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Constitutional Court to rule on whether Acting Pres. Choi's deferral of justice nominee violated Constitution

2025/02/25 20:00

Staying at the Constitutional Court. The verdict on whether or not acting President Choi Sang-mok violated the Constitution in deferring the appointment of court justice nominee Ma Eun-hyeok will be shared at 10 in the morning this coming Thursday. This legal dispute follows the filing of a lawsuit by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik earlier this month after acting President Choi appointed just two of the three justice nominees recommended by the opposition-led parliament, citing the lack of bipartisan support for Ma Eun-hyeok. Assembly Speaker Woo claims Choi's decision violated the right of the parliament to nominate a Constitutional Court justice. If the court rules in favor of Woo and Choi proceeds to appoint Ma to the Court, all seats of its nine-member bench will be filled. But it's unclear whether Ma will participate in passing judgement on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

President Yoon's impeachment trial ends Tuesday; two weeks to verdict?

2025/02/25 17:00

We start here on the local front where the Constitutional Court is holding its final hearing of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial. For details on the day's events thus far I have our correspondent Oh Soo-young standing by. Soo-young welcome back. So what has been happening at the court? President Yoon's 11th and final impeachment hearing began at 2 PM today some 73 days after the National Assembly passed a vote to remove him from power, after his December third martial law order. Justices began with a review of evidence they haven't examined yet. The Assembly's impeachment panel presented news reports and CCTV footage continuing to accuse Yoon of trying to storm the National Assembly and remove lawmakers from the building through military force, in an attempt to stop them from voting to lift martial law. Before giving both the National Assembly and President Yoon's legal teams two hours to present their closing arguments. So we're in the middle of that at the moment. The National Assembly has argued that Yoon's declaration of martial law was illegal and his orders on December third unconstitutional. "President Yoon lost the people's trust and declared martial law while ranting about anti-state forces. Now, it is time for him to face the consequences of his delusions." Meanwhile, Yoon's legal team has continued to insist martial law is an executive right of the president, and was declared as a "warning" against the dominant opposition party's tyranny in parliament that paralyzed government functions, and concerns over election fraud. After wrapping up the arguments, Assembly's impeachment panel chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final statements with no time restrictions. Yoon has reportedly prepared a 40-minute-long handwritten speech. He's expected to reiterate that the purpose of his martial law was peaceful and that he is trying to bring national unity. All eyes are on whether he would offer some kind of political gesture or compromise to draw public appeal. President Yoon didn't join his lawyers in the Courtroom at the start of the hearing as he was presumably preparing for his speech. He was seen departing Seoul Detention Center about forty minutes ago. In 2017, during Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial, the National Assembly's team spoke for 1 hour and 14 minutes, while Park's defense stretched their argument to 5 hours and 10 minutes, with 15 different speakers. wait, Right then what happens once today's hearing ends? Presiding Justice Jeong Hyung-sik will present his review before all eight justices vote for or against impeachment. The ruling will be drafted based on the majority opinion. If the presiding justice holds a minority view, another justice from the majority will be assigned to draft the decision. The Court will then decide the date to announce the verdict, which is expected within two weeks after the last hearing, likely around mid-March. If six or more of the eight justices vote in favor of impeachment, President Yoon will be removed from office, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days. However, if at least three justices oppose impeachment, the motion will be dismissed, and Yoon will immediately resume his duties. So while the court decides on whether to reinstate or to remove the president public rallies continue I hear? Yes. With today marking the last hearing, large gatherings have been expected so the area around the Constitutional Court has been closed off for public order and safety since 1 PM. Some 38-hundred police officers are patrolling the area in Jongno-gu District, the largest mobilization since President Yoon first started attending his hearings. Also, 190 buses are blocking paths to the Court. Around 1-thousand have gathered in the next street to oppose Yoon's impeachment, shortly before the hearing began. All right Soo-young thank you for the latest on the final hearing of the impeachment trial against the president.

