News

Zelenskyy meets Trump’s Ukraine envoy but press conference canceled

2025/02/21 10:00

The Ukrainian President met with Trump's U.S. envoy for Ukraine to discuss the ongoing war, though their scheduled joint press conference was called off at Washington's request, amid rising tensions over ending the war. Choi Min-jung reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg met in Kyiv on Thursday,. and held what Zelenskyy called a "productive meeting." Zelenskyy shared on social media that they had a "detailed conversation" about the battlefield situation, the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, and effective security guarantees, emphasizing the importance of U.S.-Ukraine relations. However, the meeting did not result in significant breakthroughs in securing U.S. support, as evidenced by the cancellation of a planned joint press conference at the request of the U.S. What was supposed to be a media event turned into a brief photo opportunity without remarks or questions. Kellogg's visit to Kyiv came amid escalating tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy. On Wednesday, Ukraine rejected U.S. demands for 500 billion U.S. dollars in minerals as repayment for wartime aid, citing inadequate support from Washington and a lack of security guarantees. Trump's frustration with Zelenskyy is apparent, as he believes Zelenskyy has not taken advantage of the opportunities presented. "Look, President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelenskyy. The fact that that he hasn't come to the table, that he hasn't been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered. I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly." Additionally, the U.S. is resisting putting the blame on Russia for the war by opposing the inclusion of "Russian aggression" in a G7 joint statement marking the war's third anniversary. This follows Trump's comments blaming Ukraine for the war and calling Zelenskyy a "dictator without elections." He has also proposed inviting Russia back to the G7. Next week, Trump is set to meet with the leaders of France and the UK to discuss strategies for ending the war in Ukraine and post-war planning. European nations have so far been left without a clear role in the peace talks. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

President Yoon's impeachment trial to end on Feb. 25

2025/02/21 10:00

The Constitutional Court will wrap up President Yoon's impeachment case after 11 hearings. The President will deliver his closing statement at a session next Tuesday, and it's expected the Court will deliver a verdict in mid-March. Oh Soo-young has the details. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial will conclude next Tuesday with his final statement at the Constitutional Court. The Court announced Thursday at Yoon's 10th trial hearing,. that the next and final session would be held on February 25th, some 74 days after the impeachment vote passed at the National Assembly. The bench will review remaining evidence before the National Assembly's legal team and the President's lawyers each make their closing arguments. Then the Assembly panel's Co-Chair Jung Chung-rae and President Yoon will deliver their final remarks. The Court on Thursday held the last round of witness examinations. "The questions focused on whether President Yoon had gone through proper Cabinet procedures before declaring martial law, and whether he'd ordered arrests of key politicians and judicial figures." First up was Prime Minister Han Duck-soo who said there had been anomalies in procedure and substance, compared to a standard Cabinet meeting. He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him before recommending martial law to the President, as required by the Constitution,.. and said no minutes were taken. Han stopped short of judging whether or not a legitimate Cabinet meeting took place, saying that should be determined through investigative and judicial procedures. Former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won who was a witness earlier this month returned for further questioning by Yoon's legal team. Hong previously testified that he'd made note of 14 to 16 figures to arrest under martial law, claiming he'd written it in the night outside the residence of his boss Director Cho Tae-yong. He received the names from Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, who Hong phoned as the President told him to "help out the commander." But Hong changed his words on Thursday, saying he had been in his office after all. His boss told the Court last week that Hong had lied about his whereabouts citing CCTV footage. As Hong and Yoon's lawyers clashed over the veracity of his note which was reproduced and altered various times, the President spoke out,.. saying the debate misses the point. He said he'd called Hong to encourage him to work with Yeo on hunting down spies, without mentioning martial law. He pointed out Hong was the one who called the Commander, made notes, and then held onto them until he was dismissed from the NIS. National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho also stood witness, after two absences due to illness. He refused to answer most questions due to his own criminal case, but said he testified truthfully to prosecutors. Cho had said Yoon called him six times on December 3rd and told him to arrest lawmakers. Based on past presidential impeachment trials, a verdict is likely to be reached within two weeks around March 11th. Former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld in 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed in 14 days. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Acting pres., Nat'l Assembly speaker, leaders of PPP, DP in four-way meeting to discuss state affairs

