News
Yoon's prolonged impeachment verdict raises early election tension
2025/03/28 20:00
The Constitutional Court kept its silence on Friday, likely meaning the month of March will pass without the ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young explains what's at stake. Suspense remains over President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case, as the Constitutional Court deliberates for more than a month. As of Friday, 31 days have passed since Yoon's final trial hearing was held marking a record in terms of time taken by the Court, compared to previous presidential impeachment cases, which took at most 14 days. As the judicial bench typically gives advance notice of at least two working days before a ruling, the Court is now expected to issue its decision in April before two justices retire mid-month. With ambiguity over the when and what the verdict will be, there's growing tension brewing in political circles, as Yoon's impeachment would spark an early Presidential Election within two months. The opposition party is pushing for Yoon's swift removal, as their party leader Lee Jae-myung, is currently the pollster's favorite among presidential hopefuls. On Wednesday, Lee was acquitted in one of his five criminal trials, overturning a ruling by a lower court last year that handed Lee a one-year sentence and a two-year suspension from office for violating the election law. This cleared a major hurdle to gaining his party's full endorsement for the race. The ruling People Power Party had been hoping for the opposite result, leading to cries of foul against the justice system. There's now even greater pressure directed at the Constitutional Court. The opposition is calling for Yoon's immediate impeachment while the ruling party is demanding his return to power as in the case of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, whose impeachment case was dismissed on Monday. Public rallies also continue outside and around the Court. Recent polls indicate that 51 percent of voters want a change of government, while 37 percent wish to maintain the current administration. Those for and against impeachment also recorded around 58 percent and 37 percent, respectively. Underscoring how closely contested the political environment remains, the survey shows equal 36 percent support for the ruling and opposition parties, with the PPP gaining three percentage points compared to the previous week. As the Court's ruling stretches on, expectation for Yoon's impeachment was down by six percentage points from last week, while those expecting his return, hit 39 percent. Amid prolonged uncertainty, one thing remains clear: this is not merely a constitutional decision but a ruling that will inevitably carry significant political ramifications. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
S. Korean Navy holds naval gunfire exercises this week marking 10th West Sea Defense Day
2025/03/28 20:00
In light of the somber anniversary today, South Korea's Navy carried out a series of drills this week. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung covers this year's West Sea Defense Day. Amidst a thin sea fog covering the West Sea, a simulated North Korean vessel crosses the Northern Limit Line on the West Sea moving southward, South Korean navy ships and personnel are ordered to deploy in combat formation for training. "Total personnel in combat formation, training, two, three!" Six naval ships lined up one after another. with the 3-thousand-600-ton frigate, the ROKS Chungnam at the front, fired guns targeting their simulated maritime target before maneuvering away in different directions. "This naval maneuver training in the West Sea is to mark the 10th West Sea Defense Day a day to remember those who lost their lives in a series of unprovoked attacks by the North near the Northern Limit Line." The day, falling on the fourth Friday of March every year, pays tribute to the 55 fallen sailors and marines from the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong in 2002, the sinking of ROKS Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong-do Island in 2010. In memorial of the fallen, the Navy conducted intensive maneuvering exercises for three days until Thursday, simultaneously on the East, West, and South Seas with some of the exercises open to the press. "The Navy will engrave the spirit of victory shown by the 55 warriors who defended the West Sea in our hearts, and if the enemy provokes again, we will strike back forcefully and firmly protect our seas." Since the military clashes with North Korea while defending the western maritime border, the South Korean Navy strengthened the combat power of its naval fleets, replacing outdated warships with new frigates equipped with advanced hybrid propulsion and sonar systems. "The ROKS Daejeon was built with our domestic defense technology, and it is especially a core frigate of the fleet with outstanding anti-submarine capabilities." With the patriotic spirit of the fallen in mind, the Navy vows to firmly safeguard the waters, even today. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.
