News
Hamas to release three Israeli hostages this weekend as initially planned
2025/02/14 20:00
Elsewhere. The Palestinian militant group Hamas says it will release three Israeli hostages tomorrow as initially planned. Following talks with mediators from Egypt and Qatar, it has decided to go ahead with the release of the hostages, which will result in an exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas had initially postponed the release, saying Israel was violating the ceasefire agreement. In response, Israel warned it would end the deal and resume fighting, if the hostages were not released.
Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to hold first trilateral meeting since Trump's return
2025/02/14 20:00
Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will meet with his American and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of a security meeting in Munich tomorrow. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this agenda and its implications. South Korea's foreign minister left for Germany on Friday afternoon, to take part in the Munich Security Conference. There, Cho Tae-yul will hold talks with his American and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya on Saturday local time. Seoul's foreign ministry said it hopes the meeting will become an opportunity to discuss ways to handle North Korea's nuclear threats and economic security issues. This is the first time that the three officials are meeting, since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20th. Pundits say this signifies that the trilateral cooperation will continue throughout Trump's second term in office. In a press conference on Friday, the Japanese foreign minister hinted that the three countries will reaffirm the importance of their partnership during the meeting. Also on Saturday, Cho will sit down for a separate bilateral meeting with Rubio, where they will likely address the two countries' alliance and ways to boost security cooperation. This is set to be another very important meeting for South Korea, especially at a time when the country is left without a leader, and as Trump's return poses a challenge for not only South Korea but also for the rest of the world. "The security issue is the most important issue, because Trump already mentioned several times that he has every intention to meet Kim Jong-un again. So South Korea should have a very close cooperation with the United States to how to deal with the denuclearization issue with the in the United States." The meeting will reportedly be held for only about half an hour, so some experts believe there won't be enough time to talk about other issues that Seoul is concerned about, such as tarrifs or sharing costs needed for American troops in South Korea. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Constitutional Court adds another hearing date to Pres. Yoon's impeachment trial
2025/02/14 20:00
The Constitutional Court has decided to add one more hearing to President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, after accepting his request for three key witnesses to be questioned, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The Court on Friday announced it has scheduled a tenth hearing date for next Thursday at 2 PM, where the Prime Minister will stand witness. Han has previously stated the President did not hold a proper Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law. 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. National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho will be questioned by both sides, after missing two witness sessions due to health reasons. Yoon's hearing was supposed to end this week but was extended as the bench needs more time to review evidence. Yoon's lawyers filed a petition to change the date of the 10th hearing. The team has previously complained it lacks time to prepare for twice-weekly hearings, given that the president is also preparing for a criminal trial.
Constitutional Court sets additional hearings for President Yoon's impeachment trial
2025/02/14 20:30
Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to unfold, key developments are drawing intense public attention. With the Constitutional Court wrapping up its eighth hearing and scheduling additional sessions, the trial is entering a critical final phase. The court's focus now shifts to assessing conflicting testimonies and handling disputes over procedural fairness, all while navigating external factors that could affect the timeline of its ruling. Meanwhile, parallel criminal proceedings on insurrection charges add further complexity to the legal landscape. To help us break down the progress of the impeachment trial and the potential implications for President Yoon's legal battles, we invite Song Se-ryun, Professor of Law at Kyung Hee University. Welcome, Professor. Also joining us is Joung W. Hwang, Chief Executive Officer of LawQuant LLC. Great to have you. (SONG) 1. The Constitutional Court wrapped up its eighth hearing session yesterday. How do you assess the overall progress of the impeachment trial so far? Do you believe sufficient questioning has been conducted? The court has categorized the National Assembly's grounds for impeachment into five major points. What are the specific key issues? (HWANG) 2. The key issue in yesterday's eighth hearing was whether there was an order to arrest political figures during the declaration of martial law. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won testified that there was indeed such an order, whereas National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong questioned the credibility of that testimony. How do you think the justices will assess these conflicting statements? What will they focus on when making their decision? (SONG) 3. President Yoon's legal team has criticized the court's handling of the trial, claiming that it prioritized "speedy proceedings over fairness." They took issue with the fact that written statements from investigative agencies were accepted as evidence despite key witnesses changing their testimony. The Constitutional Court maintains that it is following legal precedents. What is your opinion on this dispute? (HWANG) 4. The Constitutional Court has scheduled additional hearings for President Yoon's impeachment trial. It announced that it will hold two more sessions on the 18th and 20th, although Yoon has requested a rescheduling for the 20th. What is the reason for scheduling these additional hearings, and what key issues should be noted? (SONG) 5. It seems that the timeline for President Yoon's impeachment trial could be affected by the appointment of Ma Eun-hyuk as a justice. Why is this the case? Given this, when do you think the final ruling in President Yoon's impeachment trial will be delivered? (HWANG) 6. Meanwhile, on February 10th, the court concluded arguments in the jurisdiction dispute over Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to defer Ma Eun-hyuk's appointment and postponed the ruling. How do you expect the Constitutional Court to make a decision, and what implications might it have for Acting President Choi's next steps? (SONG) 7. On February 11th, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommended that President Yoon's right to defend himself in the impeachment trial should be protected. Some civic groups have criticized this decision, calling for reforms within the Commission. What motivated the Commission's recommendation? How might this affect President Yoon's ongoing trial? (HWANG) 8. Let's move on to the criminal trial related to the rebellion charges. Separate from the impeachment trial, the first pretrial hearing on the rebellion leadership charges will take place on the 20th. What are the main issues in this criminal trial? (SONG) 9. On the 20th, in addition to the criminal trial, a hearing will be held on President Yoon's request to be released from detention. Why did the court decide to address the detention cancellation request on the same day as his insurrection case's first pretrial hearing? What are the chances that the court will grant his release? (HWANG) 10. There is speculation that President Yoon's legal team may adopt a delay strategy, claiming that it is difficult to handle both the impeachment trial and the criminal trial simultaneously. When do you expect a ruling in the criminal trial? What procedural steps lie ahead?
Trump outlines reciprocal tariff plan, eyes implementation as early as April
2025/02/14 17:00
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 and a tangible plan is poised to go into effect in early April. Shin Ha-young has details. 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.
U.S. space commander warns N. Korea from challenging ROK-U.S. alliance
2025/02/14 17:00
The head of the U.S. Space Operations Command has warned North Korea against any attempt to challenge the ROK-U.S. security alliance. Speaking to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency Lieutenant General David Miller asserted that North Korea's missile technology had become the biggest threat to the Korean peninsula but affirmed that any action by the regime aimed at testing South Korea's security alliance with the U.S. would be a grave mistake. He also stressed while it remained difficult to predict North Korea's actions the U.S. has been focused on detecting and tracking the regime's related provocations.
Lawmakers ask Cabinet members about gov't plans to keep schools safe
2025/02/14 17:00
The National Assembly today kicked off its third and final day of government interpellation. Social matters took center stage with the heads of labor safety and education ministries fielding various questions on ensuring broader public safety. Lawmakers urged the government to hammer out measures to better protect children within school grounds especially in light of the recent shocking murder of a young elementary school student by a teacher in Daejeon. They also called for plans to better prevent workplace bullying and to improve the overall working conditions for contract and freelance workers.
Constitutional Court adds another hearing date to Pres. Yoon's impeachment trial
2025/02/14 17:00
The Constitutional Court has extended by one week the formal hearings of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial and accepted his request for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to take the witness stand. Following its announcement late Thursday of a ninth hearing scheduled for next Tuesday afternoon the court TODAY announced a TENTH hearing for Thursday afternoon during which the Prime Minister will be questioned. Also former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won will return to face questions from the president's defense team while National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho will be questioned by both sides after missing two earlier sessions owing to health reasons. Meanwhile the president's legal team has filed a petition requesting a change in the date of the 10th hearing citing insufficient time for preparation as the president also faces a criminal trial expected to start on the same day that is February 20th.
Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S., Japan to hold first trilateral meeting since Trump's return
2025/02/14 17:00
Come tomorrow that is Saturday Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will meet with his American and Japanese counterparts on the sidelines of a security meeting in Munich. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this agenda and its implications. South Korea's foreign minister left for Germany on Friday afternoon, to take part in the Munich Security Conference. There, Cho Tae-yul will hold talks with his American and Japanese counterparts, Marco Rubio and Takeshi Iwaya on Saturday local time. Seoul's foreign ministry said it hopes the meeting will become an opportunity to discuss ways to handle North Korea's nuclear threats and economic security issues. This is the first time that the three officials are meeting, since U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20th. Pundits say this signifies that the trilateral cooperation will continue throughout Trump's second term in office. In a press conference on Friday, the Japanese foreign minister hinted that the three countries will reaffirm the importance of their partnership during the meeting. Also on Saturday, Cho will sit down for a separate bilateral meeting with Rubio, where they will likely address the two countries' alliance and ways to boost security cooperation. This is set to be another very important meeting for South Korea, especially at a time when the country is left without a leader, and as Trump's return poses a challenge for not only South Korea but also for the rest of the world. "The security issue is the most important issue, because Trump already mentioned several times that he has every intention to meet Kim Jong-un again. So South Korea should have a very close cooperation with the United States to how to deal with the denuclearization issue with the in the United States." The meeting will reportedly be held for only about half an hour, so some experts believe there won't be enough time to talk about other issues that Seoul is concerned about, such as tarrifs or sharing costs needed for American troops in South Korea. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
World News: UK's Lammy and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi hold talks on contentious issues
2025/02/14 20:00
This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. On Thursday, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marking the revival of the UK-China Strategic Dialogue after a seven-year halt. The talks in London encompassed bilateral economic cooperation, international security, and areas of contention. Lammy emphasized the importance of addressing issues where the UK and China "do not always see eye to eye," stressing the UK's concerns in some areas. Key points included China's support for Russia amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, human rights issues in Hong Kong, and the situation in Xinjiang. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also attended the meeting of two foreign ministers, highlighting the UK's dedication to establishing a consistent and respectful bilateral relationship. In the German city of Munich, a driver drove a car into a crowd leaving at least 30 people injured. On Thursday local time, a white Mini Cooper plowed into a crowd at a trade union rally near Munich's central train station. The driver, a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, was arrested. The incident injured 30 people, including children, and several victims sustained serious injuries. Authorities believe the act was deliberate, though the exact motive is still being investigated. The suspect had a history of minor offenses, and his asylum application had been rejected in 2020. Yet, deportation was deferred due to safety concerns in Afghanistan. In Panama, President Jose Raul Mulino said Thursday, that the country received its first U.S. deportation flight the previous day, carrying 119 migrants from various nationalities, including China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The initiative follows an agreement with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, designating Panama as a transit point for deported individuals. The migrants will be temporarily housed in a shelter in Panama's Darien region before being repatriated to their home countries. Two more flights are planned, totaling approximately 360 deportees. Sports industry news site Sportico released its list of the highest-paid athletes in 2024 on Thursday, with Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo on top for the second consecutive year, with 260 million U.S. dollars earned. Stephen Curry, Tyson Fury, Lionel Messi, and LeBron James completed the top 5. The top 100 athletes collectively earned 6.2 billion dollars, marking a 14% increase from the previous year. Notably, no female athletes made the top 100 list, with the highest-earning woman being tennis star Coco Gauff, with total earnings of 30.4 million dollars. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.
Trump outlines reciprocal tariff plan, eyes implementation as early as April
2025/02/14 10:00
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a plan to roll out increased import duties for every trading partner that taxes U.S. imports. The tariffs could be effective as early as April. Shin Ha-young starts 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.
