News

Parliament to request gov't draft up supplementary budget within March

2025/03/18 20:00

The National Assembly is set to ask the government to come up with a draft for a supplementary budget within this month. This came on Tuesday after Speaker Woo Won-shik held a meeting with the floor leaders of the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition the Democratic Party of Korea. DP lawmaker Park Sung-joon argued that the government has been passive when it comes to a supplementary budget, so the two main parties felt the need to urge the government to create one. PPP lawmaker Park Hyung-joon added that the authority to draft a supplementary budget lies with the government, so the Parliament cannot force it to submit a proposal by a certain deadline, but the intention is to fully coordinate with the government.

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan, China to hold talks in Tokyo this week

2025/03/18 20:00

The top diplomats of South Korea, Japan, and China are to hold talks this week in Tokyo. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will have a three-way meeting with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Saturday. The talks come for the first time in more than a year, since November 2023. The three sides are to assess the progress of trilateral cooperation since the their leaders' summit that took place in May last year, and exchange views on regional and international issues. Cho is to hold one-on-one talks with his Japanese and Chinese counterparts as well with the key agenda to be about preparations for the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Seoul-Tokyo ties with Iwaya and the APEC summit with Wang.

Trump warns Iran of "dire" consequences if Houthi attacks continue

2025/03/18 20:00

U.S. President Donald Trump declares that any strike against the U.S. by Yemen's Houthi rebels will be considered a strike by Iran and that Iran would face "dire consequences". Park Kun-woo covers his remarks and more. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran that it will be held responsible for any further attacks or retaliation by Yemen's Houthi rebels long backed by Tehran. Calling the Houthis "sinister mobsters and thugs," Trump posted on social media Monday that "every shot" fired by the rebels will be seen as being fired from the "weapons and leadership" of Iran and that there will be "dire" consequences. The White House even reinforced Trump's stance, urging that Iran take the warnings seriously. Such threats came after the U.S. launched a new series of airstrikes over the weekend, which according to the Houthi-run health ministry, targeted more than 30 Yemeni group sites and killed at least 53 people. The U.S. continued its attacks on Monday, targeting the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and Al Jawf governorate, north of the Yemeni capital Sanaa. While the Pentagon said strikes will continue in the coming days, it added that will persist until the Houthis cease their attacks. "The Houthis could stop this tomorrow if they said, 'We're going to stop shooting at your people,' but they've clearly chosen not to do that." Amid these warnings from the U.S., Iran's United Nations envoy through a letter on Monday told the UN Security Council that Trump and other U.S. officials had made "reckless and provocative statements" that leveled "baseless accusations" against Tehran. He also said that the U.S. had threatened the use of force against them, adding that Washington is seeking to "unlawfully justify" its acts of "aggression and war crimes" against Yemen. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Deadly Israeli strikes in Gaza kill over 320 Palestinians, breaking ceasefire with Hamas

2025/03/18 20:00

Over in the Middle East. Israel has resumed strikes on Gaza amid its fragile ceasefire with Hamas. More than 300 people had been reportedly killed, including many children. Cha Yun-kyung has the latest. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday morning that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to take firm action against the armed militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The office announced that such action follows Hamas' repeated refusal to release Israeli hostages, as well as its "continuous" rejection of all proposals from mediators. Katz reiterated that Israel will continue to fight in the Gaza Strip if all hostages are not returned home. Destroying much of the housing and infrastructure in Gaza including the hospital system, Israel's surprise attack could mean a return to fighting in the 17-month war that has killed thousands of Palestinians and 팔레스타인인 수천 명의 사망자를 낸 17개월 전쟁에서 다시 전투가 벌어질 수 있다고 AP 뉴스는 보도했습니다. caused widespread destruction across the region, according to AP News. Bloomberg also reported that the sudden airstrike by Israel shatters the ceasefire deal with Hamas, as Israel carried out the most deadly offensive since a ceasefire took effect two months ago, killing more than 3-hundred-20 including women and children. With Netanyahu vowing to use "increasing military strength" against Hamas, the militant group has strongly criticized the IDF and accused Netanyahu of overturning the ceasefire agreement and leaving the remaining hostages in Gaza "to an unknown fate." Meanwhile, Israelis whose family members are still being held hostage in Gaza have demanded to meet with Netanyahu and his officials after the resumption of airstrikes on the enclave. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Trump's top economic aide mentions trade deficit with S. Korea

