News

S. Korea exemplifies democracy, U.S. military presence vital: Rep. Marilyn Strickland

2025/02/10 17:00

The 119th U.S. Congress includes Marilyn Strickland a Democrat representing Washington's 10th District that also houses the largest military installation in the American West. She is also a Korean American who believes firmly in the security alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. Our Choi Min-jung has more. Korean-American Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, one of the first three Korean-American women elected to Congress and reelected to represent Washington's 10th District for a third term,. affirmed that the Seoul-Washington alliance will remain "ironclad," regardless of South Korea's current political landscape. In an exclusive interview with Arirang, Strickland addressed the implications of South Korea's domestic political turbulence regarding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, noting that while the situation is unfortunate, it exemplifies democracy in action. "It's why you have separate coequal branches of government to serve as checks and balances. So in many ways what happened is a prime example of how democracy is meant to work and supposed to work we want to make sure that we are staying strong with our partners and allies who value an uplift democracy." With former President Donald Trump returning to the White House for a second term,. concerns over the continuation of "America First" policies—including increased defense cost-sharing—are mounting. However, Strickland noted that despite media speculation, no formal discussions have taken place. "And so we want to make sure that it's being done fairly. We're doing it conscientiously but understanding that having military presence in Korea is important again, for a free, safe, and open Indo-Pacific." An area of concern for the Korean-American community is Trump's intensified immigration policies, including deportations. Some 150-thousand Koreans living in the U.S. are reportedly subject to deportation following a Trump administration order. 20-thousand of those are believed to be Korean adoptees who have not yet received U.S. citizenship. Strickland expressed concern,. saying immigrants play an essential role across all sectors in the U.S., and that the American economy will collapse, if they are deported simply for lacking documentation. "So as a Korean-American, as someone who values immigrant talent, I definitely want to make sure that we're able to stop Trump from doing the wrong thing but finding a way to do the right thing as well." This rise in Korean-American political representation, exemplified by Strickland, signals a growing influence that will not only strengthen ties between Seoul and Washington, but also shape the broader political landscape of the Korean-American community in the U.S. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

Seoul condemns N. Korea's labor exports to Russia as blatant UNSC violation

2025/02/10 17:00

The Unification Ministry has urged UN member nations to uphold Security Council resolutions against North Korea while raising issue with the regime's labor exports to Russia. The latest remarks follow recent intelligence reports here that assert North Korea had sent thousands of workers to Russian construction sites last year. The reports claim the soaring labor exports are driven by the quote "ever present" demand for young labor in Russia's Far East.

Trump to hold talks on ending Ukraine war: White House

2025/02/10 17:00

Also this week the Trump administration will actively seek talks with its European counterparts to end Russian aggression against Ukraine. Lee Seung-jae has details. U.S. President Donald Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz said Sunday that Washington will hold talks with European officials this week on how to end the Ukraine war. Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press,.. Waltz said a delegation including the U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Vice President, and the U.S. Special Envoy to Europe will hold talks on ending the war. The national security advisor did not go into the details,.. but said that Trump is ready to bring the Ukraine issue to the table this week. This includes the issue of future American aid to Ukraine. However, Waltz stressed that the U.S. needs to recoup the costs, through a partnership with the Ukrainians over its rare earth, and natural resources, all of which are going to be discussed this week. While Waltz says Trump will end the war, the security guarantees will be up to the Europeans. The announcement of the high-level talks comes as the New York Post last Friday reported that President Trump has spoken to President Putin about ending the Ukraine war. In an interview aboard Air Force One, Trump said he spoke on the phone with Putin to try to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, but would not say how many times the two leaders have spoken since his return to the Oval Office last month. While Trump did not go into specific details of their phone call, he said that Putin wants to "see people stop dying," adding that the three-year-old war "never would have happened" if he had been president in 2022. The Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied that the two leaders have spoken on the phone to discuss ending the war. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump announces new tariffs on steel, aluminum amid U.S.-China trade war