World News: Germany, Merz's CDU/CSU strives to build coalition

2025/02/25 17:00

This is The World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Following Germany's recent federal election, with conservative leader Friedrich Merz poised to become the next chancellor, his Christian Democratic Union party and its sister party the Christian Social Union are pushing for coalition talks with center-left Social Democratic Party. In the recent election held on Sunday, the CDU/CSU alliance secured the highest vote, emerging as the leading political force, while the far-right Alternative for Germany achieved a historic second-place. Given the fragmented parliament, Merz has expressed intentions to form a "grand coalition" with the SPD. While Germany saw its highest voter turnout in decades, the CDU/CSU alliance secured over 28% of the vote, and the AfD achieved a strong second-place finish with 20.8%. The SPD, led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, recorded its worst postwar result, at 16.4%. Merz aims to establish a functional government by April. Key negotiation topics include, foreign and security policy, addressing immigration, and revitalizing Germany's struggling economy. In the United States, unions representing federal workers have sued Elon Musk, challenging his instruction that employees submit weekly work summaries or face dismissal. On Monday, a lawsuit was filed against Elon Musk and the Office of Personnel Management, contesting Musk's recent email, demanding that all federal workers list their accomplishments from the previous week. The email also said non-compliance to the order would be considered "resignation." President Donald Trump supported Musk's initiative saying the email aimed to verify active employment, suggesting that non-responsive employees might not be fulfilling their duties. In Rome, the Vatican reported that Pope Francis, who was in critical condition with double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, is showing slight improvement since being hospitalized on February 14. According to the Vatican, while his condition remains critical, the 88-year-old pontiff has resumed some work activities, including reading, signing documents, and making phone calls. As part of his work, he contacted a parish in Gaza City, expressing his support amid ongoing conflict. Medical updates as of Monday indicate no further respiratory crises and stable kidney function. Renowned American singer Roberta Flack, celebrated for classics like "Killing Me Softly with His Song," passed away on Monday at the age of 88. Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, she began her career as a classically trained pianist before transitioning to vocal performance. She earned multiple Grammy Awards recognized for her soulful performances, including consecutive Record of the Year honors in 1973 and 1974. Flack was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in 2022, eventually making it impossible for her to sing or speak. Nevertheless, her music continued to inspire and influence artists worldwide. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

DAPA, Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai Heavy sign MOU to cooperate in warship exports

2025/02/25 17:00

Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration has signed an MOU with the country's two major shipbuilders to boost partnership on warship exports. The trilateral deal outlines collaboration in securing overseas orders with Hanwha Ocean focusing on submarine projects and HD Heavy Industries on surface ships. The two shipbuilders have been engaged in fierce competition for overseas warship projects. This latest agreement comes amid growing interest in maritime security and South Korea's advances in the global defense market.

UN, U.S. clash over resolution on Ukraine war

2025/02/25 17:00

And as mentioned earlier. In a shocking turn of events the U.S. joined Russia to vote against a UN resolution denouncing Moscow's three-year invasion of Ukraine. Lee Seung-jae explains. Monday marked exactly three years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to the ongoing war. Marking the grim anniversary, Ukraine and the European Union drafted a resolution condemning Russia's full-scale invasion, with 93 UN member nations voting in favor and 18 voting against. One of the notable countries voting against the Kyiv-led resolution was the United States. The resolution reaffirms Ukraine's territorial integrity while explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor. It also calls for Moscow to "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders." While voting against the Ukraine-led resolution, the U.S. proposed its own resolution on the same day which did not name Russia as the aggressor. It also noted the "tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict" and called for a "swift end to the conflict" and "a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia." The UN General Assembly did not approve the resolution, while it passed the European-backed Ukrainian resolution. The contrasting proposals show the tensions that have emerged between Washington and Kyiv with the start of the Trump administration. The passing of the resolution was a win for Ukraine but with 65 abstentions, the vote shows support for the country in its war against Russia is diminishing. Previous votes in the assembly saw more than 140 nations show support for Kyiv. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Putin ready to work with U.S. to develop mineral mining in Ukraine’s Russian-controlled areas

2025/02/25 17:00

Russia is ready to work with the U.S. on mineral mining in regions of Ukraine that it currently controls. Now this is according to Vladimir Putin on Monday as he spoke of willingness to work with foreign partners including the U.S. to develop reserves of rare and critical minerals in parts of Ukraine that Russia now occupies. This remark comes amid the Trump administration's push for a critical minerals deal with Ukraine in return for security guarantees and economic aid. Separately Putin is also said to have spoken with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during which he claimed Russia is working towards "sustainable peace."