Ukraine will take part in talks but there'll be separate U.S.-Russia strand: Kremlin
2025/02/14 10:00
Russia has begun preparing a delegation for talks with the U.S. to stop the war in Ukraine. According to a Kremlin spokesperson on Thursday Ukraine would definitely take part in the negotiations but noted there would also be a separate U.S.-Russia track. However, details regarding participants or the size of the delegation were not provided. This comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in a phone call to begin talks on ending the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would not accept any peace deal made between the U.S. and Russia without its involvement. He also stressed that Europe should be part of the negotiations.
U.S. deports 119 migrants of various nationalities to Panama
2025/02/14 10:00
Over in Panama, President Jose Raul Mulino said Thursday, that the country received its first U.S. deportation flight the previous day, carrying 119 migrants from various nationalities, including China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The initiative follows an agreement with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, designating Panama as a transit point for deported individuals. The migrants will be temporarily housed in a shelter in Panama's Darien region before being repatriated to their home countries. Two more flights are planned, totaling approximately 360 deportees.
UK's foreign secretary and Chinese counterpart hold talks
2025/02/14 10:00
Starting in the United Kingdom, the Chinese Foreign Minister is in London and has held talks with several top British figures. That's right. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, made his first official visit to the UK in almost a decade, to discuss bilateral issues. On Thursday, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marking the revival of the UK-China Strategic Dialogue after a seven-year halt. The talks encompassed bilateral economic cooperation, international security, and areas of contention. Lammy emphasized the importance of addressing issues where the UK and China "do not always see eye to eye," stressing the UK's concerns in some areas. Key points included China's support for Russia amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, human rights issues in Hong Kong, and the situation in Xinjiang. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also attended the meeting of two foreign ministers, highlighting the UK's dedication to establishing a consistent and respectful bilateral relationship.
U.S. space commander warns N. Korea from challenging ROK-U.S. alliance
2025/02/14 10:00
The commander of the U.S. Space Operations Command said that North Korea's missile technology has become the biggest threat to the Korean Peninsula, but warned Pyongyang against any attempt to challenge the ROK-U.S. alliance. Speaking to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency on Thursday, Lieutenant General David Miller expressed concerns over the North's continued development and launch of ballistic missiles. He stressed that it's difficult to predict what the North will do next, adding that the U.S. has been focused on detecting and tracking North Korean missiles. However, Miller says the South Korea-U.S. alliance is stronger than ever in the face of Pyongyang's threats, and emphasized that it would be a "mistake" to challenge the strength of the alliance.
N. Korea begins dismantling symbolic facility near border that hosted meetings for war-separated families
2025/02/14 10:00
North Korea started to destroy a reunion center for separated families near the inter-Korean border amid icy ties with the South. Seoul urged the regime to immediately stop its actions. Our Bae Eun-ji reports. The Inter-Korean Family Reunion Center, located at Kumgangsan Mountain has been a symbol of peace as it has been used to host tearful reunions of families separated for decades by the Korean War. Since 2009, it has hosted five meetings between families from the two Koreas, and the last family reunion was held there in August 2018. But on Thursday, the South Korean government said the North has begun dismantling the facility, in the latest sign of strained inter-Korean ties, after the regime described the South as "its principal enemy." The Unification Ministry spokesperson urged the North to immediately halt its actions, adding that the government plans to consider legal measures over the action and a joint response with the international community. "The demolition of the facility is an anti-humanitarian act that tramples on the wishes of separated families, and a violation of South Korea's assets." Upon an agreement between the two Koreas, the 12-story reunion center was built in July 2008, at a cost of over 35 million dollars. The building was the last remaining South Korean-owned facility in the Kumgansan Mountain tourist region as the North has been demolishing facilities there over the past few years. After the Hanoi summit between the United States and North Korea ended in failure in February 2019, Kim Jong-un visited the resort area later that year in October.. and ordered the removal of South Korean facilities there, saying they were "shabby," and that they looked like "makeshift tents in a disaster-stricken area." Since 2022, the regime has destroyed other facilities including a hotel, a fire station, and a golf clubhouse leaving only the reunion center, which it has also started to tear down. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Conflicting statements continue as Constitutional Court schedules extra hearing for President Yoon's impeachment trial
2025/02/14 10:00