2025/02/20 20:00

The nation's key political figures sat down at the National Assembly today, trying to iron out their differences over certain state affairs, surrounding the chip industry, in particular. Our political correspondent Lee Shi-hoo reports. At Sarangjae, a traditional Korean building tucked away in a corner of the National Assembly compound, political leaders sat down for discussions on state affairs. Those currently in charge of leading the government and National Assembly gathered there for the first-ever meeting of its kind four-way "joint consultative" talks between Acting President Choi Sang-mok, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, ruling People Power Party leader Kwon Young-se and main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. "The talks between the four respective leaders were held to (quote) "stabilize state affairs" after the aftermath of martial law declaration back in December." Acting President Choi called for a "bold reform" to revive the economy. "The difficulty in people's livelihoods is increasing due to political and external uncertainties. The government has consistently said that we need to respond to these changes through bold reform and investment." And one way to do that? Choi says, is by supporting the domestic semiconductor industry, by allowing chip companies an exception to the current labor law so that employees in the sector can work more than 52 hours per week. This is outlined in the proposal of a special act on semiconductors, pushed by the ruling People Power Party. The main opposition Democratic Party, while it agrees with the need to support the chip market, is opposed to the labor law exception that may lead to excessive work by those in the industry. Amid their differing opinions on this, and on other topics up for discussion, a strong plea was made by the Assembly speaker: "Instead of focusing on how to carry out the argument, I earnestly ask you to engage in this meeting around what can be yielded, compromised, and negotiated." However, the parties did not reach a consensus on the semiconductors act. The leaders also discussed the supplementary budget for this year, but decided to have further discussions in the near future. Lee Shi-hoo, Arirang News.

Yoon becomes first sitting S. Korean president to stand criminal trial, as hearing begins

2025/02/20 20:00

Earlier in the morning, President Yoon Suk Yeol became the first sitting Korean leader to stand trial in a criminal case for his brief imposition of martial law. And a separate hearing also took place to review the president's request to have his detention canceled. Our Bae Eun-ji reports. The first preliminary hearing of President Yoon's criminal trial on Thursday morning lasted only around 13 minutes. In a suit and a red tie, Yoon was present at the Seoul Central District Court. He was not required to attend,.. as a defendant does not have to be present at a preliminary hearing. So eyes were on whether if he would speak for himself, but he remained silent throughout. Yoon's lawyers said they need more time, asking for three more weeks to review records. The court said the next hearing is on March 24th and said it would proceed with the trial afterward. Meanwhile, a separate hearing was also held to review Yoon's request to have his detention canceled. Earlier this month, Yoon's legal team asked for the court to release the president, having been at the Seoul Detention Center since his arrest. His lawyers argued that Yoon was indicted a day after the detention period expired on January 25th, while the prosecutors said the whole process was done in a legal manner. The court on Thursday said both sides have 10 days to submit any additional documents and said it would make a decision after a thorough review. "Thursday's session marks the start of a criminal trial that could lead to life in prison or even the death penalty for Yoon, if found guilty of insurrection. Yoon has now become the first sitting president in South Korean history to undergo a criminal trial. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News."

Live: Have Prime Minister, police chief testified against Pres. Yoon at Thursday's impeachment trial?

