News
On-point: How to remove S. Korea from U.S. sensitive countries list?
2025/04/16 10:00
One thing after another South Korea is now officially a sensitive country to the U.S. as of Tuesday. How can it be removed from the sensitive country list? We are joined by Professor Chai Sangmi. Good morning. 1. What is a 'sensitive' country to begin with, according to the U.S.? 2. It all started with visitors to U.S. labs who mishandled sensitive information, the U.S. argues. 3. The designation is even more concerning in that it will impair bilateral cooperation in science and technology and pose economic limitations. 4. Does the designation have anything to do with Trump's tariffs? 5. Can the designation be dropped? How? Thank you Professor Chai for sharing your insight with us this morning.
Trump signals tariff relief for auto industry following exemptions on electronics
2025/04/15 20:00
And this time, Trump has hinted at potential relief from tariffs for the auto industry to give them time to adjust their supply chains. Moon Hye-ryeon reports. U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled another wave of temporary tariff suspensions — this time, for the auto industry. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said that he was looking to help car companies with potential pushbacks on his 25 percent tariffs on complete vehicle and parts imports. "I'm looking at something to help some of the car companies where they're switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico, and other places, and they need a little bit of time because they're going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time." He did not specify when this pause would be implemented nor how long automakers would be granted relief. Levies on fully built vehicles took effect on April 3rd, and those on parts are due to be implemented in stages no later than May 3rd — prompting automakers to lobby for exclusions over the past few weeks. Shares of U.S. car companies, including General Motors and Ford Motor Company, peaked following his comments — reflecting investor optimism that the administration may be softening its stance, at least temporarily, to cushion the impact of trade tensions on vehicle manufacturers. Trump also mentioned that he had spoken to Tim Cook, the head of Apple, and "helped" him and "that whole business". On Friday, the Trump administration granted exemptions for popular consumer electronics from weighty tariffs on Chinese products and the baseline tariff on imports from other countries, stating that these products would instead be levied based on its national security investigation on semiconductors. Amid these shifts in trade policy, the U.S. stock market has seen fluctuations — and following these exemptions, Wall Street showed gains on Monday. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 both ended around point-eight percent higher than the previous session, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose more than point-six percent. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.
Washington says trade talks with S. Korea scheduled for next week
2025/04/15 20:00
Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. South Korea and the U.S. are expected to hold trade talks next week, as the Trump administration prioritizes negotiations with certain countries while its trade policy continues adding much confusion. Our Shin Se-byuck has more. Trade negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. could take place next week. That's according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on Monday during an interview with Bloomberg TV. Bessent said that the U.S. held talks with Vietnam last week, with Japan scheduled for Wednesday, and South Korea penciled in for "next week," and added negotiations will proceed quickly. The Wall Street Journal reported on 월요일 that the Trump administration is prioritizing negotiations with five countries, namely South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, India and Japan. Meanwhile, Seoul's trade minister, Ahn Duk-geun, could visit the U.S. as early as next week for negotiations with Washington. Acting President Han Duck-soo on Monday announced plans to dispatch a delegation to the U.S., led by the Trade Minister, to launch negotiations with Washington. Minister Ahn previously visited the U.S. in February and March following the launch of the Trump administration to convey Seoul's stance on Washington's tariff plans. One expert says South Korea should consider increasing imports from the U.S. to help narrow its trade surplus, a move that could serve as a bargaining chip in the talks. "Seoul needs to increase its imports from the U.S. — such as energy, agricultural, and livestock products — to help narrow its trade surplus with Washington, so that, in turn, it can secure tariff reductions on crucial items like automobiles." He also added that Seoul could ease non-tariff barriers on relatively low-volume goods, such as meat and produce, in exchange for concessions in sectors that account for a larger share of South Korean exports. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.
