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S. Korea, U.S., Japan send message to China through support for Taiwan's participation in int'l organizations

2025/02/17 20:00

In Germany this past weekend. Chief diplomats of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan reaffirmed their resolve to rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons, laying to rest fears of a potential shift in American policy on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this commitment and the trilateral support for Taiwan. South Korea's foreign minister Cho Tae-yul and his American and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya met for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year and delivered a strong message that appears to be aimed at China. In a joint statement, they expressed their "support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations." That detail, which could upset China has never been included in a joint statement by the three countries before. This appears to reflect the Trump administration's hardline stance towards China. as Beijing has been making efforts to block Taiwan from joining the United Nations and many other global organizations. At a session of the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Cho said it's only natural for South Korea to keep relations with both the U.S. and China in harmony to best to serve its national interests, but added that this is easier said than done. "We can continue to improve our relations with Beijing while continuing to upgrading our strong alliance with Washington. But particularly when it comes to the security issues, there's a limit to what we can do to accommodate demands from Beijing." The three countries also made it clear in the joint statement that they reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. This gave reassurance to Seoul, particularly after Trump's comments referring to the North as a "nuclear power" raised concerns in South Korea, as they led to speculation that Washington could be shifting away from its focus on denuclearizing North Korea. Before the trilateral talks, Cho and Rubio held a separate meeting for about 40 minutes, where they agreed to closely cooperate on deterring North Korean threats. The two sides also reaffirmed that their alliance will continue to remain strong throughout Trump's second term in office., with Rubio reiterating his confidence in South Korea's acting president. Speaking to reporters in Munich, Cho said he expects the two countries to hold more high-level meetings, and that the government plans to consult with Washington on the issue of tariffs on steel and aluminum as soon as possible, to minimize possible damage to Korean companies. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Top U.S. officials to hold Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

2025/02/17 20:00

A senior U.S. delegation is meeting with its Russian counterpart in Saudi Arabia for talks about ending the Kremlin's aggression against Kyiv. The meeting also seeks to lay the ground for a summit between Trump and Putin. Shin Ha-young tells us more. Trump administration officials are preparing to meet with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia to start talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. That's according to the U.S. Middle East envoy, talking to Fox News on Sunday. "I'll be traveling there with the National Security adviser and we'll be having meetings at the direction of the president. And hopefully we'll make some really good progress with regard to Russia, Ukraine." According to CNN, the talks are set to begin on Tuesday. However, speaking to NBC News on the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv had not been invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia, adding that Ukraine would never accept any deals made without them. Regarding Ukraine's absence from the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News on Sunday that if real negotiations happen, Ukraine must be involved and that Europe must also be involved. Amid European concern that the U.S. is moving ahead on talks with Russia without consultation, French President Emmanuel Macron has called leaders from key EU nations and the UK for an emergency security meeting on Monday. One expert pointed out that while Ukraine and Europe could be involved later, if the talks proceed under the current structure, the impact on both Ukraine and Europe will be significant. "From Europe's perspective, if the war ends with a Russian victory, expanding its territory toward Europe, it could face serious security threats and may strengthen its own military defenses. Ukraine could lose territory without any security guarantees, but there may still be room for negotiation, especially considering discussions around Ukraine's rare earth minerals and other factors." U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he is working hard to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine and that he believes the leaders of both countries want to stop fighting. To a question asking about Ukraine's involvement in talks, he answered that Zelenskyy would be involved in the negotiations. Trump also hinted that a meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia could happen soon but no date has been set. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Gov't, ruling party announce new measures to strengthen safety on school grounds

2025/02/17 20:00

Meanwhile, following the shocking murder of an elementary school student by a teacher in Daejeon last week, authorities are hammering out new measures to prevent similar incidents in the future and better protect children within school grounds. The members of the ruling People Power Party and the government, following talks at the National Assembly on Monday, announced they are dispatching a special team to conduct inspections and strengthen safety at schools nationwide before the new school year starts in spring. Furthermore, they will work on legislative action to establish legal foundations that will immediately separate students from teachers who pose a threat to student safety due to mental illnesses or other conditions. They will also work to expand mental health support for faculty members.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors to take on Yoon, first lady election interference case

