News

China, Canada, Mexico hit back against Trump tariffs

2025/02/03 10:00

And these countries under the influence of Trump's steep tariff plans plan on taking swift countermeasures. China is looking to sue the U.S., and Canada and Mexico are issuing retaliatory tariffs. Ahn Sung-jin has more. Following the imposition of tariffs by the U.S., China stated that it would challenge Trump's move. "The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the U.S. seriously violates World Trade Organization rules, which is not conducive to solving its own problems, but disrupts normal China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation." In a written statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, China expressed strong discontent and added that not only will it file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization, but it will take other countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests. Though nothing has been specifically stated, some of its retaliation measures may be hardening export controls on rare earth metals or targeting U.S. companies with interests in China. There's also speculation that China may impose a 10 percent tariff on U.S. imports after Tuesday, when Trump's new sanctions will be put in place. Mexico and Canada have also vowed immediate retaliatory measures against the U.S. for tariffs imposed on both countries. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Saturday posted on X that she has informed her economy minister to implement what she called "plan B" which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico's interests. "This measure, of 25% tariffs, has effects for both countries but it has very serious effects for the economy of the United States as it is going to greatly increase the costs of all products that are exported from Mexico to the United States." Canada responded with a 25 percent tariff on American goods, including beer and wine starting Tuesday, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also urged Canadians to restrict travel to the U.S. and to boycott U.S. products, adding that Americans will feel pain from Trump's tariffs. "This is a choice that yes, will harm Canadians but beyond that, it will have real consequences for you, the American people." A spokesman for the European Commission said the EU regrets U.S. tariffs against neighboring countries and China and vowed to respond strongly to unfair levies levelled against the bloc. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Trump says possible pain from tariffs "worth the price"

2025/02/03 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that America may feel economic pain due to his tariffs on key trading partners. However, he argued that it would be "worth the price" in order to secure U.S. interests. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday imposed a 25-percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, while China was hit with an additional 10-percent tariff on the various existing duty rates. The tariffs are expected to be met with retaliatory measures from the affected countries, and are also expected to lead to higher inflation. Economists also predict that the ensuing trade war would likely slow U.S. growth. However, Trump says while the Americans may feel the economic "pain" from his tariffs, it would be "worth the price" in order to secure U.S. interests. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, he said the tariffs will "Make America Great Again, and it will all be worth the price that must be paid." Meanwhile, in a separate post, the U.S. president reiterated his call for Canada to become a U.S. state. He claimed that the U.S. pays "hundreds of billions of dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada," adding that Canada would "cease to exist as a viable Country" without the subsidy. With this, he called on Canada to become a "Cherished 51st State," promising that such a move would lead to lower taxes, better military protection and no tariffs. The cryptocurrency market responded negatively to the news of Trump's tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China over the weekend. According to U.S.-based exchange Coinbase as of 7 AM Korea Standard Time, the price of bitcoin stood at just over 97-thousand-200 U.S. dollars. The price of the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, hovered above 100 thousand U.S. dollars before the tariffs went into effect on Saturday. According to cryptocurrency media outlet CoinDesk, the renewed trade war could aggravate inflation in the U.S., and make it difficult for the U.S. Fed to cut interest rates. It added that the weakness in the bitcoin price reflects such concerns, sending a signal to the market to avoid risky assets. On the other hand, spot gold price surpassed 28 hundred U.S. dollars per ounce on Friday, with investors opting to buy safer assets. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Ukraine accuses Russia of missile strike on Kursk school

2025/02/03 10:00

Moving to the Ukraine-Russia war Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of bombing a boarding school in Sudzha, located in the area of Russia's Kursk region that has been under Kyiv's control for five months. Civilians were sheltering there and preparing for evacuation when the attack on Saturday occurred. Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that four people were killed, dozens were injured, and 84 people have been rescued or received medical treatment. However, the Russian Defense Ministry says the Ukrainian forces launched the deadly missile strike from Ukraine's Sumy region. These conflicting accounts have not yet been independently verified.

Will President Yoon's impeachment trial end quickly or drag on?