2025/02/20 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. The 10th hearing of the president's impeachment trial is taking place at the Constitutional Court, which looks to be the last, or next-to-last hearing in the trial. For more, let's connect to our correspondent Oh Soo-young. Q1. Today's session involves three key witnesses, and it's still ongoing. Do tell us more. That's right. The tenth impeachment hearing began at 3 PM, an hour later than initially planned, with three witness examinations beginning with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Han previously said that the President didn't hold a proper Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on December 3rd. This has been a major ground for impeachment as the Constitution requires a Cabinet meeting and related procedures to implement martial law. He reiterated this stance on Thursday. He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him regarding martial law before recommending it to the President, and said there were some "procedural abnormalities" compared to a proper Cabinet meeting. But he stopped short of declaring whether or not it was a legitimate Cabinet meeting, saying that wasn't his call to make but should be determined through investigation and judicial procedures. The Prime Minister however described how the opposition-led legislatures' unilateral budget cuts and extreme politics have been threatening the country's future industries and democracy. Q2. Next up was former intelligence official Hong Jang-won who was summoned as a key witness for the National Assembly's side. That's right. Hong returned to the Court for further questioning by Yoon's legal team. He continued to assert that the Counterintelligence Commander read out 14 to 16 names to track down and detain under martial law. Hong and Yoon's lawyers clashed over the veracity of his claim, and the memo he says he wrote and transferred onto a different note by his secretary. His boss National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong says there appears to have been 5 different memos with alternating details, indicating there has been fabrication on Hong's part. Hong today notably changed his previous statement that he'd written down the names in the dark outside the NIS Director's residence, and admitted he had been in his office. President Yoon spoke out saying that Hong had made it seem as though he had directly given Hong orders to aid arrest when he'd simply asked Hong to work closely with the Counterintelligence Commander on finding spies, as they are alumni of the Korea Military Academy. He said Hong lied when he said he did not recall that part of the conversation. Also standing witness today is National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho who finally attended after two absences due to illness. He's told prosecutors that Yoon ordered him to arrest lawmakers on the night martial law was declared,.. and heard from the Counterintelligence Commander 15 names of politicians and judicial figures to detain. He's undergoing questioning as we speak. He's mostly said he cannot confirm or answer questions about the orders he received on the night of martial law. Q3. For now, Thursday is the last hearing date scheduled for the trial. What comes next? Experts say the Court is likely to add one more session to wrap up the arguments made by each side and hear the President's final statement. A ruling will likely be made in the first half of March, as in past impeachment trials, the verdict normally took about two weeks to be reached. Now, President Yoon's lawyers have said they might apply for more witnesses after a day of review, but it's unclear whether the Court would approve, given how they've rejected most of the over thirty candidates, and have emphasized a swift trial process. Now as the Court continues to push through with the proceedings and shoots down requests by Yoon's team, his lawyers have said they might embark on a "big decision" which they hinted could involve their collective resignation as a show of protest. I see. Tensions remain high as the impeachment draws to an end. Thanks for your coverage today.

Putin expresses satisfaction over recent U.S.-Russia talks

2025/02/20 20:00

On the international front. Russia appears satisfied with current efforts on ending its invasion of Ukraine while the leaders of the U.S. and Ukraine are engaged in a war of words. Lee Seung-jae explains. After Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the outcome of the recent U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, the Russian leader expressed satisfaction, saying that he rates the talks "highly." "I rate them highly; there are results. They were open to the negotiating process without prejudice and condemnation of what has been done in the past." When asked about the exclusion of Ukraine from the recent talks in Saudi Arabia, Putin said Ukraine would not be excluded in future talks. "As for the negotiating process, President Trump told me during our phone call, I can confirm it, that, of course, the U.S. assumes that both Russia and Ukraine will take part in the negotiating process. Nobody is excluding Ukraine from this process. So, there are no reasons for such a reaction to the Russia-U.S. meeting." However, a war of words between the leaders of the U.S. and Ukraine is raising concerns of its potential impact on future negotiations. After the conclusion of the U.S.-Russia talks U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's public approval rating was "down to 4%." Zelenskyy responded that Trump was living in a "space of disinformation," and expressed hopes that the U.S. leader and his team get a "clearer understanding" of what's really going on in Ukraine. Ukraine was not the only country left out of the recent negotiation talks. European countries were also absent, forcing their leaders to hold their own emergency meeting. The major talking point has been whether or not the European allies of Ukraine should send troops for further assistance. Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland expressed reluctance,.. however, the UK said it is prepared to send its forces to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the U.S. next week, hopeful they too can take part in negotiations to end the Ukraine war. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Econ & Biz] Can S. Korean chip companies survive Trump's tariffs, China's tech progress?