2025/02/17 20:00

Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office will now take on the case looking into President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged interfering in an election through political broker Myung Tae-kyun. On Monday, Changwon City District Office said the case and the team had been transferred to Seoul as many relevant figures reside in the capital. This, however, could be a move by prosecutors to show their efforts in investigating the case amid opposition parties' push for a special probe bill for the case as they cite prosecutors' lack of apparent motivation. Last year, a phone call between Yoon and Myung surfaced where they discussed the candidacy of a then-upcoming by-election which would be illegal. Also, other allegations involving the first couple and Myung are included in the investigations such as misuse of political funds.

World News: Zelenskyy rejects Trump's minerals deal

2025/02/17 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declined the Trump administration's critical minerals deal, which suggests that the United States take a 50% stake in Ukraine's vast critical mineral resources, citing a lack of security provisions. On Saturday, Zelenskyy said the draft minerals deal with Washington did not include any security guarantees, and emphasized that any such agreement must include robust security assurances to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and deter further aggression from Russia. The U.S. proposal was presented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit to Kyiv on February 12 and aims to secure half of Ukraine's rare earth mineral rights, as compensation for past military and financial aid as well as payment for future assistance. Trump has previously said he wanted 500 billion U.S. dollars worth of critical minerals from Ukraine to reduce dependence on China for rare earth materials. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday held a meeting aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation, between the two nations. The Cook Islands said Saturday that it signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' deal with China, during the discussions in Harbin. Premier Li emphasized China's commitment to deepening political mutual trust with the Cook Islands. He proposed aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with the Cook Islands' development strategies, to enhance collaboration in various sectors, including maritime infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and cultural exchanges. Prime Minister Brown acknowledged the nearly three-decade-long friendship between the two states and reaffirmed the Cook Islands' adherence to the one-China policy, while assuring that relations with China do not impinge on longstanding ties with New Zealand. In Austria, a 14-year-old boy was killed and 5 people were injured in a stabbing attack in the city of Villach on Saturday. The attacker, a 23-year-old Syrian national, was apprehended at the scene. Authorities have identified the incident as an Islamist attack, and said the suspect had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State. A local food delivery driver's swift intervention by using his vehicle to impede the attacker, likely prevented further casualties. The attack follows a series of similar incidents in Europe, and has intensified discussions on immigration and security policies within the country. Finally in the United States, Marvel Studios' latest release, "Captain America: Brave New World," has delivered box office success during its opening weekend with the highest-ranking domestic debut of the year. The film garnered 88.5 million U.S. dollars domestically over the three-day period, with projections estimating a total of 100 million dollars by the end of the four-day President's Day holiday on Monday. Internationally, it accumulated an additional 92.4 million dollars. This performance also marks the fourth-best President's Day holiday opening on record. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

S. Korea to run booth representing gov't, small and mid-sized arms firms at IDEX 2025

2025/02/17 17:00

The South Korean government and the country's small and mid-sized defense firms are showcasing an integrated booth at the latest five-day International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi starting today. According to the state arms procurement agency this marks the first time for a joint booth by the two sides at an overseas defense show. South Korea will seek to share its remarkable advances in arms technology at the event as it aims to become the fourth-largest defense exporter by 2027.

Will the Constitutional Court postpone Yoon's 10th impeachment hearing?

