News

Panama's president denies making deal regarding free transit of U.S. ships

2025/02/07 10:00

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.

What do Donald Trump's tariffs mean for S. Korea?

2025/02/07 10:00

The Trump administration's aggressive tariff policy direction for countries like China has come as no surprise given what we experienced during his first term. Then how can South Korea, an export-oriented nation, brace for another trade storm? Our Lee Soo-jin tells us. South Korea faces both risks and opportunities as global trade dynamics shift amid rising tariff tensions. While U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday local time, decided to pause the implementation of the tariffs for Canada and Mexico, for at least 30 days, his 10-percent tariff on Chinese products took effect just after midnight Tuesday. But these tariffs could potentially benefit Korean exporters, who'd gain a competitive edge in supplying products that China previously dominated. According to one expert,.. U.S. companies may shift their supply chains to South Korean firms. "In markets like the semiconductor industry, companies like SK hynix already have a strong presence, and if tariffs are imposed on China, South Korean products could gain an even greater competitive advantage." As semiconductors are South Korea's top export item, this would boost the country's trade surplus. But risks remain, as the expected drop in exports of Chinese goods to the U.S. may reduce Chinese orders for South Korea's key intermediate goods. "Our country's export structure depends on selling intermediate goods to China, for them to be assembled into the final product for export to other countries. So, if demand for China's goods declines, demand for these intermediate goods will also decline." And with growing concerns of possible tariffs on the EU and South Korea as well, South Korea's government and its companies are being proactive. The South Korean government announced Wednesday that it will establish a "Strategic Advanced Industry Fund," worth over 34 trillion Korean won, or around 23 billion U.S. dollars, to boost industrial competitiveness. "Ongoing global trade uncertainties, including additional tariffs on China, require close attention. We will establish the "Strategic Advanced Industry Fund" at the Industrial Bank of Korea to support high-tech sectors like batteries and biotech." As for the private sector,.. SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won will lead a delegation to Washington, D.C. on the 19th to discuss response strategies, with a meeting with Trump reportedly under discussion. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Trump's trade representative nominee Greer calls for tougher stance on digital trade targeting S. Korea and EU regulations

2025/02/07 10:00

U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer has called for a tougher approach to digital trade, opposing regulatory efforts by South Korea and the EU targeting U.S. tech firms. At his Senate confirmation hearing, Greer criticized the Biden administration's decision to drop World Trade Organization demands for free cross-border data flows and data localization bans. He emphasized that the U.S. should not outsource its regulations to the EU, Brazil, or any other country. "They can't discriminate against us, and it won't be tolerated," he said. Greer's remarks signal a more assertive digital trade policy under the Trump administration.

On-point: Will Constitutional Court make decision as early as late Feb.?

2025/02/07 10:00

With the 6th hearing having taken place on Thursday, there are now 2 hearings left for Yoon's impeachment trial. Will the last two hearings be enough for the court to make a decision? Let's turn to Professor Song Se-ryun. Thanks for joining us. 1. Yoon's legal team has applied to have over 31 witnesses, and the Court is still reviewing the candidates. How likely is it that the court will accept Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as a witness? Why? 2. President Yoon's side has made a request to the Constitutional Court to hold hearings once a week, not twice a week. How likely is it that the court will accept the request? 3. There are only two hearings left. Will there be an extension to the number of hearings? How many? Why that many? What makes you think so? 4. Will additional hearings work in favor of Yoon's side then? 5. If everything goes as scheduled, the last hearing will take place next Thursday, and some analysts say the trial will be wrapped up with the court's decision as early as later this month or in March. Do you also think so? Or will the court take its time? Thanks so much for your insight this morning. We appreciate it.