2025/02/10 10:00

The latest U.S.-China trade war appears to be flaring up, as China's tit-for-tat levies on the U.S. are now in effect. And Trump's next round of tariffs are to be announced on Monday, this time 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. Our Park Kun-woo reports. The tariffs imposed by the U.S. are intensifying. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will announce plans for new 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum shipments to the U.S. He also said reciprocal tariffs for countries that impose tariffs on the U.S. will be revealed in the coming days and will take effect almost immediately. "If they charge us, we charge them. If they are charging us 130%, and we're charging them nothing, it's not going to stand that way. Every country will be reciprocal." This comes as the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China has intensified. The U.S. implemented an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports to the U.S. starting last Tuesday. In retaliation, China announced plans to impose tariffs of 10 to 15 percent on items, including coal, liquefied natural gas, and crude oil from the U.S., effective Monday. As China previously expressed its intention to negotiate with the U.S., there had been an expectation that an agreement would be reached before actual implementation. Last week, Trump also shared his intention to talk with China's President Xi Jinping but said he was in no hurry. "I will speak to him at the appropriate time. I'm in no rush. The deficit with China is about a trillion dollars. Think of it. A trillion dollars. They're using our money to build their military, and Biden let that happen." That's compared to when he delayed the implementation of additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a month after some discussions. But as both the U.S. and China have expressed their intention to hold talks, pundits believe there is still a chance of reaching a consensus. The two countries previously ended the trade war during the first Trump administration after 18 months, after China agreed to purchase more U.S. products, while the U.S. held off on imposing additional high tariffs on Chinese goods. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Namibia mourns loss of 'founding father' Sam Nujoma

2025/02/10 10:00

Over in Africa, Namibia's first democratically elected president and revered founding father, Sam Nujoma, passed away on Saturday at the age of 95. He had been hospitalized for weeks due to illness in the country's capital Windhoek. Nujoma led Namibia to independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990, and served as president for 15 years. Before becoming the country's leader, Nujoma had spent almost 30 years in exile. He was officially recognized as the founding father of the Namibian Nation in 2005. The current president of Namibia announced a period of national mourning for Nujoma, who was dubbed a "freedom fighter."

Baltic states unplug from Russia and join EU power grid

2025/02/10 10:00

In Europe, the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, have officially disconnected from the Russian electricity grid and joined the European Union's energy system. The transition on Sunday, which had been planned for several years, marks the end of their dependence on the Soviet-era energy network and aims to improve regional energy security. The move was celebrated in a ceremony attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The merge involved disconnecting from Russia on Saturday and operating as an independent energy grid for 24 hours before linking to the EU grid through connections with Poland, Finland, and Sweden.

Macron uses deepfake videos of himself to promote Paris AI summit

2025/02/10 10:00

Over in France, President Emmanuel Macron has used AI-generated deepfake videos of himself, to promote the Paris AI summit. The French president released a series of deepfake videos on Sunday, featuring his likeness to promote the Paris AI Summit set to kick off on Monday local time. The videos, shared across his official social media platforms, depict Macron in various scenarios, crafted using advanced AI technology. The innovative approach aims to underscore the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and provoke discourse on its ethical implications. On the eve of the event, Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared their thoughts on the importance of leveraging the benefits of AI in an inclusive manner while minimizing risks. The third AI Summit will be held for two days and will gather leaders from over 80 states.

Israeli military withdraws from Netzarim Corridor, Trump reiterates idea of owning Gaza

2025/02/10 10:00

Starting in the Middle East, in a significant move under the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Israeli forces have withdrawn from a strategic area in Gaza. On Sunday local time, the Israeli military completed their withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor, a critical route that previously divided the Gaza Strip. The move, which will help facilitate the free movement of Palestinians between the northern and southern regions of Gaza, is part of the recent ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Following the withdrawal of Israeli troops, displaced Palestinians have begun returning to their homes. Meanwhile U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, has reiterated his idea of the U.S. taking ownership of the Gaza Strip, suggesting that sections of the territory could be allocated to other Middle East states to aid in reconstruction efforts.

