News

European leaders discuss peace in Ukraine at London summit

2025/03/03 12:00

We start in London, where European leaders gathered on Sunday to discuss peace efforts for Ukraine and the broader European continent. There, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his intention to visit the U.S. again for further talks, following his heated public confrontation with U.S. President Donald Trump last week. Our Park Kun-woo reports. European countries are stepping up their efforts to end the war in Ukraine. During a summit in London on Sunday, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that Europe is a continent at "a crossroads in history." "This is not a moment for more talk. It's time to act, time to step up and lead and to unite around a new plan for a just and enduring peace." Starmer said during Sunday's summit that EU countries would form a "coalition of the willing" and draft a peace plan that will later be presented to U.S. President Donald Trump. He also spoke about allowing Ukraine to use UK export finance worth 2-billion U.S. dollars to buy some 5-thousand air defense missiles. But he also stressed all of these efforts need strong U.S. backing. European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen spoke about the urgent need to "re-arm Europe." After the summit, Zelenskyy expressed confidence that his relationship with Trump would continue despite their public spat on Friday. "I think our relations will continue. From our side we are ready to sign the minerals deal. I honestly think the United States will be ready as well." The summit between 19 world leaders came just two days after a fiery exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House, where Zelenskyy was blamed on live television for not showing enough gratitude for U.S. support. Zelenskyy was visiting Washington to sign a minerals deal with the U.S. but his visit was cut short. But Zelenskyy also shared his willingness to visit the U.S. for a further dialogue if he gets invited once again, representing the interests of a country that "heavily depends on support from partners." U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday local time that Zelenskyy needs to "come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude" to accept the minerals deal while adding it might require new leadership in Ukraine to make that happen. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico will take effect on Tuesday

2025/03/03 12:00

Now to the latest in the trade war between the U.S. and some of its top trading partners. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says that tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go into effect on Tuesday, but that the situation is "fluid." Speaking to Fox News on Sunday local time, Lutnick said President Donald Trump and his team would determine whether to stick with the planned 25-percent tariffs, signaling that there could be some adjustments. In February, Trump proposed 25-percent tariffs on all imports from Mexico and non-energy imports from Canada.

Israel blocks humanitarian aid into Gaza as ceasefire standoff continues

2025/03/03 12:00

Tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East after Israel blocked humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on Sunday. In a statement, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the decision followed Hamas's refusal to extend the phase one ceasefire, which expired on Saturday. It also warned of further consequences if Hamas continues to reject an extension to the proposal. The U.S.-backed proposal aims to prolong the truce for six more weeks, covering the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday, ending on April 20th. Hamas, which previously said it would not agree to an extension without guarantees of phase two, called Israel's halt of aid "cheap blackmail."

[WEEKLY FOCUS] Yoon's impeachment trial wraps up: Will key verdicts expected in March reshape the political landscape?