2025/02/17 17:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial enters its final week with two additional hearings this coming Tuesday and Thursday but his legal team has requested a rescheduling of Thursday's session as the president's criminal trial starts on the same day. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young has the latest. The Constitutional Court has not decided whether or not to change the date of President Yoon Suk Yeol's tenth impeachment hearing, as it also falls on the day his criminal trial proceedings begin. Court Press Officer Cheon Jaehyun told reporters Monday that the judicial bench has not yet conveyed its decision, and it may or may not be announced before the 9th hearing on Tuesday. After the Court decided to schedule two additional trial dates for Tuesday and Thursday this week, Yoon's team has objected to Thursday's session, and on Friday filed a request to postpone the date to February 25th. The President's lawyers have on various occasions complained about the twice-weekly hearings, calling for just one session per week, to allow for sufficient preparation. Especially as the Seoul Central District Court will begin Yoon's pretrial hearings for his criminal case on Thursday morning, Yoon's legal team would be spread out over both trials. 15 lawyers are working on his criminal case, 21 on his impeachment trial. Among them, 13 are working on both. While some experts say the overlapping schedule weakens the right to legal self-defense, the Constitutional Court might still push ahead with the impeachment hearing in the afternoon, as the criminal trial is at 10 AM. The Court officer added that the National Assembly's impeachment panel has submitted its position that the Thursday hearing must not be delayed. Meanwhile, she said Tuesday's hearing will see the Assembly and Yoon's side each organize and make their claims from 2 PM. Thursday's hearing for now will have three witness examinations beginning with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Han previously said that the president had not held a proper cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on December 3rd. Former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won was summoned last week by the National Assembly's side but will return to be questioned by Yoon's legal team. Hong claims there was a list of 14 to 16 figures the President wanted to arrest under martial law. National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho will be questioned by both sides, after missing two witness sessions for health reasons. "With the Constitutional Court having rejected other witness applications, it remains to be seen whether they will schedule additional hearings beyond the tenth session. It would take around two weeks for the justices to deliver a verdict, based on past Presidential impeachment trials. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News."

S. Korea, U.S., Japan send message to China through support for Taiwan's participation in int'l organizations

2025/02/17 17:00

In Germany this past weekend. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya reaffirmed their resolve to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons laying to rest rampant fears of a potential shift in American policy on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this commitment and the trilateral support for Taiwan. South Korea's foreign minister Cho Tae-yul and his American and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya met for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year and delivered a strong message that appears to be aimed at China. In a joint statement, they expressed their "support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations." That detail, which could upset China has never been included in a joint statement by the three countries before. This appears to reflect the Trump administration's hardline stance towards China. as Beijing has been making efforts to block Taiwan from joining the United Nations and many other global organizations. At a session of the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Cho said it's only natural for South Korea to keep relations with both the U.S. and China in harmony to best to serve its national interests, but added that this is easier said than done. "We can continue to improve our relations with Beijing while continuing to upgrading our strong alliance with Washington. But particularly when it comes to the security issues, there's a limit to what we can do to accommodate demands from Beijing." The three countries also made it clear in the joint statement that they reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. This gave reassurance to Seoul, particularly after Trump's comments referring to the North as a "nuclear power" raised concerns in South Korea, as they led to speculation that Washington could be shifting away from its focus on denuclearizing North Korea. Before the trilateral talks, Cho and Rubio held a separate meeting for about 40 minutes, where they agreed to closely cooperate on deterring North Korean threats. The two sides also reaffirmed that their alliance will continue to remain strong throughout Trump's second term in office., with Rubio reiterating his confidence in South Korea's acting president. Speaking to reporters in Munich, Cho said he expects the two countries to hold more high-level meetings, and that the government plans to consult with Washington on the issue of tariffs on steel and aluminum as soon as possible, to minimize possible damage to Korean companies. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Trump's threat of targeting VAT systems raises further concerns for S. Korea