Putin seeks to work with other countries, N. Korea to settle war in Ukraine
2025/03/28 20:00
Russia's Vladimir Putin has spoken of cooperating with North Korea to end its war in Ukraine. Bae Eun-ji covers this latest comment and more. As U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to broker an end to the three-year war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that countries other than the United States could be involved in the peace process, specifically mentioning North Korea. Speaking about efforts to settle the war during his visit to Russia's northwestern port of Murmansk on Friday, some of the other countries he named were China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and the member states of BRICS. The Russian leader also proposed the idea of putting Ukraine under a form of "temporary administration" of the United Nations, as part of a peace deal, for new elections and the signing of key accords with the aim of reaching a settlement. "We could discuss under the auspices of the UN, with the U.S., with European countries, and of course with our partners and friends, the possibility of conducting temporary governance in Ukraine." Putin's comments come a day after a senior Russian diplomat reportedly said they're preparing for Kim Jong-un's visit to the country. According to Russia's Tass news agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said Thursday that this was discussed during his visit to Pyongyang two weeks ago without providing details on when the visit might take place. Just last week, Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu met Kim in Pyongyang where the two sides reaffirmed their willingness to "unconditionally" uphold a major mutual defense treaty signed last year that pledges mutual assistance if either faces aggression. Eyes are now on whether the North Korean leader's visit to Russia will take place within this year, with some experts even saying that it could happen as early as May, on the 80th anniversary of Russia's "Victory Day," which marks the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War Two. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Tariff war heats up with Canada vowing retaliation over Trump's car tariffs
2025/03/28 20:00
America's major trade partners Canada and Mexico have been among the first to respond to the Trump administration's new tariff plan on foreign-made cars and their reactions stood poles apart. Lee Seung-jae has more. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed off on 25-percent tariffs on all cars and auto parts imported into the United States. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a "direct attack" on his country, and vowed to respond to Trump's latest tariff policy. "President Trump announced 25% tariffs against our auto industry. And this is a direct attack, to be clear, a direct attack on the very workers that I stood in front of, UNIFOR workers We've announced, of course, retaliatory tariffs. We have other options for those retaliatory tariffs. I have asked for a meeting, I will convene rather, a meeting of the Canada U.S. cabinet tomorrow to discuss our trade options." Carney said that Canada's long-time bilateral relationship with the U.S., involving the economy, security, and military cooperation, "is over." Instead,.. he vowed Canada would respond with retaliatory tariffs that will have "maximum impact" on the U.S. On the other side of the U.S. border, Mexico is negotiating for an exemption for its critical auto industry. Speaking from Washington after holding talks with U.S. officials, Mexico's economy minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said negotiation talks are ongoing to ensure that Mexico gets preferential treatment. The minister said that with the recent tariff policies of the U.S. administration, Mexico must protect jobs and economic activity in the country. While Mexico is seeking a more peaceful approach to Trump's tariff policies, both Canada and the European Union have been looking to fight the U.S. president's tariffs. In response, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday and said that larger tariffs could be placed on the EU and Canada,, if they work jointly to "do economic harm to the USA." While the EU delayed its first set of retaliatory tariffs, including a 50-percent tariff on U.S. bourbon, Trump threatened to impose a 200-percent tariff on all wines and other alcoholic products from the EU if the bloc went ahead with tariffs. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
U.S. offers condolences for victims of S. Korea's wildfires, says USFK is ready to provide assistance
2025/03/28 20:00
In related news. The United States has vowed to provide full support, while sending condolences for the people who've lost their lives. The State Department released a statement on Thursday, local time, saying it offers sincere condolences to the Korean people,.. adding that it mourns the loss of the brave firefighters and many others who have died. It said the U.S. Forces Korea stands ready to provide assistance to help combat the fires and support the affected communities. It also added "America stands with its ally during this difficult time," noting that the country has not forgotten Korea's unwavering support during the wildfires in Los Angeles and Hawaii.