2025/01/31 20:00

President Yoon's impeachment trial is now halfway into the proceedings but it could stretch on for longer than scheduled. It resumes on Tuesday next week, with more key witnesses to speak on the president's martial law decree. Our Oh Soo-young reports. The Constitutional Court will resume President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, after the Lunar New Year holiday, with more witnesses to testify. On Tuesday at 2 PM, the Court will hold the trial's fifth hearing, with a focus on questioning key witnesses requested by the National Assembly, which is arguing for Yoon's impeachment. Beginning at 2:30 PM, three witnesses will each undergo 90 minutes of questioning. Lee Jin-woo, former Commander of the Capital Defense Command, and Yeo In-hyung, former chief of Military Counterintelligence Command, have both been arrested as key figures implicated in the execution of martial law. Lee reportedly received calls from President Yoon to drag out legislators from parliament to stop them from voting to lift martial law, while Yeo was in charge of searching and seizing the National Election Commission. Former intelligence official Hong Jang-won will also testify. Hong has already said he received orders including from the President to "totally round up and clean up" political opponents. During the previous hearing, Yoon denied he gave such orders. Also, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun testified that the President meant for military members to be pulled out of the Assembly, not the members of parliament. As justices cross-examine the witnesses and their conflicting testimonies, the panel can ask their own questions. Yoon is likely to attend every trial hearing, and also question witnesses himself as he did in the previous hearing. "For now, with four hearings left until February 13th, when a verdict will be reached remains unclear. Observers say by the end of February at the earliest, but there's a fair chance of delays due to legal and political factors at play." Press officer Cheon Jaehyun said Friday that the Court has selected additional witnesses which include interior minister Lee Sang-min, and National Election Commission Secretary General Kim Yong-bin requested by the National Assembly's side. On Yoon's side, the Court approved National Security Advisor Shin Won-shik, security expert Baek Jong-wook who was involved in the electoral operations, and Director of the National Intelligence Service Cho Tae-yong. The selection of witnesses indicates the Court will consider Yoon's argument that suspected election fraud in the General Election last year served as a pretext for declaring martial law. The Court is still considering further witness requests by the President's team. If it approves more, the trial could be extended. Justices could also postpone the hearings considering the pace of Yoon's criminal trial. Still, the judicial panel has been clear that it's focused on holding speedy trial proceedings. Meanwhile, another highly anticipated ruling will be delivered on Monday on the eve of Yoon's fifth trial hearing. The Court will rule on whether Acting President Choi Sang-mok violated the Constitution by appointing only two out of three justices recommended by the National Assembly. Choi had left out left-leaning candidate Ma Eun-hyuk, raising the need for bipartisan consensus to move forward. If the court finds the omission unconstitutional, Choi would be under significant pressure to appoint him. This would mean the Court will operate as a full panel of nine justices also increasing the chance of a two-thirds majority vote required to impeach the President. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Acting President turns down special probe for Yoon's martial law as opposition warns of retaliation

2025/01/31 20:00

Acting President Choi Sang-mok today vetoed a second version of a bill, recently passed by the opposition, that would start a special investigation behind the declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol. He cited the fact that the president and some of the key figures have already been arrested and indicted. Our Kim Do-yeon explains. For the second time Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok vetoed a bill that would start a special probe into President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law and the charges of insurrection from it. This came on Friday afternoon at a Cabinet meeting as Choi said it was "inevitable." "As the Acting President, I see vetoing this bill as inevitable, considering the constitutional order, protection of national interests, and urgency of responding to the crises, as well as the wishes of the public." As for the specifics he started off with the fact that there already is a criminal trial going on. He said the state prosecutors have already indicted the President and some of the case's key figures while having them under arrest. He says kicking off a new special probe is only necessary when it needs to complement an investigation that's finished. Therefore, the result of the ongoing trial must come first. As for the unconstitutional aspect he vetoed the first version saying that the bill could breach the three branches of government rule. For this one he says some aspects were resolved from the first version but some issues remain. In addition, the wide scope of the investigation laid out on the bill could compromise some of the nation's confidential information as well. Meanwhile, this new version cut down the allegations from 11 to 6 with the Supreme Court Chief Justice coming up with two options for the chief prosecutor for the Acting President to appoint from. These revisions were made to address the issues Choi brought up when vetoing the first version of the bill. As expected, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea responded to the veto by saying it would hold Choi responsible possibly referring to another impeachment. The party's floor spokesperson released a written statement saying that it was not unilaterally passed as the ruling People Power Party refused to negotiate the details of the bill. In addition, while the investigation and trial are going on others who worked with President Yoon for this declaration not yet questioned need to be vetted as well. The ruling People Power Party had already suggested the Acting President veto the bill with the same reasoning as the acting president, but the PPP went further saying that the special probe bill was a political act by the opposition. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Trump era 2.0 : Key challenges and the future of the U.S.-S. Korea alliance

