News

On-point: Key takeaways from S. Korean President Lee Jae-myung's first week in office

2025/06/11 10:00

A week has passed since President Lee Jae-myung was sworn into office last Wednesday. For more on the key takeaways from Lee's first week in office, we're joined by Professor Lee Hee-eun, Professor of Law at Handong International Law School. Professor Lee, thanks for joining us this morning. 1. It's been a full week since President Lee took office. What's your overall assessment so far? What would you say is the most notable difference compared to the former Yoon administration? 2. The presidential office says it will accept recommendations from the public before appointing key government officials --including those at the ministerial level. Do you think this could help reduce controversies surrounding the appointment process? 3. Plans to dramatically expand the Supreme Court have sparked controversy. What's your take on increasing the number of justices? 4. The Cabinet approved three special prosecution bills on Tuesday, which will include an investigation into former President Yoon's martial law declaration. What are your thoughts on this? 5. President Lee is also facing several trials, but two have been postponed indefinitely, with the court citing Article 84 of the Constitution. Could you briefly explain what Article 84 is, and share your legal analysis on this issue? Alright, Professor Lee thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

Protest against Trump's immigration policy spreads to other cities

2025/06/11 10:00

With the Los Angeles protests in their fifth day, demonstrations against Trump's immigration policy are spreading to other states. Hundreds of Marines arrived in LA to quell the unrest, while the California governor asks a court to block the Trump administration from using troops in immigration raids. Lee Seung-jae has more. The LA protests against U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies continued for the fifth day on Tuesday. According to the police, rioting, arson, and violence have somewhat subsided. However, the demonstrations against the crackdown and deportation of illegal immigrants are spreading to other major cities, including San Francisco, San Francisco, New York and Chicago. With concerns lingering over the current state of the Los Angeles area, hundreds of U.S. Marines arrived on Tuesday, under orders from President Trump. Around 700 Marines were seen awaiting deployment to specific locations, however, they do not have the authority to arrest anyone. Instead,.. the troops are said to be deployed to protect federal property and personnel. California Governor Gavin Newsom filed an emergency request at a federal court on Tuesday, to stop the Trump administration from using both the National Guard and the Marines. Along with the recent deployment of Marines, some 4-thousand National Guard members have been sent to LA to control the protests. Trump has also threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to deploy the military and to federalize the National Guard units of the individual states if he determines the LA street protests to be an insurrection. "If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it. Well, see, but I can tell you last night was terrible. The night before that was terrible. We have, as you've seen, it was on most of your networks, people with big, heavy hammers pounding the concrete and pounding curbs, pounding and breaking up and handing these big chunks of concrete to people." Trump added that the National Guard will leave, once it's deemed that the Los Angeles area is no longer considered dangerous. Meanwhile, progressive groups say that they'll be holding more than 15-hundred "No Kings" protests across the country on Saturday, which is the same day a military parade is set to take place in the U.S. capital, marking the U.S. Army's 250th birthday. The organizers believe that Trump is using the military's birthday to celebrate his own birthday, which is also on June 14th. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Lee invites China's Xi Jinping to APEC summit during first talks

2025/06/10 20:00

Good evening. We begin with President Lee Jae-myung's first conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping since taking office. The two leaders agreed to build up Seoul-Beijing relations. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. During his first, half-hour phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Lee Jae-myung invited him to South Korea for the upcoming APEC summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju this November. If he does attend, it'll be Xi's first visit to the country in 11 years. Tuesday's conversation was "friendly and amicable" says Lee's spokesperson, where Xi congratulated Lee on winning the election and the two leaders shared similarities in their political career. Their focus was on building a "new" bilateral relationship, bolstering cooperation in areas that could practically help the lives of the people in both countries. "President Lee expressed hope that South Korea and China will actively promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including the economy, security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, based on the spirit of mutual benefit and equality." Also discussed was North Korea, where Lee asked Xi to play a constructive role for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and Xi responded by saying Beijing will make efforts, saying peace and stability fit into their mutual interests. It's been a week since Lee took office, during which he exchanged greetings and held "get-to-know" sessions with the leaders of some major countries, first with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, followed by Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Then came talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "President Lee, during his the presidential campaign, said that ROK-U.S. alliance is the most top priority and then he also put lots of emphasis on the relationship with Japan. Of course, he mentioned that South Korea-U.S.-Japan, the trilateral cooperation is important. So he's simply implementing what he has pledged." The series of talks comes as the newly inaugurated Korean leader prepares for his debut on the multilateral summit stage next week in Canada, where the G7 leaders are set to meet, where sideline summits are possible with Trump and Ishiba. "All seven countries share the same value that this liberal democratic country and they also have the same goal to balancing against China. To participate this G7 meeting, even though we are not a member of G7, but as the observer, it's can deliver the very significant message to China." The upcoming diplomatic stage is also widely seen as a litmus test of how the new Korean President will navigate diplomacy, both with the U.S. and China in mind, as he puts forth "pragmatic diplomacy." This, as Korea also makes its comeback on the diplomatic stage official after a six-month absence following the impeachment of its former leader. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