Trump agrees to pause tariffs on Mexico, Canada for one month

2025/02/06 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 U.S. trade landscape continues to shift under President Trump's policies, the latest developments are raising critical questions about the administration's approach to international relations and the global economy. A decision to delay a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico has drawn attention, following last-minute agreements with both countries. However, Trump's 10 percent additional tariff slaps on China are set to take effect as scheduled, prompting retaliatory measures, fueling concerns. South Korea, closely monitoring these developments, faces uncertainty regarding the broader effects on its export-driven economy, especially as the U.S. considers further tariff actions against the European Union. For a closer look on this, we invite Song Soo-young, Professor of Economics at Chung-Ang University. Welcome, Professor. Also joining us will be our go-to Voice of America correspondent Jessica Stone. Good to see you again. 1. (Jessica) So Jessica, we're aware that President Trump postponed the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico for one month. This comes as agreements were made with the leaders of both countries a day before the tariffs were set to take effect. Could you remind us, what the content of the agreement was? 2. (Song) Since President Trump raised the issue of drugs as the primary reason for the tariffs, can it be seen that the tariffs were not a goal in themselves, but rather a means of pressure? 3. (Song) There were ongoing concerns within the U.S. about the significant impact of the tariffs on the U.S. economy, such as price inflation. Professor, Do you think these concerns played a role in the decision to delay the imposition? 4. (Jessica) Then Jessica, What has been the public reaction in the U.S. to the decision to delay the imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico? 5. (Song) So the U.S. will negotiate with Canada and Mexico over whether to impose the 25 percent tariffs for one month. Since President Trump has left the possibility of pushing through with the tariffs depending on the outcome of the negotiations, what could be the key variables and issues in future negotiations? 6. (Jessica) Meanwhile, the additional 10 percent tariff on China took effect as scheduled. China responded with retaliatory tariffs and options like filing a WTO complaint. Jessica, What is the White House's stance on this? (After China announced its countermeasures, President Trump, who had initially said he would call within 24 hours, later stated, "I won't rush to call." What is the reason behind this change in President Trump's position?) 9. (Jessica) South Korea is also closely monitoring the Trump administration's policy trends. Jessica, Given the "weaponization of tariffs" without any exceptions for allied countries, is there any potential for this policy to extend to South Korea's export-driven products, like semiconductors? 10. (Song) The European Union is being identified as the next target for tariffs by Trump. If the U.S.-China trade war expands into a global trade war, South Korean exports could inevitably be affected. Professor, How should South Korea prepare for this?

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

2025/02/06 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. President Yoon appeared at the Constitutional Court today for the sixth hearing of his impeachment trial, where more key witnesses turned up to testify. Our Oh Soo-young joins us live to bring the latest. Q1. Soo-young, the sixth trial hearing started in the morning as opposed to the afternoon, and lasted around 8 hours with some fierce rounds of questioning. That's right. There were strong clashes over the key question today which was: whether President Yoon had ordered the physical removal of lawmakers from Parliament with Yoon himself making a counterargument. Fiery exchanges were made as former Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun delivered his testimony, at the request of the National Assembly's impeachment panel. His previous statement contradicts the claims of President Yoon and former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun that the military was ordered to pull out military "agents" rather than "lawmakers" from the National Assembly. Kwak firmly maintained his position that, in his phone call with Yoon, he understood the President told him to remove legislators. "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 – but noted 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. Also standing witness was Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop. He suggested that the opposition-led parliament's impeachment of various state officials, unilateral legislation, and slashing of the government budget comprehensively motivated Yoon's martial law. Yoon has claimed these factors led to a state of national emergency, justifying his decree. The National Assembly's impeachment panel co-chair Kim Yi-su accused the President of changing his stance throughout the trial, and solely focused on finding statements that were advantageous to him. Meanwhile Soo-young the hearings are set to end next Thursday. Are we looking at a possible extension of these hearings? With only two sessions left, it looks likely that the Court will have to schedule more hearing dates beyond February 13th. The Court announced on Thursday, it selected an additional witness to testify: Cho Sung-hyun, Commander of the 1st Security Group under the Capital Defence Command. The decision comes after Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo, a key witness in Tuesday's hearing, refused to answer crucial questions to verify the orders that were given, including by President Yoon Suk Yeol on the evening of December 3rd. According to prosecutors, Cho relayed orders by Lee Jin-woo to forcibly remove lawmakers, and ordered troops to assist the Special Warfare Command in clearing a passage to do so. His testimony is scheduled for next Thursday at 5 PM. All right. Thank you for the latest on the impeachment trial.

UN agency urges N. Korea to immediately end human rights violations

2025/02/06 20:00

An agency under the United Nations has urged North Korea to take immediate steps to end human rights violations. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in its latest report that it was able to observe violations of the right to food and freedom of expression in the regime, such as warrantless searches of homes. It conducted 175 interviews with escapees from the North and victims of human rights violations, and said many of them had been put in inhumane conditions in detention facilities, where they underwent forced labor, torture and a lack of adequate food. The report will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council at its 58th session, scheduled to be held later this month.