2025/01/31 20:00

1. As the second term of President Donald Trump begins, the global landscape is bracing for significant shifts in U.S. foreign policy, especially with respect to the Korea-US alliance and the evolving dynamics in Northeast Asia. 2. To discuss these critical developments, we are joined by experts to examine how the Trump administration's "America First" approach may impact key issues such as North Korea, China, and South Korea's role in maintaining a balanced foreign policy. 3. We will also explore the growing influence of Korean-American lawmakers in Congress and their potential to shape U.S.-Korea relations in the coming years. 4. Stay tuned as we delve into these pressing topics with insights from key leaders and analysts. 5. For more on this, we invite Min Jeong-hun, Professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy in the studio with us. Welcome. 6. Also joining us is Robert Kelly, Professor of International Relations at Pusan National University. Thank you for your participation. 7. (Min) So Professor Min, as President Trump started his second term, he declared the era of "America First 2.0," signaling significant changes in the global security order. How do you expect foreign policy in the second Trump administration to differ from that of the first? 8. (Kelly) Within the framework of "America First," how will the Trump administration's stance and response toward the Korea-US alliance differ most significantly from the Biden administration? 9. (Min) Meanwhile, concerns are growing about a crisis in Seoul-Washington ties due to the political turmoil following Korea's December 3rd martial law declaration. Since the Korea-US alliance is based on values such as democracy and the rule of law, how do you think the domestic political situation will affect the alliance? 10. (Kelly) Meanwhile, President Trump has refrained from making any official comments on Korea's state of emergency. Professor Kelly, What do you think is the reason for this? 11. (Min) South Korea will need to engage in intense negotiations with the Trump administration. What is the most urgent issue at hand? (Perhaps the renegotiation of defense cost-sharing?) 12. (Kelly) President Trump had been preferring a "top-down" approach when it comes to diplomacy. In the context of leadership gaps caused by political turmoil, what kind of foreign policy should South Korea pursue? 13. (Min) Amidst this, on the 23rd, Seoul's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had their first call after Trump's inauguration, agreeing to continue strengthening the strong alliance. It's been said that Secretary Rubio has invited Minister Cho over to Washington. What further efforts are needed to strengthen high-level communication? 14. (Kelly) On his first day in office, President Trump acknowledged North Korea's nuclear capabilities and expressed his intention to resume talks with the North. How will the second Trump administration's approach to the Pyongyang nuclear issue differ from previous administrations? Additionally, is there a possibility of Trump bypassing South Korea and negotiating directly with North Korea? 15. (Kelly) If talks between North Korea and the U.S. take place, there are discussions of a "small deal" progressing toward nuclear disarmament or freezing. However, a "small deal" directly contradicts South Korea's policy of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. In this case, how should South Korea respond? 16. (Min) Contrary to expectations after his inauguration, President Trump showed some willingness to negotiate with China. How do you foresee the future of U.S.-China relations? Additionally, how should South Korea balance its diplomacy between the U.S. and China?

Live from Seoul Central District Court, where Pres. Yoon's criminal trial will take place

2025/01/31 17:00

With President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial ongoing, he is also facing criminal charges for insurrection. His legal team is currently making preparations to defend the president in court. For more we have our Park Kun-woo standing by live. Kun-woo, what's the latest? Good evening, Min-jung. I'm outside Seoul Central District Court where Yoon's criminal trial on charges of insurrection, following his indictment by the prosecution, is set to take place, possibly in March. We just learned that the panel of judges for the case was decided less than an hour ago. Yoon has been assigned to Criminal Division 25, the same panel handling the insurrection conspiracy allegations that are being faced by military and police leadership, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and current Head of National Police Agency Cho Ji-ho. Then, after pretrial preparations in February, the trial will begin possibly in March. Usually, such preparations for a criminal trial take two to three months, but given that this is an unprecedented trial of a sitting president, there are expectations that it will proceed faster than usual. Accordingly, Yoon's defense is facing two different trials -the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial and the criminal trial. This could result in the president undergoing at least three hearings a week, as those for the impeachment will resume their twice-weekly schedule from next week. 2. Now, how has Yoon been preparing for these trials? President Yoon continued meeting with his defense team even during the Lunar New Year holiday, to discuss trial preparations, though details remain undisclosed. That came after over a hundred pieces of evidence were submitted to the Constitutional Court on January 26th, which some pundits believe may be a strategy to delay the impeachment trial. One possible scenario for Yoon and his defense team is to request bail to participate in the trials without detention. The court could deny the bail request due to concerns about evidence tampering, but could also accept the request with certain conditions such as prohibiting contact with related parties. Another possibility is requesting the suspension of the impeachment trial. That's based on a Constitutional Court Act that allows the suspension of such a trial when a criminal trial is also ongoing over the same matter. 3. And I hear that Yoon's senior advisors met the President after regular visits to the Detention Center have been allowed today. Yes, with visits to the Seoul Detention Center now allowed as of today, five high-ranking officials from the Presidential Office, including the Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk and Director of National Security Shin Won-sik, visited Yoon this morning. Yoon reportedly said he is doing well in the detention center, noting that it's still a place "where people live." And he urged the officials not to be discouraged and to do their best in their respective roles. He also asked them whether the medical system had been functioning properly during the holidays. As these visits can take place once a day with only a few people allowed, members of the People Power Party are expected to visit Yoon later on. First lady Kim Keon Hee is reportedly not planning to visit at the moment. That's all I have for you now. Back to you, Min-jung. All right Kun-woo, thank you. That was our Park Kun-woo reporting live, from the Seoul Central District Court.