2025/02/17 17:00

In a recent post on his social media platform U.S. President Donald Trump sought to DEFEND his reciprocal tariff proposal and DISPUTE the so-called value-added taxes claiming that America has been mistreated by its friends and foes alike. Lee Soo-jin covers his latest remarks. U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to impose new tariffs on countries that utilize value-added tax systems have added another layer of uncertainty to South Korea's export competitiveness. Trump said Saturday that Washington will treat countries with a value-added tax system, the same as those with tariffs in order to help calculate reciprocal duties on other countries. The comment raises concerns for South Korea, which, unlike the U.S., collects value-added tax. Typically, companies in countries with a VAT system, including South Korea, receive a VAT refund when exporting to the U.S. and only have to pay a relatively low sales tax. However, U.S. companies exporting to foreign countries have to pay a high VAT rate that they do not pay in the U.S. And for that reason, Trump has criticized VAT as being an unfair trade barrier for the U.S. "They do have something that is somewhat similar which is the sales tax effectively the U.S. sales tax can be considered something that is very similar at least the results." And since South Korea's VAT rate is 10 percent, higher than the average U.S. sales tax of 6.6 percent as of 2023, it's fueling speculation that Trump will impose a 10-percent reciprocal tariff on all South Korean imports in April. Amid concerns over Trump's trade policies, Deputy Minister for Trade Park Jong-won left for the United States on Monday. During the 5-day visit, Park will meet with high-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to discuss trade and other pending issues. This will be the first official visit to Washington by a high-ranking trade official since President Trump took office. Park is expected to hear the specifics of the trade policies under the Trump administration, and convey Seoul's position on the matter. These discussions are particularly important because it will be challenging for the Korean government to devise response measures, as VAT is applied based on the value added at each stage of production. "In the end, it is the consumers which pay the value-added tax and right now except for foodstuff which is exempted, it's 10 percent so we'll have to figure out some way to eliminate the import component of that 10 percent and that could be difficult." The same expert also added that another factor that makes this situation complex is how a large portion of the tax revenue for many nations, not just Korea, relies on VAT. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio declares Washington's full support for Israel

2025/02/17 17:00

Staying in the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and visiting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have reaffirmed their resolve to eradicate Hamas from the Gaza Strip while reiterating Mr. Trump's ambitious plans for the region. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Israel as his first stop during his first Middle East tour. On Sunday local time, in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Rubio pledged full U.S. support. He said that threats that violate peace should be eliminated. "Related to that, the president's been very clear. Hamas cannot continue as a military or government force. They must be eliminated. It must be eradicated." Netanyahu stated that he is cooperating perfectly with President Trump and welcomed Trump's firm stance on the release of the remaining hostages. He also expressed support for Trump's plan to relocate residents and develop Gaza which has been opposed by many other countries. In response, Secretary Rubio said that President Trump has presented a bold plan. "The president's also been very bold about his view of what the future for Gaza should be. Not the same tired ideas of the past, but something that's bold and something that frankly took courage and vision in order to outline." The two countries have also agreed to jointly address the nuclear threat posed by Iran. "Israel and America stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering the threat of Iran. We agree that the ayatollahs must not have nuclear weapons, and we also agree that Iran's aggression in the region has to be rolled back." The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has entered a six-week ceasefire, from January 19th. The first phase is set to conclude on March 1st, but the negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire are at a standstill. "So there is no exact timeline for finalizing the second phase of the ceasefire plan but the situation remains fluid and heavily influenced by political maneuvering and the ability of negotiators to facilitate these negotiations." Meanwhile, Hamas says that three police officers were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza, while Israel says it hit "several armed individuals." Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Top U.S. officials to hold Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