The Constitutional Court has decided to hold an extra hearing next week for President Yoon's impeachment trial to summarize the arguments. If the hearings do come to an end next week, the ruling could come as early as March. Oh Soo-young reports. The battle of narratives continued at President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, as the eighth and initially last session was extended with another hearing scheduled for next Tuesday. Cho Sung-hyun, the Head of the Capital Defense Command's 1st Security Group, said he had been ordered by his Commander Lee Jin-woo to pull out legislators from the parliamentary building. Lee Jin-woo who was questioned at the Court last week had refused to answer whether he'd been given such an order by Yoon, due to his ongoing criminal trial, while the President has denied issuing such instructions. Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun has claimed the order was to pull out "agents" or "yo-won" , not "legislators" or "ui-won" , while Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun said the President said "persons" or "in-won" . More conflicting statements emerged during the session. National Intelligence Service chief Cho Tae-yong cast doubt over the claims made by his deputy last week that the President ordered the arrest of politicians on the night of December 3rd. Deputy Director Hong Jang-won had said he had heard fourteen to sixteen public figures named as targets for arrest by Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung which he wrote down on a notepad outside the Director Cho's residence. He claimed his secretary helped decipher it later, thus there are two notes in total. However, Cho says, based on CCTV footage, Hong was not outside, but in his office at the time he said he wrote the memo. The Director also said there appeared to be four versions of the note, appearing to suggest there's been some fabrication on Hong's part. Cho questioned Hong's political neutrality, adding he heard last year in a parliamentary committee meeting that Hong had made seven separate requests regarding personnel appointments to a former opposition party lawmaker who previously worked at the NIS under the last administration. On Thursday, former Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kim Bong-sik also testified. Kim said that he had deployed police to the National Assembly to ensure public safety,.. and denied he'd been given orders to make arrests. As witness statements continue to clash, the President's side today also reapplied for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to be called as a witness, whom the Court rejected on Tuesday, and asked to re-summon Hong Jang-won. They also asked for National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho to be made to stand as a witness, as he failed to show up twice due to health reasons. Justices will review the new witness applications on Friday. So far, the court has accepted a total of 15 witnesses in the impeachment trial—seven requested by the National Assembly and eight by President Yoon’s side. This compares to the 36 approved during former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial. "For now, the Court has scheduled a ninth hearing for next Tuesday at 2 PM, where each legal team will have two hours to summarize their arguments. If the hearings conclude next week, observers say the ruling could be made around early March. Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld after 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed after 14 days. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News."
Newly declassified inter-Korean talks reveal Pyongyang’s shifting stance on division
2025/02/13 20:00
Staying at the Unification Ministry. Officials there today made public a collection of past cross-border interactions that offers an interesting insight into North Korea's shifting policy toward South Korea. Our North Korean affairs correspondent Kim Jung-sil explains. Looking back at history may offer insights into the future, especially when it comes to inter-Korean relations. On Thursday, the Ministry of Unification released newly declassified records of inter-Korean talks from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance public access to information and deepen understanding of North Korea. One of the most striking revelations from these records is how North Korea's stance on inter-Korean division has dramatically changed—contradicting what it once asserted. In official transcripts from 1990, Pyongyang condemned South Korea's anti-tank barriers near the military demarcation line, calling them a "symbol of permanent division." It stated: "It is already heartbreaking that a military demarcation line exists within our nation, but having an artificial barrier built on top of it is nothing short of a national disgrace." North Korea further demanded the removal of these barriers saying , "The concrete wall in the southern part of the demarcation line must be removed." Yet fast forward to today, Pyongyang is building its own barriers along the DMZ, demolishing cross-border roads and railways, and rejecting reunification—declaring South Korea a hostile state. As North Korea reinforces division, the Ministry of Unification is shedding light on the past. It says these records provide critical insight into Pyongyang's evolving stance on division and inter-Korean relations. "Through these newly declassified documents, the public can get a vivid look at inter-Korean dialogue in the late 1980s and the records of preliminary meetings held in preparation for high-level talks in the 1990s." Those interested in reviewing these records can visit the Ministry of Unification's Inter-Korean Relations Management Bureau website or the Information Center on North Korea in Seoul. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.