Trump deploys additional 2,700 troops to LA amid escalating immigration protests

2025/06/10 20:00

Protests in Los Angeles stretch into a fifth day, and tensions show no signs of easing. In fact, U.S. President Donald Trump has doubled down on his hardline stance by deploying more troops. Park Hyo-been has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday ordered an additional 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to be deployed to Los Angeles, significantly expanding the military response to ongoing protests against immigration raids. With the latest deployment, approximately 4,700 military personnel are now set to be involved in controlling protests in the area. The decision comes despite opposition from local officials and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who have raised concerns about the escalating federal involvement. However, Trump called the governor "incompetent" and insisted that federal intervention was necessary to restore order. "Look at the job he's doing in California. He's destroying one of our great states. And if I didn't get involved, if we didn't bring the guard in, and we would bring more in if we needed it, because we have to make sure there's going to be law and order." The first wave of 2,000 National Guard troops, previously ordered by Trump, began arriving Sunday. According to CNN, about 1,700 members were active in greater Los Angeles on Monday night. President Trump claimed that the deployment prevented the city from being destroyed. "Thank goodness we sent out some wonderful National Guard. They've really helped and a lot of problems that we're having out there. They were afraid to do anything, and we sent out the troops, and they've done a fantastic job." Even on the fourth day of the protests on Monday, clashes erupted again as protesters shut down major highways, throwing concrete and Molotov cocktails. Cars were set on fire, and police responded with tear gas and flashbangs, filling the streets with smoke. According to CBS News, as of midday Monday local time, 53 people have been arrested. Meanwhile, similar anti-ICE protests have popped up around the U.S., including in San Francisco, New York, and Atlanta. According to CNN, at least 150 people were taken into custody in San Francisco as demonstrations continued to grow nationwide. The protests were sparked when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the FBI raided downtown shops in LA last Friday, detaining 44 people. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

S. Korea urges halt to anti-North leaflets in shift toward de-escalation

2025/06/10 20:00

The government is drawing a new line on one of the peninsula's most volatile flashpoints, leaflet launches into North Korea. And for the first time in years, Seoul is urging activists to stop. Our North Korean affairs correspondent Kim Jung-sil reports. South Korea's new administration is taking its first public steps to reduce tensions with North Korea: formally urging civic groups to stop launching anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. "The first step in reducing tensions and rebuilding trust between the two Koreas is stopping the leaflet launches and the loudspeaker broadcasts." The Ministry of Unification's call came after a civic group, representing families of North Korean abductees, carried out a third leaflet launch this year, despite multiple calls for restraint. "These actions heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula and endanger the lives and safety of residents near the border. We strongly urge an end to leaflet launches." It's the first formal appeal since South Korea's Constitutional Court struck down the leaflet ban in 2023 on free speech grounds. While the Yoon Suk-yeol administration tolerated the launches, President Lee Jae-myung appears to be signaling a clear policy reversal. "Even during his campaign, President Lee pledged to manage situations that could trigger inter-Korean clashes. That included restoring previous measures like the ban on anti-North leaflets and loudspeaker broadcasts, and the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement." Leaflets have long been a flashpoint, used by both Koreas as psychological warfare since the peninsula was divided. South Korea ended its state-run campaigns in 2000, but defector-led groups picked up where the government left off. After a 2020 ban was overturned in court, the skies reopened to civic activity, prompting North Korea to retaliate with its own balloon launches carrying trash. After years of policy drift, the new government is renewing calls for restraint, citing public safety. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