2025/02/17 17:00

A senior U.S. delegation is meeting with its Russian counterpart in Saudi Arabia for talks about ending the Kremlin's aggression against Kyiv. The meeting also seeks to lay the ground for a summit between Trump and Putin also in Saudi Arabia. Lee Eun-hee starts us off. Washington's Middle East envoy told Fox News on Sunday, that he and White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz would go to Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at ending nearly 3 years of war between Russia and Ukraine. "I am going tonight. I'll be traveling there with the National Security adviser and we'll be having meetings at the direction of the president. And hopefully we'll make some really good progress with regard to Russia, Ukraine." However, speaking to NBC News on the same day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Kyiv had not been invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia adding that Ukraine would never accept any deals made without them. During a previous interview last week, Zelenskyy also remarked that no one, including President Trump, should trust Russian President Vladimir Putin. Regarding Ukraine's absence from the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News on Sunday that if real negotiations happen, Ukraine must be involved and that Europe must also be involved. He also emphasized that the next few days would determine if Putin was serious about achieving peace. Amid European concern that the U.S. is moving ahead on peace talks with Russia without consultation, French President Emmanuel Macron will hold an informal emergency meeting on Monday on security for Ukraine and Europe. According to officials, the meeting will include Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. Also on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that he is working hard to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine and that he believes the leaders of both countries want to stop fighting. To a question asking about Ukraine's involvement in talks, he answered that Zelensky would be involved in the negotiations. Trump also hinted that a meeting with Russia's president in Saudia Arabia could happen soon but no date has been set. "No, there's no time set. But it could be very soon." Meanwhile, Russia attacked Ukraine with 143 drones Saturday overnight, injuring at least one person. According to Ukraine's prime minister, the attack damaged a thermal power plant in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. Zelenskyy said the attack left around 100 thousand people without heat. He took to social media to condemn the attack calling it a sign that "Russians are waging war against our people and against life itself in Ukraine." Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

Concerns for S. Korea as Trump threatens tariffs for countries with VAT system

2025/02/17 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push for his America First trade agenda now with a warning that he will treat countries with value-added tax systems the same as those with tariffs, raising fears of a hit to South Korea. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington will treat countries with a value-added tax system, the same as those with tariffs in order to help calculate reciprocal duties on other countries. The comment raises concerns for South Korea, which, unlike the U.S., collects value-added tax. Typically, companies in countries with a VAT system, including South Korea, receive a VAT refund when exporting to the U.S. and only have to pay a relatively low sales tax. However, U.S. companies exporting to foreign countries have to pay a high VAT rate that they do not pay in the U.S. And for that reason, Trump has criticized VAT as being an unfair trade barrier for the U.S. Since South Korea's VAT rate is 10 percent, higher than the average U.S. sales tax of 6.6 percent as of 2023, it's possible that Trump may also consider it an "unfair tariff" fueling speculation that Trump will impose a 10-percent reciprocal tariff on all South Korean imports in April. Amid concerns over Trump's trade policies, Deputy Minister for Trade Park Jong-won at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will visit the United States on Monday. During the 5-day visit, Park will meet with high-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to discuss trade and other pending issues. This will be the first official visit to Washington by a high-ranking trade official since President Trump took office. Park is expected to hear the specifics of the trade policies under the Trump administration, and convey Seoul's position on the matter. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Zelenskyy rejects Trump's minerals deal

2025/02/17 10:00

Let's begin with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's refusal of the Trump administration's critical minerals deal. Sure. The proposal, suggesting that the United States take a 50% stake in Ukraine's vast critical mineral resources, was declined by President Zelenskyy, citing a lack of security provisions. On Saturday, Zelenskyy said the draft minerals deal with Washington did not include any security guarantees, and emphasized that any such agreement must include robust security assurances to protect Ukraine's sovereignty and deter further aggression from Russia. The U.S. proposal was presented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit to Kyiv on February 12 and aims to secure half of Ukraine's rare earth mineral rights, as compensation for past military and financial aid as well as payment for future assistance. Trump has previously said he wanted 500 billion U.S. dollars worth of critical minerals from Ukraine to reduce dependence on China for rare earth materials.