Xi Jinping begins state visit to Vietnam seeking joint response to U.S. tariffs
2025/04/15 20:00
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a SOUTHEAST Asia tour in a bid to rally the region against the Trump administration's tariff campaign. Lee Seung-jae covers his first agenda in Vietnam. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Hanoi International Airport on Monday, to begin his two-day visit to Vietnam. The trip to the communist nation comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he's pausing reciprocal tariffs on most countries for 90 days while focusing his trade war on China. During his visit, Xi called on Vietnam to join China in upholding multilateral trade and countering Washington's tariff policies. Xi also signed dozens of cooperation agreements with Vietnam after holding talks with To Lam, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee. While the contents of the agreement have not yet been released, Xi's visit also comes as Vietnam has been tightening controls on some trade with China, to make sure products exported to the U.S. with a "Made in Vietnam" label have sufficient added value, after pressure from Washington. In order to bypass U.S. tariffs against Chinese goods, Beijing would ship products to Vietnam before they are exported to the U.S. as "Made in Vietnam" products. The Chinese leader will also visit Malaysia and Cambodia from Tuesday to Friday. The two countries have seen increased trade and investment with China in recent years. However, it's also worth noting that Vietnam and Cambodia were among the highest hit by Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariffs, set at 46 percent and 49 percent, respectively. As the U.S and China exchange tariff after tariff, Southeast Asian nations are growing increasingly anxious about being caught in the mix. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
U.S. designation of S. Korea as 'sensitive country' goes into effect, despite Seoul's efforts to resolve issue
2025/04/15 20:00
The U.S.'s designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country" went into effect today. Working-level negotiations between the two countries are underway over the issue. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has more. The U.S. Energy Department's designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country" has taken effect, as of Tuesday midnight local time. The DOE reportedly put its Asian ally on the lowest tier of the "Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List" in January, shortly before then-President Joe Biden left office for it to take effect on April 15th. Korean researchers visiting laboratories in the U.S. will now be required to get approval by submitting relevant documents at least 45 days in advance. This led to fears that it could possibly hinder collaboration between Seoul and Washington in areas such as nuclear energy and artificial intelligence. In response, South Korea's Foreign Ministry reassured the public on Tuesday, saying that the government is actively in talks with the DOE to resolve the situation as soon as possible. But it added that it needs more time for South Korea to be removed from the list, as this matter is proceeding in accordance with the U.S. internal procedures. The ministry also clarified that Washington has said the designation will not significantly impact joint research projects. "During a recent working-level consultation between the two countries, the US Department of Energy reaffirmed that the designation of South Korea as a sensitive country will not affect on-going or future research and development cooperation between Seoul and Washington." The comments come after South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Deok-geun met with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington last month, where the two sides agreed to continue cooperation to swiftly resolve this issue. The Foreign Ministry also noted that South Korea has been on the list in the past and was removed through similar diplomatic efforts. According to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 1996, South Korea was previously on the DOE's sensitive country list from January 1993 to June 1996. But the report added that South Korea was a country no longer considered sensitive as of July 28th, 1994. The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly explained that it was told South Korea's inclusion is due to security-related issues rather than foreign policy concerns. But some experts in Seoul have suggested that it has to do with growing discussions on the need for South Korea to acquire its own nuclear weapons capability. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Registration closes for presidential candidacy for major parties
2025/04/15 20:00