Trump, Macron agree on sending European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine

2025/02/25 17:00

Speaking to members of the media following talks with his American host and counterpart Donald Trump French President Emmanuel Macron announced a European peacekeeping force may be stationed in Ukraine. Our Lee Soo-jin has more. U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on the deployment of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine as part of efforts to end the three-year conflict. The two heads of state met at the White House on Monday to discuss strategies for a ceasefire as European leaders seek to persuade the Trump administration to maintain its support for Ukraine and the transatlantic alliance. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also scheduled to meet with Trump on Thursday to discuss the deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine. But the meeting came after the U.S. earlier in the day voted against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This shift in stance from the previous U.S. administration has raised concerns in Europe. At the joint press conference, Macron said Europe was prepared to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. "So we have prepared, particularly with our British partners, 'We are ready to provide security guarantees. It could go as far as, as the president said, sending troops who would observe that peace was properly respected, who would position themselves, not on the frontline, not to enter into the conflict, but to mark their presence as a guarantee." Macron also stressed that peace must not mean Ukraine's surrender. When asked directly about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready to accept European peacekeepers, Trump remained confident. "Yeah, he will accept that. I've asked him that question. It's time to end this bloodletting and restore peace. And I think we're going to do it. We've had some great conversations, including with Russia." He also said that he believed that the war in Ukraine could end "within weeks", adding that that Zelenskyy could visit him at the White House in the next two weeks to sign a minerals deal. At a summit of European leaders held in Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed this, saying that he hopes that the war will be concluded this year , while also stressing the importance of having security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

S. Korea to release some Green Belt areas for first time since 2008

2025/02/25 17:00

The government is easing its green belt for the first time in almost 20 years as part of efforts to spur business investment to ultimately bolster economic development. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. Green Belt restrictions will be lifted for some areas of the country for the first time since 2008. "For the first time in 17 years, since 2008, more Green Belt land can be released. This will actively support national and regional industrial, logistics, and urban projects." In the five-grade Green Belt system, the government will allow the release of Grade 1 and 2 areas, holding high conservation value. These areas were not originally eligible for deregulation, but will be permitted only if alternative Green Belt areas are designated. With this deregulation, the government plans to attract more business investments in the regions. The goal is to develop 15 key regional projects in major cities across the country, excluding the Seoul metropolitan area. The cities of Changwon and Ulsan, which had the high proportion of Grade 1 and 2 Green Belt areas, were selected for four and three sites, respectively. Gwangju and Busan each received three sites, while Daejeon and Daegu were allocated one site each. More than 10 out of the 15 selected locations will be used for industrial and logistics complexes. The total area set to be released is 42 square kilometers, equivalent to about 5-thousand 9-hundred football fields. 35 percent of that are Grades 1 and 2, and the government plans to consider publicly owned land as alternative sites. The total project will cost 27-point-8 trillion Korean won, approximately 19.4 billion U.S. dollars. After the development procedures are completed, the deregulation will proceed gradually starting next year. To prevent real estate speculation, these areas will be designated as land transaction permit zones, meaning any land transactions would require prior approval. Moreover, the government will launch a 1 trillion won fund for 12 national strategic technologies, including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and advanced biotechnology. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Constitutional Court to rule on whether Acting Pres. Choi's deferral of justice nominee violated Constitution