Trump to hold talks on ending Ukraine war: White House

2025/02/10 10:00

According to the U.S. national security adviser, high-level administration officials will meet with European officials this week to discuss ending the Ukraine war. The announcement came with reports that Trump had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz said Sunday that Washington will hold talks with European officials this week on how to end the Ukraine war. Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press,.. Waltz said a delegation including the U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Vice President, and the U.S. Special Envoy to Europe will hold talks on ending the war. The national security advisor did not go into the details,.. but said that Trump is ready to bring the Ukraine issue to the table this week. This includes the issue of future American aid to Ukraine. However, Waltz stressed that the U.S. needs to recoup the costs, through a partnership with the Ukrainians over its rare earth, and natural resources, all of which are going to be discussed this week. While Waltz says Trump will end the war, the security guarantees will be up to the Europeans. The announcement of the high-level talks comes as the New York Post last Friday reported that President Trump has spoken to President Putin about ending the Ukraine war. In an interview aboard Air Force One, Trump said he spoke on the phone with Putin to try to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, but would not say how many times the two leaders have spoken since his return to the Oval Office last month. While Trump did not go into specific details of their phone call, he said that Putin wants to "see people stop dying," adding that the three-year-old war "never would have happened" if he had been president in 2022. The Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied that the two leaders have spoken on the phone to discuss ending the war. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Constitutional Court likely to extend Yoon's impeachment trial dates; hearing on justice appointment dispute on Mon.

2025/02/10 10:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial is scheduled to wrap up this week but it seems highly likely that the case won't wrap up by then. Meanwhile, on Monday, justices will hold another key hearing on a dispute over whether Acting President Choi Sang-mok should have appointed one more judge to the Constitutional Court bench. Our Oh Soo-young reports. The Constitutional Court will hold a hearing on a dispute case regarding Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to withhold the appointment of Constitutional Court Justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk, while appointing two others recommended alongside him. The case was filed by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who claims Choi neglected to follow a parliamentary resolution to appoint three justices in December last year. Choi, however, had pledged to appoint a third Justice after bipartisan agreement on the candidate. The court initially planned to deliver its ruling last Monday, but accepted Choi's request for additional hearings. During the session, the court will hear arguments from both sides regarding whether Speaker Woo had the authority to file the competence dispute case without a plenary session vote. The question of Ma's appointment has caused a strong political stand-off, as the left-leaning judge would become the ninth member of the judicial bench,.. as it rules on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case. Time is running out on Yoon's impeachment trial, with just two hearings left at the Constitutional Court this week, making an extension likely. On Tuesday, the Court will hold Yoon's seventh trial hearing, with four witnesses summoned to testify: former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik, former Third Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Baek Jong-wook, 그리고 국가정보원 3차장 백종욱, 중앙선거관리위원회 사무총장 김용빈 등 네 명의 증인이 소환되어 증언할 예정입니다. Questions for the former interior minister are expected to focus on the meeting of Cabinet members held before the martial law declaration on December 3 last year. The National Assembly's impeachment panel says the President had bypassed Cabinet procedures before imposing the decree. The National Security Advisor who served as Defense Minister until September last year, is expected to be grilled over whether there was prior planning. As both the National Assembly and President Yoon's legal team have requested Lee and Shin as witnesses, the lawyers will directly question and cross-examine each witness twice. For the National Intelligence Service and Election Commission officials, the questions are expected to focus on election fraud allegations raised by President Yoon as a pretext for declaring martial law. Yoon previously said the intelligence service found significant issues while inspecting the election commission's electronic voting system. Thus, he ordered the military to be deployed to its headquarters to conduct a comprehensive review. The 8th and final hearing is currently scheduled for Thursday. However, given that four witness testimonies are planned throughout the day, it is unlikely that justices will conclude the hearings then. In order to officially end the hearings, the court must hear the closing arguments from both legal teams and President Yoon's final statement. While Press Officer Cheon Jaehyun said Friday that she has not yet heard if the trial will be extended, it has been reported that the Constitutional Court has not yet instructed either side to prepare their final arguments. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Trump reiterates plans for U.S. takeover of Gaza