[Politics & Diplomacy] Pres. Lee to debut on global stage at G7, mark S. Korea's return to top-level diplomacy

2025/06/10 20:00

With the country's new leader elected, South Korea is resuming top-level diplomacy. President Lee Jae-myung held a series of phone talks with foreign leaders, and is slated to attend the G7 Summit. For more details on this, we have our Kim Bo-kyoung in the studio. Good evening, Bo-kyoung. Bo-kyoung, why don't we start with the phone calls President Lee had recently? Sure, as we saw in Jung-min's report, President Lee held his third phone call with Chinese President Xi, where he asked China to play a constructive role in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and invited him to attend the APEC summit that will take place here in November. This follows phone talks with U.S. President Trump on June 6th and with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the 9th. The call with Trump was reportedly conducted in a friendly way, where they reaffirmed the importance of the Korea-U.S. alliance. Some expressed concerns over the White House not having issued any formal comment, nor Trump mentioning the call on his social media platform, but an expert I talked to said there was not much to worry about, as Washington could be just taking a cautious approach, to better understand Lee's "pragmatic diplomacy." In terms of Ishiba, they agreed to build a "stronger, more mature" bilateral relationship, and affirmed their commitment to trilateral cooperation with the U.S. Right. President Lee is scheduled to attend the upcoming G7 Summit in Canada from June 15 to 17 as an observer. And this will be his debut on the global diplomatic stage, right? Yes, his trip to the G7 Summit comes less than two weeks after his inauguration. The summit is going to be in Alberta, and Lee is going there at Canada's invitation. Lee attending a G7 summit is going to be quite symbolic for South Korea, as it signals the resumption of Korea's top-level diplomacy that had been stalled over the past six months following the martial law crisis. "The attendance basically means that we are going to normalize things and actively engage on the diplomatic stage, though we have had a diplomatic vacuum for the past six months." Now with Trump also attending the G7 summit, is there any possibility of bilateral talks taking place between Lee and Trump? Yes, there is always a possibility, and if they get a chance, it would be the first in seven months since the leaders of Seoul and Washington last met in person, when former President Yoon Suk-yeol and former U.S. President Joe Biden met at the APEC summit held in Peru in November last year. But we need to note that the G7 Summit is a multilateral setting and that South Korea has been invited as an observer. In this kind of setting, it could be quite difficult to have bilateral talks. Also, according to an expert I talked to, it could be better for us to talk about such challenging issues later on, after being fully prepared and when proper talks can be held. "It's not a good idea that we talk about these upcoming and very daunting issues and challenges for South Korea including tariffs and cost sharing We have to be prepared, we have to have our own strategy first, and then we will have a very detailed way to prepare to hold this meeting." I see. How about Japan? If bilateral talks do take place, how would they be? Yes, as Lee and Ishiba have already expressed the hope of meeting each other in person at an early date during their recent phone talks, there is the possibility that a summit will take place. In terms of Japan, there are still concerns over how President Lee will shape his approach toward Tokyo, as he had taken a confrontational stance, regarding historical and territorial disputes. Despite such worries, the expert says Seoul will maintain a favorable relationship with Tokyo, largely because the two countries have the same issues to deal with. "Japan is not just a country that helps us keep countries like China and North Korea in check, but also a country like South Korea that is going through some overbearing behavior from the U.S., and therefore we need to work together in dealing with this." And that is where we could perhaps see President Lee's "pragmatic diplomacy, " separating issues of cooperation from those of the past. Alright, Bo-kyoung. They are all the questions I have for now. Thank you for the talk. Thank you.