2025/02/25 17:00

Staying at the Constitutional Court. The verdict on whether or not acting President Choi Sang-mok violated the Constitution in deferring the appointment of court justice nominee Ma Eun-hyeok will be shared at 10 in the morning this coming Thursday. Now this legal dispute follows the filing of a lawsuit by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik earlier this month after acting President Choi appointed just two of the three justice nominees recommended by the opposition-led parliament citing the lack of bipartisan support for Ma Eun-hyeok. National Assembly Speaker Woo claims Choi's decision violated the right of the parliament to nominate a Constitutional Court justice. If the court rules in favor of Woo and Choi proceeds to appoint Ma to the Court all seats of its nine-member bench will be filled. But it's unclear whether Ma will participate in passing judgement on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

UN, U.S. clash over resolution on Ukraine war

2025/02/25 10:00

The UN adopted a Ukraine-led resolution condemning Russia's invasion, with the U.S. voting against it. However, the UN rejected a U.S.-led resolution that called for an end to the war, without mentioning Russia's aggression. Lee Seung-jae reports. Monday marked exactly three years since Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to the ongoing war. Marking the grim anniversary, Ukraine and the European Union drafted a resolution condemning Russia's full-scale invasion, with 93 UN member nations voting in favor and 18 voting against. One of the notable countries voting against the Kyiv-led resolution was the United States. The resolution reaffirms Ukraine's territorial integrity while explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor. It also calls for Moscow to "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders." While voting against the Ukraine-led resolution, the U.S. proposed its own resolution on the same day which did not name Russia as the aggressor. It also noted the "tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict" and called for a "swift end to the conflict" and "a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia." The UN General Assembly did not approve the resolution, while it passed the European-backed Ukrainian resolution. The contrasting proposals show the tensions that have emerged between Washington and Kyiv with the start of the Trump administration. The passing of the resolution was a win for Ukraine but with 65 abstentions, the vote shows support for the country in its war against Russia is diminishing. Previous votes in the assembly saw more than 140 nations show support for Kyiv. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Putin ready to work with U.S. to develop mineral mining in Ukraine’s Russian-controlled areas

2025/02/25 10:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he is ready to work with the United States to mine key minerals. Putin on Monday local time said that Russia was ready to work with foreign partners including the U.S. to develop the reserves of rare and critical minerals, including in regions of Ukraine currently under Russian control. This comes as the Trump administration urges Ukraine to sign an agreement that will give the U.S. access to Ukraine's mineral resources in exchange for security guarantees and economic aid. Putin also had a call with China's President Xi Jinping, where he told Xi that Russia is working towards achieving a "sustainable peace."

Trump, Macron agree on sending European peacekeeping troops to Ukraine

2025/02/25 10:00

Marking three years since the start of the Ukraine war, U.S. President Donald Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Oval Office on Monday, where Trump raised hope of ending the war within the coming weeks. Our Lee Soo-jin has more. U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on the deployment of European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine as part of efforts to end the three-year conflict. The two heads of state met at the White House on Monday to discuss strategies for a ceasefire as European leaders seek to persuade the Trump administration to maintain its support for Ukraine and the transatlantic alliance. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also scheduled to meet with Trump on Thursday to discuss the deployment of peacekeepers in Ukraine. But the meeting came after the U.S. earlier in the day voted against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This shift in stance from the previous U.S. administration has raised concerns in Europe. At the joint press conference, Macron said Europe was prepared to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. "So we have prepared, particularly with our British partners, 'We are ready to provide security guarantees. It could go as far as, as the president said, sending troops who would observe that peace was properly respected, who would position themselves, not on the frontline, not to enter into the conflict, but to mark their presence as a guarantee." Macron also stressed that peace must not mean Ukraine's surrender. When asked directly about whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready to accept European peacekeepers, Trump remained confident. "Yeah, he will accept that. I've asked him that question. It's time to end this bloodletting and restore peace. And I think we're going to do it. We've had some great conversations, including with Russia." He also said that he believed that the war in Ukraine could end "within weeks", adding that that Zelenskyy could visit him at the White House in the next two weeks to sign a minerals deal. At a summit of European leaders held in Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed this, saying that he hopes that the war will be concluded this year, while also stressing the importance of having security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

President Yoon's impeachment trial ends Tuesday.. 2 weeks to verdict?