2025/02/20 20:00

The Trump administration's tariff plans are now raising concerns for Korea's chip industry at a time when the sector also deals with China's rapid technological advancement. For more on this, we have our trade correspondent Lee Soo-jin in the studio. Soo-jin, to start us off can you tell us about the threats that Korea's chip industry is facing? Right, so little over a week ago Trump imposed tariffs on aluminum and steel. This marked the first item-specific tariffs of his second term. And this week he announced plans to impose tariffs of around 25 percent on auto imports, pharmaceuticals, as well as semiconductors. Here's what he said. " I've been contacted by some of the biggest companies in the world. And we'll be announcing various very large companies, the biggest, actually, and they'll be coming back, having to do with chips." Shifting global dynamics are expected to significantly impact the nation's economy, as semiconductors are its top export. In 2024, chips accounted for 20-point-8 percent of Korea's total exports, the highest share among all sectors. " In the area of semiconductor market, two to four-percent tariff rate makes a significant impact on the market. But now we're talking about 25 percent on semiconductors which means a lot of impact on semiconductors market generally and on Korean exporters particularly." The tariff threats come as China's CXMT challenges Korea's dominance in memory chips, with its successful production of high-performance DRAMs like DDR5 and HBM, both key components for AI and server applications. How is South Korea's chip industry planning to navigate these challenges? Well,.. Korea's chip industry is globally recognized for its innovation efforts. And it's these efforts that have led to it playing a key role in the semiconductor supply chain. So let's take a look at what these efforts look like, starting with none other than Samsung Electronics. "Semiconductors are essential to AI development. Important future developments include bonding technology that builds layers through chipsets and reducing resistance in the backend." Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, in the third quarter last year had a combined market share of a whopping 75-point-5 percent in the memory chip sector. But it's not just large conglomerates that are rapidly advancing their technologies. "We have developed a technology that makes materials like Teflon and other special materials bond well with metals, which was difficult before. This breakthrough is important because it helps create a better foundation for circuit boards." Yet another local company is supplying big-name firms like SK hynix and Samsung Electronics with ultrasonic non-destructive testing equipment that scans chips for defects. "Our technology inspects semiconductors before mass production. As we locally produce all our technology, this will also help us avoid tariff-related issues." The company also plans to further incorporate AI technology as it aims to take part in supply chains overseas as well. What are measures that are being carried out? So we're seeing efforts across various government sectors. We saw a report earlier about how the officials from the Trade Ministry are holding talks with representatives from major companies and think tanks to come up with response strategies. And the National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee earlier this week also passed an amendment to the so-called "K-Chips Act," aiming to provide greater tax incentives for the semiconductor industry. The amendment increases the tax credit rate for facility investments by chip companies by 5 percentage points, from the current 15 percent to 20 percent for large and mid-sized companies and 25 to 30 percent for small businesses. And according to an expert,. here's what else the government can do. "So the key is to try to keep exporters alive until the tariffs are removed. Try to engage with third markets, deepen FTA relationships with the European Union and Canada, deepen relationship with Southeast Asia, and as an option perhaps try to deepen relationship with China as well because if the U.S. market isn't available the next largest market is China." This looks like an issue that we'll have to continue following. Thank you for coming in today. Thank you for having me.

S. Korea gears up for U.S. tariff announcements which may come within a month

2025/02/20 20:00

Korean trade officials are sitting down with corporate heavyweights for talks on ways to navigate U.S. tariffs following Trump's most recent remarks about announcing 25-percent tariffs on cars, chips and pharmaceuticals entering the American market. Kim Jung-sil reports. U.S. President Donald Trump is fast-tracking his plans, revealing that new tariffs will be announced sooner than the originally planned April timeline. "I'm going to be announcing tariffs on cars and semiconductors and chips and pharmaceuticals, probably and some other things over the next month or sooner." In response to the latest trade measures by the U.S., South Korea is intensifying efforts to protect key industries. On Thursday, the Ministry of Trade held a high-level meeting with senior officials from nine major companies, including Samsung, 삼성, Hyundai, and LG, to discuss how to handle the looming tariffs. Minister for Trade Cheong In-kyo emphasized that the government is fully mobilizing its channels with the U.S. to help South Korean industries overcome the uncertainty they are facing. He added that the government will strengthen collaboration with private think tanks to refine its response strategies. At a separate meeting, the Trade Ministry held the second session of the Industry Policy Council in Seoul, chaired by Deputy Minister for Industrial Policy Lee Seung-ryeol. The meeting gathered officials from 10 major sectors, including semiconductors, automobiles, steel, and biotech, to discuss the latest developments. They emphasized the need for bold tax incentives to stimulate investment. Both the government and private sector plan to collaborate with counterparts in the EU and Japan facing similar challenges. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