Israel, Hamas conduct third round of prisoner-hostage exchange

2025/01/31 17:00

Moving on to the situation in the Middle East,. Israel and Hamas on Thursday conducted their third prisoner-hostage exchange. The latest exchange saw three Israelis being released in exchange for 1-hundred-10 Palestinians. However, the exchange did not go smoothly, leading to criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Our Lee Seung-jae has more. Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas conducted their third prisoner-hostage exchange on Thursday. The exchange saw 8 hostages being released, comprising five Thai nationals and three Israelis. In exchange, Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners. The first hostage released on Thursday was a 20-year-old female Israeli soldier Agam Berger, who was among the seven female soldiers taken hostage from her unit on October 7th, 2023. The two other Israeli hostages released on the day were 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud and 80-year-old Gadi Moses. Meanwhile,.. among the 110 Palestinian prisoners who were released in exchange for the hostages, was a high-ranking militant officer who had been sentenced to life in prison. Another prisoner was given 13 life sentences for killing 12 Israeli citizens. However, the exchange saw a bit of a delay, when one of the hostages, Yehoud, was surrounded by a large crowd of Gazans. Hamas had to build a wall around her to get her to the bus, that would eventually take her back to her family. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called this a violation of their agreement, and described the scene as "shocking." The prisoners were released following the confirmation that the three Israeli nationals were safe. The latest round was among the agreed-upon 33 hostages and 19-hundred Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged during a six-week ceasefire. Seven Israeli hostages and 290 Palestinian prisoners were released in the two previous rounds. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Acting Defense Minister Kim has phone call with newly appointed U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth on Fri.

2025/01/31 17:00

Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho, spoke with newly appointed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday. Minister Kim congratulated Secretary Hegseth, and expressed confidence in his leadership amid global security challenges. Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the strong U.S. commitment to South Korea's defense, promising to further strengthen the alliance. The two agreed on deepening cooperation, especially in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and expressed concerns over growing Russia-North Korea military ties.

Will President Yoon's impeachment trial end quickly or drag on?