2025/02/07 20:00

In other news. International criticism seems to have done little to deter U.S. President Donald Trump's intentions to lay claim to Gaza. Lee Seung-jae covers his latest remarks. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, and the relocation of two million Palestinians. The plan was heavily criticized by the international community,.. with some calling it a form of "ethnic cleansing." However, the U.S. president revisited the proposal on Thursday. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the "Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting." Under his proposal, Trump continued to explain that the Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes in the region." He added that the U.S. would be part of efforts to redevelop the enclave. However, he did not mention whether the Gazans would be allowed to return to their homes. Under international law, attempts at forced transfer of populations from occupied territory are strictly prohibited. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday explained that the proposal for Palestinians to leave Gaza would be for an "interim" period while reconstruction took place. Amid concerns that the U.S. may also send troops to Gaza, which would lead to further tensions in the Middle East, Trump said that his proposal would not require any U.S. soldiers. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

World News: Panama's president denies making deal regarding free transit of US ships

2025/02/07 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Beginning with the diplomatic dispute, between the U.S. and Panama, over usage fees for the Panama Canal. Washington on Thursday, reversed claims made the day before, that an agreement had been reached, to allow passage through the Canal, free of charge. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Panama is "expected" to waive transit fees for U.S. government vessels, acknowledging a "process of laws and procedures" that Panama would need to navigate first. The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that a deal had been made that would save the U.S. millions of dollars annually. However, Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino refuted the claim, stating that no such agreement exists and emphasized that neither he nor the constitution have the authority to alter canal fees. He said the U.S. assertion was "intolerable" and instructed Panama's ambassador in Washington to confront the statement. The Panama Canal Authority, responsible for setting the transit tolls, also denied any changes to fee structures. Ukraine has bolstered its air defense capabilities, by receiving the first round of advanced fighter jets from its European allies, France and the Netherlands. Ukraine announced on Thursday, the arrival of its first batch of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets, alongside U.S.-made F-16 fighters from the Netherlands. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed, that the aircraft will commence combat missions soon. The exact number of jets delivered has not been disclosed for security reasons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to France and the Netherlands for their support in strengthening Kyiv's air force. The Netherlands has committed to providing F-16 fighters and training for Ukrainian pilots, and France has adapted the Mirage 2000 for air-to-ground strikes. In Greece, the government declared a state of emergency on Thursday for the island of Santorini, following more than seven-thousand undersea earthquakes that began on January 31. The most significant was a 5.2-magnitude quake on Wednesday. This has prompted the evacuation of more than ten-thousand residents and workers on the island. Authorities have closed schools, restricted access to coastal areas due to landslide risks, and deployed emergency services, including the army and police. While damage has been minimal, the state of emergency is to stay in effect until March 3. Also in Europe, Italy began its one-year countdown to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Thursday, with an official ceremony and series of events taking place in Milan. Celebrations included the unveiling of the Omega Countdown Clock, and the opening of the Sport Village, featuring free ice hockey and curling rinks for public use. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach officiated the event, expressing confidence in preparations, despite a century-old track in Cortina being incomplete. The event will run from February 6 to 22 in 2026. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Trump reiterates plans for U.S. takeover of Gaza

2025/02/07 17:00

Elsewhere. Rampant rejections by the international community have done little to deter U.S. President Donald Trump's intentions to lay claim to the Gaza Strip. Lee Seung-jae covers his latest remarks. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, and the relocation of two million Palestinians. The plan was heavily criticized by the international community,.. with some calling it a form of "ethnic cleansing." However, the U.S. president revisited the proposal on Thursday. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the "Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting." Under his proposal, Trump continued to explain that the Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes in the region." He added that the U.S. would be part of efforts to redevelop the enclave. However, he did not mention whether the Gazans would be allowed to return to their homes. Under international law, attempts at forced transfer of populations from occupied territory are strictly prohibited. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday explained that the proposal for Palestinians to leave Gaza would be for an "interim" period while reconstruction took place. Amid concerns that the U.S. may also send troops to Gaza, which would lead to further tensions in the Middle East, Trump said that his proposal would not require any U.S. soldiers. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Ruling party, gov't to work on new measures to prevent workplace bullying, protect freelance workers

2025/02/07 17:00

Following talks with relevant ministries on this Friday the ruling People Power Party has pledged to promote legislation to prevent workplace bullying to better protect freelance and platform workers. Such intentions follow allegations of workplace harassment of a freelance weather forecaster at a local broadcaster that reportedly led to her suicide. The Labor Ministry and ruling party are considering the creation of a special act and the introduction of a "special supervision" with regard to the latest tragic case. Separately ruling lawmakers and government officials will also seek to expand support for young citizens in their teens to those in their thirties who are burdened with the sole responsibility of family care or are socially isolated.