Top U.S. officials to hold Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

2025/02/17 10:00

U.S. officials are set to meet Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss bringing an end to the Ukraine crisis. Ukrainian president said Kyiv had not been invited to talks but Washington stressed that both Ukraine and Europe would have a part to play. Our Lee Eun-hee reports. Washington's Middle East envoy told Fox News on Sunday, that he and White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz would go to Saudi Arabia for talks aimed at ending nearly 3 years of war between Russia and Ukraine. "I am going tonight. I'll be traveling there with the National Security adviser and we'll be having meetings at the direction of the president. And hopefully we'll make some really good progress with regard to Russia, Ukraine." However, speaking to NBC News on the same day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Kyiv had not been invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia adding that Ukraine would never accept any deals made without them. During a previous interview last week, Zelenskyy also remarked that no one, including President Trump, should trust Russian President Vladimir Putin. Regarding Ukraine's absence from the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News on Sunday that if real negotiations happen, Ukraine must be involved and that Europe must also be involved. He also emphasized that the next few days would determine if Putin was serious about achieving peace. Amid European concern that the U.S. is moving ahead on peace talks with Russia without consultation, French President Emmanuel Macron will hold an informal emergency meeting on Monday on security for Ukraine and Europe. According to officials, the meeting will include Germany, Britain, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, as well as the NATO secretary-general and the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. Also on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that he is working hard to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine and that he believes the leaders of both countries want to stop fighting. To a question asking about Ukraine's involvement in talks, he answered that Zelensky would be involved in the negotiations. Trump also hinted that a meeting with Russia's president in Saudia Arabia could happen soon but no date has been set. "No, there's no time set. But it could be very soon." Meanwhile, Russia attacked Ukraine with 143 drones Saturday overnight, injuring at least one person. According to Ukraine's prime minister, the attack damaged a thermal power plant in Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine. Zelenskyy said the attack left around 100 thousand people without heat. He took to social media to condemn the attack calling it a sign that "Russians are waging war against our people and against life itself in Ukraine." Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

Austrian city in shock after deadly knife attack

2025/02/17 10:00

Now to Austria where a 14-year-old boy was killed and 5 people were injured in a stabbing attack in the city of Villach on Saturday. The attacker, a 23-year-old Syrian national, was apprehended at the scene. Authorities have identified the incident as an Islamist attack, and said the suspect had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State. A local food delivery driver's swift intervention by using his vehicle to impede the attacker, likely prevented further casualties. The attack follows a series of similar incidents in Europe, and has intensified discussions on immigration and security policies within the country.

Chinese premier meets with Cook Islands prime minister to 'deepen political trust'

2025/02/17 10:00

Moving to China, and a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday, aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation, between the two nations. The Cook Islands said Saturday that it signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' deal with China, during the discussions in Harbin. Premier Li emphasized China's commitment to deepening political mutual trust with the Cook Islands. He proposed aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with the Cook Islands' development strategies, to enhance collaboration in various sectors, including maritime infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, and cultural exchanges. Prime Minister Brown acknowledged the nearly three-decade-long friendship between the two states and reaffirmed the Cook Islands' adherence to the one-China policy, while assuring that relations with China do not impinge on longstanding ties with New Zealand.

On-point: Will phase 1 of Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal end in peace?

2025/02/17 10:00

Over the weekend, Israel and Hamas successfully completed their latest hostage and prisoner exchange with 2 weeks left in the first phase of their ceasefire deal. It's a relief, but can the deal survive through the upcoming phases? Let's turn to Professor Hassan Geon. Good morning. 1. Hamas released three Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Why do you think Hamas decided to free the hostages after threatening a pause? 2. Would you say U.S. President Donald Trump's warning/threat to Hamas played a role in the successful ceasefire swap? 3. Do you think the first phase of the deal which is set to end by the end of the month will end in peace for Gaza? Why? Or why not? 4. Why is there no progress on phase two of the ceasefire deal? When will the plan be finalized? 5. Trump's ambitions to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate Palestinians seem to grow bigger day by day. Do you think this can potentially break or terminate the ceasefire deal? Or is this just be a threat? Thank you so much for connecting with us this morning. We appreciate it.