Turning to the latest on the presidential primaries. Candidate registration closed today for both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party. Our Kim Do-yeon has the details. The official registration for candidacy for the upcoming presidential election closed for both parties on Tuesday. The Democratic Party of Korea has three contestants, while the People Power Party has eleven. The DP's race is largely seen as predictable, with its former chair Lee Jae-myung set to take the party's ticket. However, Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor are, in their own right, heavyweight politicians. With just one day to go until the first regional voting opens for electors of the Chungcheong-do provinces, candidates continued to promote their bids. Lee released an interview with Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's YouTube channel. Kim Kyung-soo, after handing in the registration paper himself met with small business owners in Gyeonggi-do Province. Kim Dong-yeon held a meeting to follow up on his visit to the U.S. to deal with U.S. tariffs, focusing on the auto industry. Both of them are non-Lee Jae-myung faction politicians in the DP, with backers of their own. Meanwhile, with many more contestants for People Power Party, in a week, the list will be cut down to 4 in the first round cut-off. Among the registered, 8 notable contestants are Kim Moon-soo, the latest labor minister, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former PPP chair Han Dong-hoon, the latest Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo, five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeongsanbuk-do Province governor Lee Cheol-woo, and former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja. With the media day for the runners coming up on Wednesday candidates promoted their bids. Han Dong-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, and Na Kyung-won shared detailed pledges and visions. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Cheol-woo went to visit former president Park Jung-hee's memorial. What they all had in common, however, was their messages against the DP's Lee Jae-myung as he leads the polls to become the next president. They unilaterally criticized Lee's ongoing legal battles and said that his pledges are too liberal. All in all, the final candidate will be chosen within a couple of weeks. For DP, the final candidate is likely to be decided by April 27th, with Lee expected to take more than 50-percent of the final vote. For the PPP, if a candidate takes more than 50-percent of votes in the second round, then it'll end on April 29th if not, there's a run-off on May 3rd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
S. Korea stuck in the middle as U.S.-China trade war heightens
2025/04/15 20:00
Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The U.S. has raised tariffs on Chinese goods to 145%, escalating an economic standoff that's already reshaping global trade. For South Korea, the ripple effects are immediate: over half of its semiconductor exports go to China, and a significant share of its intermediate goods are embedded in Chinese exports now facing steep U.S. barriers. At the same time, Beijing is courting ASEAN partners and reviving its vision of a "shared destiny" in Asia. For Seoul, that means a complex recalibration: economic alignment with the U.S., regional interdependence with China, and rising competition across Southeast Asia. In Within The Frame tonight, we'll examine how these shifts are challenging South Korea's economic resilience, diplomatic strategy, and industrial future. For this, we invite Dr. Youngshik Bong, research fellow at Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies, here in the studio with us. Welcome. Also joining us online is Jeff Moon, President of China Moon Strategies at LLC and former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for China. Great to have you. (MOON) 1. Let's start with Mr. Moon. With U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods hitting 145%, how do you assess the economic implications for South Korea—especially as Korean intermediate goods flow heavily into Chinese export industries? (BONG) 2. In response to this pressure, President Xi Jinping is emphasizing a "community of shared destiny" with neighboring countries. Dr. Bong, what does this shift suggest about China's evolving diplomatic strategy—and how might it reshape Korea–China relations going forward? (BONG) 3. Xi Jinping's upcoming visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia are seen as a strategic countermove to U.S. containment efforts. What are the implications of China strengthening ASEAN ties—and how should Korea diplomatically position itself in response? (BONG) 5. As ASEAN becomes a contested space in the new Cold War landscape, how can Korea avoid marginalization while maintaining diplomatic and economic balance between the U.S. and China, Dr. Bong? (MOON) 6. With around 60% of Korea's semiconductor exports going to China—and tech dependence on the U.S.—how can this dual over-dependence be reduced in a sustainable way? (MOON) 7. U.S. export controls and China's countermeasures are disrupting high-tech supply chains. Mr. Moon, how should Korean leaders at firms like Samsung and SK hynix navigate this strategic split in the global tech ecosystem? (BONG) 8. Regarding the currency, the weakening yuan is dragging down the Korean won. Do you see this as just a currency ripple—or a deeper sign of strategic vulnerability in Korea's financial independence? (BONG) 9. Are Korea's current diplomatic and corporate strategies sufficient in the face of this global realignment? What gaps or blind spots urgently need attention?