Acting President to work closely with National Assembly to pass "Value-up Bill"

2025/02/07 17:00

Also on this Friday acting President Choi Sang-mok vowed to push for parliamentary support of the so-called "value-up" bill. Speaking at a macroeconomic meeting Choi added he would call on the National Assembly to pass the bill during this month's special session. The bill offers greater tax incentives to boost corporate participation in the government's Corporate Value-Up Program an initiative that seeks to address the undervaluation of South Korean companies on global markets.

Acting President Choi orders military officials to ensure soldier morale does not drop

2025/02/07 17:00

Acting President Choi Sang-mok has called on military authorities to boost troop morale amid the political turmoil. Remarks to this end were made earlier on this Friday during a visit to the Joint Chiefs of Staff Command and Control Center his first visit there since assuming the role of the nation's caretaker. He also highlighted the importance of a maintaining an unwavering readiness posture to firmly respond to any North Korean provocation with priority placed on national defense.

Clashes over whether Pres. Yoon ordered "agents" or "lawmakers" to be removed from Parliament

2025/02/07 17:00

The sixth hearing at the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol back on Thursday became a blazing row over the diction the president claimed to have used and the one that witnesses allege he used. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young explains. There were strong clashes on Thursday over whether President Yoon Suk Yeol had ordered soldiers to pull out members of parliament to stop them overturning martial law on December 3rd. This came at Yoon's sixth impeachment trial hearing, where former Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun stood witness by the request of the National Assembly. Kwak firmly maintained his position that the President, in a phone call, ordered him to drag out lawmakers, or , from the National Assembly, not 'agents,' or ' ' as claimed by Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. "At the time, the 707th Special Mission forces were in a stand-off and weren't inside the main building. Since I received the call in that context, I naturally assumed he was referring to National Assembly members and understood it that way." Then, with questions fired over his choice of words, he admitted the President told him to pull out the numbers or "in-won" , not legislators or "ui-won" inside the National Assembly. To this President Yoon himself spoke out. Yoon also refuted the former commander's claim that the President and the defense minister did not want the number of legislators in the Assembly to reach 150 the number of votes needed to pass a motion to revoke martial law. He accused Kwak of conspiring to impeach him, with First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won, who also testified unfavorably for Yoon. Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707th Special Mission Battalion, who led the break-in at the National Assembly, also testified on Thursday. He said Commander Kwak Jong-geun did say the number of people should not exceed 150 – and added that Kwak seemed to be relaying instructions from a higher authority, rather than issuing a command. Kim said he did not receive any orders to remove or restrict the movement of legislators in the National Assembly, but to lock down the building. Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop also testified, suggesting that Yoon's martial law was motivated by the opposition-led parliament's impeachment of various state officials, unilateral legislation, and slashing of the government budget. As the testimonies continue, the National Assembly's impeachment panel accused Yoon of inconsistency. "He's abandoned his stance that he wanted to eradicate anti-state forces through martial law and is now solely focused on finding statements that are advantageous to him." "With many conflicting statements to cross-check and verify, it's still unclear how the court will manage the pace of the proceedings and whether it will choose to hear from more witnesses, as there are just two hearings left until next Thursday." Court Officer Cheon Jae-hyun said Wednesday scheduling additional hearings is "at the court's discretion," and there's no official position yet. But she noted that trial dates can be postponed depending on circumstances. The Court has approved a total of 16 witnesses requested by Yoon and the National Assembly, rejecting most of the more than 30 witnesses Yoon's team applied for. The next trial hearing takes place on Tuesday. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Trump reiterates plans for U.S. takeover of Gaza