Presidential Office announces new changes under Lee Jae-myung administration

2025/06/10 20:00

The Presidential Office has announced plans to return to Cheong Wa Dae, the former presidential compound, from its current location in Yongsan. The Cabinet has approved a contingency fund of 25-point-9-billion won, or approximately 18-point-9-million U.S. dollars, for the return. This represents 69 percent of what the previous administration spent on relocating to Yongsan. An exact timeline has not been announced. To ensure a smooth transition, adjustments to public tours have been posted on the Cheong Wa Dae Foundation's website. Also on Tuesday, the Presidential Office announced that from today, the public can recommend candidates for positions as Cabinet ministers, vice ministers, and heads of public institutions. Recommendations will be accepted through next Monday via the Ministry of Personnel Management's public referrals website, President Lee Jae-myung's official social media channels, or by email to [email protected]. Candidates will then undergo a formal vetting and public review process.

Fmr. trade chief Yeo Han-koo appointed as trade minister

2025/06/10 20:00

President Lee Jae-myung has appointed former trade chief Yeo Han-koo as trade minister, who will lead tariff talks with the U.S. Yeo served as chief negotiator under the former Moon Jae-in government, during the first Trump administration. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the appointee has been recognized for his excellent policy-making and negotiating ability with regard to international trade and economic cooperation. Also on Tuesday, Lee Hyoung-il, commissioner of Statistics Korea, was named first vice finance minister and Park Yoon-joo, minister for South Korea's mission to ASEAN, as first vice foreign minister.

Cabinet approves three special prosecution bills, including martial law probe

2025/06/10 20:00

Three high-profile special prosecution bills were passed during a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung earlier on this Tuesday morning. The probes will focus on the martial law declaration by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, allegations against former First Lady Kim Keon-hee and the death of a marine during flood relief operations in 2023. These bills had been previously vetoed by the Yoon administration but are now set to take effect.

President Lee invites China's Xi Jinping to APEC summit during first talks

2025/06/10 17:00

We start at the top office where President Lee Jae-myung held phone talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping earlier on this Tuesday and extended a cordial invitation to this year's APEC summit scheduled to take place here in South Korea in coming autumn. Our top office correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports. During his first, half-hour phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Lee Jae-myung invited him to South Korea for the upcoming APEC summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju this November. If he does attend, it'll be Xi's first visit to the country in 11 years. Tuesday's conversation was "friendly and amicable" says Lee's spokesperson, where Xi congratulated Lee on winning the election and the two leaders shared similarities in their political career. Their focus was on building a "new" bilateral relationship, bolstering cooperation in areas that could practically help the lives of the people in both countries. "President Lee expressed hope that South Korea and China will actively promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, including the economy, security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, based on the spirit of mutual benefit and equality." Also discussed was North Korea, where Lee asked Xi to play a constructive role for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and Xi responded by saying Beijing will make efforts, saying peace and stability fit into their mutual interests. It's been a week since Lee took office, during which he exchanged greetings and held "get-to-know" sessions with the leaders of some major countries, first with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, followed by Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Then came talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "President Lee, during his the presidential campaign, said that ROK-U.S. alliance is the most top priority and then he also put lots of emphasis on the relationship with Japan. Of course, he mentioned that South Korea-U.S.-Japan, the trilateral cooperation is important. So he's simply implementing what he has pledged." The series of talks comes as the newly inaugurated Korean leader prepares for his debut on the multilateral summit stage next week in Canada, where the G7 leaders are set to meet, where sideline summits are possible with Trump and Ishiba. "All seven countries share the same value that this liberal democratic country and they also have the same goal to balancing against China. To participate this G7 meeting, even though we are not a member of G7, but as the observer, it's can deliver the very significant message to China." The upcoming diplomatic stage is also widely seen as a litmus test of how the new Korean President will navigate diplomacy, both with the U.S. and China in mind, as he puts forth "pragmatic diplomacy." This, as Korea also makes its comeback on the diplomatic stage official after a six-month absence following the impeachment of its former leader. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