2025/03/01 12:00

The final hearing of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial wrapped this week, and the Constitutional Court began deliberations. To delve deeper into the recent hearing and what lies ahead, we have our political correspondent Shin Ha-young. Welcome. Thanks for having me. Ha-young, first walk us through the final hearing of Yoon's impeachment trial. Sure. The 11th and final impeachment hearing came 73 days after the National Assembly passed an impeachment motion following President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration. As the final speaker in his trial, President Yoon on Tuesday defended his actions, insisting that his call for martial law was a one-off plea to the public during what he described as a "state of emergency" caused by legislative obstruction and budget cuts from the opposition party. Take a listen. He also pledged to push for political reform and more effective governance through constitutional amendments if he were to resume his duties. Despite his firm stance, Yoon apologized for the confusion and inconvenience caused by his martial law declaration. The National Assembly's impeachment panel co-chair Jung Chung-rae delivered his final statement in front of Yoon saying that the public had already rejected Yoon and urged the court to uphold the impeachment. Take a listen. "President Yoon took the oath of office to uphold the Constitution and defend the nation, yet he sent martial law troops to invade the National Assembly and trampled on the Constitution. The respondent no longer has the qualifications to remain as president. He is no longer the president in the hearts of the people." Starting Wednesday, the Constitutional Court justices decided to hold deliberations every day except holidays and weekends, until the verdict is delivered. Now all that's left is the Court's verdict, which is expected in March. But when exactly will it happen? The date hasn't been set yet, but based on past presidential impeachment trials, the verdict is expected to come out around mid-March after about two weeks of deliberations so some say between March 10th and 14th. For the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, the court dismissed the impeachment motion 14 days after the final hearing, while it took 11 days for former President Park Geun-hye's verdict to be delivered. The court usually announces the date just a few days before, and this time it's also likely to be confirmed two to three days in advance as well. Speaking of the timing of the verdict, this week the Court ruled that the acting president's non-appointment of a justice infringes on the National Assembly's rights. You're right. It's one of the factors we need to consider when it comes to the timeline for the verdict on Yoon's impeachment. The Constitutional Court on Thursday ruled that Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to withhold the appointment of Justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk was unconstitutional, violating the National Assembly's authority to select Constitutional Court justices. Take a listen to what Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae said. "The non-appointment of Justice candidate Ma Eun-hyuk infringes upon the petitioner's right to participate in the Constitutional Court's composition through the election of a court justice as granted by the Constitution." At the same time, the Court dismissed the request from the National Assembly Speaker to confirm Ma's status as a justice or order his immediate appointment, citing legal limitations. Choi had appointed two out of three justices put forward by the Assembly in December last year, but deferred Ma Eun-hyuk's appointment, calling for bipartisan agreement first. Now all eyes are on when Choi will appoint Ma as a Constitutional Court justice. The Assembly Speaker and opposition Democratic Party are calling for the immediate appointment, but there's no legal way to force it. Choi's office said the Acting President would "respect" the Court's decision, and would carefully look into the verdict, but couldn't comment on if or when Ma would be appointed. If Ma Eun-hyuk is appointed before the Constitutional Court's ruling on Yoon's impeachment, the court will have to decide whether Ma will join the case. If he doesn't, the court will proceed with eight justices, and the verdict will likely come around mid-March as expected. But if he participates, the Court would have to decide whether Ma should conduct a brief review of trial materials, or hold a retrial process which involves a more comprehensive examination with more hearings. The latter could significantly delay the ruling. A day after Yoon's final hearing, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung's final hearing was held at an appellate court over election law violation charges. Tell us about that. Indeed, the final appellate trial hearing for main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung's violation of the Public Official Election Act was held on Wednesday at the Seoul High Court. "Everything that's said to be the will of the world is bound to follow common sense and principles. The court will sort it out properly." Prosecutors demanded a two-year prison term for Lee. Lee was indicted on charges of making false statements in December 2021, during a media interview where he denied knowing a man involved in a land development scandal in Seongnam. He is also accused of having made false claims that there was pressure from South Korea's land ministry to rezone a research institute site in the Baekhyeon-dong area. In the original verdict, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that Lee had spread false information while disputing corruption allegations during his presidential campaign and handed him a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years. Ha-young, then how will Lee's trial affect the political landscape going forward? Well, the first thing we need to think about is that if the Constitutional Court upholds the motion to impeach President Yoon, there will be an early presidential election within 60 days. Then the speed of the Supreme Court's review on Lee's case could become a crucial factor in Lee's presidential ambitions. If the first ruling stands, Lee will lose his legislative seat and be barred from running in elections for ten years. The decision on his appeal is scheduled to come on March 26th. However, there's a variable in February, Lee filed a request with the appellate court for a constitutional review, seeking a ruling on the constitutionality of relevant legal provisions. If the court accepts the request, the trial will be suspended until the Constitutional Court issues a ruling. So far, the appellate court has yet to make a decision on this request. Key verdicts are expected in March, so we should keep an eye on how Lee's trial and Yoon's impeachment trial could reshape the political landscape. Alright. We'll have to see how the situation unfolds. Thank you for the wrap-up today Ha-young. We appreciate it. My pleasure.

S. Korea requests exemption from U.S. tariff measures alongside talks on shipbuilding cooperation

2025/02/28 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. South Korea is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to safeguard its economic interests as the date for fresh U.S. tariffs looms near. Moon Hye-ryeon leads us off. As U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies trade pressure on countries around the world, the South Korean government is seeking to make its case early to ensure Seoul's interests are considered. On Friday, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok held a virtual meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent --reaffirming the strength of the alliance and urging Washington to consider South Korea's contributions to the U.S. economy in its trade policy decisions. South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun also met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington D.C. where he formally requested an exemption from U.S. tariff measures. With South Korea currently lacking direct diplomatic engagement at the presidential level, this marked the first ministerial trade talks under Trump's second term. Under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, most goods between the two countries are traded tariff-free. However, Trump's latest policy imposes a 25-percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports worldwide, impacting South Korea starting in March. The Trump administration has also hinted at tariffs on key South Korean exports, including cars and semiconductors. Ahn reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to free trade and stressed the need for a stable investment environment, while Lutnick emphasized reducing America's trade deficit but gave no specifics on potential tariffs. Beyond trade, discussions on industrial cooperation saw a strong focus on shipbuilding. Ahn outlined Seoul's plans to form a government-wide task force to facilitate structured cooperation between the two countries, which was met with a positive response. Amid talks for partnerships in shipbuilding, Trump's nominee for the U.S. Navy Secretary specifically referenced Hanhwa Group's investment in an American shipyard at his confirmation hearing – stressing the importance of attracting the South Korean shipbuilding firm's capital and technology to the U.S. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Israel and Hamas begin negotiations for next phase of Gaza ceasefire agreement