2025/02/07 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza and the relocation of Palestinians in the region. Despite raising the possibility of U.S. troops being sent to the enclave, Trump said that would not be necessary. Lee Seung-jae reports. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza, and the relocation of two million Palestinians. The plan was heavily criticized by the international community,.. with some calling it a form of "ethnic cleansing." However, the U.S. president revisited the proposal on Thursday. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the "Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting." Under his proposal, Trump continued to explain that the Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes in the region." He added that the U.S. would be part of efforts to redevelop the enclave. However, he did not mention whether the Gazans would be allowed to return to their homes. Under international law, attempts at forced transfer of populations from occupied territory are strictly prohibited. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday explained that the proposal for Palestinians to leave Gaza would be for an "interim" period while reconstruction took place. Amid concerns that the U.S. may also send troops to Gaza, which would lead to further tensions in the Middle East, Trump said that his proposal would not require any U.S. soldiers. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Clashes over whether Pres. Yoon ordered "agents" or "lawmakers" to be removed from Parliament

2025/02/07 10:00

President Yoon appeared at the Constitutional Court on Thursday for the sixth hearing of his impeachment trial, where more key witnesses turned up to testify, and they had some conflicting memories of the martial law order. Our Oh Soo-young starts us off. There were strong clashes on Thursday over whether President Yoon Suk Yeol had ordered soldiers to pull out members of parliament to stop them overturning martial law on December 3rd. This came at Yoon's sixth impeachment trial hearing, where former Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun stood witness by the request of the National Assembly. Kwak firmly maintained his position that the President, in a phone call, ordered him to drag out lawmakers, or , from the National Assembly, not 'agents,' or '' as claimed by Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. "At the time, the 707th Special Mission forces were in a stand-off and weren't inside the main building. Since I received the call in that context, I naturally assumed he was referring to National Assembly members and understood it that way." Then, with questions fired over his choice of words, he admitted the President told him to pull out the numbers or "in-won" , not legislators or "ui-won" inside the National Assembly. To this President Yoon himself spoke out. . Yoon also refuted the former commander's claim that the President and the defense minister did not want the number of legislators in the Assembly to reach 150 the number of votes needed to pass a motion to revoke martial law. He accused Kwak of conspiring to impeach him, with First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won, who also testified unfavorably for Yoon. Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707th Special Mission Battalion, who led the break-in at the National Assembly, also testified on Thursday. He said Commander Kwak Jong-geun did say the number of people should not exceed 150 – and added that Kwak seemed to be relaying instructions from a higher authority, rather than issuing a command. Kim said he did not receive any orders to remove or restrict the movement of legislators in the National Assembly, but to lock down the building. Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop also testified, suggesting that Yoon's martial law was motivated by the opposition-led parliament's impeachment of various state officials, unilateral legislation, and slashing of the government budget. As the testimonies continue, the National Assembly's impeachment panel accused Yoon of inconsistency. "He's abandoned his stance that he wanted to eradicate anti-state forces through martial law and is now solely focused on finding statements that are advantageous to him." "With many conflicting statements to cross-check and verify, it's still unclear how the court will manage the pace of the proceedings and whether it will choose to hear from more witnesses, as there are just two hearings left until next Thursday." Court Officer Cheon Jae-hyun said Wednesday scheduling additional hearings is "at the court's discretion," and there's no official position yet. But she noted that trial dates can be postponed depending on circumstances. The Court has approved a total of 16 witnesses requested by Yoon and the National Assembly, rejecting most of the more than 30 witnesses Yoon's team applied for. The next trial hearing takes place on Tuesday. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

First French fighter jets arrive in Ukraine

2025/02/07 10:00

Moving over to Ukraine, the country has bolstered its air defense capabilities, by receiving the first round of advanced fighter jets from its European allies, France and the Netherlands. Ukraine announced on Thursday, the arrival of its first batch of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets, alongside U.S.-made F-16 fighters from the Netherlands. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed, that the aircraft will commence combat missions soon. The exact number of jets delivered has not been disclosed for security reasons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to France and the Netherlands for their support in strengthening Kyiv's air force. The Netherlands has committed to providing F-16 fighters and training for Ukrainian pilots, and France has adapted the Mirage 2000 for air-to-ground strikes.