Trump signals tariff relief for auto industry following exemptions on electronics
2025/04/15 17:00
U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at potential relief from tariffs on cars and those planned for car parts but details regarding the time frame have yet to be disclosed. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled another wave of temporary tariff suspensions — this time, for the auto industry. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said that he was looking to help car companies with potential pushbacks on his 25 percent tariffs on complete vehicle and parts imports. "I'm looking at something to help some of the car companies where they're switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico, and other places, and they need a little bit of time because they're going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time." He did not specify when this pause would be implemented nor how long automakers would be granted relief. Levies on fully built vehicles took effect on April 3rd, and those on parts are due to be implemented in stages no later than May 3rd — prompting automakers to lobby for exclusions over the past few weeks. Shares of U.S. car companies, including General Motors and Ford Motor Company, peaked following his comments — reflecting investor optimism that the administration may be softening its stance, at least temporarily, to cushion the impact of trade tensions on vehicle manufacturers. Trump also mentioned that he had spoken to Tim Cook, the head of Apple, and "helped" him and "that whole business". On Friday, the Trump administration granted exemptions for popular consumer electronics from weighty tariffs on Chinese products and the baseline tariff on imports from other countries, stating that these products would instead be levied based on its national security investigation on semiconductors. Amid these shifts in trade policy, the U.S. stock market has seen fluctuations — and following these exemptions, Wall Street showed gains on Monday. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 both ended around point-eight percent higher than the previous session, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose more than point-six percent. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.
Registration closes for presidential candidacy for major parties
2025/04/15 17:00
Today is the final day for candidate registration for the partisan primary elections. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon now tells us what lies ahead. The official registration for candidacy for the upcoming presidential election closed for both parties on Tuesday. The Democratic Party of Korea has three contestants, while the People Power Party has eleven. The DP's race is largely seen as predictable, with its former chair Lee Jae-myung set to take the party's ticket. However, Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor are, in their own right, heavyweight politicians. With just one day to go until the first regional voting opens for electors of the Chungcheong-do provinces, candidates continued to promote their bids. Lee released an interview with Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's YouTube channel. Kim Kyung-soo, after handing in the registration paper himself met with small business owners in Gyeonggi-do Province. Kim Dong-yeon held a meeting to follow up on his visit to the U.S. to deal with U.S. tariffs, focusing on the auto industry. Both of them are non-Lee Jae-myung faction politicians in the DP, with backers of their own. Meanwhile, with many more contestants for People Power Party, in a week, the list will be cut down to 4 in the first round cut-off. Among the registered, 8 notable contestants are Kim Moon-soo, the latest labor minister, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former PPP chair Han Dong-hoon, the latest Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo, five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, Incheon mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeongsanbuk-do Province governor Lee Cheol-woo, and former lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja. With the media day for the runners coming up on Wednesday candidates promoted their bids. Han Dong-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, and Na Kyung-won shared detailed pledges and visions. Kim Moon-soo and Lee Cheol-woo went to visit former president Park Jung-hee's memorial. What they all had in common, however, was their messages against the DP's Lee Jae-myung as he leads the polls to become the next president. They unilaterally criticized Lee's ongoing legal battles and said that his pledges are too liberal. All in all, the final candidate will be chosen within a couple of weeks. For DP, the final candidate is likely to be decided by April 27th, with Lee expected to take more than 50-percent of the final vote. For the PPP, if a candidate takes more than 50-percent of votes in the second round, then it'll end on April 29th if not, there's a run-off on May 3rd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
Air chiefs of S. Korea and UAE hold talks on defense cooperation on Tuesday
2025/04/15 17:00
South Korea's Air Force Chief of Staff General Lee Young-su sat down with UAE's Deputy Commander of Air Force and Air Defense Rashed Mohammed Al Shamsi at the Air Force headquarters in Gyeryongdae . The meeting comes ahead of plans by the UAE to put into operation the Cheongung-II mid-range surface-to-air missile weapon system which is often referred to as the "Korean Patriot" system. General Lee shared full support for a successful operation and the two officials also agreed to hold talks every six months making the UAE the first Middle Eastern nation to do so with South Korea. Meanwhile the two air force commanders are slated to sit down again tomorrow that is Wednesday to ink a letter of intent for cooperation on KF-21 fighter jets.
S. Korea, U.S. hold joint air drills involving B-1B strategic bomber
2025/04/15 17:00
South Korea and the U.S. conducted an air drill over the peninsula today involving a U.S. B-1B strategic bomber. This is the second time that the Defense Ministry has made public a joint air drill involving the B-1B since the start of the second Trump administration. The exercise also mobilized South Korea's F-35A fighter jets and U.S. F-16s and sought to showcase their extended deterrence capabilities against North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats. Today's training also coincides with North Korea's so-called "Day of the Sun" the birthday of its late founder Kim Il-sung.
