News

President Lee stresses sense of duty for civil servants

2025/07/14 19:35

Also earlier on this Monday President Lee Jae Myung addressed the country's future civil servants sharing his thoughts on the mindset he hopes they'll bring to public service. Our Presidential Office Correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports. Ever since taking office, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has emphasized that every hour spent by a public official is equivalent to 52 million hours for every person in the country. That sense of responsibility was the main message in a lecture the President delivered to some 3-hundred trainee civil servants on Monday at the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. He described public service as work that could "determine the country's fate." "In the hands of public officials rest the lives of so many people. Especially for all of you, starting out as mid-level managers in the Korean civil service, as deputy directors, an enormous amount of authority is being entrusted to you." The President also pointed out what he called the biggest problem in Korea's bureaucracy: a culture where well-intentioned decisions are still punished if they fail, which he says makes civil servants passive. "When you're in public service, every choice you make, there are countless possibilities. But if you're judged after the fact, if people say, 'You should have known this was the better decision,' that's like asking them to be god-like creatures. But we're not gods. We're human beings doing our best." After the lecture, President Lee took questions from the audience, offering advice based on his experience as Seongnam City mayor and Gyeonggi-do Province governor. "In policy making, there is no decision that will please absolutely everyone. We've been given the mandate from the people to mediate conflicts of interest. So with that, we should do our best to minimize misunderstandings, explain our decisions, and adjust where we can. And when all else fails, we must exercise our authority firmly." This was the first time in 20 years that a sitting president lectured soon-to-be deputy directors, the entry-level grade for those who pass the national civil service exam. Afterward, President Lee visited the site of the 2023 underpass flooding in nearby Osong City for a safety inspection, reflecting his view that public officials must always prioritize people's safety. Tuesday marks exactly two years since the disaster, which killed 14 people. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

President Lee dispatches special envoys to EU, France, UK, India

2025/07/14 19:34

On the diplomatic front. President Lee Jae Myung is dispatching special delegations overseas to demonstrate what he calls the "return of democratic Korea" and to share his policy agenda. Four separate delegations have been set up to visit the European Union headquarters in Belgium as well as France, the United Kingdom and India. The delegation to the EU led by former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon departed earlier on this Monday and the remaining three delegations are all scheduled to depart by Wednesday. Their agenda includes talks with key officials and the delivery of letters from President Lee Jae Myung. Additional delegations will be announced once schedules are finalized.

President Lee appoints vice ministers of education, science, veterans affairs

2025/07/14 19:33

President Lee Jae Myung appointed five vice ministers this past Sunday. Choi Eun-ok has been named Vice Education Minister in acknowledgement of her commitment to academic reform and development. Meanwhile Koo Hyuk-chae the head of the Science Ministry's Planning and Coordination Office has been promoted to First Vice Minister WHILE at the Veterans Affairs Ministry Kang Yun-jin the ministry's first female Director-General is set to take the post of Vice Minister. Also announced were new Vice Ministers for Land and SMEs as well as seven other vice-ministerial-level appointments including Hong So-young the first woman to head the Military Manpower Administration.