Western allies slam Trump's plan to '"take over" Gaza

2025/02/06 20:00

On the international front. Washington's allies and adversaries alike have voiced their firm opposition to the idea of the U.S. taking over the Gaza Strip. Lee Seung-jae covers the condemnation. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed that the U.S. "take over" the Gaza Strip and resettle the Palestinian population. His plans to turn the area into the "Riviera of the Middle East" were heavily criticized by Western allies on Wednesday. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed its opposition to "any forced displacement" of Gazans, adding that Paris will continue to push for the implementation of a two-state solution. Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said while Italy will look into Trump's plans,.. it still remains in favor of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. German President Walter Steinmeier slammed the plan, calling it unacceptable, adding that such actions will form a serious basis "for the upcoming talks between the regional actors and the U.S. administration." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also criticized the proposal, calling the relocation of Gazans,.. a form of "ethnic cleansing." "In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing." The paramilitary Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, denounced what it called "racist comments" by the U.S. leader and vowed to fight his plans in Gaza. In a statement on Wednesday, the group said that Israel's attempt to force Palestinians to leave Gaza failed, and that Trump's proposal will also fail. Despite the international condemnation, President Trump said Wednesday at the White House, that "everybody loves" his proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza. Trump's officials were quick to clear up what they believe were misunderstandings, as U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said that Trump's plan was a unique offer to step in and clear debris and destruction in Gaza. He added that the move to relocate the Gazans was not meant as a hostile move and that details still needed to be worked out. With Trump also considering U.S. troop deployment to the Gaza Strip, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Trump is "willing to think outside the box, look for new and unique, dynamic ways to solve problems," adding that the Pentagon is prepared to look at all options. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Acting Pres. Choi attends third parliamentary hearing on insurrection allegations

2025/02/06 20:00

Meanwhile at the National Assembly today. Acting president Choi Sang-mok attended a hearing led by lawmakers into charges of insurrection against the Yoon administration. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young has takeaways. During a third Assembly hearing on Thursday into allegations of insurrection by the president and some of his ministers, lawmakers directed their questions to Acting President Choi Sang-mok. The spotlight was on a controversial note Choi received on December 3rd, ordering the preparation of a budget for an emergency legislative body, presumably to replace the elected National Assembly. President Yoon previously said in his third impeachment hearing at the Constitutional Court that he learned about the note through media reports. Opposition party lawmakers on the special committee sought to determine whether President Yoon issued instructions to certain Cabinet members through written notes at the time. Choi reaffirmed that he received the note but did not review it immediately. "If the emergency legislative body, as mentioned in the note, forcibly dissolved the National Assembly and replaced it, wouldn't that be an unconstitutional body?" "I'm not aware of that matter." Meanwhile, ruling party lawmakers claimed that appointing Ma Eun-hyuk to the Constitutional Court would be unfair, due to the lack of a bipartisan consensus. "I believe there was no bipartisan agreement on nominee Ma Eun-hyuk. What do you think?" "I would say that there was no agreement between the parties at that time." Thursday's session was also attended by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and other officials. Han expressed concern that if the Constitutional Court doesn't make a decision the public can accept, it could cause national division. Ahead of Thursday's hearing, the committee called 25 witnesses including President Yoon, Acting President Choi, and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, to testify. However, nine of them, including Yoon and Kim, submitted excuses to not appear. At the beginning of the hearings, the opposition-led committee issued orders for Kim and three others involved in Yoon's martial law declaration to appear as witnesses. The committee's investigation is scheduled to end on February 13th, but the opposition is considering pushing for an extension, citing the absence of key witnesses at previous hearings. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