2025/02/28 20:00

The first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas comes to a close on Saturday, following the final swap of prisoners and hostages. Efforts are underway to pave the path to a second phase, which looks uncertain. Lee Eun-jin has the latest. The final planned exchange of the Gaza ceasefire's first phase occurred overnight on Thursday, after days of fears over the agreement collapsing and ahead of its expiration on Saturday. Hamas released the remains of four hostages to the Red Cross without a public ceremony. Their identities have been confirmed through forensic examinations and by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. This handover made possible the delayed release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Meanwhile, according to the Egyptian government, officials from Israel, Qatar, and the United States began negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire on Thursday, in Cairo. Key objectives include ending the war, securing the release of all remaining Israeli hostages, and ensuring the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. According to Israel, there are 59 remaining hostages, of which 24 are still believed to be alive. The return of the deceased would be discussed as part of the third and final phase of the ceasefire agreement. Egypt also stated that the mediators are discussing ways to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The first phase which has paused fighting in Gaza is set to officially conclude on Saturday. Even with the negotiations for phase two back on track, the future of Gaza remains uncertain. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to return all hostages but also to destroy Hamas, which remains in control of Gaza. And U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed both goals. But it is unclear how Israel would destroy Hamas without resuming the war, and without a lasting ceasefire, Hamas is unlikely to release any of the remaining hostages, who serve as their greatest bargaining chips. According to Israeli reports, Netanyahu is seeking to extend the first phase rather than advance to the second stage, and secure the freedom of more hostages. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

Zelenskyy arrives in Washington to sign critical minerals deal with Trump

2025/02/28 20:00

The Ukrainian president is in Washington to reportedly sign an agreement on rare earth minerals with his American counterpart, that will likely become key to ending the three-year-long brutal war. But there are concerns as to whether the deal will ensure lasting peace in Ukraine. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has the details. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Washington late Thursday, to hold a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump where they will likely sign a minerals deal that will allow the U.S. to own a large amount of Ukraine's rare earth mineral deposits. Trump has been framing the deal as a chance for Kyiv to "pay back" Washington, for aid sent under the Biden administration over the past three years. "We're going to be actually in there digging, digging our hearts out. And hopefully, you know, we need the rare earth and we have some here, but we don't have enough we're our economy is very strong and we need a lot of things that in some cases we don't have here." And in the meantime, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also made his way to the White House on Thursday local time, for talks on Ukraine's security. Starmer positively evaluated Trump's leadership in the Ukraine peace negotiations but stated that history should be on the side of the peacemaker. "We're focused now on bringing an enduring end to the barbaric war in Ukraine. And that's what we must do now, because it can't be peace that rewards the aggressor. We agree history must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader." Details of the agreement are yet to be made public, but it's widely believed that the agreement does not include security guarantees. One expert explains the reason why Ukraine is still going ahead with the deal may be because it ensures that there can be some sort of a concrete relationship with the U.S. "But at the moment, as it stands, this deal is between Kyiv and Washington. So that in itself will please the Ukrainians, and I think that is why they want to go, even if the terms do not look to be particularly financially favorable." Kyiv estimates that about 5-percent of the world's critical raw materials are in Ukraine --including titanium, titanium, graphite, lithium, and uranium --which could be used to produce weapons, electronics, and other products vital in the modern world. Another expert says the minerals that Ukraine has will become more and more expensive as the world economy slows down, but says it's very difficult to envision lasting peace with aggressive leaders like Trump or Putin, who only act in a way they think is in their best interests. "It makes Ukraine the target for imperialist powers. That's what's happening now. Ukraine has resources, but Ukraine doesn't have the military resources to defend them. So as you can imagine, in international relations, this is a very bad place to be in." Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Pyongyang launched strategic cruise missiles on February 26: KCNA