2025/01/31 17:00

President Yoon's impeachment trial is now halfway into the proceedings but it looks like it could stretch on for longer than scheduled. It resumes on Tuesday next week, with three key witnesses to speak on Yoon's martial law decree. Our Oh Soo-young reports. The Constitutional Court will resume President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, after the Lunar New Year holiday, with more witnesses to testify. On Tuesday at 2 PM, the Court will hold the trial's fifth hearing, with a focus on questioning key witnesses requested by the National Assembly, which is arguing for Yoon's impeachment. Beginning at 2:30 PM, three witnesses will each undergo 90 minutes of questioning. Lee Jin-woo, former Commander of the Capital Defense Command, and Yeo In-hyung, former chief of Military Counterintelligence Command, have both been arrested as key figures implicated in the execution of martial law. Lee reportedly received calls from President Yoon to drag out legislators from parliament to stop them from voting to lift martial law, while Yeo was in charge of searching and seizing the National Election Commission. Former intelligence official Hong Jang-won will also testify. Hong has already said he received orders including from the President to "totally round up and clean up" political opponents. During the previous hearing, Yoon denied he gave such orders. Also, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun testified that the President meant for military members to be pulled out of the Assembly, not the members of parliament. As justices cross-examine the witnesses and their conflicting testimonies, the panel can ask their own questions. Yoon is likely to attend every trial hearing, and also question witnesses himself as he did in the previous hearing. "For now, with four hearings left until February 13th, when a verdict will be reached remains unclear. Observers say by the end of February at the earliest, but there's a fair chance of delays due to legal and political factors at play." Press officer Cheon Jaehyun said Friday that the Court has selected additional witnesses which include interior minister Lee Sang-min, and National Election Commission Secretary General Kim Yong-bin requested by the National Assembly's side. On Yoon's side, the Court approved National Security Advisor Shin Won-shik, security expert Baek Jong-wook who was involved in the electoral operations, and Director of the National Intelligence Service Cho Tae-yong. The selection of witnesses indicates the Court will consider Yoon's argument that suspected election fraud in the General Election last year served as a pretext for declaring martial law. The Court is still considering further witness requests by the President's team. If it approves more, the trial could be extended. Justices could also postpone the hearings considering the pace of Yoon's criminal trial. Still, the judicial panel has been clear that it's focused on holding speedy trial proceedings. Meanwhile, another highly anticipated ruling will be delivered on Monday on the eve of Yoon's fifth trial hearing. The Court will rule on whether Acting President Choi Sang-mok violated the Constitution by appointing only two out of three justices recommended by the National Assembly. Choi had left out left-leaning candidate Ma Eun-hyuk, raising the need for bipartisan consensus to move forward. If the court finds the omission unconstitutional, Choi would be under significant pressure to appoint him. This would mean the Court will operate as a full panel of nine justices also increasing the chance of a two-thirds majority vote required to impeach the President. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Acting President turns down special probe for Yoon's martial law as opposition warns of retaliation

2025/01/31 17:00

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok has today vetoed a bill, that would kick off a special probe behind the declaration of martial law last December by President Yoon Suk Yeol and his charges of insurrection from this. The bill was a second, revised version of the first one which was turned down by Choi at the end of last month as well. We have our Kim Do-yeon on the line with us to explain further. Do-yeon, what does this mean? That's right Min-jung, as you said for the second time Acting President Choi has sent back a bill to start a special investigation into President Yoon and those who were involved in the situation. This came at a Cabinet Meeting earlier this afternoon and the move was widely expected so suggested by the ruling People Power Party. First, take a listen to what he had to say. As the Acting President, I see vetoing this bill as inevitable, considering the constitutional order, protection of national interests, and urgency of responding to the crises, as well as the wishes of the public. Choi cited a number of reasons behind this move. That a criminal trial is already underway after an investigation; that the bill still seems to have an unconstitutional aspect with possibilities of exposing national secrets and lastly, the fact that the bill was again passed unilaterally. He emphasized the trial part saying that the state prosecutors have already indicted the President and some of the case's key figures while having them under arrest. He says kicking off a new special probe is only necessary when it needs to complement an investigation that's finished. Therefore, the result of the ongoing trial must come first. As for the unconstitutional aspect he vetoed the first version saying that the bill could breach the three branches of government rule. For this one he says some aspects were resolved from the first version but some issues remain. In addition, the wide scope of the investigation laid out on the bill could compromise some of the nation's confidential information as well. Meanwhile, this new version cut down the allegations from 11 to 6 with different ways to appoint the special prosecutor in charge to address the reasons behind the first veto. Now, how are lawmakers from both sides responding to this decision? As expected, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea responded by saying it would hold Choi responsible possibly referring to another impeachment. The party's floor spokesperson released a written statement saying that it was not unilaterally passed as the ruling People Power Party refused to negotiate the details of the bill. In addition, while the investigation and trial are going on others who worked with President Yoon for this declaration not yet questioned need to be vetted as well The ruling People Power Party had already suggested the Acting President veto the bill with the same reasoning as the acting president, but, the PPP went further saying that the special probe bill was a political act by the opposition. That's all for now, back to you Min-jung.

Russian drone strikes apartment block in Ukraine, killing nine

2025/01/31 10:00

Starting in Ukraine, a Russian drone strike, on Thursday local time, hit an apartment building in the northeastern Sumy region, killing at least 9 people and injuring 13 others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack a "horrific tragedy" and a "terrible crime." The strike occurred just after 1 A.M. local time when an Iranian-made Shahed drone crashed into a multi-story residential building, destroying five apartments and damaging over 20 vehicles. Among the injured are several children. Ukraine's air force stated that Russia launched 81 drones overnight, targeting homes and businesses across the country. While 37 drones were shot down and 39 others jammed, five made direct impact. Drone strikes in southern Odesa and central Poltava also caused significant damage, though no casualties have been reported there.