K-BANGSAN BETS ON GLOBAL REARMAMENT

2025/02/06 17:00

Welcome to yet another edition of Press Perspective for this Thursday February 6th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Bolstering defense is a national priority for any country and Korean arms makers are hoping to better advance this global agenda. For more I have Steven Borowiec a staff writer for Japanese weekly news magazine Nikkei Asia. Steven welcome. I also have Professor Kim Junmo at Konkuk University live on the line. Professor Kim it's a pleasure. 1) Steven, Asian defense stocks rallied last year with investors betting that the region is poised to fuel a rearmament boom. Let's begin with this reality and your prospects. 2) Professor Kim, do you believe Mr. Trump's return to the White House is likely to fuel greater global defense spending? 3) Meanwhile, Steven, quite a number of media outlets have covered the reasons behind Korea's remarkable advances in arms development. Do share them with us, and what are your thoughts regarding Korea's competence in weapon-making? 4) And Professor Kim, do tell us more about Korea's defense industry including its steady advance into the global arms market. What do you believe has been driving Korea's strides in defense? 5) Steven, the government here has said a second Trump administration would serve to boost Korea's arms exports. What was said exactly, and do you agree? 6) Professor Kim, Korea hopes to become the fourth largest weapons exporter in 2027. How feasible is this plan? 7) Steven, earlier last year, you also covered K-defense, if I may. Do share with us details of your coverage. 8) Steven, for the sake of comparison, do tell us a bit about the current top five arms exporters, and the competition that Korea faces. 9) Professor Kim, Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, is poised to host the International Defence Exhibition and Conference later this month. What should we be keeping our eyes on? All right. Well developing defense for the purpose of promoting peace is a policy that looks to be universally embraced especially amid the current geopolitical landscape. Thank you for watching.

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

2025/02/06 17:00

We start yet again at the Constitutional Court where the sixth hearing began earlier today with President Yoon Suk Yeol in attendance as a new lineup of witnesses were grilled into the events surrounding the evening of December third. For more our Oh Soo-young joins us live. Soo-young it's good to have you on. So the court session today opened in the morning? That's right. There were strong clashes over the key question today which was: whether President Yoon had ordered the physical removal of lawmakers from Parliament with Yoon himself making a counterargument. Strong clashes came as former Army Special Warfare Command chief Kwak Jong-geun delivered his testimony, at the request of the National Assembly's impeachment panel. His previous statement clashes with the claims of President Yoon and former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun that the military was ordered to remove "agents" rather than "lawmakers" from the National Assembly. Kwak said, in his phone call with Yoon, because there were no troops inside the main Assembly building at the time, he understood the President told him to remove legislators. Then, during the testimony, he admitted he had heard the president tell him to pull out the numbers or "in-won" , not legislators or "ui-won" inside the National Assembly. He repeated his previous 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 including to revoke martial law. To this President Yoon himself spoke out, saying he had not even used the term "numbers" when there are words such as "people" or "agents" to refer to troops. He stated if he'd asked for 151 plus legislators to be removed, there would have been a back-and-forth between him and commanders on the ground to discuss the feasibility. Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707th Special Mission Battalion, who led the break-in at the National Assembly, also testified. He said Commander Kwak Jong-geun did say the number of people should not exceed 150 – but noted he 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 as ordered. He added he and his troops were deployed in uniform straight from standard training. Both Kwak and Kim said they'd been ordered to lock down the National Assembly and decided that the situation would be impossible. Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop also began his testimony, with questions focusing on the opposition-led parliament slashing the government's budget, which Yoon claims led to a state of national emergency, justifying his martial law. Meanwhile Soo-young the hearings are set to end next Thursday. Are we looking at a possible extension of these hearings or will next Thursday be the final session? It looks likely that the Court will have to schedule more hearing dates beyond next Thursday. The Court announced on Thursday, it selected an additional witness to testify: Cho Sung-hyun, Commander of the 1st Security Group under the Capital Defence Command. The decision comes after Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo, a key witness in Tuesday's hearing, refused to answer crucial questions to verify the orders that were given, including by President Yoon Suk Yeol on the evening of December 3rd. According to prosecutors' findings, included in Yoon's indictment, Cho relayed orders by Lee Jin-woo to forcibly remove lawmakers from the National Assembly, and ordered troops to assist the Special Warfare Command in clearing a passage to drag lawmakers out. His testimony is scheduled for next Thursday at 5 PM. If the justices add more hearing dates, it's likely the verdict of the trial would come around March, considering that it took 10 days for former President Park Geun-hye's ruling to be issued. The Court has been determined to expedite proceedings, Yoon's lawyers have been calling to slow down the pace of the twice-a-week hearings to once a week given that Yoon's criminal trial will begin in two week's time. All right Soo-young thank you for the latest on the impeachment trial. That was our Oh Soo-young reporting live from the Constitutional Court.