Pres. Yoon's impeachment trial to continue this week

2025/02/17 10:00

The Constitutional Court plans to hold two additional hearings this week for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, but it's unclear whether the last session on Thursday will be rescheduled as his team requested. The Court set the tenth hearing date for Thursday at 2 PM, where three witnesses will be questioned starting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Han previously said that the president had not held a proper cabinet meeting before declaring martial law. Former Deputy Directory of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won was summoned last week by the National Assembly's side but will return to be questioned by Yoon's legal team. Hong claims there was a list of figures the President wanted to arrest under martial law. National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho will be questioned by both sides, after missing two witness sessions for health reasons. Yoon's lawyers have filed a petition to change the date of the 10th hearing, arguing for more time as the president is also preparing for criminal trial proceedings which begin on Thursday.

S. Korea, U.S., Japan send message to China through support for Taiwan's participation in int'l organizations

2025/02/17 10:00

Top diplomats of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan met over the weekend and agreed to tighten their ties in addressing security issues, including bringing about the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has more. South Korea's foreign minister Cho Tae-yul and his American and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya met for the first time since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year and delivered a strong message that appears to be aimed at China. In a joint statement, they expressed their "support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations." That detail, which could upset China has never been included in a joint statement by the three countries before. This appears to reflect the Trump administration's hardline stance towards China. as Beijing has been making efforts to block Taiwan from joining the United Nations and many other global organizations. At a session of the Munich Security Conference, Foreign Minister Cho said it's only natural for South Korea to keep relations with both the U.S. and China in harmony to best to serve its national interests, but added that this is easier said than done. "We can continue to improve our relations with Beijing while continuing to upgrading our strong alliance with Washington. But particularly when it comes to the security issues, there's a limit to what we can do to accommodate demands from Beijing." The three countries also made it clear in the joint statement that they reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. This gave reassurance to Seoul, particularly after Trump's comments referring to the North as a "nuclear power" raised concerns in South Korea, as they led to speculation that Washington could be shifting away from its focus on denuclearizing North Korea. Before the trilateral talks, Cho and Rubio held a separate meeting for about 40 minutes, where they agreed to closely cooperate on deterring North Korean threats. The two sides also reaffirmed that their alliance will continue to remain strong throughout Trump's second term in office., with Rubio reiterating his confidence in South Korea's acting president. Speaking to reporters in Munich, Cho said he expects the two countries to hold more high-level meetings, and that the government plans to consult with Washington on the issue of tariffs on steel and aluminum as soon as possible, to minimize possible damage to Korean companies. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Trump outlines reciprocal tariff plan, eyes implementation as early as April

2025/02/14 20:00

The Trump administration will seek a tailored tariff response to its trade partners, imposing on them the same level of import duty they place on American products entering their markets. It's fueling potential concerns for South Korea among others. Shin Ha-young leads us off. U.S. President Donald Trump reinforced his push to impose reciprocal tariffs on global trade partners to match the tax rates that other countries impose on imports, fueling fears of a trade war. On Thursday, Trump signed a presidential memorandum ordering a comprehensive plan for reciprocal tariffs, aiming to deliver a level playing field for American workers. "On trade, I have decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff, meaning whatever countries charge the United States of America we will charge them. No more, no less." The latest announcement comes as part of Trump's aggressive push for more balanced trade, following recent 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump's tariffs would also target countries with non-tariff trade barriers such as subsidies, burdensome regulations, and value-added taxes. Another element to be considered is exchange rate policies in countries. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said his team would be ready to hand a plan to the president by April 1st. Although South Korea has signed a free trade agreement with the U.S. and has eliminated most tariffs, Trump's plan to consider non-tariff barriers could lead to him imposing reciprocal tariffs on South Korea. South Korea posted a record trade surplus with the U.S. last year. Trump has also signaled potential tariffs on automobiles with the White House also seeking to renegotiate the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, which could affect South Korea's top two exports to the U.S., raising concerns about further economic impact. Despite fears of a global economic slowdown, Trump is expected to continue his hardline tariff policy. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.