2025/03/18 20:00

Washington apparently continues sending a message to its trading partners ahead of President Trump's reciprocal tariffs in April, this time, identifying Korea as a major "trade deficit" country, likely referring to non-tariff trade barriers. Our Shin Ha-young explains. With about two weeks until the announcement of reciprocal tariff plans, a top economic aide to U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned South Korea as a major "trade deficit" country. U.S. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told CNBC on Monday that trade deficits with Europe, China and South Korea have persisted for years, claiming the deficits are attributable to the countries' high tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers. He added that if U.S. trading partners immediately lower all barriers, the negotiations will be over. Since South Korea and the U.S. have a Free Trade Agreement that removes tariffs on most items, Hassett's statement is raising expectations of increased pressure on South Korea to lower non-tariff trade barriers. "The Trump administration is focused on fixing trade imbalances and seems to be taking a one-on-one approach with countries that have large trade deficits. For South Korea, this could mean either imposing tariffs to reduce imports or negotiating to lower barriers so South Korea can import more from the U.S." The expert from the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy emphasized the need for South Korea to review its contributions to the U.S. and assess potential U.S. demands on non-tariff trade barriers. "We need to review our contributions to the U.S. and potential demands from the U.S. on non-tariff trade barriers. However, with many uncertainties, it's too early for negotiations." Meanwhile, during the interview with CNBC, Hassett said there will be "some uncertainty" between "now and April 2nd," referring to the date Trump is set to unveil his reciprocal tariff plans. His comments come as market analysts and business leaders have criticized the sweeping tariff announcements, which have led to volatility in world markets. However, Hassett defended Trump's tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, calling them "very positive developments" adding things will clear up after April 2nd. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

What does it mean for South Korea to be included on U.S. 'sensitive country' list?

2025/03/18 20:00

For a closer look, our Bae Eun-ji, who has been following the story, joins us in the studio. Eun-ji, unlike what the acting U.S. ambassador said, as we just saw in your report, it looks like Seoul is not taking this issue lightly. Right. This was a huge blow to South Korea as this could mean potentially hindering technology and science cooperation with the United States. And as you mentioned, another problem was that the Korean government was not aware of this for two months leading to harsh criticism. South Korea was put on the list in January, shortly before then-President Joe Biden left office. But this month the government began to ramp up efforts to overturn the decision. But whether the Trump administration will reconsider the move remains to be seen. 2. As for the reason behind the listing, there appears to be lots of different speculation. And some have suggested this may have been led by what happened at an institution under the U.S.' energy department. That's right. Some observers have said the U.S. listing may have to do with a recent incident at Idaho National Laboratory --a research institution under the U.S. Department of Energy --where security regulations were breached. In a report to Congress last year, the department said it fired the laboratory's contractor employee, who tried to board a flight to South Korea with export-controlled information on nuclear reactor design software. But it was not immediately clear if this case contributed to the designation. And some say a single incident would not have led to such a significant decision by the U.S. government, so questions persist over why South Korea was placed in the lowest category of the Energy Department's sensitive countries list. We'll have to see how the situation unfolds. Thank you for the wrap-up, Eun-ji. We appreciate it.

U.S. label of South Korea being ‘sensitive country’ putting alliance to test

2025/03/18 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korea's sudden addition to the "Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List" by the U.S. Department of Energy has sent shockwaves through diplomatic and security circles. While Seoul insists the move is a technical security measure, critics argue it signals deeper concerns—potentially over nuclear technology proliferation, political instability, or shifting U.S. strategic priorities. The timing is also notable. This designation was quietly made in the final stretch of the Biden administration but was only uncovered months later—just as President Trump stepped back into office. Could the designation reshape U.S.-South Korea relations? To break down the key questions at hand, to my right we have Hans Schattle, Professor of Political Science at Yonsei University. Welcome, Prof. And to my left is Min Jeong-hun, Professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Thank you for joining us, Prof. 1. (Schattle) Let's begin with Prof. Schattle, so we hear that the U.S. Department of Energy added South Korea to its Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List in early January. What exactly is this list, and what economic and security implications does the designation have? 2. (MIN) The South Korean government says the designation is due to security concerns "unrelated" to foreign policy. 3. (Schattle) Some argue that South Korea's unstable domestic political climate, including the December 3rd illegal martial law incident, may have also influenced the U.S. decision to designate the country as a sensitive nation. How do you view this perspective? 4.(Schattle) The timing of when South Korea was added to the sensitive countries list was SURPRISINGLY during President Biden's term. 5.(Min) The South Korean government wasn't aware of this designation for nearly two months and vowed to take appropriate action before the policy takes effect on April 15th. Amid criticism of diplomatic shortcomings and a leadership vacuum, what measures should South Korea take to address this issue? 6.(Min) Meanwhile, it remains uncertain whether the Trump administration will accept South Korea's request to revise its sensitive country designation. 7.(Schattle) Amid this, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's planned visit to South Korea has been canceled. 8.(Min) During former Pres. Park Geun-hye administration's impeachment crisis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, and Vice President all visited South Korea in succession. Given this precedent, some now worry that Hegseth's canceled visit signals a resurgence of "Korea Passing"—the phenomenon of South Korea being sidelined in major diplomatic affairs. How do you interpret this situation? 9.(Schattle) Meanwhile, President Trump recently referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power" and a "nuclear-armed state." He also stated that his second administration would seek a relationship with North Korea similar to that of his first term. Could this signal a fundamental shift in U.S. policy toward North Korea?