2025/02/28 20:00

North Korea earlier this week tested strategic cruise missiles, marking its second launch since U.S. President Trump took office. Its leader Kim Jong-un was at the test site, stressing the need for strong striking power. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung examines its intention behind. After around a month-long pause, North Korea conducted a strategic cruise missile test in waters off its west coast. According to Pyongyang's state media, the Korean People's Army launched missiles on February 26th. They flew 1-thousand-5-hundred-87 kilometers for approximately 7-thousand-9-hundred-61 to 7-thousand-9-hundred-73 seconds in an oval trajectory before striking their targets. The North's state media said the test aimed to demonstrate the ability to retaliate against threats; to reinforce the credibility of its nuclear deterrent, and to improve the operational readiness of its strategic cruise missile units. The regime's leader Kim Jong-un expressed satisfaction with the test results, stressing the most complete deterrence and defense capability comes from possessing overwhelming offensive power. South Korea's military noted that it had detected the launch of multiple cruise missiles toward the West Sea at about 8 AM on the 26th, which is being analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities. The unification ministry too noted it is looking into it closely. "North Korea's cruise missile launch is the first in about a month since January 25th. The government is closely monitoring Pyongyang's weapon production process in collaboration with relevant agencies." While projecting the missiles to be the Hwasal-1, one expert says the focus is on how Pyongyang mentioned specific reasons behind the missile launch, compared to January. At that time, North Korea adjusted the tone as it was right after Trump's inauguration, the expert says, but now it is sending a direct counter-message. "A series of messages from the U.S. have been issued recently, and in response, North Korea could have been uncomfortable. To demonstrate a strong intent to counter this, it has deliberately given more details about its nuclear operations." Though missile launches could continue, in order not to provoke Washington, the same expert added that Pyongyang will likely avoid overly provocative missile tests. "In order to manage the U.S., North Korea is likely to focus more on hypersonic missiles or strategic cruise missiles, which, while appearing less provocative than ICBMs or intermediate-range missiles, actually have higher strategic value." Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

China condemns additional 10% tariffs by U.S., warns of retaliatory measures

2025/02/28 20:00

China was quick to condemn Trump's latest announcement of additional 10-percent tariffs, saying it will take "all necessary countermeasures." Beijing's Ministry of Commerce said on Friday that Washington's repeated unilateral tariffs violate World Trade Organization rules, and damage the global trading system. It also pointed out the U.S. shifting the blame for the flow of fentanyl, insisting that China is one of a few countries with the strictest policies against drugs.

Trump announces March 4 tariffs for Mexico, Canada, extra 10% for China

2025/02/28 20:00

The 25-percent U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, which has been put on hold, will go into effect next Tuesday, as the U.S. blames the inflow of illicit drugs. An extra 10 percent tariff is in store for Chinese imports. Lee Seung-jae reports. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump put a pause on his plans to impose 25-percent tariffs on imports coming in from Canada and Mexico. This would allow the two neighboring countries to negotiate a deal to possibly avoid a tariff war in the region. However,.. Trump on Thursday announced that those tariffs will take effect on March 4th as his administration sees insufficient progress being made to curb the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. from bordering countries. A White House official also noted that while migration issues have seen improvements, there are still concerns over fentanyl deaths in the U.S., blaming the inflow of illicit drugs coming into the country. On top of the March 4th imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Trump told reporters at the Oval Office, that Chinese imports will see an additional 10 percent tariff, resulting in a cumulative 20 percent tariff. "The drugs come in through Mexico. They come. A lot of them, not all of them, but a lot of them come from China. And that's why we did as ten. It's ten plus ten. Okay. Was there confusion on that? Ten plus ten. It's a second ten." Trump also added that come April 2nd, announcements will be made on countries that the Trump administration will impose its reciprocal tariffs on. "And then on the 2nd of April, we have reciprocal tariffs that's reciprocal, where we charge countries what they're charging us. And nobody should have a problem with that. We have a, it's reciprocity. It's something that I think everybody I have spoken to said that's fair. And it is. If somebody charges us 25%, we charge them 25. If somebody charges us ten or 15 or 30 or 70, which charge them an exact like amount." Meanwhile, Trump's economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CNBC in an interview on Thursday that the U.S. leader will decide on tariff policies for all countries after April 1st. The advisor said that there's a study coming out on April 1st, on which Trump will base his tariff decisions for all countries. Mexican and Canadian officials are set to meet with U.S. officials on Thursday and Friday, in the hopes of avoiding the 25 percent tariff by Trump. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Interview with Randall G. Schriver: The future of U.S.-North Korea dialogue under Trump