U.S. Commerce Department nominee vows to pressure allies into manufacturing in the U.S.

2025/01/31 10:00

Comments from U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for Commerce Secretary, is causing concern for U.S. allies and the global trade market. The nominee backed plans to impose levies on foreign goods, while possibly backing out of subsidies signed under the Biden administration. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. President Trump's nominee to lead the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, backed Trump's plans to impose tariffs and stated that American allies – including South Korea – have exploited the United States in trade. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Lutnick claimed that Washington will need to work closely with allies such as Tokyo and Seoul in order to push foreign companies toward U.S.-based manufacturing. These remarks came in response to a question that asked about his plans to promote joint investments with allies to stimulate growth in the U.S. Lutnick made clear that tariffs would serve as a tool to encourage domestic manufacturing, and emphasized that while tariffs on China should be the highest, allies should not expect any exceptions. "We need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect. And we can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness and respect." He also addressed Trump's recent announcement of a 25-percent tariff on Mexico and Canada scheduled to take effect at the start of next month, clarifying that these tariffs are separate from general trade tariffs. He explained that these specific tariffs aim to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, and would not be implemented if both countries cooperate on these issues. As for general trade tariffs, he revealed his preference for across-the-board tariffs by country, suggesting that he favors tariffs applied across all goods rather than specific goods categories. Lutnick expressed skepticism about subsidies provided under the Biden administration through the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, raising concerns about how South Korean firms investing in the U.S. might be negatively affected. Tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have made significant investments in the U.S. based on these incentives, but Lutnick stated that even if contracts under the CHIPS Act were finalized under the Biden administration, they would need to be reviewed. He ALSO opposed the tax credit for leased electric vehicles – a provision under the IRA that has benefited South Korean auto companies such as Hyundai Motor. The hearing also addressed growing concerns over China's advances in artificial intelligence – including the recent breakthroughs by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company. Lutnick advocated for stringent export controls and tariffs to curb China's technological rise, and accused DeepSeek of stealing intellectual property from the U.S. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Israel, Hamas conduct third prisoner-hostage exchange

2025/01/31 10:00

The third phase of the prisoner-hostage release between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, took place on Thursday. Eight hostages, comprising three Israelis and five Thai nationals were released by Hamas. Among the three Israeli hostages, one was a female soldier in her 20s, as well as a man in his 80s. The other being a female in her 20s. In exchange, Israel released 1-hundred-10 Palestinian prisoners. So far, seven Israeli hostages and 2-hundred-90 Palestinian prisoners, have been released in two previous exchanges.

Yoon's impeachment trial to review conflicting testimonies after Lunar New Year holiday

2025/01/31 10:00

President Yoon's impeachment trial is now halfway into the proceedings. It resumes next Tuesday, and that trial hearing will include testimonies from three key witnesses, to Yoon's martial law decree. Our Oh Soo-young has more. The Constitutional Court will resume President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, following a break for the Lunar New Year holidays. According to legal sources, the Constitutional Court will hold Yoon's fifth hearing on Tuesday at 2 PM. This will mark the fifth hearing in the case, with a focus on questioning key witnesses requested by the National Assembly, which is arguing for Yoon's impeachment. Beginning at 2:30 PM, three witnesses will each undergo 90 minutes of questioning. Lee Jin-woo, former Commander of the Capital Defense Command, and Yeo In-hyung, former chief of Military Counterintelligence Command, have both been arrested as key figures implicated in the execution of martial law. Lee reportedly received calls from President Yoon to drag out legislators from parliament to stop them from voting to lift martial law, while Yeo was in charge of searching and seizing the National Election Commission. Former intelligence official Hong Jang-won will also testify. Hong has already said he received orders including from the President to "totally round up and clean up" political opponents. During the previous hearing, Yoon denied he gave such orders. Also, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun testified that the President meant for military members to be pulled out of the Assembly, not the members of parliament. As justices cross-examine the witnesses and their conflicting testimonies, the panel can ask their own questions during the session. Yoon is likely to attend every trial hearing, and also question witnesses himself as he did in the previous hearing. With four hearings left until February 13th for now, the timing of the verdict is still unclear. Observers say the earliest verdict could come by the end of February, but could be delayed if justices approve more witnesses requested by Yoon's side. They could also postpone the hearings considering the pace of Yoon's criminal trial. Justices have been emphasizing they will hold swift trial proceedings, given the magnitude of the President's impeachment case and its impact on the country. Most believe a decision will be made before two justices step down from the panel in April when their tenures expire. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Live from Seoul Central District Court, where Pres. Yoon's criminal trial sets to take place