S. Korea prepares to resume Panmunjom tour program suspended in 2023

2025/03/18 17:00

South Korea is preparing to resume its tour program to the border town of Panmunjom following a 16-month suspension. According to the Unification Ministry on this Tuesday related talks are underway.. with the UN Command to ensure safe tours starting next month. The resumption will begin with policy-related visitors before being expanded to the general public. The Panmunjom tour program was suspended in July 2023 after U.S. army private Travis King crossed into North Korea during his trip to the Joint Security Area. The program briefly resumed in November 2023 but was halted yet again a week later after the suspension of the September 19th inter-Korean military agreement.

Trump warns Iran of "dire" consequences if Houthi attacks continue

2025/03/18 17:00

Meanwhile in a dramatic escalation of animosity U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that any strike against the U.S. by Yemen's Houthi rebels will be considered a strike by Iran and that Iran would face "dire consequences". Park Kun-woo covers his remarks and more. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran that it will be held responsible for any further attacks or retaliation by Yemen's Houthi rebels long backed by Tehran. Calling the Houthis "sinister mobsters and thugs," Trump posted on social media Monday that "every shot" fired by the rebels will be seen as being fired from the "weapons and leadership" of Iran and that there will be "dire" consequences. The White House even reinforced Trump's stance, urging that Iran take the warnings seriously. Such threats came after the U.S. launched a new series of airstrikes over the weekend, which according to the Houthi-run health ministry, targeted more than 30 Yemeni group sites and killed at least 53 people. The U.S. continued its attacks on Monday, targeting the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and Al Jawf governorate, north of the Yemeni capital Sanaa. While the Pentagon said strikes will continue in the coming days, it added that will persist until the Houthis cease their attacks. "The Houthis could stop this tomorrow if they said, 'We're going to stop shooting at your people,' but they've clearly chosen not to do that." Amid these warnings from the U.S., Iran's United Nations envoy through a letter on Monday told the UN Security Council that Trump and other U.S. officials had made "reckless and provocative statements" that leveled "baseless accusations" against Tehran. He also said that the U.S. had threatened the use of force against them, adding that Washington is seeking to "unlawfully justify" its acts of "aggression and war crimes" against Yemen. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Trump plans to call Putin on Tuesday to discuss war in Ukraine

2025/03/18 17:00

The leaders of the U.S. and Russia are poised to speak on the phone on Tuesday U.S. time amid hopes for a 30-day truce between Kyiv and the Kremlin to pause three years of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that he plans to have a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, to discuss putting an end to the Ukraine war. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump announced the date of the planned phone call, adding that a lot of work has been done over the past weekend to bring ceasefire discussion into fruition. When asked if he thought Russia would agree to a 30-day ceasefire, Trump voiced optimism. Ahead of the planned phone call, the White House said Monday that a deal to finally put an end to more than three years of war is closer than it has ever been. Speaking to reporters, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said that they're "on the 10th yard line of peace," adding that they've "never been closer to a peace deal" than this moment. She stressed that Trump is determined to get the deal done. Meanwhile, the European Union warned Trump not to trust Russia ahead of his phone call with Putin. EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said at a press conference following the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels on Monday, that the consensus among the member countries is that Russia cannot be fully trusted. Kallas pointed out that Russia did not immediately accept the 30-day ceasefire deal agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine, adding that Russia will use the opportunity to make demands. EU foreign ministers at the meeting also discussed providing Ukraine with a new military aid package worth over 43 billion U.S. dollars. The EU believes that additional military aid is urgent for Ukraine's security as Washington is pushing for a quick end-of-war agreement. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Acting President Choi vetoes KCC bill; only two president-appointed members active