2025/02/28 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Today, February 28 marks the sixth anniversary of the Hanoi Summit, a pivotal moment in U.S.-North Korea diplomacy, which, however, ended without an agreement. Since Hanoi, North Korea has expanded its nuclear and missile capabilities while strengthening ties with China and Russia. With President Trump back in office, questions have risen about the potential resumption of negotiations, and any shift in U.S. policy toward Pyongyang. Trump's return has renewed debate over his new approach, on whether he would pursue diplomacy or a harder stance. For a closer analysis of the issue, we connect to Randall G. Schriver, chairman of The Project 2049 Institute, who was the former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs during the Hanoi Summit. Welcome to the program Mr. Schriver. 1. So,today marks the sixth anniversary of the Hanoi Summit between the U.S. and North Korea. As the former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, you played a key role in U.S.-North Korea negotiations at the time. How do you look back on that period? What are your reflections? 2. With President Trump back in office, there is growing speculation about whether the U.S.-North Korea dialogue, which stalled in Hanoi, could resume. How has Trump's perception of North Korea evolved since the previous negotiations? I also want to ask, how has North Korea's strategic position changed over the past six years? 3. Now with the new administration in the U.S., many experts initially expected the North Korea issue to be a lower priority for President Trump. However, he's been expressing a strong willingness to reengage in diplomacy with North Korea. What do you believe is driving Trump's renewed interest in the North Korea issue? 5. Now given the changed geopolitical landscape, what conditions do you believe must be met for U.S.-North Korea talks to resume? Do you anticipate a return to the top-down approach, as seen in past negotiations? 6. Meanwhile, President Trump has initiated negotiations with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. How do you think this diplomatic engagement with Russia and efforts to improve U.S.-Russia relations might influence the prospects for U.S.-North Korea talks? 7. As for Korea's perspective, there have been growing concerns about "South Korea passing" in U.S.-North Korea negotiations. You have previously emphasized the importance of close coordination with South Korea in these talks. In light of such concerns, what steps should South Korea take to ensure its role in the process? 8. Alongside this, trilateral security cooperation between the U.S., South Korea and Japan has been crucial in addressing North Korea's nuclear threats. However, there are expectations that the Trump 2.0 administration may not maintain the same level of trilateral coordination as the Biden government. What are your thoughts on this? 9. As prospects for a renewed defense cost negotiations are looming, with Trump referring to South Korea as a "money machine", South Korea faces the challenge of balancing alliance stability with its national interests. How do you see this issue, and what strategies should Seoul consider in managing these talks? 10. Before we let you go, could you leave us with an advice regarding South Korea's diplomatic strategy in navigating its relationship with the U.S. under the Trump administration?

World News: Tate brothers arrive in Florida after Romania lifts travel ban

2025/02/28 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories around the globe. Right-wing influencer Andrew Tate, who along with his brother Tristan is facing trial in Romania for human trafficking and organized sexual exploitation, has arrived in Florida. The Tate brothers, who departed on a private jet early Thursday, deny all charges, claiming they are "misunderstood." The brothers, who are British-American nationals were able to leave Romania after prosecutors lifted a two-year travel ban. Romanian authorities however, stress that this decision does not mean the case against them has been dropped. They remain under judicial supervision and are required to report to authorities regularly. Their departure has raised speculation over possible political influence from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump, however, has denied any involvement. The Tate brothers have been vocal supporters of Trump, with Tristan Tate claiming that his brother Andrew has helped sway millions of young men to back the U.S. president. Police investigating the deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, said Thursday that preliminary autopsy results showed no signs of trauma or foul play. However, authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of death and have not ruled out the possibility of criminal involvement. The 95-year-old actor and his 65-year-old wife were found dead alongside their dog in their New Mexico home on Wednesday. Officials are waiting for further autopsy and toxicology reports, including tests for carbon monoxide exposure, while the investigation remains ongoing. Pop star Katy Perry, known for hits like Firework, is set to embark on a space journey aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. She will be joined by Lauren Sanchez, fiancée of Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos, CBS anchor Gayle King, a former NASA rocket scientist, a civil rights activist, and a film producer. This mission marks the first all-women spaceflight since Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova's solo journey in 1963. While an exact launch date has not been announced, the historic flight is scheduled to take place this spring. Yoon Se-young, Arirang News