2025/02/25 10:00

President Yoon will deliver his closing statement at the final hearing of his impeachment trial today. The Constitutional Court will hold the 11th and last session to wrap up the top-level trial and we have our Oh Soo-young standing by. Q1. Sooyoung. I believe the Court will be hearing the final arguments today including from President Yoon. Let's go through what the hearing will look like. Sure, Dami. President Yoon's 11th and final impeachment hearing begins at 2 PM some 73 days after the National Assembly passed a vote to remove him from power, after his December third martial law order. Justices will review the evidence they haven't examined yet, before giving both the National Assembly and President Yoon’s legal teams two hours to present their closing arguments. Then Assembly's impeachment panel chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final statements with no time restrictions. The National Assembly has argued that Yoon’s declaration of martial law was illegal and his orders on December third unconstitutional. It has accused him of trying to blockade the National Assembly and remove lawmakers from the building in an attempt to stop them from voting to lift martial law. Meanwhile, Yoon has reportedly prepared a 40-minute-long handwritten speech. He's expected to reiterate arguments previously presented by his legal team,. that martial law is an executive right of the President, and was declared as a "warning" against the dominant opposition party’s tyranny in parliament that paralyzed government functions, and concerns over election fraud. In 2017, during Park Geun-hye’s impeachment trial, the National Assembly’s team spoke for 1 hour and 14 minutes, while Park’s defense stretched their argument to 5 hours and 10 minutes, with 15 different speakers. Q2. Once the hearings conclude, the deliberation period begins. Walk us through the steps. Sure. Presiding Justice Jeong Hyung-sik will present his review before all eight justices vote for or against impeachment. The ruling will be drafted based on the majority opinion. If the presiding justice holds a minority view, another justice from the majority will be assigned to draft the decision. The Court will then decide the date to announce the verdict, which is expected within two weeks after the last hearing, likely around mid-March. If six or more of the eight justices vote in favor of impeachment, President Yoon will be removed from office, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days. However, if at least three justices oppose impeachment, the motion will be dismissed, and Yoon will immediately resume his duties. Q3. Protests for and against impeachment continue in the meantime. Yes. With today marking the last hearing, large crowd gatherings are expected so the area around the Constitutional Court is being closed off for public order and safety, with barriers installed to block both crowds and traffic flowing in. Over the weekend 40-thousand people participated in protests in central Seoul’s Jongno district, university campuses, and in different parts of the country. Seoul police aim to issue a ‘Level 1 Emergency' on the day the Court announces its ruling on Yoon's impeachment. A 'Level 1 Emergency' is the highest form of security alert that mobilizes all police officers and requires approval from the National Police Agency. Seoul police also plan to strengthen security measures for Constitutional Court justices who are currently receiving protection, and an increase in patrols in their neighborhoods. Back to you Dami. A day of tension lies ahead. Thanks for your report.

Pope's condition is slightly improving: Vatican

2025/02/25 10:00

Moving over to Rome, the Vatican reported that Pope Francis, who was in critical condition with double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis, is showing slight improvement since being hospitalized on February 14. According to the Vatican, while his condition remains critical, the 88-year-old pontiff has resumed some work activities, including reading, signing documents, and making phone calls. As part of his work, he contacted a parish in Gaza City, expressing his support amid ongoing conflict. Medical updates as of Monday indicate no further respiratory crises and stable kidney function.

Federal worker unions sue Musk over demand they justify their jobs

2025/02/25 10:00

In the United States, unions representing federal workers have sued Elon Musk, challenging his instruction that employees submit weekly work summaries or face dismissal. On Monday, a lawsuit was filed against Elon Musk and the Office of Personnel Management, contesting Musk's recent email, demanding that all federal workers list their accomplishments from the previous week. The email also said non-compliance to the order would be considered "resignation." President Donald Trump supported Musk's initiative saying the email aimed to verify active employment, suggesting that non-responsive employees might not be fulfilling their duties.