World News: U.S. reinstates acceptance of parcels from China and Hong Kong after suspension

2025/02/06 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. The United States Postal Service, has announced, that it's resumed accepting parcels from China and Hong Kong, following a brief suspension after recent tariff changes. On Wednesday, the U.S. Postal Service announced it would resume accepting all inbound mail and packages from China and Hong Kong, reversing a suspension that lasted less than a day. The initial halt came in response to the U.S. government's imposition of a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, as well as the suspension of a customs exception, which previously allowed packages valued under 800 U.S. dollars to enter the country duty-free. The brief suspension had raised concerns among e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein, which heavily rely on direct shipments from China to U.S. consumers. Following the resumption of accepting parcels, Temu's parent company, PDD Holdings, saw its stock recover some losses. The UK has announced an additional financial aid package, to support Ukraine, during a visit by the British Foreign Secretary to Kyiv. Approximately 68.7 million U.S. dollars, in financial support was announced by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday. The new aid package aims to bolster Ukraine's resilience against Russian aggression, and is designed to cover energy initiatives, economic recovery, and social services. The announcement follows the recent signing of a 100-year partnership agreement between the UK and Ukraine in January, aimed at strengthening defense cooperation and economic collaboration. Since Russia's invasion, the UK has committed a total of 977 million pounds or approximately 1.22 billion U.S. dollars in support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine conducted a major exchange of prisoners of war on Wednesday, with each side releasing 150 soldiers. The swap took place in an undisclosed location, mediated by the United Arab Emirates. The released Russian soldiers were transported to Belarus, for medical examination and rehabilitation before returning to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the return of Ukrainian personnel, including members of the navy, air force, and ground forces. The last exchange of prisoners took place in December of last year. In the U.S., a statue of Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo was unveiled in New York City's Times Square on Wednesday. Standing at approximately 366 centimeters tall, the bronze statue was created by sculptor Sergio Furnari, to celebrate Ronaldo's 40th birthday. The statue was mounted on a truck and painted in green, red, and gold, the colors of the Portuguese flag. The event attracted a large crowd of fans, many waving Portuguese flags and chanting Ronaldo's signature "Siu" celebration. The statue will be taken on a tour around the world by the creator. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Western allies slam Trump's plan to '"take over" Gaza

2025/02/06 17:00

On the international front. Washington's allies and adversaries alike have voiced their firm opposition to the idea of the U.S. taking over the Gaza Strip. Lee Seung-jae covers the condemnation. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed that the U.S. "take over" the Gaza Strip and resettle the Palestinian population. His plans to turn the area into the "Riviera of the Middle East" were heavily criticized by Western allies on Wednesday. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed its opposition to "any forced displacement" of Gazans, adding that Paris will continue to push for the implementation of a two-state solution. Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said while Italy will look into Trump's plans,.. it still remains in favor of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. German President Walter Steinmeier slammed the plan, calling it unacceptable, adding that such actions will form a serious basis "for the upcoming talks between the regional actors and the U.S. administration." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also criticized the proposal, calling the relocation of Gazans,.. a form of "ethnic cleansing." "In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing." The paramilitary Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, denounced what it called "racist comments" by the U.S. leader and vowed to fight his plans in Gaza. In a statement on Wednesday, the group said that Israel's attempt to force Palestinians to leave Gaza failed, and that Trump's proposal will also fail. Despite the international condemnation, President Trump said Wednesday at the White House, that "everybody loves" his proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza. Trump's officials were quick to clear up what they believe were misunderstandings, as U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said that Trump's plan was a unique offer to step in and clear debris and destruction in Gaza. He added that the move to relocate the Gazans was not meant as a hostile move and that details still needed to be worked out. With Trump also considering U.S. troop deployment to the Gaza Strip, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Trump is "willing to think outside the box, look for new and unique, dynamic ways to solve problems," adding that the Pentagon is prepared to look at all options. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea, U.S. national security advisors agree to meet at earliest possible date in first phone talks

2025/02/06 17:00

Meanwhile Seoul and Washington's national security advisors have agreed to meet at an early date in the U.S. to address a host of regional and global concerns. Intentions to this end were shared during recent talks on the phone between Shin Won-sik and Michael Waltz. According to the top office here the two officials also touched upon the bilateral alliance as well as the trilateral partnership with Japan amid North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile threats. Shin also voiced his confidence in the future of South Korea's ties with the U.S. under the Trump administration while Waltz shared a similar expectation of greater cooperation across a range of fields.

What do Donald Trump's tariffs mean for S. Korea?