World News: Marco Rubio says U.S. revoked at least 300 students' visas for pro-Palestinian activities
2025/03/28 17:00
This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. The U.S. government has intensified its crackdown on foreign students involved in anti-Israel pro-Palestinian activities leading to the revocation of visas and the detention of students. On Thursday local time, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department has revoked the visas of over 300 foreign students. The action is part of the Trump administration's broader initiative to identify and expel individuals who are believed to be supportive of Hamas. Rubio told reporters on a visit to Guyana, "Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas." Among those affected is Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national and Ph.D. student at Tufts University who was apprehended on Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security alleges that Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, though specific evidence has not been disclosed. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland was "serious." At the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk on Thursday, Putin stated the U.S. had a longstanding interest in the mineral-rich territory. He said that while the Greenland issue does not directly involve Russia, the U.S. plans "have old historical origins" and aren't just "extravagant talks." Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has reiterated that Greenland is not for sale and reaffirmed Denmark's commitment to supporting Greenland's autonomy. Also, referring to U.S. Vice President JD Vance's planned visit to the U.S. military base in Greenland, she stated, "The visit is clearly not about what Greenland needs or wants." In Egypt, six Russian tourists died on Thursday when a sightseeing submarine sank off the coast of the city of Hurghada. Others have been successfully saved, with some sustaining injuries. The vessel, named Sindbad, was carrying 45 tourists from various countries, including India and Sweden, along with five Egyptian crew members. The incident occurred approximately 1,000 meters offshore during a routine underwater tour of the Red Sea's coral reefs, where the recreational submarine dived to depths of 20 to 25 meters to showcase the marine life. The cause of the sinking is still under investigation. Finally, Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 opened to the public on Friday, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, featuring 240 galleries from 42 countries. An off-site art installation has also been created at a high-end shopping center near the official show venue. The fair showcases a diverse range of artistic practices, including performance and digital art, with over half of the participating galleries originating from the Asia-Pacific region. Art Basel 2025, the largest and most prestigious event in the Asia Pacific region, will run from March 28 to 30. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.
Tariff war heats up with Canada vowing retaliation over Trump's car tariffs
2025/03/28 17:00
America's biggest trade partners Canada and Mexico have been among the first to respond to the Trump administration's latest tariff plan of a 25-percent import duty on foreign-made cars AND their reactions stand poles apart. Lee Seung-jae reports. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed off on 25-percent tariffs on all cars and auto parts imported into the United States. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a "direct attack" on his country, and vowed to respond to Trump's latest tariff policy. "President Trump announced 25% tariffs against our auto industry. And this is a direct attack, to be clear, a direct attack on the very workers that I stood in front of, UNIFOR workers We've announced, of course, retaliatory tariffs. We have other options for those retaliatory tariffs. I have asked for a meeting, I will convene rather, a meeting of the Canada U.S. cabinet tomorrow to discuss our trade options." Carney said that Canada's long-time bilateral relationship with the U.S., involving the economy, security, and military cooperation, "is over." Instead,.. he vowed Canada would respond with retaliatory tariffs that will have "maximum impact" on the U.S. On the other side of the U.S. border, Mexico is negotiating for an exemption for its critical auto industry. Speaking from Washington after holding talks with U.S. officials, Mexico's economy minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said negotiation talks are ongoing to ensure that Mexico gets preferential treatment. The minister said that with the recent tariff policies of the U.S. administration, Mexico must protect jobs and economic activity in the country. While Mexico is seeking a more peaceful approach to Trump's tariff policies, both Canada and the European Union have been looking to fight the U.S. president's tariffs. In response, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday and said that larger tariffs could be placed on the EU and Canada,, if they work jointly to "do economic harm to the USA." While the EU delayed its first set of retaliatory tariffs, including a 50-percent tariff on U.S. bourbon, Trump threatened to impose a 200-percent tariff on all wines and other alcoholic products from the EU if the bloc went ahead with tariffs. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Newly declassified documents reveal N. Korean embassies dismissed Kim Il-sung’s death as “fabrication"
2025/03/28 17:00
Recently declassified documents from 1994 share the disbelief of North Korean embassies worldwide following the death of then-North Korean leader Kim Il-sung . Several North Korean diplomatic missions were either unaware of or chose to dismiss as "fabrication" news of his passing. North Korean staff members at embassies in Germany Senegal Vietnam and Indonesia initially voiced confusion while some denied the news until Pyongyang's official announcement.
Acting Pres. Han vows immediate, overwhelming response to any N. Korean provocations
2025/03/28 17:00
Acting President Han Duck-soo has pledged an immediate and overwhelming response to any North Korean provocation. The pledge came at today's official ceremony to mark the 10th West Sea Defense Day. Referring to North Korea as "the most regressive regime in the world" Han asserted that Pyongyang continues to threaten peace on the peninsula and beyond. He also vowed unwavering support for South Korea's fallen heroes injured service members and bereaved family members.