White House official warns Trump's tariff threat "will be real" on Aug. 1

2025/07/14 11:41

Pressure is mounting for America's trade partners, as U.S. President Donald Trump renews his push for sweeping tariffs set to take effect on August 1st. A senior White House official has warned the tariffs are not just a negotiating tactic. Our foreign affairs correspondent Oh Soo-young starts us off. Washington has emphasised its reciprocal tariffs on trading partners will take effect from next month, if President Donald Trump doesn't get a deal he likes. On Sunday local time in an interview with ABC News, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said if President Donald Trump "doesn't get a deal he thinks is good enough, the tariffs will be real." Hassett implied that Trump was not satisfied with some "sketches of deals" negotiated by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and others on his trade team," and believes the deals "need to get better." This comes after Trump sent letters to 25 countries over the past week, notifying them of their blanket tariff rates. South Korea, Japan and Malaysia were handed 25 percent tariffs, while Mexico and the European Union on Saturday were told to pay up 30 percent. Regarding the higher 50 percent rate announced for Brazil, Hassett said Trump has been "very frustrated" with bilateral negotiations with Brazil and its actions. Trump has also accused the incumbent government of targeting its former President Jair Bolsonaro. In response to Trump's letter, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU will delay its own imposition of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, originally scheduled to take effect on Monday, until early August. Acknowledging Washington's notice over the weekend, von der Leyen indicated the Brussels prefers to negotiate to seek a resolution within the given timeframe. The EU initially prepared a first round of retaliatory tariffs in response to U.S. duties on European steel and aluminium, targeting 21 billion euros worth of American goods with additional duties. While showing willingness to negotiate, European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron have also voiced determination to defend European interests. Meanwhile, the Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum struck an optimistic tone saying she is confident she can reach a deal, saying Trump's letter indicates his intention to negotiate. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Killing Fields execution site and two former Khmer Rouge prisons added to UNESCO heritage list

2025/07/14 11:39

Cambodia celebrated the inscription of three former Khmer Rouge sites as UNESCO World Heritage, marking the first modern-era recognition on behalf of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Choeung Ek Killing Fields, and M-13 prison. These are notorious locations used as torture and execution sites in the past. At a UNESCO meeting in Paris on July 11, the sites were officially listed under "Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centers of repression to places of peace and reflection." Cambodia held nationwide drum-beating ceremonies on Sunday to honor the designation. Cambodia's Interim Culture Minister described the listing as a "model for the world."

France's Macron announces plan to accelerate military spending

2025/07/14 11:38

Now, let's take a look at some stories from around the world with our Choi Chi Hee. Good morning, Chi Hee. Good morning, Eunji. Let's start with France announcing an accelerated military spending plan. The French President has unveiled a plan to speed up France's spending on its armed forces by 2027. French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday, an accelerated military spending plan, aiming to double France's armed forces budget by 2027 which is three years ahead of schedule as Europe faces mounting security threats. On July 13, Macron announced an additional 7.6 billion U.S. dollars in defense funding over 2026 and 2027, pushing France's military budget to 74.8 billion dollars in 2027, which would be double the 37.64 billion dollars in annual spending when Macron took office in 2017. Making an address to the armed forces on the eve of the Bastille Day national holiday, Macron described the move as essential in response to "unprecedented threats" including Russia's aggression, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, and global instability. He said, "To be free in this world, we must be feared. To be feared, we must be powerful." He also said details on the 2026 budget plans will be announced on Tuesday by the Prime Minister.

Kim Jong-un reaffirms full alignment with Russia on "all strategic matters"

2025/07/14 11:36

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed Pyongyang's full alignment with Moscow on all strategic matters, following his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the weekend. According to state media, the two leaders met in Wonsan, North Korea's newly opened coastal resort area. Kim emphasized their complete agreement on key international and regional issues, underscoring North Korea's "unconditional" support for Russia's military objectives in Ukraine. Lavrov, in turn, reaffirmed Russia's commitment to deepening strategic cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties with Pyongyang.