Second 'joint consultative' talks between acting pres., rival party leaders canceled as DP calls them off

2025/02/28 17:00

At the National Assembly. The main opposition party held back from partaking in planned talks on state affairs with the government and ruling party amid fresh dispute over acting President Choi Sang-mok's failure to appoint justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk to the Constitutional Court. While announcing its decision the Democratic Party reiterated its call on Choi to promptly appoint Ma given the recent court verdict that ruled Choi had violated the Constitution by refraining from appointing Ma. Meanwhile both the acting President's office and the ruling People Power Party expressed their "deep regret" and emphasized the importance of joint "discussions on people's livelihoods and the economy." National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik for his part called on the two sides to undertake their respective duties. The four-way talks were scheduled to start this Friday afternoon with pension reform on the agenda among other matters.

Israel and Hamas begin negotiations for next phase of Gaza ceasefire agreement

2025/02/28 17:00

The first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas comes to a close and efforts are already underway to pave the path to a second phase of tangible truce. Lee Eun-jin reports. The final planned exchange of the Gaza ceasefire's first phase occurred overnight on Thursday, after days of fears over the agreement collapsing and ahead of its expiration on Saturday. Hamas released the remains of four hostages to the Red Cross without a public ceremony. Their identities have been confirmed through forensic examinations and by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. This handover made possible the delayed release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Meanwhile, according to the Egyptian government, officials from Israel, Qatar, and the United States began negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire on Thursday, in Cairo. Key objectives include ending the war, securing the release of all remaining Israeli hostages, and ensuring the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. According to Israel, there are 59 remaining hostages, of which 24 are still believed to be alive. The return of the deceased would be discussed as part of the third and final phase of the ceasefire agreement. Egypt also stated that the mediators are discussing ways to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The first phase which has paused fighting in Gaza is set to officially conclude on Saturday. Even with the negotiations for phase two back on track, the future of Gaza remains uncertain. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to return all hostages but also to destroy Hamas, which remains in control of Gaza. And U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed both goals. But it is unclear how Israel would destroy Hamas without resuming the war, and without a lasting ceasefire, Hamas is unlikely to release any of the remaining hostages, who serve as their greatest bargaining chips. According to Israeli reports, Netanyahu is seeking to extend the first phase rather than advance to the second stage, and secure the freedom of more hostages. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.

U.S. President Trump says minerals agreement with Ukraine to ensure safety in Ukraine

2025/02/28 17:00

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was at the White House Thursday afternoon for talks with his American counterpart Donald Trump who shared optimism about prospects of a peace plan for Ukraine against Russian aggression. Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have met to discuss issues including the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. On Thursday local time, during a summit at the White House, Trump claimed that the minerals agreement with Ukraine, could help guarantee Ukraine's security. He also expressed confidence that if a ceasefire deal is made, Russian President Vladimir Putin will keep his promises. "I've known him for a long time now, and I think he will, I don't believe he's going to violate his word. I don't think he'll be back. When we make a deal, I think the deal is going to hold." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit the U.S. on Friday local time to sign the natural resources agreement following Trump's demand for repayment from Ukraine. During the summit, Trump walked back his statement from about eight days earlier, saying that he couldn't believe that he had called Zelenskyy a "dictator." But, Trump opposed Ukraine's NATO membership, stating a peace deal must come first before deploying European peacekeepers to ensure Kyiv's safety. Prime Minister Starmer positively evaluated Trump's leadership in the Ukraine peace negotiations but stated that history should be on the side of the peacemaker. "We're focused now on bringing an enduring end to the barbaric war in Ukraine. And that's what we must do now, because it can't be peace that rewards the aggressor. We agree history must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader." During the meeting, President Trump read aloud King Charles III's state visit invitation letter on the spot, calling it wonderful and praising Charles as a great and admirable gentleman. Prime Minister Starmer said that this second state visit symbolized the special and strong relationship between the two countries. During his first term, in June 2019, Trump made a state visit to the UK at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Pyongyang launched strategic cruise missiles on February 26: KCNA