S. Korea, U.S. conduct combined air drills featuring B-1B strategic bomber

2025/02/20 20:00

South Korea and the U.S. conducted a joint air drill over the Korean Peninsula on Thursday, featuring a U.S. B-1B strategic bomber in a show of force against North Korea. This marks the first deployment of a U.S. strategic asset to the Korean Peninsula since the start of the Trump administration. The exercise also involved South Korea's F-35A stealth fighters, F-15K jets, and U.S. F-16 fighter jets. The defense ministry stated that the drill aimed to showcase the U.S. extended deterrence capabilities in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats. It said both sides will continue to expand joint exercises to deter and respond to Pyongyang's threats.

IMPEACHMENT TRIAL ENTERS FINAL STAGE

2025/02/20 17:00

Welcome to Thursday's edition of Press Perspective for February 20th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we touch upon the president's impeachment trial which appears to be drawing to a close. For more I have Thomas Maresca with news agency UPI. Thomas it's good to have you here. I also have Professor Cho Hee-kyung at Hongik University joining our talk virtually. Professor Cho as always it's a pleasure. 1) Thomas, let's start with the president's impeachment trial. What's the latest on that front? 2) Thomas, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also faces an impeachment trial. How is that proceeding? 3) Professor Cho, do walk us through the legal argument of the president's defense team as stated back on Tuesday at the Constitutional Court and that of the parliamentary panel seeking his impeachment. 4) And Professor Cho, how have the various testimonies at the president's impeachment trial affected public sentiment? 5) Thomas, quite a number of foreign media outlets have been highlighting the deepening political divide here in Korea amid the president's impeachment trial. What have been some of your more recent observations? 6) Professor Cho, quite a number of ruling party lawmakers have also sought to realign themselves with the president in sharp contrast to the distance they sought during the early days of the fallout from his brief imposition of martial law. How do you explain this reality? 7) Thomas, staying within the political arena. Government officials and lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties met today to address a number of domestic issues including an extra budget, pension reform, a special chips act and more. What are your takeaways from this trilateral meeting? 8) Professor Cho, back on the impeachment trial. What are the protocols ahead as we await the court's verdict? 9) And Thomas, what are some of the stories that the international media looks to cover with regard to Korea's politics going forward? All right.

Live: Will Prime Minister, police chief testify against Pres. Yoon at Thursday's impeachment trial?

2025/02/20 17:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol is taking part in the 10th hearing of his impeachment trial as we speak which may be the final hearing ahead of a verdict by the eight-member Constitutional Court to either remove the president from or reinstate him back into the top office. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young joins me now from the Constitutional Court. Soo-young welcome. I hear today's session involves three key witnesses. Do tell us more. That's right. The tenth impeachment hearing began at 3 PM, an hour later than initially planned, with three witness examinations beginning with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Han previously said that the President didn't hold a proper Cabinet meeting before declaring martial law on December 3rd. This has been a major ground for impeachment as the Constitution requires a Cabinet meeting and related procedures to implement martial law. He reiterated this stance on Thursday. He said that the Defence Minister had not consulted him regarding martial law before recommending it to the President, and said there were some procedural abnormalities compared to a proper Cabinet meeting. But he stopped short of declaring whether or not it was a legitimate Cabinet meeting, saying that wasn't his call to make but should be determined through investigation and judicial procedures. The Prime Minister however described how the opposition-led legislatures' unilateral budget cuts and extreme politics has been threatening the country's future industries and democracy. Next up is former intelligence official Hong Jang-won who was summoned as a key witness for the National Assembly's side. He returned to the Court for further questioning by Yoon's legal team. Hong claims there was a list of 14 to 16 figures President Yoon wanted to arrest under martial law. Hong believes he was ordered to aid the Counterintelligence Command in tracking down and detaining the individuals. National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho will be forced to attend, after two absences due to illness. He's told prosecutors that Yoon ordered him to arrest lawmakers on the night martial law was declared,.. and heard from the Counterintelligence Commander 15 names of politicians and judicial figures to detain. Now, Yoon was seated in the courtroom at the start of the hearing but vacated his seat his lawyer said the President felt that him listening to the Prime Minister's responses could be inappropriate for the nation's dignity, and decided to leave. Right then Soo-young is today's hearing the last before the Constitutional Court's ruling on the president's political fate? Experts say the Court is likely to add one more session to wrap up the arguments made by each side and hear the President's final statement. A ruling will likely be made in the first half of March, as in past impeachment trials, the verdict normally took about two weeks to be reached. Now, President Yoon's lawyers have said they might apply for more witnesses after a day of review, but it's unclear whether the Court would approve, given how they've rejected most of the over thirty candidates, and have emphasized a swift trial process. Now as the Court continues to push through with the proceedings and shoots down requests by Yoon's team, his lawyers have said they might embark on a "big decision" which they hinted could involve their collective resignation as a show of protest. I see. All right then Soo-young thank you for the latest on the president's impeachment trial.