Lee calls K-democracy "beacon" for democratic citizens worldwide

2025/07/14 11:36

An international political science congress kicked off in Seoul over the weekend. Celebrating the event, President Lee Jae Myung called South Korea's democracy a "beacon" for people around the world, noting what the country went through since the short-lived martial law by former President Yoon Suk Yeol seven months ago. Presidential Office Correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. Standing before a global audience, South Korean leader Lee Jae Myung's message of the resilience of democracy was loud and clear. "The remarkable resilience and the power of democracy that our people have shown belong to the Republic of Korea and to people all over the world. I am confident that the colorful K-democracy that our people themselves have shown will be a beacon and a new milestone for democratic citizens around the world. As he made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the International Political Science Association's 2025 World Congress in Seoul on Sunday, President Lee was highly critical of the martial law incident by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, calling it a "coup d'état" aimed at permanent rule. His message was also directed at what lies ahead: reconciliation. "Conversation over conflict, healing over wounds, reconciliation over confrontation. The core spirit of 'K-democracy' that will save our future lies in thoroughly restoring the values of democracy: freedom, equality and solidarity." He went on to extend the value of democracy to the lives of the people, calling democracy and freedom "inextricable." "In an era of crisis where the wave of inequality, polarization, and poverty hinders growth, freedom means the economy. Freedom means a warm meal that will fill hunger, a decent job to make a living." The liberal leader wrapped up his speech by describing what the future holds for democracy in a digital era, as he noted the use of smartphones to monitor abuse of power. "The AI revolution will further develop digital democracy, help facilitate rational debate and democratic decision-making and strengthen direct democracy." This year's congress runs from July 12 to 16 in the South Korean capital under the theme of "Resisting Autocratization in Polarized Societies," bringing together some 35-hundred political scientists from around the world. It's the second time that Seoul hosted the event. It last hosted the congress in 1997. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

[On-point] What lies ahead for S. Korea, U.S. relations

2025/07/14 11:35

South Korea is now tasked with navigating challenges regarding the alliance with the United States, on issues such as tariffs and sharing the burden of costs needed for U.S. troops. For more on what lies ahead for relations between Seoul and Washington, we're joined by Dr. Bruce Bennett, Adjunct Defense Researcher at RAND Corporation. Thanks for joining us this morning. So as we just heard, White House official now warns Trump's tariff threat "will be real" on August 1st. How do you think the tariff negotiations between Seoul and Washington will unfold? Seoul has been pushing for a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump. When can we expect the meeting to take place? Trump has been pushing for South Korea to pay more for the presence of American troops. How should the Korean government handle this issue? A U.S. think tank reportedly recommended a reduction of U.S. forces in Korea. How do you think South Korea should handle this issue? As yet, neither South Korea or the U.S. have appointed ambassadors to each other's countries. What does this mean for bilateral relations? Alright Dr. Bennett thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

President Lee appoints vice ministers of education, science, veterans affairs

2025/07/14 11:34

President Lee Jae Myung appointed five vice ministers on Sunday. According to the Presidential Spokesperson, Choi Eun-ok has been named vice education minister. The top office described her as a veteran official who has led efforts to develop national universities outside Seoul and reform primary and secondary education. At the Ministry of Science and ICT, Koo Hyuk-chae, the current head of its planning and coordination office, was promoted to first vice minister. For the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, Kang Yun-jin, the ministry's first female director general, has been appointed. Also announced were new vice ministers of land and SMEs, along with seven other vice-ministerial-level appointments, including Hong So-young, the first woman to lead the Military Manpower Administration.

Confirmation hearings begin for Pres. Lee’s first Cabinet picks

2025/07/14 11:34

A series of confirmation hearings for President Lee Jae Myung's first Cabinet kicks off today. National Assembly standing committees are holding four hearings on Monday, including those for the nominees for unification minister, science minister, oceans minister, and gender equality minister. While the main opposition People Power Party has vowed to examine the nominees' qualifications and moral integrity, claiming many are unfit and should step down, the ruling Democratic Party is backing the nominees, saying there are no critical flaws. Over the course of the week, eighteen nominees, including sixteen ministerial candidates, are scheduled to appear before the National Assembly. In South Korea, Cabinet appointments are subject to parliamentary hearings, but do not require legislative approval to take effect.

President Lee dispatches special envoys to EU, France, UK, India

2025/07/14 11:33

President Lee Jae Myung is dispatching special envoys overseas to signal what he calls the "return of democratic Korea" and share his administration's policy agenda. The Presidential Office said Sunday that four delegations will visit the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, as well as France, the United Kingdom, and India to strengthen South Korea's global ties. The EU team, led by former environment minister Yoon Yeo-joon, is scheduled to depart later on Monday, with the other three teams will leave by Wednesday. Each delegation is made up of three members, mostly sitting lawmakers, headed by a chief envoy. They plan to meet with key officials and deliver personal letters from President Lee underscoring South Korea's commitment to stronger ties. Additional envoys will be announced once schedules are finalized.