Trump says Putin, Biden, Zelenskyy are responsible for Ukraine war
2025/04/15 17:00
U.S. President Donald Trump says "everyone is to blame" for the war in Ukraine. He claimed that both former U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "could have stopped it" and that Russia's Vladimir Putin should not have "started it." The condemnation follows a Russian air assault this past weekend that led to dozens of casualties in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy. Trump nonetheless claimed "some very good proposals" will soon be made regarding the war in Ukraine. All these remarks came on Tuesday at the White House during a media session amid his meeting with El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele .
U.S. designation of S. Korea as 'sensitive country' goes into effect, despite Seoul's efforts to resolve issue
2025/04/15 17:00
Working-level negotiations between government officials here and their American counterparts are underway to remove South Korea from the U.S. Energy Department's list of "sensitive" countries that went into effect today. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji has details. The U.S. Energy Department's designation of South Korea as a "sensitive country" has taken effect, as of Tuesday midnight local time. The DOE reportedly put its Asian ally on the lowest tier of the "Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List" in January, shortly before then-President Joe Biden left office for it to take effect on April 15th. Korean researchers visiting laboratories in the U.S. will now be required to get approval by submitting relevant documents at least 45 days in advance. This led to fears that it could possibly hinder collaboration between Seoul and Washington in areas such as nuclear energy and artificial intelligence. In response, South Korea's Foreign Ministry reassured the public on Tuesday, saying that the government is actively in talks with the DOE to resolve the situation as soon as possible. But it added that it needs more time for South Korea to be removed from the list, as this matter is proceeding in accordance with the U.S. internal procedures. The ministry also clarified that Washington has said the designation will not significantly impact joint research projects. "During a recent working-level consultation between the two countries, the US Department of Energy reaffirmed that the designation of South Korea as a sensitive country will not affect on-going or future research and development cooperation between Seoul and Washington." The comments come after South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Deok-geun met with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington last month, where the two sides agreed to continue cooperation to swiftly resolve this issue. The Foreign Ministry also noted that South Korea has been on the list in the past and was removed through similar diplomatic efforts. According to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office in 1996, South Korea was previously on the DOE's sensitive country list from January 1993 to June 1996. But the report added that South Korea was a country no longer considered sensitive as of July 28th, 1994. The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly explained that it was told South Korea's inclusion is due to security-related issues rather than foreign policy concerns. But some experts in Seoul have suggested that it has to do with growing discussions on the need for South Korea to acquire its own nuclear weapons capability. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.
Xi Jinping begins state visit to Vietnam seeking joint response to U.S. tariffs
2025/04/15 17:00
Beyond borders. Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a SOUTHEAST Asia tour in a bid to rally the region against the Trump administration's tariff campaign. Lee Seung-jae covers his first agenda in Vietnam. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived at Hanoi International Airport on Monday, to begin his two-day visit to Vietnam. The trip to the communist nation comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he's pausing reciprocal tariffs on most countries for 90 days while focusing his trade war on China. During his visit, Xi called on Vietnam to join China in upholding multilateral trade and countering Washington's tariff policies. Xi also signed dozens of cooperation agreements with Vietnam after holding talks with To Lam, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee. While the contents of the agreement have not yet been released, Xi's visit also comes as Vietnam has been tightening controls on some trade with China, to make sure products exported to the U.S. with a "Made in Vietnam" label have sufficient added value, after pressure from Washington. In order to bypass U.S. tariffs against Chinese goods, Beijing would ship products to Vietnam before they are exported to the U.S. as "Made in Vietnam" products. The Chinese leader will also visit Malaysia and Cambodia from Tuesday to Friday. The two countries have seen increased trade and investment with China in recent years. However, it's also worth noting that Vietnam and Cambodia were among the highest hit by Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariffs, set at 46 percent and 49 percent, respectively. As the U.S and China exchange tariff after tariff, Southeast Asian nations are growing increasingly anxious about being caught in the mix. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Washington says trade talks with S. Korea scheduled for next week