Yoon's prolonged impeachment verdict raises early election tension
2025/03/28 17:00
On the political front. While President Yoon Suk-yeol's fate hovers in limbo AS the Constitutional Court has yet to share its verdict on his impeachment opposition leader Lee Jae-myung 's chances of mounting a campaign IF an early election takes place have been bolstered. Our senior correspondent Oh Soo-young explains. Suspense remains over President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case, as the Constitutional Court deliberates for more than a month. As of Friday, 31 days have passed since Yoon's final trial hearing was held marking a record in terms of time taken by the Court, compared to previous presidential impeachment cases, which took at most 14 days. As the judicial bench typically gives advance notice of at least two working days before a ruling, the Court is now expected to issue its decision in April before two justices retire mid-month. With ambiguity over the when and what the verdict will be, there's growing tension brewing in political circles, as Yoon's impeachment would spark an early Presidential Election within two months. The opposition party is pushing for Yoon's swift removal, as their party leader Lee Jae-myung, is currently the pollster's favorite among presidential hopefuls. On Wednesday, Lee was acquitted in one of his five criminal trials, overturning a ruling by a lower court last year that handed Lee a one-year sentence and a two-year suspension from office for violating the election law. This cleared a major hurdle to gaining his party's full endorsement for the race. The ruling People Power Party had been hoping for the opposite result, leading to cries of foul against the justice system. There's now even greater pressure directed at the Constitutional Court. The opposition is calling for Yoon's immediate impeachment while the ruling party is demanding his return to power as in the case of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, whose impeachment case was dismissed on Monday. Public rallies also continue outside and around the Court. Recent polls indicate that 51 percent of voters want a change of government, while 37 percent wish to maintain the current administration. Those for and against impeachment also recorded around 58 percent and 37 percent, respectively. Underscoring how closely contested the political environment remains, the survey shows equal 36 percent support for the ruling and opposition parties, with the PPP gaining three percentage points compared to the previous week. As the Court's ruling stretches on, expectation for Yoon's impeachment was down by six percentage points from last week, while those expecting his return, hit 39 percent. Amid prolonged uncertainty, one thing remains clear: this is not merely a constitutional decision but a ruling that will inevitably carry significant political ramifications. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
S. Korean Navy holds naval gunfire exercises this week marking 10th West Sea Defense Day
2025/03/28 17:00
South Korea's Navy carried out a series of drills this week in light of a somber anniversary today. Our correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung covers this year's West Sea Defense Day that honors the sacrifice of South Korean soldiers in face of North Korean aggression in recent years. Amidst a thin sea fog covering the West Sea, a simulated North Korean vessel crosses the Northern Limit Line on the West Sea moving southward, South Korean navy ships and personnel are ordered to deploy in combat formation for training. "Total personnel in combat formation, training, two, three!" Six naval ships lined up one after another. with the 3-thousand-600-ton frigate, the ROKS Chungnam at the front, fired guns targeting their simulated maritime target before maneuvering away in different directions. "This naval maneuver training in the West Sea is to mark the 10th West Sea Defense Day a day to remember those who lost their lives in a series of unprovoked attacks by the North near the Northern Limit Line." The day, falling on the fourth Friday of March every year, pays tribute to the 55 fallen sailors and marines from the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong in 2002, the sinking of ROKS Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong-do Island in 2010. In memorial of the fallen, the Navy conducted intensive maneuvering exercises for three days until Thursday, simultaneously on the East, West, and South Seas with some of the exercises open to the press. "The Navy will engrave the spirit of victory shown by the 55 warriors who defended the West Sea in our hearts, and if the enemy provokes again, we will strike back forcefully and firmly protect our seas." Since the military clashes with North Korea while defending the western maritime border, the South Korean Navy strengthened the combat power of its naval fleets, replacing outdated warships with new frigates equipped with advanced hybrid propulsion and sonar systems. "The ROKS Daejeon was built with our domestic defense technology, and it is especially a core frigate of the fleet with outstanding anti-submarine capabilities." With the patriotic spirit of the fallen in mind, the Navy vows to firmly safeguard the waters, even today. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.