2025/01/31 10:00

Now moving on to the domestic front, With President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial ongoing, he is also expected to participate in a criminal trial on charges of insurrection. Meanwhile, Yoon's team is making preparations to defend the president. For more we have our Park Kun-woo standing by live, near the Seoul Central District Court. Kun-woo, how are the trials proceeding? Good morning Min-jung. As mentioned, I'm now standing at the Central District Court in southern Seoul where Yoon's criminal trial on charges of insurrection, following his indictment by the prosecution, is set to take place, possibly in March. The panel of judges for the case is expected to be announced as early as Friday. Then, after pretrial preparations in February, the trial will begin. Usually, such preparations for a criminal trial take two to three months, but given that this is an unprecedented trial of a sitting president, who has been arrested, there are expectations that it will proceed faster than usual. Accordingly, Yoon's defense is facing two different trials -the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial and the criminal trial. This could result in the president undergoing at least three hearings a week, as those for the impeachment will resume their twice-weekly schedule from next week, which will last until February 13th. Yoon previously expressed his intention to attend all hearings. 2. Now, how has Yoon been preparing for these trials? President Yoon has continued meeting with his defense team even during the Lunar New Year holidays that ended Thursday, to discuss trial preparations, though details remain undisclosed. That came after the team submitted over a hundred pieces of evidence to the Constitutional Court on Jan. 26th, which some pundits believe may be a strategy to delay the impeachment trial. One possible scenario for Yoon and his defense team is to request bail to participate in the trials without detention. The court could deny the bail request due to concerns about evidence tampering, but could also accept the request with conditions such as prohibiting contact with related parties. Another possibility is requesting the suspension of the impeachment trial. That's based on a Constitutional Court Act that allows the suspension of such a trial when a criminal trial is also ongoing over the same matter. 3. And I hear regular visitation to the Detention Center where President Yoon is at, is allowed starting today. Can you tell us more? Yes, as you mentioned general visitation to the Seoul Detention Center where President Yoon is being held, will be available starting today. These visits are expected to take place once a day with only a few people allowed. High-ranking officials from the Presidential Office are expected to visit Yoon this morning. Members of the People Power Party are also planning to visit Yoon, while first lady Kim Keon-hee is reportedly not planning to visit at the moment. That's all I have for you now. Back to you, Min-jung. All right Kun-woo thank you for that coverage. That was our Park Kun-woo reporting live, from the Seoul Central District Court.

All 67 believed dead after collision between helicopter and American Airlines plane

2025/01/31 10:00

A collision between a military helicopter, and a passenger plane carrying 64 people in Washington, D.C., has killed all 67 people on board both aircraft. It was the deadliest aviation accident in the U.S. since 2001. Our Shin Ha-young starts us off. Rescue efforts went on through the night, but no survivors were found from the deadly collision of an American Airlines aircraft and the Army helicopter. U.S. authorities announced that 28 bodies had been recovered and believe all 67 people on board died. "Despite all these efforts, we are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. At this point, we don't believe there are any survivors from this accident." A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on a training flight collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 on Wednesday night (local time) while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., sending the two aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River --the deadliest U.S. air crash since 2001. The jet had departed from Wichita, Kansas with 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three military personnel on board. According to AP, less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. According to CBS News, figure skating athletes and their coaches were on board the plane, including teenagers Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, who are believed to be of Korean descent. They were returning home from the National Development Camp, which was held in connection with the recent U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. U.S. President Donald Trump shared his condolences and paid tribute to the victims and families ahead of a press conference. But he then criticized the previous administration, indicating that its diversity, equity and inclusion program for air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration were partially to blame for the crash. "And then when I left office and Biden took over, he changed them back to lower than ever before. ( ) I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters there appeared to have been an elevation issue with the helicopter, and said Army investigators were on the ground looking into the matter. Meanwhile, South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul expressed his deep sorrow over the plane crash. The Seoul government is working to obtain a passenger list, though it is still unclear if any Korean nationals were on board. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

U.S. Commerce Department nominee vows to pressure allies into manufacturing in the U.S.