2025/03/18 17:00

Acting President Choi Sang-mok has vetoed an opposition-led bill that would make it mandatory for the Korea Communications Commission to have at least three commission members appointed in order to operate. The veto took place earlier on this Tuesday and marks Choi's 9th veto since taking on the role of acting president in late December. Currently only two President Yoon Suk Yeol-appointed members are active at the Commission while the remaining three appointments to be made by the parliament are vacant amid the political standoff. This parliamentary bill was also previously turned down by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Court holds first trial hearing for Justice Minister Park Sung-jae on alleged martial law participation

2025/03/18 17:00

On the local political front. The Constitutional Court held its first hearing on the impeachment of Justice Minister Park Sung-jae earlier on this Tuesday. Park was impeached by the parliament last December with opposition lawmakers accusing him of partaking in Korea's short-lived martial law by seeking to secure detention venues for key political figures. Park's defense team has dismissed the accusations as groundless. After a two-hour session the bench decided it would begin deliberating on his case without a second hearing. Separately the Constitutional Court has yet to disclose a date for its verdict to determine the fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol whose impeachment trial ended in late February.

S. Korea says inclusion on U.S. 'sensitive country' list is due to security issues, not foreign policy

2025/03/18 17:00

South Korea's designation as a sensitive country by the U.S. Energy Department reportedly comes in line with security concerns and not diplomacy. Our correspondent Bae Eun-ji starts us off. Concerns are rising after South Korea, a key U.S. ally, was recently added to the U.S. Energy Department's Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List --alongside North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran. While South Korea is in the lowest tier as "Other Designated Countries," it is the only U.S. ally with a formal defense treaty. Following communication with the U.S., Seoul's Foreign Ministry confirmed that South Korea's inclusion is due to security-related issues, rather than foreign policy concerns. The government also clarified that the U.S. has said the designation will not significantly impact joint energy research or technology cooperation. The ministry further highlighted that it's closely cooperating with the U.S., while noting that South Korea has been on the list in the past and was removed through similar diplomatic efforts. According to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 1996, South Korea was previously on the DOE's sensitive country list from January 1993 to June 1996. But the report added that South Korea was a country no longer considered sensitive as of July 28th, 1994. Despite the government's explanation, many experts still believe there are other reasons behind the matter. Because the U.S. list cites concerns over national security and nuclear proliferation, some observers in Seoul suggest it has to do with growing discussions on the need for South Korea to acquire its own nuclear weapons capability. "I think that's the biggest reason. The main reason why the U.S. Department of Energy would designate a specific country to its sensitive countries list is nuclear non-proliferation." Others believe South Korea's domestic political situation may have influenced the move since the U.S. decision, made in January, follows President Yoon's martial law declaration on December 3rd. "Once the Constitutional Court's decision on the impeachment is announced, the political turmoil in South Korea will be resolved. In that case, there would be no reason for the Trump administration to keep South Korea on this list." Meanwhile,.. the acting U.S. ambassador to Seoul, Joseph Yun, said on Tuesday that the energy department's listing was not a serious matter that could affect bilateral relations adding that the matter was "not a big deal." He explained that Seoul was put on the DOE list due to "some mishandling of sensitive information" that should not be taken out of laboratories, without further elaboration. Nonetheless, Seoul is looking to actively engage with Washington to resolve the issue before the designation takes effect on April 15th with trade minister Ahn Duk-geun set to visit the U.S. later this week to meet with his counterpart. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

World News: EU and partners promise US$ 6.3 bil. in aid for Syria and its neighbors