2025/02/06 17:00

The Trump administration's protectionist trade policy is taking shape with a fresh tariff on China and briefly postponed tariffs on Canada and Mexico amid renewed threats of blanket taxes on all imports to the U.S. So what does this mean for export-oriented countries like South Korea? Our Lee Soo-jin seeks to answer that question. South Korea faces both risks and opportunities as global trade dynamics shift amid rising tariff tensions. While U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday local time, decided to pause the implementation of the tariffs for Canada and Mexico, for at least 30 days, his 10-percent tariff on Chinese products took effect just after midnight Tuesday. But these tariffs could potentially benefit Korean exporters, who'd gain a competitive edge in supplying products that China previously dominated. According to one expert,.. U.S. companies may shift their supply chains to South Korean firms. "In markets like the semiconductor industry, companies like SK hynix already have a strong presence, and if tariffs are imposed on China, South Korean products could gain an even greater competitive advantage." As semiconductors are South Korea's top export item, this would boost the country's trade surplus. But risks remain, as the expected drop in exports of Chinese goods to the U.S. may reduce Chinese orders for South Korea's key intermediate goods. "Our country's export structure depends on selling intermediate goods to China, for them to be assembled into the final product for export to other countries. So, if demand for China's goods declines, demand for these intermediate goods will also decline." And with growing concerns of possible tariffs on the EU and South Korea as well, South Korea's government and its companies are being proactive. The South Korean government announced Wednesday that it will establish a "Strategic Advanced Industry Fund," worth over 34 trillion Korean won, or around 23 billion U.S. dollars, to boost industrial competitiveness. "Ongoing global trade uncertainties, including additional tariffs on China, require close attention. We will establish the "Strategic Advanced Industry Fund" at the Industrial Bank of Korea to support high-tech sectors like batteries and biotech." As for the private sector,.. SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won will lead a delegation to Washington, D.C. on the 19th to discuss response strategies, with a meeting with Trump reportedly under discussion. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

PPP interim leader Kwon Young-se to focus on ruling party's reformation, change for time being

2025/02/06 17:00

The ruling People Power Party is poised to focus on party reform and change. Such intentions were shared by its interim chairman Kwon Young-se during a press conference earlier on this Thursday as he observed that quote "some stability and harmony" had been recovered. Acknowledging what he referred to as the recent "discord" between the ruling party and the government Kwon said the PPP will now seek to improve its image through its policies especially those regarding the economy. He pointed to easing restrictions on business operations of Korea's conglomerates to boost growth as one potential policy.

Acting Pres. Choi attends third parliamentary hearing on insurrection allegations

2025/02/06 17:00

Meanwhile at the National Assembly today. Acting president Choi Sang-mok attended a hearing led by lawmakers into charges of insurrection against the Yoon administration. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. During a third Assembly hearing on Thursday into allegations of insurrection by the president and some of his ministers, lawmakers directed their questions to Acting President Choi Sang-mok. The spotlight was on a controversial note Choi received on December 3rd, ordering the preparation of a budget for an emergency legislative body, presumably to replace the elected National Assembly. President Yoon previously said in his third impeachment hearing at the Constitutional Court that he learned about the note through media reports. Opposition party lawmakers on the special committee sought to determine whether President Yoon issued instructions to certain Cabinet members through written notes at the time. Choi reaffirmed that he received the note but did not review it immediately. "If the emergency legislative body, as mentioned in the note, forcibly dissolved the National Assembly and replaced it, wouldn't that be an unconstitutional body?" "I'm not aware of that matter." Meanwhile, ruling party lawmakers claimed that appointing Ma Eun-hyuk to the Constitutional Court would be unfair, due to the lack of a bipartisan consensus. "I believe there was no bipartisan agreement on nominee Ma Eun-hyuk. What do you think?" "I would say that there was no agreement between the parties at that time." Thursday's session was also attended by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and other officials. Han expressed concern that if the Constitutional Court doesn't make a decision the public can accept, it could cause national division. Ahead of Thursday's hearing, the committee called 25 witnesses including President Yoon, Acting President Choi, and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, to testify. However, nine of them, including Yoon and Kim, submitted excuses to not appear. At the beginning of the hearings, the opposition-led committee issued orders for Kim and three others involved in Yoon's martial law declaration to appear as witnesses. The committee's investigation is scheduled to end on February 13th, but the opposition is considering pushing for an extension, citing the absence of key witnesses at previous hearings. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Western allies slam Trump's plan to '"take over" Gaza