2025/02/28 17:00

North Korea earlier this week reportedly tested strategic cruise missiles marking its fourth launch for the year and its second under the new Trump administration. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung reports. After around a month-long pause, North Korea conducted a strategic cruise missile test in waters off its west coast. According to Pyongyang's state media, the Korean People's Army launched missiles on February 26th. They flew 1-thousand-5-hundred-87 kilometers for approximately 7-thousand-9-hundred-61 to 7-thousand-9-hundred-73 seconds in an oval trajectory before striking their targets. The North's state media said the test aimed to demonstrate the ability to retaliate against threats; to reinforce the credibility of its nuclear deterrent, and to improve the operational readiness of its strategic cruise missile units. South Korea's military noted that it had detected the launch of multiple cruise missiles toward the West Sea at about 8 AM on the 26th, which is being analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities. The unification ministry too noted it is looking into it closely. "North Korea's cruise missile launch is the first in about a month since January 25th. The government is closely monitoring Pyongyang's weapon production process in collaboration with relevant agencies." While projecting the missiles to be the Hwasal-1, one expert says the focus is on how Pyongyang mentioned specific reasons behind the missile launch, compared to January. At that time, North Korea adjusted the tone as it was right after Trump's inauguration, the expert says, but now it is sending a direct counter-message. "A series of messages from the U.S. have been issued recently, and in response, North Korea could have been uncomfortable. To demonstrate a strong intent to counter this, it has deliberately given more details about its nuclear operations." Though missile launches could continue, in order not to provoke Washington, the same expert added that Pyongyang will likely avoid overly provocative missile tests. "In order to manage the U.S., North Korea is likely to focus more on hypersonic missiles or strategic cruise missiles, which, while appearing less provocative than ICBMs or intermediate-range missiles, actually have higher strategic value." Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Trump announces March 4 tariffs for Mexico, Canada, extra 10% for China

2025/02/28 17:00

The 25-percent tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican imports into the U.S. market earlier pledged by the Trump administration will go into effect next Tuesday after a month-long postponement. Lee Seung-jae reports. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump put a pause on his plans to impose 25-percent tariffs on imports coming in from Canada and Mexico. This would allow the two neighboring countries to negotiate a deal to possibly avoid a tariff war in the region. However,.. Trump on Thursday announced that those tariffs will take effect on March 4th as his administration sees insufficient progress being made to curb the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. from bordering countries. A White House official also noted that while migration issues have seen improvements, there are still concerns over fentanyl deaths in the U.S., blaming the inflow of illicit drugs coming into the country. On top of the March 4th imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Trump told reporters at the Oval Office, that Chinese imports will see an additional 10 percent tariff, resulting in a cumulative 20 percent tariff. "The drugs come in through Mexico. They come. A lot of them, not all of them, but a lot of them come from China. And that's why we did as ten. It's ten plus ten. Okay. Was there confusion on that? Ten plus ten. It's a second ten." Trump also added that come April 2nd, announcements will be made on countries that the Trump administration will impose its reciprocal tariffs on. "And then on the 2nd of April, we have reciprocal tariffs that's reciprocal, where we charge countries what they're charging us. And nobody should have a problem with that. We have a, it's reciprocity. It's something that I think everybody I have spoken to said that's fair. And it is. If somebody charges us 25%, we charge them 25. If somebody charges us ten or 15 or 30 or 70, which charge them an exact like amount." Meanwhile, Trump's economic adviser Kevin Hassett told CNBC in an interview on Thursday that the U.S. leader will decide on tariff policies for all countries after April 1st. The advisor said that there's a study coming out on April 1st, on which Trump will base his tariff decisions for all countries. Mexican and Canadian officials are set to meet with U.S. officials on Thursday and Friday, in the hopes of avoiding the 25 percent tariff by Trump. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea requests exemption from U.S. tariff measures alongside talks on shipbuilding cooperation

2025/02/28 17:00

South Korea is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to safeguard its economic interests as the date for fresh U.S. tariffs looms near. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon covers the latest initiatives. As U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies trade pressure on countries around the world, the South Korean government is seeking to make its case early to ensure Seoul's interests are considered. On Friday, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok held a virtual meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent --reaffirming the strength of the alliance and urging Washington to consider South Korea's contributions to the U.S. economy in its trade policy decisions. South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun also met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington D.C. where he formally requested an exemption from U.S. tariff measures. With South Korea currently lacking direct diplomatic engagement at the presidential level, this marked the first ministerial trade talks under Trump's second term. Under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, most goods between the two countries are traded tariff-free. However, Trump's latest policy imposes a 25-percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports worldwide, impacting South Korea starting in March. The Trump administration has also hinted at tariffs on key South Korean exports, including cars and semiconductors. Ahn reaffirmed South Korea's commitment to free trade and stressed the need for a stable investment environment, while Lutnick emphasized reducing America's trade deficit but gave no specifics on potential tariffs. Beyond trade, discussions on industrial cooperation saw a strong focus on shipbuilding. Ahn outlined Seoul's plans to form a government-wide task force to facilitate structured cooperation between the two countries, which was met with a positive response. Amid talks for partnerships in shipbuilding, Trump's nominee for the U.S. Navy Secretary specifically referenced Hanhwa Group's investment in an American shipyard at his confirmation hearing – stressing the importance of attracting the South Korean shipbuilding firm's capital and technology to the U.S. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