World News: Gaza-bound activist boat carrying Greta Thunberg towed to Israel

2025/06/10 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Israeli naval forces have intercepted a yacht carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others while it was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Israeli navy boarded the British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, detaining Thunberg and a French lawmaker, among those who were onboard. On early Monday, the vessel was seized approximately 185 kilometers from Gaza in international waters and escorted into a port in Israel by the evening. Israeli officials confirmed the activists were unharmed and will be deported after undergoing medical checks. They said that the yacht's cargo of symbolic aid such as baby formula, rice, and medical kits, will enter Gaza through official Israeli aid channels. While Thunberg denounced the interception as "kidnapping," Israel dismissed the mission as a "media stunt" and called the aid boat a "selfie yacht." Governments in Sweden, France, and Spain have lodged consular requests and France's President Macron has demanded swift repatriation. The boat departed from Italy on June 1 to raise awareness of the conditions in Gaza. Ukraine and Russia began the first stage of a multi-phase prisoner exchange, repatriating servicemen under the age of 25, following a humanitarian agreement reached during peace talks. On Monday, the first phase of a prisoner swap agreed on in Istanbul on June 2 took place, involving young military prisoners and severely wounded individuals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange in his evening address, emphasizing a phased approach over several days and thanking all parties involved. Although specific numbers were undisclosed, both nations affirmed an equal exchange of prisoners. Despite conflicting claims over the exchange between the two nations the previous day, the exchange marks hope for broader negotiations aimed at exchanging at least 1,200 prisoners from each side and repatriating fallen soldiers. Apple unveiled its "liquid glass" design and advanced AI upgrades in iOS 26, its first major visual overhaul since iOS 7, during its Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. The liquid glass interface introduces translucent, refractive UI elements across all platforms, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and TV. AI enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence include live translation in Messages, FaceTime, and the Phone app, all of which are processed on-device. The public beta of iOS 26, including liquid glass and AI features, launches this summer, with the full release slated for this fall. Labubu dolls, a toothy plush toy from Chinese maker Pop Mart, have seen a surge in popularity, and price, worldwide. Created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and marketed since 2019, Labubu shot to fame after being spotted with celebrities like Rihanna, Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Blackpink's Lisa. Collectors, mostly adults, are drawn by the blind-box format of the collectibles, which offers randomly packed variants, some rare versions, fueling a global frenzy. Official retail prices range from about 20 to 30 U.S. dollars, but resale values have exploded from 100 to 7,000 dollars for rare editions. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Ceremony marks 38th anniversary of June 10 Pro-democracy Movement; Nat'l Museum of Korea Democracy opens

2025/06/10 17:00

A ceremony was held here in Seoul today to commemorate the 38th anniversary of South Korea's June 10 Pro-democracy Movement. Some two hundred people including government officials and politicians were present for the solemn affair. In a written message President Lee Jae-myung asserted that democracy is advanced when the past is remembered to build the future. The event also marked the opening of the National Museum of Korea Democracy located in what was once the Anti-Communist Investigation Office a site notorious for state violence during the 1970s and 1980s military dictatorship. Ultimately the country's pro-democracy campaign led to constitutional amendment paving the path to direct presidential elections.

Day 4 of LA protests: at least 56 arrested, 700 marines deployed

2025/06/10 17:00

In Los Angeles. Protests against immigration raids persist and the Trump administration has now mobilized some seven hundred U.S. Marines and thousands of additional National Guard troops to the area. Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. Los Angeles faces the fourth day of protests against the Trump administration's immigration raids. At least 56 people have been arrested during the protests, according to NBC News. Protesters shut down major highways, throwing concrete and Molotov cocktails. Cars were burned to ashes, and police responded with tear gas and flashbangs, filling the streets with smoke. The Los Angeles Police Department declared the entire downtown area a no-protest zone on Sunday local time, concerned about the growing violence of the protesters. On Monday, the Pentagon deployed about 700 marines to LA to support the National Guard. Around 2,000 National Guard troops had already been sent by U.S. President Donald Trump to control the situation, without the governor of California's request. "Thank goodness, we sent out some wonderful National Guard they've really helped and a lot of problems that we're having out there They were afraid to do anything and we sent out the troops and they've done a fantastic job." In response, California's governor Gavin Newsom said he will file a lawsuit against Trump over the activation of the state's National Guard. President Trump called Governor Newsom incompetent and supported arresting him, after Tom Homan, the official in charge of border issues, warned that Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass could face arrest for interfering with immigration enforcement. "Look at the job he's doing in California. He's destroying one of our great states. And if I didn't get involved, if we didn't bring the guard in, and we would bring more in if we needed it, because we have to make sure there's going to be law and order." Meanwhile, the protests that began in LA are now popping up in other major cities, including San Francisco and Chicago. In San Francisco, around 60 people were arrested during Sunday's demonstration. The protests were sparked when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the FBI raided downtown shops in LA last Friday, detaining around 44 people. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Experts' view on second round of U.S.-China trade talks involving chips, rare earths