2025/02/06 10:00

World leaders criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to "take over" the Gaza Strip. But Trum insists "everybody loves" his proposal. Lee Seung-jae tells us more. During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed that the U.S. "take over" the Gaza Strip and resettle the Palestinian population. His plans to turn the area into the "Riviera of the Middle East" were heavily criticized by Western allies on Wednesday. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed its opposition to "any forced displacement" of Gazans, adding that Paris will continue to push for the implementation of a two-state solution. Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said while Italy will look into Trump's plans,.. it still remains in favor of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. German President Walter Steinmeier slammed the plan, calling it unacceptable, adding that such actions will form a serious basis "for the upcoming talks between the regional actors and the U.S. administration." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also criticized the proposal, calling the relocation of Gazans,.. a form of "ethnic cleansing." "In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing." The paramilitary Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, denounced what it called "racist comments" by the U.S. leader and vowed to fight his plans in Gaza. In a statement on Wednesday, the group said that Israel's attempt to force Palestinians to leave Gaza failed, and that Trump's proposal will also fail. Despite the international condemnation, President Trump said Wednesday at the White House, that "everybody loves" his proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza. Trump's officials were quick to clear up what they believe were misunderstandings, as U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said that Trump's plan was a unique offer to step in and clear debris and destruction in Gaza. He added that the move to relocate the Gazans was not meant as a hostile move and that details still needed to be worked out. With Trump also considering U.S. troop deployment to the Gaza Strip, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Trump is "willing to think outside the box, look for new and unique, dynamic ways to solve problems," adding that the Pentagon is prepared to look at all options. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Live: Yoon's impeachment trial resumes Constitutional Court undecided on extending trial dates

2025/02/06 10:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial continues with the sixth hearing on Thursday. Starting today, hearings begin in the morning and run throughout the day with three testimonies. Our Oh Soo-young is at the Constitutional Court where the session has just kicked off. Q1. Sooyoung. The Court has seen some twists and turns in the testimonies by key witnesses so far, and today's line-up will also be interesting. That's right. The sixth hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial began just moments ago at 10 AM, with key witnesses to testify today. On the National Assembly's side, former Army Special Warfare Command chief Kwak Jong-geun will soon begin his testimony. His claims are likely to clash with what has been stated by Yoon and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun regarding the night of the martial law declaration. Ahead of the impeachment trial, Kwak refuted Yoon's claim that the military was ordered to pull out "agents" rather than "lawmakers" from the National Assembly, directly contradicting the president's defense. On Yoon's side, two witnesses will take the stand --Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707th Special Mission Battalion, and Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Affairs Park Chun-seop. Yoon's legal team is expected to question Kim regarding allegations that the military was ordered to storm the National Assembly under martial law. The questions for Park are likely to focus on the opposition-led parliament slashing the government's budget, which Yoon claims led to a state of national emergency, justifying his martial law. From today, hearings begin at 10AM, not 2PM, as the judges aim to speed up proceedings. Q2. And there are two hearings left now. So the question is whether the trial is nearing an end or if it'll be extended. That's right, as of now, the last hearing is scheduled for next Thursday, and it's unclear whether the Court will stick to this schedule or choose to lengthen the trial. The Court's Press Officer Cheon Jaehyun said Wednesday regarding the possibility of scheduling additional hearings that it's "a matter for the court to decide," and there's no official position yet. But the press officer noted that trial dates can be postponed depending on the circumstances. President Yoon's legal team on Tuesday had requested that impeachment trial hearings be held only once a week, arguing that it is impractical to maintain the current twice-a-week schedule while also managing Yoon's upcoming criminal trial starting on February 20th. Justices dismissed most of Yoon's witness applications related to alleged election fraud, which Yoon says was a pretext for his martial law. It has approved only 15 witnesses from both Yoon's and the National Assembly's side, despite the President's lawyers having applied for over 30 witnesses. But notably, it rescheduled a testimony session for National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho, who failed to appear in a previous hearing due to health reasons. At the moment, it seems the court is focused on avoiding delays or calling up any witnesses it deems unnecessary so as to not prolong the trial. I see. Thank you and keep us updated.

Russia-Ukraine swap 150 prisoners of war

2025/02/06 10:00

Russia and Ukraine conducted a major exchange of prisoners of war on Wednesday, with each side releasing 150 soldiers. The swap took place in an undisclosed location, mediated by the United Arab Emirates. The released Russian soldiers were transported to Belarus, for medical examination and rehabilitation before returning to Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the return of Ukrainian personnel, including members of the navy, air force, and ground forces. The last exchange of prisoners took place in December of last year.