Germany, Merz's CDU/CSU strives to build "grand coalition"

2025/02/25 10:00

Following Germany's recent federal election, conservative leader Friedrich Merz's party and its sister party are initiating coalition talks with the Social Democratic Party. That's right. With Merz poised to become the next chancellor, his Christian Democratic Union party and its sister party the Christian Social Union are pushing for coalition talks with center-left SPD. In the recent election held on Sunday, the CDU/CSU alliance secured the highest vote, emerging as the leading political force, while the far-right Alternative for Germany achieved a historic second-place. Given the fragmented parliament, Merz has expressed intentions to form a "grand coalition" with the SPD. While Germany saw its highest voter turnout in decades, the CDU/CSU alliance secured over 28% of the vote, and the AfD achieved a strong second-place finish with 20.8%. The SPD, led by outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz, recorded its worst postwar result, at 16.4%. Merz aims to establish a functional government by April. Key negotiation topics include, foreign and security policy, addressing immigration, and revitalizing Germany's struggling economy.

What's the ground situation like in Ukraine, and what are the variables in peace talks?

2025/02/24 20:00

Up next, our Kim Bo-kyoung examines the current ground situation in Ukraine. and prospects over the war that stretches on for three years now. 11-percent of its land has been lost, and the population has decreased by nearly ten million in Ukraine, since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia has captured most of the four southeastern regions, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Considering land already lost to Russia Crimea and Russian-backed separatists since the conflict began in 2014, the total land Ukraine has lost is about 18-percent. Ukraine launched a surprise offensive last August, capturing Russia's Kursk region, only for it to be recaptured by Russian forces. Now with Donald Trump back in the Oval Office, the war has entered a new phase, with the U.S. and Russia beginning the first step of a series of engagements to bring the war to an end. Excluded from the talks, Europe and Ukraine are scrambling for security measures to deter Russia. One expert says having Europe's own security force will be a must, though it might take some time. "Europe will have to have peacekeeping troops or some type of security forces, however they call it, but it will likely be difficult to form a large number of troops in a very short period of time." Ukraine itself is working to have a U.S. presence in the territory, with Kyiv to, reportedly, soon sign a mineral agreement. The expert says the focal point would be what security measures the U.S. has promised Ukraine in return. "If Ukraine has made such significant concessions, accepting the mineral deal, it is likely that the U.S. made proposals of taking on a role in providing further security guarantees." Even if the U.S. allows Ukraine to be a NATO member in exchange for mineral development rights for rare earth elements whether Russia would tolerate this remains a question. though its original purpose was to just gain Ukraine's territory. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

President Yoon to have one last chance to defend himself against impeachment on Tuesday

2025/02/24 17:00

Tomorrow, the final hearing of the impeachment trial against President Yoon Suk Yeol will take place. Much attention is focused on the President's concluding remarks. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young has more. President Yoon Suk Yeol will have one last chance to make his case against impeachment this week, as the Constitutional Court wraps up trial hearings on Tuesday. The 11th and final session comes 73 days after the National Assembly passed a vote to remove him from power, after his December third martial law order. According to the Court, the justices will review the remaining evidence that hasn't been scrutinized yet, before giving both the National Assembly and President Yoon's legal teams two hours to present their closing arguments. Then the Assembly's impeachment panel chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final statements with no time restrictions. Chung is expected to wrap up the National Assembly's position that Yoon's declaration of martial law was illegal in both procedure and substance, and that his orders on December third violate Constitutional principles. Meanwhile, Yoon is expected to reiterate arguments previously presented by his legal team,. that martial law is an executive right of the President, and was issued as a "warning" against the dominant opposition party's tyranny in parliament that paralyzed government functions. Yoon has also raised concerns over national security and election fraud. As speculation grows over whether Yoon will present a political compromise or gesture, including a suggestion to revise the amendment to shorten his presidential term, his legal team said Sunday that it is not the President's style to offer conditional measures in order to avoid impeachment. The team said Yoon is currently preparing his final statement and is carefully considering various opinions. Once the hearings conclude, the deliberation period begins. Then, Presiding Justice Cheong Hyung-sik will present his review before all eight justices vote for or against impeachment. The ruling will be drafted based on the majority opinion. The Court will then decide the date to announce the verdict, which is expected within two weeks of the last hearing, likely in around mid-March. If six or more of the eight justices vote in favor of impeachment, President Yoon will be removed from office, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days. However, if at least three justices oppose impeachment, the motion will be dismissed, and President Yoon will immediately resume his duties. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