2025/06/10 17:00

Over in London. American and Chinese delegates are resuming a second session of trade talks on this Tuesday following their first session on Monday to address differences over the deal reached in Geneva. Park Jun-han covers these talks as well as their prospects by pundits here. The United States and China on Monday discussed export controls — specifically, the easing of U.S. technological export restrictions in exchange for greater access to China's rare earth metals. This was on the agenda for the first day of the second round of talks in London. According to a Financial Times report, U.S. President Trump said he could ease chip exports to China if Beijing agrees to accelerate the export of rare earth metals and magnets to the United States. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer led the U.S. delegation. The Chinese side was headed by Vice Premier He Lifeng. While U.S. chip exports and China's control of rare earths could serve as leverage in negotiations, experts say the talks are unlikely to significantly improve market access for either side. "I don't think these trade talks are likely to bring fundamental changes in the U.S.-China relationship at this point, and so the negotiations won't end here. Korea should keep a close eye on the situation and prepare appropriate responses." "On the surface, there may be some concessions between the U.S. and China. However, China can restrict rare earth exports at any time, and the U.S. is only partially easing controls on legacy semiconductors. Therefore, I believe this military-like battle for technological hegemony over high-tech industries between the two nations is likely to continue." Earlier in May, the two countries agreed to significantly reduce tariffs on each other's goods for 90 days. However, following the Geneva agreement, the United States claimed that China had violated the terms by maintaining export controls on rare earth metals, despite pledging to lift non-tariff barriers. China denied the accusation and instead accused the U.S. of taking discriminatory actions, such as canceling visas for Chinese students. Meanwhile, the two countries are set to hold further talks at 10 AM on Tuesday. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.

Cabinet approves three special prosecution bills, including martial law probe

2025/06/10 17:00

Three high-profile special prosecution bills were passed during a Cabinet meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung earlier on this Tuesday morning. The probes will focus on the martial law declaration by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, allegations against former First Lady Kim Keon-hee, and the death of a marine during flood relief operations in 2023. These bills had been previously vetoed by the Yoon administration but are now set to take effect.

Gaza-bound activist boat carrying Greta Thunberg towed to Israel

2025/06/10 10:00

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is the World Now. Israeli naval forces have intercepted a yacht carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others while it was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Israeli navy boarded the British-flagged yacht Madleen, operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, detaining Thunberg and a French lawmaker, among those who were onboard. On early Monday, the vessel was seized approximately 185 kilometers from Gaza in international waters and escorted into a port in Israel by the evening. Israeli officials confirmed the activists were unharmed and will be deported after undergoing medical checks. They said that the yacht's cargo of symbolic aid such as baby formula, and medical kits, will enter Gaza through official Israeli aid channels. While Thunberg denounced the interception as "kidnapping," Israel dismissed the mission as a "media stunt" and called the aid boat a "selfie yacht." Governments in Sweden, France, and Spain have lodged consular requests and France's President Macron has demanded swift repatriation. The boat departed from Italy on June 1 to raise awareness of the conditions in Gaza.

