 (+3.04)

U.S. to strike again if Iran rebuilds nuclear facilities: Trump

2025/06/25 22:42

A ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding up for now, putting an end to 12 days of violence, while the Trump administration suggests it'll hit Iranian nuclear sites again if Iran reconstructs them. Our Choi Soo-hyung leads us in with this tonight. U.S. President Donald Trump warned that if Iran rebuilds its nuclear facilities, he will launch another attack. At a press conference in the Hague, during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday local time, he added that the strikes on Iran had set back its nuclear program by decades, saying that the facilities had been completely obliterated. "That's a building that sunk substantially into the granite. So that, you know, the fire goes right over it. It was, I believe it was total obliteration." Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran seeks nuclear energy rights for peaceful purposes, not weapons. Iran held five rounds of talks with the U.S. since April, but disagreements over uranium enrichment remained unresolved. But, he said Iran was ready to restart talks with the U.S. within an international framework. However, recent U.S. strikes on key nuclear sites have weakened Iran's position, making a quick return to negotiations uncertain. Meanwhile, the war between Israel and Iran apparently ended on Wednesday, after a 24-hour phased ceasefire announced by U.S. President Trump, though both sides traded minor attacks during the truce. President Trump gave a strong warning to both Israel and Iran, accusing them of violating the ceasefire. Israel and Iran both claimed victory in the conflict. "Dear citizens of Israel, during the 12 days of the operation Rising Lion, we achieved a historic victory, and this victory will stand for generations." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on social media that Israel will respect the ceasefire ---as long as the other side does. Iranian President Pezeshkian said Tehran would only hit Israel if it violates the ceasefire deal. Military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said that Israel's military was shifting its focus back to Gaza. On Wednesday, local time, an Israeli army tank operating in Gaza exploded, killing seven soldiers. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.