Lee administration marks 1st high-level regional diplomacy, holding trilateral with U.S., Japan

2025/07/11 23:44

South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have held their first high-level trilateral meeting as ministers gathered at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Malaysia. The meeting comes amid both trade and security tensions in the region, and marks the Lee Jae Myung administration's first steps into regional diplomacy. For more, we have our correspondent Oh Soo-young on the line. Good evening, Soo-young. Sooyoung, the trilateral meeting came quite unexpectedly. Fill us in on what happened. Sure, South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo held trilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings on Friday. This marks the first trilateral senior-level meeting of diplomats under the Lee Jae Myung administration, and as you said, the trilateral was unexpected, as Vice Minister Park is attending in place of South Korea's yet-to-be-confirmed foreign minister nominee Cho Hyun. So the fact that this meeting was held despite Park's deputy status signifies Washington and Tokyo's strong commitment to trilateral cooperation and diplomacy with Seoul. What did they discuss? Seoul's foreign ministry says the three sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and pledged to maintain strong deterrence and expand security cooperation based on close trilateral coordination. This comes as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to visit Pyongyang, after the ASEAN sessions on Friday, for, quote, "strategic discussions." At the same time, Vice Minister Park explained Seoul's efforts to ease tensions with Pyongyang and resume inter-Korean dialogue, and called for continued support from Washington and Tokyo. The ministers also exchanged views on regional dynamics and committed to strengthening cooperation in areas like energy, shipbuilding, and supply chain resilience of critical minerals and advanced technologies like artificial intelligence. Right, the Vice Minister also participated in regional talks. Yes. Park on Friday voiced the new South Korean administration's support for ASEAN-led initiatives for regional peace and propserity. Co-chairing a meeting of ministers from South Korea and five Mekong countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, Park highlighted past cooperation on climate change, environment, water resources, forestry, and rural development all directly linked to the livelihoods of the people of the Mekong region. Adopting a joint statement based on their principles for cooperation, he proposed expanding collaboration to digital transformation and human resources development to help turn challenges into opportunities. At the East Asia Summit, he reiterated Seoul's commitment to resolving the North Korea nuclear issue. He stressed the need for support from EAS member states and called for a united message to Pyongyang. Many participants reportedly expressed concern over North Korea's continued nuclear and missile development. They urged North Korea to denuclearize, comply with all UN Security Council resolutions, and return to dialogue. ASEAN's annual meeting of foreign ministers is the only multilateral forum North Korea has attended since 2000. However, Pyongyang appears to have skipped this year's meeting for the first time, given its severed diplomatic ties with the host country, Malaysia. Alright, thank you for keeping us updated, Soo-young.

S. Korea, U.S., Japan hold air drills, discuss security cooperation

2025/07/11 23:35

Also on Friday, South Korea, the U.S. and Japan conducted joint air drills, and held high-level talks in Seoul to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile capabilities. Park Jun-han has the details. South Korea's Ministry of National Defense announced on Friday that it had held a combined air exercise with aircraft from the U.S. and Japan in a joint response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. Joint drills were held over international waters south of Jeju Island, and marked the first deployment of a B-52H strategic bomber to the Korean Peninsula this year, and the second trilateral air exercise under the Lee Jae Myung administration. The exercise coincided with the 2025 Trilateral Chiefs of Defense Meeting, held at the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. Notably, it marked the first visit to South Korea in 15 years by Japan's chief of staff. In the meeting, the three countries discussed strengthening their trilateral, multi-domain Freedom Edge exercise, and condemned North Korea's continued involvement in nuclear and missile development, as well as its growing military cooperation with Russia. Top military leaders — South Korea's JCS Chairman Admiral Kim Myung-soo , U.S. JCS Chairman General Dan Caine , and Japan's Joint Chief, Chief of Staff General Yoshihide Yoshida mentioned cooperation, deterrence, and regional security as their key agenda items. "In the face of North Korea's escalating nuclear and missile threats, it is critical to sustain and sustain and build on the momentum of trilateral security cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan." "The DPRK and China are undergoing an unprecedented military build-up with a clear and unambiguous intent to move forward with their own agendas." "As the situation in the Indo-Pacific region is becoming increasingly complex, uncertain and ambiguous, we will use this meeting as a starting point to further develop our cooperation so that trilateral cooperation can become a key pillar for peace and stability in the region." Following their remarks, the three leaders held a closed-door meeting before issuing a joint statement. They also visited the Republic of Korea Navy's 2nd Fleet in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do Province, to pay tribute to the 46 sailors lost in the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan in 2010. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Pres. Lee names culture, land minister nominees; nomination of Cabinet completed