World News: Israeli hostage bodies set to be returned

2025/02/20 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the Middle East, Hamas is set to return the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including a mother and her two young sons, as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Hamas confirmed the identities of the four bodies on Wednesday ahead of returning them to Israel on Thursday. They include Shiri Bibas, aged 32, and her two young boys, 4, and 9 months old, who, for many Israelis, have come to symbolize the plight of those taken as hostages. The family had been abducted during the October 2023 attacks on southern Israel and had since been held captive. In addition, the body of 83-year-old retired journalist Oded Lifshitz is also set to be returned. The developments are part of the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement, which includes the release of 6 living Israeli hostages on Saturday, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the nation was "torn," ahead of the return of the bodies. NATO has begun its largest military exercise of the year, Steadfast Dart 2025, in Romania, aimed at enhancing the alliance's rapid deployment capabilities along its eastern border. NATO's largest combat exercise involves approximately 10,000 military personnel, from nine NATO member countries, including the United Kingdom and Spain. Exercises take place across Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece over six weeks, focusing on testing the readiness and interoperability of NATO's Allied Reaction Force. The ARF was established in July 2024 and is designed for deployment within ten days, integrating conventional forces with cyber and space-based technologies. NATO's most powerful member, the U.S., is not involved, reflecting a shift toward Europe's self-reliance in defense. This comes amid uncertainties regarding the U.S. commitment to European security under President Donald Trump's administration. In the United States, Cameron County in Texas, has approved an election to determine whether SpaceX's launch site and surrounding areas, will be incorporated as the city of Starbase. The vote is scheduled for May 3, with early voting set to begin on April 22. It will include residents living near the Boca Chica launch facility. A petition initiated in December last year garnered over 70 signatures, primarily from SpaceX employees, meeting the state's requirements for incorporation. If the measure passes, Starbase would become the newest city in Cameron County since 1995. In the Philippines, the Addition Hills village in Mandaluyong City has launched a program, offering residents a bounty for captured mosquitoes. The initiative, introduced on Wednesday, aims to combat the rising cases of dengue fever in the densely populated capital region, by offering one Philippine peso, which is less than two U.S. cents, for every five dead or alive mosquitoes or larvae turned in. The strategy was implemented following a significant increase in dengue cases in the country, with over 28,000 reported nationwide as of February 1, marking a 40% rise compared to last year. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Putin expresses satisfaction over recent U.S.-Russia talks