Putin seeks to work with other countries, N. Korea to settle war in Ukraine
2025/03/28 17:00
Russia's Vladimir Putin has spoken of cooperating with North Korea to end its war in Ukraine. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this latest comment and more. As U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to broker an end to the three-year war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that countries other than the United States could be involved in the peace process, specifically mentioning North Korea. Speaking about efforts to settle the war during his visit to Russia's northwestern port of Murmansk on Friday, some of the other countries he named were China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and the member states of BRICS. The Russian leader also proposed the idea of putting Ukraine under a form of "temporary administration" of the United Nations, as part of a peace deal, for new elections and the signing of key accords with the aim of reaching a settlement. "We could discuss under the auspices of the UN, with the U.S., with European countries, and of course with our partners and friends, the possibility of conducting temporary governance in Ukraine." Putin's comments come a day after a senior Russian diplomat reportedly said they're preparing for Kim Jong-un's visit to the country. According to Russia's Tass news agency, Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said Thursday that this was discussed during his visit to Pyongyang two weeks ago without providing details on when the visit might take place. Just last week, Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu met Kim in Pyongyang where the two sides reaffirmed their willingness to "unconditionally" uphold a major mutual defense treaty signed last year that pledges mutual assistance if either faces aggression. Eyes are now on whether the North Korean leader's visit to Russia will take place within this year, with some experts even saying that it could happen as early as May, on the 80th anniversary of Russia's "Victory Day," which marks the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War Two. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Marco Rubio says U.S. revoked at least 300 students' visas for pro-Palestinian activities
2025/03/28 10:00
The U.S. government has intensified its crackdown on foreign students involved in anti-Israel pro-Palestinian activities leading to the revocation of visas and the detention of students. On Thursday local time, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the State Department has revoked the visas of over 300 foreign students. The action is part of the Trump administration's broader initiative to identify and expel individuals who are believed to be supportive of Hamas. Rubio told reporters on a visit to Guyana, "Every time I find one of these lunatics, I take away their visas." Among those affected is Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national and Ph.D. student at Tufts University who was apprehended on Tuesday. The Department of Homeland Security alleges that Ozturk engaged in activities supporting Hamas, though specific evidence has not been disclosed.
On-point: President Yoon's impeachment ruling likely to happen in April
2025/03/28 10:00
Time is ticking for the court to make its final call on President Yoon as the nation's leader. And as reported by our Oh Soo-young, the big day will likely come in April. We turn to Professor Paik Eun-seok for more. Good to have you back, Professor Paik. 1. It's still possible the court will publicize a date today, right? If yes, in the morning? In the afternoon? In that case, when next week do you think the ruling day will be announced? 2. If the court decides not to announce a ruling date again today, we have to wait until the following week yet again. With by-elections set for April 2nd, next Wednesday, some say the verdict may come on Thursday or Friday. What's your take on it? 3. But what's widely expected is that things will wrap up before April 18th, when two of the 8 Constitutional Court justices retire. What happens if the two justices retire before the final verdict is delivered? 4. Prime Minister and acting President Han Duck-soo is under great pressure to appoint justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk ever since Han returned to office. Will Yoon's impeachment ruling be delayed if Ma is appointed? By how much? 5. But the question is: will Han appoint Ma? Eventually? When will he appoint him? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us this morning. Have a great one.