U.S., Ukraine near deal for Ukrainian critical minerals rights

2025/02/24 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start with international stories where Ukraine marks a grim milestone: three years of war. The Trump administration is now demanding that Ukraine pays the U.S. back in the form of a minerals deal for Washington's support during the past years. Park Kun-woo has the story. U.S. President Donald Trump has sought a deal that would not only have Ukraine repay the U.S. for its financial support for the years, but more on top. The deal calls for the U.S. to take 50 percent of Ukraine's mineral and natural resources revenues worth 500 billion dollars. But the deal would include not only revenue from rare earth, but also uranium, lithium, oil, gas, and even some port revenues. The deal also specifies that U.S. companies must hold 50 percent ownership of Ukraine's rare earth elements deposits. This would allow the U.S. to receive more than three times what was given to Kyiv for its military and humanitarian support in the past three years. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initially rejected the deal calling for security guarantees, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said on Sunday the agreement is expected to be signed sometime this week. However, one expert said the situation is more complex. "It's going to be very difficult because Zelenskyy doesn't have the constitutional right even as the president in a time of martial law and war to sign away his country's resources. This is something that will have to be scrutinized by the Ukrainian Parliament and the various expert committees." He added Ukraine has the power to slow down the process while saying U.S. mining companies are less competitive than companies from countries like China and Australia. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy has offered to resign from office, in exchange for a peace guarantee and Ukraine's membership in NATO. "If it's about peace in Ukraine and you really want me to leave my position, I am ready to do that. I can exchange it for NATO membership if there is such an opportunity." However, earlier this month U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Kyiv joining NATO was unrealistic, shooting down any prospects of Ukraine's membership. Washington and Moscow will also be holding talks on improving bilateral relations in the coming days. The Kremlin said that the meeting will involve the Russian Foreign Ministry and the U.S. State Department. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News

Germany's conservative CDU wins election, Merz set to become next chancellor

2025/02/24 20:00

In Germany. The center-right Christian Democratic Union Party won the highest proportion of the ballots cast in Sunday's election while the far-right Alternative for Germany came in second place. Lee Eun-hee has the latest. Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union is expected to win the federal election, positioning its leader Friedrich Merz to become the next chancellor of Europe's largest economy. "We must now quickly regain our ability to act so that we can do the right thing at home; so that we can be present in Europe again; so that the world realizes that Germany is being governed reliably again. That's what the conservatives stand for, that's what we stand for and that's what I personally stand for." On Sunday, initial exit polls showed that Merz's CDU and the allied Christian Social Union secured just under 30-percent of the votes, leaving the center-left Social Democratic Party of current Chancellor Olaf Scholz far behind with approximately 16-percent. In second place was the far-right Alternative for Germany, securing around 20-percent, roughly doubling its result from the 2021 election. The AfD's surge, fueled by growing public concerns over immigration and security, was accompanied by a vow from the party leader to claim first place in future elections. However, despite the party's strong showing, the AfD will not be part of the new government, as all other parties have committed to excluding them from power. With Merz's victory nearly certain, he now faces the task of forming a coalition government which he has vowed to complete by Easter, April 20th. To secure a majority in parliament, Merz will likely need to form alliances with one or more parties, potentially including the SPD, which experienced a dramatic drop from its 2021 result of over 25-percent, marking its worst performance. Despite the open support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party from figures like Elon Musk and U.S. Vice President JD Vance during the election, President Donald Trump welcomed Merz's victory, calling it a "Great day for both Germany and the U.S." Merz, who has never held a ministerial position, has promised to take a strong leadership role in Europe and increase support for Ukraine. In a roundtable TV discussion on Sunday night, Merz remarked that it had become clear in recent days that the Trump administration was "largely indifferent to the fate of Europe." He emphasized that his priority would be to "strengthen Europe as quickly as possible to achieve real independence from the U.S. step by step." Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.