2025/04/15 17:00
A fresh round of tariff talks between Seoul and Washington is likely to take place next week as officials from the two governments seek common ground on trade. Our Shin Se-byuck has more. Trade negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. could take place next week. That's according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on Monday during an interview with Bloomberg TV. Bessent said that the U.S. held talks with Vietnam last week, with Japan scheduled for Wednesday, and South Korea penciled in for "next week," and added negotiations will proceed quickly. The Wall Street Journal reported on 월요일 that the Trump administration is prioritizing negotiations with five countries, namely South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, India and Japan. Meanwhile, Seoul's trade minister, Ahn Duk-geun, could visit the U.S. as early as next week for negotiations with Washington. Acting President Han Duck-soo on Monday announced plans to dispatch a delegation to the U.S., led by the Trade Minister, to launch negotiations with Washington. Minister Ahn previously visited the U.S. in February and March following the launch of the Trump administration to convey Seoul's stance on Washington's tariff plans. One expert says South Korea should consider increasing imports from the U.S. to help narrow its trade surplus, a move that could serve as a bargaining chip in the talks. "Seoul needs to increase its imports from the U.S. — such as energy, agricultural, and livestock products — to help narrow its trade surplus with Washington, so that, in turn, it can secure tariff reductions on crucial items like automobiles." He also added that Seoul could ease non-tariff barriers on relatively low-volume goods, such as meat and produce, in exchange for concessions in sectors that account for a larger share of South Korean exports. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.
SEOUL'S STRATEGY ON N. KOREA AMID ELECTION
2025/04/15 17:00
Welcome to Press Perspective. It's Tuesday April 15th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sun-hee. As South Korea prepares for an early presidential election it also faces as some media outlets point out "critical choices" about its future policy on North Korea. For more on this reality and on the current efforts to ease tensions on the peninsula I have Ruy Valdes a correspondent for Spanish news agency EFE Spain. Ruy welcome back. I also have Professor Ban Kil Joo at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. Professor Ban it's a pleasure. 1) Ruy, before we explore the options to defuse tensions on the peninsula, let's start with North Korea's celebration of the birthday of its late founder today, that is April 15th. What are some of the related events to mark this day? 2) Professor Ban, Unification Minister Kim Young-ho was in Japan last week to reaffirm commitment to North Korea's denuclearization. What are your thoughts on the timing of this latest diplomatic call especially ahead of South Korea's early presidential election? 3) Professor Ban, also last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong dismissed what she referred to as the "daydream" of denuclearization, declaring that Pyongyang's nuclear status is permanent. How do you interpret her words? 4) Ruy, against this backdrop, the fate of American soldiers stationed here has been rendered uncertain as Mr. Trump demands South Korea shoulder a heavier burden of related expenses. But U.S. military authorities have been quick to point out any change in the status quo of American troop presence in Korea will be "problematic". Do elaborate on this stance for us. 5) Professor Ban, the Trump administration is seeking to tie its tariff policy and defense cost-sharing with South Korea into one negotiation package. How do you respond to this reality? 6) Meanwhile Ruy, recent reports also claim South Korea and the U.S. under the Biden administration signed a new war plan to better respond to North Korea's nuclear advancements. Do tell us more about this plan. 7) Ruy, there is speculation about a trilateral meeting among the leaders of Russia, North Korea and China in Moscow next month amid the Kremlin's celebration of its Victory Day. What are the prospects of such a meeting? 8) Professor Ban, amid efforts to ensure a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, some pundits have been questioning the impact of such a deal on Russia's ties with North Korea. What do you foresee happening to Moscow's ties with Pyongyang post war in Ukraine? 9) Ruy, South Korea recently established diplomatic relations with North Korea's long-time ally, Syria. What is the significance of this event, and what has been the international response? 10) Professor Ban, starting on this Tuesday, the U.S. Energy Department's inclusion of South Korea on its list of "sensitive" nations takes effect. How does this look to affect bilateral cooperation? All right.