S. Korean Navy holds naval gunfire exercises this week marking 10th West Sea Defense Day
2025/03/28 10:00
Today marks the 10th West Sea Defense Day, a day remembering the heroes lost during military clashes near the de facto inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea. South Korea's Navy held intensive drills this week to honor the day. Correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung was there. Amidst a thin sea fog covering the West Sea, a simulated North Korean vessel crosses the Northern Limit Line on the West Sea moving southward, South Korean navy ships and personnel are ordered to deploy in combat formation for training. "Total personnel in combat formation, training, two, three!" Six naval ships lined up one after another. with the 3-thousand-600-ton frigate, the ROKS Chungnam at the front, fired guns targeting their simulated maritime target before maneuvering away in different directions. "This naval maneuver training in the West Sea is to mark the 10th West Sea Defense Day a day to remember those who lost their lives in a series of unprovoked attacks by the North near the Northern Limit Line." The day, falling on the fourth Friday of March every year, pays tribute to the 55 fallen sailors and marines from the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong in 2002, the sinking of ROKS Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong-do Island in 2010. In memorial of the fallen, the Navy conducted intensive maneuvering exercises for three days until Thursday, simultaneously on the East, West, and South Seas with some of the exercises open to the press. "The Navy will engrave the spirit of victory shown by the 55 warriors who defended the West Sea in our hearts, and if the enemy provokes again, we will strike back forcefully and firmly protect our seas." Since the military clashes with North Korea while defending the western maritime border, the South Korean Navy strengthened the combat power of its naval fleets, replacing outdated warships with new frigates equipped with advanced hybrid propulsion and sonar systems. "The ROKS Daejeon was built with our domestic defense technology, and it is especially a core frigate of the fleet with outstanding anti-submarine capabilities." With the patriotic spirit of the fallen in mind, the Navy vows to firmly safeguard the waters, even today. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.
Tariff war heats up with Canada vowing retaliation over Trump's car tariffs
2025/03/28 10:00
Countries around the world are quickly mapping out their own plans to cope with Trump's 25% auto tariffs. Canada warns it'll respond with reciprocal tariffs. Lee Seung-jae has more. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed off on 25-percent tariffs on all cars and auto parts imported into the United States. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a "direct attack" on his country, and vowed to respond to Trump's latest tariff policy. "President Trump announced 25% tariffs against our auto industry. And this is a direct attack, to be clear, a direct attack on the very workers that I stood in front of, UNIFOR workers We've announced, of course, retaliatory tariffs. We have other options for those retaliatory tariffs. I have asked for a meeting, I will convene rather, a meeting of the Canada U.S. cabinet tomorrow to discuss our trade options." Carney said that Canada's long-time bilateral relationship with the U.S., involving the economy, security, and military cooperation, "is over." Instead,.. he vowed Canada would respond with retaliatory tariffs that will have "maximum impact" on the U.S. On the other side of the U.S. border, Mexico is negotiating for an exemption for its critical auto industry. Speaking from Washington after holding talks with U.S. officials, Mexico's economy minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said negotiation talks are ongoing to ensure that Mexico gets preferential treatment. The minister said that with the recent tariff policies of the U.S. administration, Mexico must protect jobs and economic activity in the country. While Mexico is seeking a more peaceful approach to Trump's tariff policies, both Canada and the European Union have been looking to fight the U.S. president's tariffs. In response, Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday and said that larger tariffs could be placed on the EU and Canada,, if they work jointly to "do economic harm to the USA." While the EU delayed its first set of retaliatory tariffs, including a 50-percent tariff on U.S. bourbon, Trump threatened to impose a 200-percent tariff on all wines and other alcoholic products from the EU if the bloc went ahead with tariffs. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Yoon's prolonged impeachment verdict raises early election tension
2025/03/28 10:00
It seems the month of March will pass without the Constitutional Court ruling on President Yoon's impeachment case. The political stakes are higher than ever, after opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was cleared in a criminal case, boosting his chances for a potential presidential run. Oh Soo-young reports. Suspense remains over President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case, as the Constitutional Court deliberates for more than a month. As of Friday, 31 days have passed since Yoon's final trial hearing was held marking a record in terms of time taken by the Court, compared to previous presidential impeachment cases, which took at most 14 days. As the judicial bench typically gives advance notice of at least two working days before a ruling, the Court is now expected to issue its decision in April before two justices retire mid-month. With ambiguity over the when and what the verdict will be, there's growing tension brewing in