2025/02/20 17:00

On the international front. Russia appears satisfied with current efforts on ending its invasion of Ukraine while the latter has voiced concern over Mr. Trump's groundless insinuations about who started the war in Ukraine and about the Ukrainian leader's approval rating which to be clear stands at 57 percent according to the latest public survey. Lee Seung-jae has more. After Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed on the outcome of the recent U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, the Russian leader expressed satisfaction, saying that he rates the talks "highly." "I rate them highly; there are results. They were open to the negotiating process without prejudice and condemnation of what has been done in the past." When asked about the exclusion of Ukraine from the recent talks in Saudi Arabia, Putin said Ukraine would not be excluded in future talks. "As for the negotiating process, President Trump told me during our phone call, I can confirm it, that, of course, the U.S. assumes that both Russia and Ukraine will take part in the negotiating process. Nobody is excluding Ukraine from this process. So, there are no reasons for such a reaction to the Russia-U.S. meeting." However, a war of words between the leaders of the U.S. and Ukraine is raising concerns of its potential impact on future negotiations. After the conclusion of the U.S.-Russia talks U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's public approval rating was "down to 4%." Zelenskyy responded that Trump was living in a "space of disinformation," and expressed hopes that the U.S. leader and his team get a "clearer understanding" of what's really going on in Ukraine. Ukraine was not the only country left out of the recent negotiation talks. European countries were also absent, forcing their leaders to hold their own emergency meeting. The major talking point has been whether or not the European allies of Ukraine should send troops for further assistance. Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland expressed reluctance,.. however, the UK said it is prepared to send its forces to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the U.S. next week, hopeful they too can take part in negotiations to end the Ukraine war. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

S. Korea gears up for U.S. Tariff announcements which may come within a month

2025/02/20 17:00

Korean trade officials are actively reaching out to corporate heavyweights for talks on ways to navigate U.S. tariffs following Trump's most recent remarks about announcing 25-percent tariffs on cars chips and pharmaceutical products into the American market. Kim Jung-sil reports. U.S. President Donald Trump is fast-tracking his plans, revealing that new tariffs will be announced sooner than the originally planned April timeline. "I'm going to be announcing tariffs on cars and semiconductors and chips and pharmaceuticals, probably and some other things over the next month or sooner." In response to the latest trade measures by the U.S., South Korea is intensifying efforts to protect key industries. On Thursday, the Ministry of Trade held a high-level meeting with senior officials from nine major companies, including Samsung, Hyundai, and LG, to discuss how to handle the looming tariffs. Minister for Trade Cheong In-kyo emphasized that the government is fully mobilizing its channels with the U.S. to help South Korean industries overcome the uncertainty they are facing. He added that the government will strengthen collaboration with private think tanks to refine its response strategies. At a separate meeting, the Trade Ministry held the second session of the Industry Policy Council in Seoul, chaired by Deputy Minister for Industrial Policy Lee Seung-ryeol. The meeting gathered officials from 10 major sectors, including semiconductors, automobiles, steel, and biotech, to discuss the latest developments. They emphasized the need for bold tax incentives to stimulate investment. Both the government and private sector plan to collaborate with counterparts in the EU and Japan facing similar challenges. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Yoon becomes first sitting S. Korean president to stand criminal trial, as hearing begins

2025/02/20 17:00

Also earlier today that is Thursday morning President Yoon Suk Yeol become the first sitting Korean leader to stand trial in a criminal case for his brief imposition of martial law on the evening of December third last year. Our Bae Eun-ji reports. The first preliminary hearing of President Yoon's criminal trial on Thursday morning lasted only around 13 minutes. In a suit and a red tie, Yoon was present at the Seoul Central District Court. He was not required to attend,.. as a defendant does not have to be present at a preliminary hearing. So eyes were on whether if he would speak for himself, but he remained silent throughout. Yoon's lawyers said they need more time, asking for three more weeks to review records. The court said the next hearing is on March 24th and said it would proceed with the trial afterward. Meanwhile, a separate hearing was also held to review Yoon's request to have his detention canceled. Earlier this month, Yoon's legal team asked for the court to release the president, having been at the Seoul Detention Center since his arrest. His lawyers argued that Yoon was indicted a day after the detention period expired on January 25th, while the prosecutors said the whole process was done in a legal manner. The court on Thursday said both sides have 10 days to submit any additional documents and said it would make a decision after a thorough review. "Thursday's session marks the start of a criminal trial that could lead to life in prison or even the death penalty for Yoon, if found guilty of insurrection. Yoon has now become the first sitting president in South Korean history to undergo a criminal trial. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News."