Trump signals tariff relief for auto industry following exemptions on electronics
2025/04/15 10:00
The Trump administration could be easing its trade pressures some more, as automakers and tech giants push back on looming tariffs. Our Moon Hye-ryeon leads us this morning. U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled another wave of temporary tariff suspensions — this time, for the auto industry. Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said that he was looking to help car companies with potential pushbacks on his 25 percent tariffs on complete vehicle and parts imports. “"I'm looking at something to help some of the car companies where they're switching to parts that were made in Canada, Mexico, and other places, and they need a little bit of time because they're going to make them here, but they need a little bit of time.” He did not specify when this pause would be implemented nor how long automakers would be granted relief. Levies on fully built vehicles took effect on April 3rd, and those on parts are due to be implemented in stages no later than May 3rd — prompting automakers to lobby for exclusions over the past few weeks. Shares of U.S. car companies, including General Motors and Ford Motor Company, peaked following his comments — reflecting investor optimism that the administration may be softening its stance, at least temporarily, to cushion the impact of trade tensions on vehicle manufacturers. Trump also mentioned that he had spoken to Tim Cook, the head of Apple, and “helped” him and “that whole business”. On Friday, the Trump administration granted exemptions for popular consumer electronics from weighty tariffs on Chinese products and the baseline tariff on imports from other countries, stating that these products would instead be levied based on its national security investigation on semiconductors. Amid these shifts in trade policy, the U.S. stock market has seen fluctuations — and following these exemptions, Wall Street showed gains on Monday. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 both ended around point-eight percent higher than the previous session, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose more than point-six percent. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.
Italy says Rome to host U.S.-Iran nuclear talks
2025/04/15 10:00
The United States and Iran are set to hold a second round of nuclear negotiations in Rome on Saturday to follow discussions in Oman, which both sides described as "positive" and "constructive." Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, confirmed on Monday that Rome will host the upcoming negotiations, after requests from both parties and mediator Oman. The first round of talks in Muscat, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, marked the first direct discussions after years of indirect communication between the two states.
Trump meets El Salvador's president amid questions over deportations
2025/04/15 10:00
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, reinforcing their alliance on immigration enforcement amid controversy over deportations. In a meeting at the Oval Office on Monday local time, President Trump and President Bukele discussed their ongoing cooperation on immigration policies. The discussions came in the wake of a Maryland resident mistakenly being deported to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center despite a U.S. court order preventing his removal. Both leaders have declined to facilitate his return, with Bukele stating he lacks the authority to "smuggle a terrorist" back into the United States, and Trump officials asserting that the responsibility lies with El Salvador. Also during the meeting, President Trump praised President Bukele's efforts in combating gang violence and suggested the possibility of expanding deportations to include U.S. citizens with criminal backgrounds.
Fmr. President Yoon denies insurrection charges at first criminal trial hearing
2025/04/15 10:00
The first hearing in the criminal trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol took place on Monday. There, he defended himself and reiterated his long claim that the December martial law order was non-violent. Shin Ha-young reports. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol denied charges of insurrection at the first hearing of his criminal trial on Monday. During the hearing, prosecutors pointed to Yoon's actions leading up to his martial law declaration, claiming he aimed to "undermine the constitutional order" to foment a coup. Yoon pushed back, claiming the martial law declaration was intended as a peaceful message to the public, and "not a coup d'état." His legal team asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the indictment was unlawful. It brought up the issue of the detention period, stating the indictment was filed after it had expired. Two key witnesses, including Cho Sung-hyun from the army's capital defense command, testified at the hearing. Cho said he was ordered to send troops to remove lawmakers from the National Assembly on the night of the martial law order, repeating his earlier testimony given at the Constitutional Court in February. Yoon arrived at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday morning, as he is required to attend the trial in person. This comes 10 days after he was removed from office. The court did not allow media filming in the courtroom, explaining that the request came in too late for the appropriate judicial procedures to be followed. However, it added that if the request is submitted again for the next hearing, the court would review it. To convict Yoon of insurrection, prosecutors must prove that he intentionally tried to undermine the constitutional order by using the military. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty. The next hearing is scheduled for next Monday. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.