2025/03/18 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. The European Union and its international partners have pledged substantial financial aid to support Syria and its neighboring countries during a critical transition period following the ousting of its former leader. At a conference held in Brussels on Monday, donors committed approximately 6.3 billion U.S. dollars in aid for Syria and its neighbors, with the EU pledging nearly 2.7 billion dollars. This year's total pledges are lower than the 8.2 billion dollars raised last year, partly due to reductions in the United States foreign aid budget. Meanwhile, Syria's interim government participated in the conference for the first time, with its foreign minister in attendance. Rwanda announced it officially cut diplomatic ties with Belgium on Monday, citing interference in regional matters. The Rwandan government announced that all Belgian diplomats must depart within 48 hours, raising concerns about escalating bilateral tensions. The decision follows accusations that Belgium has sided against Rwanda with regard to the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda insists that Belgium has taken sides in the regional conflict and continues to mobilize against Rwanda in various forums, employing what it describes as "lies and manipulation" to destabilize the region. Finally, in the United States, New York City celebrated its 264th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on Monday local time, attracting approximately 2 million spectators and featuring 150,000 marchers. Participants included school bands, Irish pipe and drum ensembles, and uniformed personnel from the police and fire departments. Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul were among the attendees, and also wore green for the occasion. Meanwhile, in Chicago, the annual tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green with an eco-friendly dye, a practice that began in 1962, was once again observed. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

South Korea's Culture Ministry selects Andong as Culture City of East Asia 2026

2025/03/18 17:00

The Culture Ministry has selected Andong City as South Korea's city of culture for East Asian exchanges of 2026. Highlighting Andong's UNESCO-listed world heritage sites such as the Hahoe Folk Village the ministry has pledged to support various cultural interactions. Since 2014 South Korea China and Japan have selected four cities with rich history every year to promote cultural programs including performances and exhibitions under a trilateral initiative that aims to advance artistic collaboration.

Rwanda cuts diplomatic ties with Belgium citing interference

2025/03/18 10:00

Rwanda announced it officially cut diplomatic ties with Belgium on Monday, citing interference in regional matters. The Rwandan government announced that all Belgian diplomats must depart within 48 hours, raising concerns about escalating bilateral tensions. The decision follows accusations that Belgium has sided against Rwanda with regard to the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda insists that Belgium has taken sides in the regional conflict and continues to mobilize against Rwanda in various forums, employing what it describes as "lies and manipulation" to destabilize the region.

EU and partners promise U.S.$ 6.3 bil. in aid for Syria and its neighbors

2025/03/18 10:00

The European Union and its international partners have pledged substantial financial aid to support Syria and its neighboring countries during a critical transition period following the ousting of its former leader. At a conference held in Brussels on Monday, donors committed approximately 6.3 billion U.S. dollars in aid for Syria and its neighbors, with the EU pledging nearly 2.7 billion dollars. This year's total pledges are lower than the 8.2 billion dollars raised last year, partly due to reductions in the United States foreign aid budget. Meanwhile, Syria's interim government participated in the conference for the first time, with its foreign minister in attendance.

Trump says U.S. will hold Iran responsible for further Houthi attacks

2025/03/18 10:00

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now. Following a series of U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels over the weekend, President Donald Trump on Monday issued a warning to Iran regarding its support for the group. Trump emphasized that any future assaults by the Houthis will be regarded as direct actions by Iran, and promised severe repercussions. Taking to social media he said, "Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire." The White House reinforced the stance, indicating that Iran should take the United States' warnings seriously. Meanwhile, the Pentagon reported that over 30 Houthi sites have been targeted so far, and vowed to continue using "overwhelming lethal force" to protect international maritime commerce until the group ceases its attacks.

On-point: Will President Yoon's impeachment case ruling be announced on Friday?

2025/03/18 10:00

Many are expecting the Constitutional Court to rule on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case later this week. What's taking the justices so long? We turn to legal expert Joung Hwang. Good morning. 1. What do you think the eight justices are contemplating at this stage? Didn't the court stress a speedy ruling? 2. Some are betting that Thursday or Friday to be the day the ruling is announced, and some even expect it to happen as late as next week. Which day are you betting on? Why that day? 3. And I'm sure the justices will pour extra efforts into drawing up their final statements considering the gravity of the case, won't they? 4. Will President Yoon make a statement before the ruling day do you think? Yoon's legal team said no, but if yes, what kind of statement? 5. Will the ruling and opposition parties be able to draw out a joint message following the verdict? They did back in 2017 when former President Park Geun-hye was ousted. Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us this morning.

Trump's top economic aide warns of more uncertainty over tariffs

2025/03/18 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump's top economic aide on Monday warned of more economic uncertainty stemming from Washington's evolving tariff policy. Speaking to CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday, U.S. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said there will be "some uncertainty" between "now and April 2nd", referring to the date Trump is set to unveil his "reciprocal" tariff plans. His comments come as market analysts and business leaders have criticized the sweeping tariff announcements, which have led to volatility in the markets. However, Hassett defended Trump's tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, calling them "very positive developments" adding things will clear up after April 2nd.