Day 4 of LA protests: at least 56 arrested, 700 marines deployed

2025/06/10 10:00

In Los Angeles. Over 50 people have been arrested, as the protests enter their fourth day. Police have banned gatherings in downtown LA, and the Marines have been sent to support the National Guard. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. Los Angeles faces the fourth day of protests against the Trump administration's immigration raids. At least 56 people have been arrested during the protests, according to NBC News. Protesters shut down major highways, throwing concrete and Molotov cocktails. Cars were burned to ashes, and police responded with tear gas and flashbangs, filling the streets with smoke. The Los Angeles Police Department declared the entire downtown area a no-protest zone on Sunday local time, concerned about the growing violence of the protesters. On Monday, the Pentagon deployed about 700 marines to LA to support the National Guard. Around 2,000 National Guard troops had already been sent by U.S. President Donald Trump to control the situation, without the governor of California's request. "Thank goodness, we sent out some wonderful National Guard they've really helped and a lot of problems that we're having out there They were afraid to do anything and we sent out the troops and they've done a fantastic job." In response, California's governor Gavin Newsom said he will file a lawsuit against Trump over the activation of the state's National Guard. President Trump called Governor Newsom incompetent and supported arresting him, after Tom Homan, the official in charge of border issues, warned that Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass could face arrest for interfering with immigration enforcement. "Look at the job he's doing in California. He's destroying one of our great states. And if I didn't get involved, if we didn't bring the guard in, and we would bring more in if we needed it, because we have to make sure there's going to be law and order." Meanwhile, the protests that began in LA are now popping up in other major cities, including San Francisco and Chicago. In San Francisco, around 60 people were arrested during Sunday's demonstration. The protests were sparked when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and the FBI raided downtown shops in LA last Friday, detaining around 44 people. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

U.S., China discuss export controls on first day of second round of trade talks

2025/06/10 10:00

The United States and China held the second round of their trade talks in London. The two countries discussed export controls, which have emerged as a key issue in their ongoing trade war. Lee Seung-jae starts us off. The United States and China held the second round of trade negotiations in London on Monday, and discussed key issues to resolve the ongoing trade war between the two economic powerhouses. According to Bloomberg, the two sides concluded their first day of negotiations after holding talks for more than six hours. The first day of talks was centered on discussing export controls, specifically over shipments of technology and rare earth elements. The U.S. delegation was led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, while the Chinese delegation was led by Vice Premier He Lifeng. During the talks, the U.S. indicated willingness to partially lift technology export controls targeting China in exchange for the easing of restrictions on rare earth exports to the U.S. However, when asked about the talks between Washington and Beijing, U.S. President Donald Trump said while the U.S. is doing well in talks, "China is not easy." "We are doing well with China. China is not easy. Just like your home country is not easy. I think they are doing very well. They are over there now, I'm only getting good reports. It is a little early, but they will be calling in soon. In fact, probably when I get back, we will have our first call from them. We want to open up China. And if we don't open up China, maybe we won't do anything." The latest trade negotiations also stem from the differences in positions between the two countries, over whether the two major economies violated the trade agreement reached in Geneva last month. At the time, the two sides agreed to drastically lower tariffs on each other's goods for an initial 90-day period. However, Washington claimed that Beijing violated the agreement. The U.S. says China has been reluctant to release exports of rare earth metals and magnets, while China says Washington restricted its access to U.S. goods such as semiconductors and AI technologies. With still much to be discussed between the two countries, officials plan to meet again at 10 AM on Tuesday for a second day of talks in London. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Ukraine, Russia carry out first stage of prisoner swap

2025/06/10 10:00

Ukraine and Russia began the first stage of a multi-phase prisoner exchange, repatriating servicemen under the age of 25, following a humanitarian agreement reached during peace talks. On Monday, the first phase of a prisoner swap agreed on in Istanbul on June 2 took place, involving young military prisoners and severely wounded individuals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the exchange in his evening address, emphasizing a phased approach over several days and thanking all parties involved. Although specific numbers were undisclosed, both nations affirmed an equal exchange of prisoners. Despite conflicting claims over the exchange between the two nations the previous day, the exchange marks hope for broader negotiations aimed at exchanging at least 1,200 prisoners from each side and repatriating fallen soldiers.

Moscow-Pyongyang direct railway to resume operation next week

2025/06/10 10:00

Direct trains between Moscow and Pyongyang, which were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume service next week. That's according to the Russian Railways on Monday, which said it will resume the international direct railway between the two cities starting June 17th, "in agreement with the North Korean railway authorities." The Moscow-Pyongyang railway operates twice a month, departing from Pyongyang on the 3rd and 17th, and arriving in Moscow eight days later. The train from Moscow to Pyongyang also takes eight days and departs on the 12th and 26th of each month. According to Russian Railways, it's the longest direct railway line in the world, covering over 10-thousand kilometers.