2025/07/11 23:34

Good evening. President Lee Jae Myung has now completed nominations for all 19 members of his first Cabinet, by filling the two remaining ministerial seats: culture and land. Presidential Office Correspondent Yoon Jung-min starts us off. President Lee Jae Myung has tapped Chae Hwi-young, current CEO of travel platform Nol Universe, to lead the nation's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The journalist-turned-CEO has broad enough experience to materialize President Lee's vision of a K-culture market worth 300-trillion won, which is worth some 218-billion U.S. dollars that's according to Lee's Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik on Friday. The same day, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's lawmaker Kim Yun Duk, was named to lead the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The three-term lawmaker has served on the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, in which Kang says he has proven competency in legislation and policy. "When it comes to real estate, he is expected to approach the issues from ordinary people's perspectives, not as a scholar or bureaucrat." President Lee Jae Myung has warned of zero-tolerance on speculation in real estate, often leading to housing market instability. The new land minister's focus will also be on balanced regional growth, while putting forth new visions for transportation and mobility, among others. With Friday's announcement, the appointment of the nominees for the Lee administration's first Cabinet has been completed. "President Lee said he expects all government ministries to yield results in a speedy manner with competence and loyalty. He asked them to break away from customs in a bold manner, and lead changes with fresh and flexible ideas for innovation in the society." Kang went on to say the new administration will proactively take on pending issues, such as the U.S. pressure on tariffs, extreme heat at home, and the economy in the doldrums. The nominees will undergo confirmation hearings at the National Assembly, but they are not required to be approved for appointment. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

S. Korea, U.S., Japan hold trilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia

2025/07/11 19:45

We start with news out of Malaysia where the first high-level diplomatic talks among Seoul Washington and Tokyo since the launch of the Lee Jae Myung administration took place. I have our foreign affairs correspondent Oh Soo-young standing by live with the latest. Soo-young, welcome. So I hear this trilateral diplomatic interaction was not arranged in advance and came about rather unexpectedly. Do tell us more. Sure, South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo held trilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Their talks lasted for about 40 minutes. The three sides reaffirmed the importance of trilateral cooperation and agreed to jointly counter North Korea's illicit cyber activities and deepening military cooperation with Russia. They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to North Korea's complete denuclearization. Now, this comes as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is due to visit Pyongyang, after the ASEAN sessions on Friday, for, quote, "strategic discussions." According to Rubio's office, they also discussed their "indispensable trilateral partnership" in the resilience of critical technologies and supply chains, energy, trusted digital infrastructure, and shipbuilding. Vice Minister Park is also believed to have conveyed South Korea's position on ongoing tariff negotiations with the U.S. Both Seoul and Tokyo recently received letters from President Trump notifying them that Washington will impose 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on August first. The three sides last met in April at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels. But this is the first trilateral senior-level meeting of diplomats under the Lee Jae Myung administration. As you said, the trilateral was quite unexpected, as Vice Minister Park is attending in place of South Korea's yet-to-be-confirmed foreign minister nominee Cho Hyun. So the fact that this meeting was held -despite Park's relatively lower-level rank arguably signifies Washington and Tokyo's strong commitment to trilateral cooperation and diplomacy with Seoul. Now those talks among diplomats from three countries took place on the margins of multiple meetings this week led by the ASEAN Soo-young. Do walk us through some of them. Yes. South Korea's vice minister is attending key discussions on Friday the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum itself, and Seoul's dialogue with ministers from Mekong countries. On Thursday, Park took part in the meeting of ASEAN and its three Northeast Asian partners South Korea, Japan, and China. He emphasized Seoul's commitment to strengthening trilateral cooperation with Tokyo and Beijing,.. in a way that complements ASEAN's goals, especially amid rising uncertainty and challenges in the region. Earlier in the day, Park took part in the Korea-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, to adopt an updated five-year plan to fulfil the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reached last year. The new action plan includes peace, not only security, cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, along with cybersecurity, maritime issues, and digital transition. All right Soo-young, thank you for that coverage of the trilateral ministerial gathering among diplomats from Seoul Washington and Tokyo in Malaysia.