U.S. President Trump says minerals agreement with Ukraine to ensure safety in Ukraine

2025/02/28 10:00

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also made his way to the U.S. to discuss the Ukraine crisis with U.S. President Donald Trump who touted that peace will be achieved once a deal is reached. Choi Soo-hyung reports. U.S. President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have met to discuss issues including the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. On Thursday local time, during a summit at the White House, Trump claimed that the minerals agreement with Ukraine, could help guarantee Ukraine's security. He also expressed confidence that if a ceasefire deal is made, Russian President Vladimir Putin will keep his promises. "I've known him for a long time now, and I think he will, I don't believe he's going to violate his word. I don't think he'll be back. When we make a deal, I think the deal is going to hold." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to visit the U.S. on Friday local time to sign the natural resources agreement following Trump's demand for repayment from Ukraine. During the summit, Trump walked back his statement from about eight days earlier, saying that he couldn't believe that he had called Zelenskyy a "dictator." But, Trump opposed Ukraine's NATO membership, stating a peace deal must come first before deploying European peacekeepers to ensure Kyiv's safety. Prime Minister Starmer positively evaluated Trump's leadership in the Ukraine peace negotiations but stated that history should be on the side of the peacemaker. "We're focused now on bringing an enduring end to the barbaric war in Ukraine. And that's what we must do now, because it can't be peace that rewards the aggressor. We agree history must be on the side of the peacemaker, not the invader." During the meeting, President Trump read aloud King Charles III's state visit invitation letter on the spot, calling it wonderful and praising Charles as a great and admirable gentleman. Prime Minister Starmer said that this second state visit symbolized the special and strong relationship between the two countries. During his first term, in June 2019, Trump made a state visit to the UK at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth II. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Uncertainty over President Yoon’s impeachment timeline as Court rules in favor of instating left-leaning justice

2025/02/28 10:00

In a unanimous decision, the Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that acting President Choi Sang-mok's holding back of the appointment of justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk stands in breach of the parliament's authority to recommend court justices. Oh Soo-young explains what this means. The Constitutional Court has ruled that Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to withhold the appointment of Justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk was unconstitutional, violating the National Assembly's authority to select Constitutional Court justices. On Thursday, the Court announced its verdict that Choi does not have discretion to review or reject justices elected by the National Assembly, reaffirming that the legislature's selection power is independent and substantive. Choi had appointed two out of three justices put forward by the Assembly in December last year, but deferred Ma Eun-hyuk's appointment, calling for bipartisan agreement first. At the same time, the Court dismissed the request from the National Assembly Speaker to confirm Ma's status as a justice or order his immediate appointment, citing legal limitations. Following the ruling, Choi is now under significant pressure to appoint Ma Eun-hyuk,.. a left-leaning judge recommended by the opposition Democratic Party. His appointment is politically sensitive as he would be the fifth progressive justice on a nine-member bench. Choi's office said the Acting President would "respect" the Court's decision, and would carefully look into the verdict, but couldn't comment on if or when Ma would be appointed. If Ma is soon instated, various complications could arise in President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, as the Court would then decide whether or not he will participate in the deliberation process. Given that Yoon's trial hearings concluded this week, the court could exclude Ma. Even if Ma is included, experts say he might choose to recuse himself to avoid controversy, and maintain the current eight-member bench. But if he participates, the Court would have to decide whether Ma should conduct a brief review of trial materials, or hold a retrial process which involves a more comprehensive examination with more hearings. The latter could significantly delay the ruling,.. which is currently expected in mid-March. President Yoon's legal team on Thursday strongly condemned the court's decision, calling it politically motivated, and aimed at securing a six-vote majority to uphold Yoon's impeachment. Yoon's team raised concerns over Ma Eun-hyuk's past affiliation with progressive legal groups which they said undermines judicial neutrality. They claim that Acting President Choi is not legally bound to appoint Ma and should conduct a thorough administrative review before making a final decision. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.