S. Korean president's criminal trial on insurrection charges begins

2025/02/20 10:00

President Yoon's political fate continues to hang in balance, with his criminal trial on insurrection charges now kicking off as we come on air. For more, we go over to our Bae Eun-ji standing by at the Seoul Central District Court. Eun-ji, this is the first pretrial conference of his criminal trial, isn't it? That's right. Security is heightened here at the Seoul Central District Court, as the president arrived here about an hour ago, to attend the preliminary hearing of his criminal trial, which began just a few moments ago, at 10 AM. Police have beefed up security at the court gates,.. heightening security checks on visitors and banning unregistered vehicles from entering. Yoon showed up at today's session, although he was not required to. A defendant does not have to be present at a preliminary hearing a step that's held in the early stages of a criminal case to cover legal arguments and evidence. Today's hearing marks the start of a criminal trial that could lead to life in prison or even the death penalty for Yoon, if convicted of insurrection. The president's team is expected to deny Yoon's insurrection charges, by claiming what happened on the night of December 3rd was an "act of governance." Yoon is the first 'sitting president' to face a legal trial in South Korean history. He's also the first to face both a criminal trial and an impeachment trial at the same time. That's not it. Another hearing is taking place at the same place today. It's to review Yoon's request to cancel his arrest. Tell us more. That's right. A separate hearing will take place simultaneously, to review the legality of the president's arrest, upon request by Yoon's legal team. Earlier this month, Yoon's legal team asked the Seoul Central District Court to cancel his arrest and release the president, arguing that prosecutors indicted Yoon a day after the detention period expired on January 25th, making it illegal. If the court finds it unlawful, he will be released from custody. Yoon has been detained at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, south of the capital since January 15th. Eyes are now on whether the president will speak for himself at the court today and state his opinion. Dami. Thanks, Eun-ji for the update. That was our our Bae Eun-ji live from Seoul Central District Court.

Texas county approves election to make SpaceX's Starbase its own city

2025/02/20 10:00

Over in the United States, Cameron County in Texas, has approved an election to determine whether SpaceX's launch site and surrounding areas, will be incorporated as the city of Starbase. The vote is scheduled for May 3, with early voting set to begin on April 22. It will include residents living near the Boca Chica launch facility. A petition initiated in December last year garnered over 70 signatures, primarily from SpaceX employees, meeting the state's requirements for incorporation. If the measure passes, Starbase would become the newest city in Cameron County since 1995.

NATO members hold combat exercises in Romania

2025/02/20 10:00

NATO has begun its largest military exercise of the year, Steadfast Dart 2025, in Romania, aimed at enhancing the alliance's rapid deployment capabilities along its eastern border. NATO's largest combat exercise involves approximately 10,000 military personnel, from nine NATO member countries, including the United Kingdom and Spain. Exercises take place across Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece over six weeks, focusing on testing the readiness and interoperability of NATO's Allied Reaction Force. The ARF was established in July 2024 and is designed for deployment within ten days, integrating conventional forces with cyber and space-based technologies. NATO's most powerful member, the U.S., is not involved, reflecting a shift toward Europe's self-reliance in defense. This comes amid uncertainties regarding the U.S. commitment to European security under President Donald Trump's administration.

Israeli hostage bodies set to be returned

2025/02/20 10:00

Beginning in the Middle East, Hamas is set to return the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including a mother and her two young sons, as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Hamas confirmed the identities of the four bodies on Wednesday ahead of returning them to Israel on Thursday. They include Shiri Bibas, aged 32, and her two young boys, 4, and 9 months old, who, for many Israelis, have come to symbolize the plight of those taken as hostages. The family had been abducted during the October 2023 attacks on southern Israel and had since been held captive. In addition, the body of 83-year-old retired journalist Oded Lifshitz is also set to be returned. The developments are part of the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement, which includes the release of 6 living Israeli hostages on Saturday, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the nation was "torn," ahead of the return of the bodies.

Acting Pres., Nat'l Assembly Speaker, leaders of PPP, DP to discuss state affairs

2025/02/20 10:00

At the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon, Acting President Choi Sang-mok, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, ruling People Power Party leader Kwon Young-se and main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung will sit down for a four-way meeting to discuss state affairs. At this first meeting of the 'joint consultative body between the government and the National Assembly', they are expected to discuss details of the supplementary budget for this year, as well as measures to support the domestic semiconductor industry and improve the national pension system. The meeting is being held to "stabilize state affairs" following the aftermath of the martial law back in December.