World News: Federal judge issues nationwide block against Trump’s order on ending birthright citizenship

2025/07/11 19:42

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the United States, a federal judge in New Hampshire has issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship. Judge Joseph Laplante ruled on Thursday that when such an order is in effect, it would prevent tens of thousands of newborns, an estimated 150,000 annually, from obtaining automatic citizenship, violating the 14th Amendment's guarantee. The judge referenced the Supreme Court's recent guidance that limits the use of nationwide injunctions but allows class-action mechanisms to protect constitutional rights. The judge also certified a class-action lawsuit on behalf of U.S.-born children who will be impacted. The injunction applies to all U.S.-born children after February 20, 2025. Supporters of birthright citizenship hailed the decision, while the White House called it judicially excessive. In Europe, Greece has temporarily halted processing asylum applications from migrants arriving by sea from North Africa. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressing parliament on July 9, stated that the suspension will last an initial three months, citing a surge of more than 7,300 arrivals on the islands of Crete and Gavdos so far this year, compared to just over 5,000 in all of 2024. The arrivals, mainly from Sudan, Egypt, and Bangladesh, have been transiting through Libya. Mitsotakis described the move as an "emergency response," and authorized the swift return of those entering the country illegally. The government is also strengthening cooperation with Libyan authorities and deploying patrol vessels. Humanitarian groups denounced the policy as illegal and inhumane. The UN refugee agency also expressed "serious concern," saying the "right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right." An original Hermès Birkin bag, designed in 1984 for Jane Birkin, sold at Sotheby's Paris on Thursday for approximately 10 million U.S. dollars, setting a new record as the most expensive handbag ever auctioned. The starting price was slightly over 1 million dollars, with a Japanese collector winning the bid over the phone. The leather handbag, created after Birkin famously sketched it on an airplane sick bag, bears her initials "J.B." and a fixed shoulder strap, unlike commercially sold models. Worn by Birkin for nearly nine years, the bag was originally auctioned in 1994 to benefit HIV/AIDS charities and subsequently sold in 2000. Finally, Thailand's beloved pygmy hippo, Moo Deng, turned one year old on Thursday, at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi, marking her first birthday with a four-day celebration. The festivities kicked off with over 12,000 visitors on day one, including fans who traveled from abroad, and free entry for children under 12. Activities included a 20-kilogram tropical fruit cake, a parade, and photo exhibitions of Moo Deng. Moo Deng, whose name translates to "bouncy pork," has sparked global social media fascination since her birth on July 10, 2024, drawing millions of views and boosting zoo visits. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