N. Korea begins dismantling symbolic facility near border that hosted meetings for war-separated families
2025/02/13 20:00
Moving on. North Korea now starts destroying a reunion center for separated families near the inter-Korean border amid strained ties with the South. Seoul urges the regime to immediately stop its actions. Our Correspondent Bae Eun-ji reports. The Inter-Korean Family Reunion Center, located at Kumgangsan Mountain has been a symbol of peace as it has been used to host tearful reunions of families separated for decades by the Korean War. Since 2009, it has hosted five meetings between families from the two Koreas, and the last family reunion was held there in August 2018. But on Thursday, the South Korean government said the North has begun dismantling the facility, in the latest sign of strained inter-Korean ties, after the regime described the South as "its principal enemy." The Unification Ministry spokesperson urged the North to immediately halt its actions, adding that the government plans to consider legal measures over the action and a joint response with the international community. "The demolition of the facility is an anti-humanitarian act that tramples on the wishes of separated families, and a violation of South Korea's assets." Upon an agreement between the two Koreas, the 12-story reunion center was built in July 2008, at a cost of over 35 million dollars. The building was the last remaining South Korean-owned facility in the Kumgansan Mountain tourist region as the North has been demolishing facilities there over the past few years. After the Hanoi summit between the United States and North Korea ended in failure in February 2019, Kim Jong-un visited the resort area later that year in October.. and ordered the removal of South Korean facilities there, saying they were "shabby," and that they looked like "makeshift tents in a disaster-stricken area." Since 2022, the regime has destroyed other facilities including a hotel, a fire station, and a golf clubhouse leaving only the reunion center, which it has also started to tear down. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Trump held phone calls with Russia, Ukraine discussing peace talks; What next?
2025/02/13 20:00
Talks could start sooner than later to end the crisis in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump held phone calls with the leaders of both Russia and Ukraine and signaled a potential breakthrough in ending the war. Park Kun-woo takes a closer look. Hopes of peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war are growing. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had a phone call lasting over an hour with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing securing a ceasefire in the near future. "I can say with great confidence he wants to see it ended also. That's good. And we're going to work toward getting it ended and as fast as possible." He added he ordered top U.S. officials to begin talks aimed at ending the war. Both leaders also agreed to meet in the future, with Putin inviting Trump to Moscow. Aside from that, Trump said their first meeting would probably take place in Saudi Arabia. Trump also had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, which Zelenskyy described as a long and meaningful discussion. "We believe that America's strength, together with us and all our partners, is enough to pressure Russia and Putin into peace." However, one expert says some uncertain factors, including Ukraine's potential membership in NATO, remain that can complicate the peace talks from proceeding. "I think Ukraine's stance to join NATO will not be accepted. Instead, Ukraine will still likely negotiate to secure at least some form of security assistance from the U.S." Setting territorial boundaries for Russia and Ukraine is another issue. "Since Russia's goal was to gain more territory, this is a part it cannot easily concede. However, the justification for this is weaker than opposing Ukraine's NATO membership. But it seems likely that Russia will give up some territory in exchange for things like U.S.' sanctions relief." This comes with Russia currently occupying around 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that were taken before 2022. But the expert also stressed that it's unfortunate to see such a colonial-style expansion well after World War Two as countries had previously agreed to stop, and that it will now be remembered as a very bad precedent. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.