2025/01/30 18:00

Meanwhile, comments from U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for Commerce Secretary, is causing concern for U.S. allies and the global trade market. The nominee backed plans to impose levies on foreign goods, while possibly backing out of subsidies signed under the Biden administration. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. President Trump's nominee to lead the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, backed Trump's plans to impose tariffs and stated that American allies – including South Korea – have exploited the United States in trade. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Lutnick claimed that Washington will need to work closely with allies such as Tokyo and Seoul in order to push foreign companies toward U.S.-based manufacturing. These remarks came in response to a question that asked about his plans to promote joint investments with allies to stimulate growth in the U.S. Lutnick made clear that tariffs would serve as a tool to encourage domestic manufacturing, and emphasized that while tariffs on China should be the highest, allies should not expect any exceptions. "We need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect. And we can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness and respect." He also addressed Trump's recent announcement of a 25-percent tariff on Mexico and Canada scheduled to take effect at the start of next month, clarifying that these tariffs are separate from general trade tariffs. He explained that these specific tariffs aim to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, and would not be implemented if both countries cooperate on these issues. As for general trade tariffs, he revealed his preference for across-the-board tariffs by country, suggesting that he favors tariffs applied across all goods rather than specific goods categories. Lutnick expressed skepticism about subsidies provided under the Biden administration through the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, raising concerns about how South Korean firms investing in the U.S. might be negatively affected. Tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have made significant investments in the U.S. based on these incentives, but Lutnick stated that even if contracts under the CHIPS Act were finalized under the Biden administration, they would need to be reviewed. He ALSO opposed the tax credit for leased electric vehicles – a provision under the IRA that has benefited South Korean auto companies such as Hyundai Motor. The hearing also addressed growing concerns over China's advances in artificial intelligence – including the recent breakthroughs by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company. Lutnick advocated for stringent export controls and tariffs to curb China's technological rise, and accused DeepSeek of stealing intellectual property from the U.S. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

U.S. Commerce Department nominee vows to pressure allies into manufacturing in the U.S.

2025/01/30 12:00

We begin with the comments from U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for Commerce Secretary, which is causing concern for U.S. allies and the global trade market. The nominee backed plans to impose levies on foreign goods, while possibly backing out of subsidies signed under the Biden administration. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. President Trump's nominee to lead the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, backed Trump's plans to impose tariffs and stated that American allies – including South Korea – have exploited the United States in trade. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Lutnick claimed that Washington will need to work closely with allies such as Tokyo and Seoul in order to push foreign companies toward U.S.-based manufacturing. These remarks came in response to a question that asked about his plans to promote joint investments with allies to stimulate growth in the U.S. Lutnick made clear that tariffs would serve as a tool to encourage domestic manufacturing, and emphasized that while tariffs on China should be the highest, allies should not expect any exceptions. "We need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect. And we can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness and respect." He also addressed Trump's recent announcement of a 25-percent tariff on Mexico and Canada scheduled to take effect at the start of next month, clarifying that these tariffs are separate from general trade tariffs. He explained that these specific tariffs aim to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, and would not be implemented if both countries cooperate on these issues. As for general trade tariffs, he revealed his preference for across-the-board tariffs by country, suggesting that he favors tariffs applied across all goods rather than specific goods categories. Lutnick expressed skepticism about subsidies provided under the Biden administration through the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, raising concerns about how South Korean firms investing in the U.S. might be negatively affected. Tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have made significant investments in the U.S. based on these incentives, but Lutnick stated that even if contracts under the CHIPS Act were finalized under the Biden administration, they would need to be reviewed. He ALSO opposed the tax credit for leased electric vehicles – a provision under the IRA that has benefited South Korean auto companies such as Hyundai Motor. The hearing also addressed growing concerns over China's advances in artificial intelligence – including the recent breakthroughs by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company. Lutnick advocated for stringent export controls and tariffs to curb China's technological rise, and accused DeepSeek of stealing intellectual property from the U.S. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Three Israeli hostages, five Thai nationals to be released in Gaza on Thursday

2025/01/30 12:00

Israel has confirmed that three Israeli hostages will be released in Gaza on Thursday, along with five Thai nationals. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office revealed the list of names provided by Hamas to mediators, though the identities of the five Thai citizens have not been disclosed. On the same day, Israel is expected to release 1-hundred-10 Palestinian prisoners. The hostage and prisoner release comes under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. Hamas promised to release thirty-three Israeli hostages captured on October seventh, while Israel vowed to free nearly 2-thousand Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of the deal.