NATO chief holds phone talks with Trump on Ukraine

2025/07/11 19:39

On the international front. Ukraine was the center of talks between the heads of NATO and the White House on Thursday amid a fresh onslaught of aerial assaults by Russia in recent days. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and U.S. President Donald Trump held phone talks on Thursday to discuss the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. According to Rutte on X, he spoke with the U.S. leader to condemn Russia's recent large-scale airstrikes on Ukraine, and urged the U.S. and other allies to provide emergency support to Ukraine. The phone talks come as Russia recently conducted airstrikes on Kyiv, killing two and injuring 25 others. Meanwhile, U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on Thursday in Malaysia. During the talks, the two sides exchanged new ideas for peace in Ukraine. "I think it's a new and a different approach. Again, I wouldn't characterize it as something that guarantees a peace, but it's a concept that I'll take back to the president today, as soon as I finish with you." During the talks,.. Rubio reportedly expressed Washington's frustration that more progress has not been made on ending the war in Ukraine. Rubio says he had expressed to his Russian counterpart, what President Trump has stressed about there not being enough flexibility on the Russian side to bring about an end to the conflict. In the hopes of coordinating a multinational 'reassurance force' ready to help Ukraine after a potential ceasefire, a new headquarters in Paris will serve as the base for the western-led 'Coalition of the Willing' for one year. The announcement comes as a virtual meeting of the member nations' leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and other European leaders took place on Thursday. The headquarters in the French capital is led jointly by France and the UK, and will rotate to London after a year in order to allow for flexible military contributions from partner nations. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Pres. Lee names culture, land minister nominees; nomination of Cabinet completed

2025/07/11 19:35

And President Lee Jae Myung appointed his ministers for culture and land earlier on this Friday completing his roster of all 19 members of his first Cabinet. Our correspondent Yoon Jung-min tells us who they are. President Lee Jae Myung has tapped Chae Hwi-young, current CEO of travel platform Nol Universe, to lead the nation's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The journalist-turned-CEO has broad enough experience to materialize President Lee's vision of a K-culture market worth 300-trillion won, which is worth some 218-billion U.S. dollars that's according to Lee's Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik on Friday. The same day, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's lawmaker Kim Yun Duk, was named to lead the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The three-term lawmaker has served on the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, in which Kang says he has proven competency in legislation and policy. "When it comes to real estate, he is expected to approach the issues from ordinary people's perspectives, not as a scholar or bureaucrat." President Lee Jae Myung has warned of zero-tolerance on speculation in real estate, often leading to housing market instability. The new land minister's focus will also be on balanced regional growth, while putting forth new visions for transportation and mobility, among others. With Friday's announcement, the appointment of the nominees for the Lee administration's first Cabinet has been completed. "President Lee said he expects all government ministries to yield results in a speedy manner with competence and loyalty. He asked them to break away from customs in a bold manner, and lead changes with fresh and flexible ideas for innovation in the society." Kang went on to say the new administration will proactively take on pending issues, such as the U.S. pressure on tariffs, extreme heat at home, and the economy in the doldrums. The nominees will undergo confirmation hearings at the National Assembly, but they are not required to be approved for appointment. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

President Lee says coexistence with N. Korea is key to nat'l security

2025/07/11 19:34

Meanwhile where security is concerned conflict prevention is better than crisis response. Now this is according to President Lee Jae Myung during his first National Security Council meeting back on Thursday that touched upon North Korea and more. Our Presidential Office Correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says peaceful coexistence with North Korea is "the most realistic and practical" path to safeguarding national security. He made the remarks during his first National Security Council meeting on Thursday. The President has already taken steps to de-escalate tensions, including suspending loudspeaker broadcasts along the inter-Korean border, a move that prompted the North to halt its propaganda campaign. The administration says it aims to build on that momentum. "The government will do everything it can to help people feel the Korean Peninsula is becoming more peaceful and secure. There were discussions on ways to restore severed communication channels and links between the two Koreas." This is in line with how President Lee views the path to safety. "The President noted that in matters of security, prevention is always more important than responding afterward." When asked whether the meeting covered trade talks with the United States, Kang said the discussions explored a range of options, with national interests as the top priority. South Korea is pursuing what it calls a "package deal," which was discussed earlier this week in Washington between National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and his American counterpart, Marco Rubio. "Talks include issues across the board, including trade, investment, purchasing goods, and security. We suggested taking all this into a "package" to make progress in negotiations." Thursday's meeting, which lasted over two hours, was attended by the Prime Minister, senior officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, unification, defense, and interior, as well as the National Intelligence Service and the Office of National Security. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.