political circles, as Yoon's impeachment would spark an early Presidential Election within two months. The opposition party is pushing for Yoon's swift removal, as their party leader Lee Jae-myung, is currently the pollster's favorite among presidential hopefuls. On Wednesday, Lee was acquitted in one of his five criminal trials, overturning a ruling by a lower court last year that handed Lee a one-year sentence and a two-year suspension from office for violating the election law. This cleared a major hurdle to gaining his party's full endorsement for the race. The ruling People Power Party had been hoping for the opposite result, leading to cries of foul against the justice system. There's now even greater pressure directed at the Constitutional Court. The opposition is calling for Yoon's immediate impeachment while the ruling party is demanding his return to power as in the case of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, whose impeachment case was dismissed on Monday. Public rallies also continue outside and around the Court. Recent polls indicate that 51 percent of voters want a change of government, while 37 percent wish to maintain the current administration. Those for and against impeachment also recorded around 58 percent and 37 percent, respectively. Underscoring how closely contested the political environment remains, the survey shows equal 36 percent support for the ruling and opposition parties, with the PPP gaining three percentage points compared to the previous week. As the Court's ruling stretches on, expectation for Yoon's impeachment was down by six percentage points from last week, while those expecting his return, hit 39 percent. Amid prolonged uncertainty, one thing remains clear: this is not merely a constitutional decision but a ruling that will inevitably carry significant political ramifications. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Putin says U.S. is serious about Greenland
2025/03/28 10:00
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said U.S. President Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland was "serious." At the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk on Thursday, Putin stated the U.S. had a longstanding interest in the mineral-rich territory. He said that while the Greenland issue does not directly involve Russia, the U.S. plans "have old historical origins" and aren't just "extravagant talks." Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has reiterated that Greenland is not for sale and reaffirmed Denmark's commitment to supporting Greenland's autonomy. Also, referring to U.S. Vice President JD Vance's planned visit to the U.S. military base in Greenland, she stated, "The visit is clearly not about what Greenland needs or wants."
Latest gov't insights on N. Korea: Pyongyang deepens Russia ties, seeks to restore China relations
2025/03/27 20:00
In other news. South Korea believes North Korea has been reliant on Russia for strategic support and may seek China for economic stability this year. Our Unification Ministry Correspondent Kim Jung-sil explains. South Korea's latest intelligence points to a North Korea in transition—militarily assertive abroad, yet economically fragile and socially strained at home. According to the Ministry of Unification on Thursday, North Korea appears to be emerging from its pandemic-era slump—but signs of recovery remain limited. Experts say progress in the 20x10 campaign to build a new factory each year in 20 provinces has been largely symbolic with many of the new factories sitting idle. And for ordinary residents, daily hardship is deepening. Food prices are rising, the currency is weakening, and Chinese imports continue to decline. To sustain construction drives, Pyongyang is mobilizing housewives and soldiers Former soldiers who defected say some troops worked on as little as four hours of sleep, with compensation for their deaths as low as 70 U.S. dollars. Officials in Seoul say economic pressure could be accelerating Pyongyang's diplomatic pivot—starting with Russia. Since August 2023, Kim Jong-un has referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "comrade"—a title previously reserved for four socialist allies: China, Vietnam, Laos, and Cuba. "In socialist countries, the term 'comrade' is typically used to convey not just familiarity, but also a deeper emotional and ideological bond. It can be seen as an indirect way of signaling a relationship as close as a blood alliance." That symbolic shift reflects Pyongyang's deepening alignment with Moscow—while ties with Beijing remain far more cautious. Though tourism resumed and Chinese media returned to Pyongyang this year, North Korea has held nearly six times more high-level exchanges with Russia than with China since mid-2023. Analysts say the regime is hedging its options—leaning on Moscow for strategic support, while carefully looking to Beijing to stabilize its economy. This year also marks key anniversaries for North Korea, China, and Russia. Analysts say how these regimes coordinate upcoming events could reveal the future direction of their trilateral ties. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.
Trade ministers of S. Korea, China, Japan to hold trilateral talks for first time in 5 years
2025/03/27 20:00
The trade ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan will convene in Seoul for their first trilateral talks in over five years. Set for Sunday, the meeting will focus on key economic issues, including negotiations for a trilateral free trade agreement, the expansion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, 그리고 공급망 안정화 노력 등이 있습니다. Attention is also on how they will navigate discussions amid growing protectionist trade policies. A series of bilateral meetings are also planned alongside the trilateral talks.