News

Trump held phone calls with Russia, Ukraine discussing peace talks; What next?

2025/02/13 20:00

Talks could start sooner than later to end the crisis in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump held phone calls with the leaders of both Russia and Ukraine and signaled a potential breakthrough in ending the war. Park Kun-woo takes a closer look. Hopes of peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war are growing. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had a phone call lasting over an hour with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing securing a ceasefire in the near future. "I can say with great confidence he wants to see it ended also. That's good. And we're going to work toward getting it ended and as fast as possible." He added he ordered top U.S. officials to begin talks aimed at ending the war. Both leaders also agreed to meet in the future, with Putin inviting Trump to Moscow. Aside from that, Trump said their first meeting would probably take place in Saudi Arabia. Trump also had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, which Zelenskyy described as a long and meaningful discussion. "We believe that America's strength, together with us and all our partners, is enough to pressure Russia and Putin into peace." However, one expert says some uncertain factors, including Ukraine's potential membership in NATO, remain that can complicate the peace talks from proceeding. "I think Ukraine's stance to join NATO will not be accepted. Instead, Ukraine will still likely negotiate to secure at least some form of security assistance from the U.S." Setting territorial boundaries for Russia and Ukraine is another issue. "Since Russia's goal was to gain more territory, this is a part it cannot easily concede. However, the justification for this is weaker than opposing Ukraine's NATO membership. But it seems likely that Russia will give up some territory in exchange for things like U.S.' sanctions relief." This comes with Russia currently occupying around 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that were taken before 2022. But the expert also stressed that it's unfortunate to see such a colonial-style expansion well after World War Two as countries had previously agreed to stop, and that it will now be remembered as a very bad precedent. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Conflicting statements continue as Constitutional Court schedules extra hearing for President Yoon's impeachment trial

2025/02/13 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial is nearing its end, but clashes continued at the Constitutional Court today. The Court has decided to add an extra hearing for next week to summarize the arguments. Our Correspondent Oh Soo-young begins our coverage. The battle of narratives continued at President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, as the eighth and initially last session was extended with another hearing scheduled for next Tuesday. Cho Sung-hyun, the Head of the Capital Defense Command's 1st Security Group, said he had been ordered by his Commander Lee Jin-woo to pull out legislators from the parliamentary building. Lee Jin-woo who was questioned at the Court last week had refused to answer whether he'd been given such an order by Yoon, due to his ongoing criminal trial, while the President has denied issuing such instructions. Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun has claimed the order was to pull out "agents" or "yo-won" , not "legislators" or "ui-won" , while Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun said the President said "persons" or "in-won" . More conflicting statements emerged during the session. National Intelligence Service chief Cho Tae-yong cast doubt over the claims made by his deputy last week that the President ordered the arrest of politicians on the night of December 3rd. Deputy Director Hong Jang-won had said he had heard fourteen to sixteen public figures named as targets for arrest by Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung which he wrote down on a notepad outside the Director Cho's residence. He claimed his secretary helped decipher it later, thus there are two notes in total. However, Cho says, based on CCTV footage, Hong was not outside, but in his office at the time he said he wrote the memo. The Director also said there appeared to be four versions of the note, appearing to suggest there's been some fabrication on Hong's part. Cho questioned Hong's political neutrality, adding he heard last year in a parliamentary committee meeting that Hong had made seven separate requests regarding personnel appointments to a former opposition party lawmaker who previously worked at the NIS under the last administration. On Thursday, former Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kim Bong-sik also testified. Kim said that he had deployed police to the National Assembly to ensure public safety,.. and denied he'd been given orders to make arrests. As witness statements continue to clash, the President's side today also reapplied for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to be called as a witness, whom the Court rejected on Tuesday, and asked to re-summon Hong Jang-won. They also asked for National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho to be made to stand as a witness, as he failed to show up twice due to health reasons. Justices will review the new witness applications on Friday. So far, the court has accepted a total of 15 witnesses in the impeachment trial—seven requested by the National Assembly and eight by President Yoon's side. This compares to the 36 approved during former President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial. "For now, the Court has scheduled a ninth hearing for next Tuesday at 2 PM, where each legal team will have two hours to summarize their arguments. If the hearings conclude next week, observers say the ruling could be made around early March. Park Geun-hye's impeachment was upheld after 11 days, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed after 14 days. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News."

FM Cho Tae-yul to meet U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio in Munich

2025/02/13 20:00

Seoul and Washington's top diplomats are to hold their first talks this weekend in Germany, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. It's the first one-on-one meeting between South Korean foreign minister Cho Tae-yul and his counterpart U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, since President Trump took office in January for his second term. The talks are likely to take place on Saturday. The officials are expected to discuss North Korean nuclear issues, trilateral cooperation with Japan, and bilateral economic cooperation. South Korea and the U.S. are also reportedly coordinating details to hold a trilateral meeting with Japan.

Trump reciprocal tariffs could come by Thursday: White House

2025/02/13 20:00

In other news. Trump's reciprocal tariffs on American trade partners are expected to be announced on Thursday local time. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump will announce his reciprocal tariffs sometime this week,.. in response to tariffs being imposed on U.S. exports by other countries. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Trump will announce his latest tariff plan before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this Thursday. Amid criticism over Trump's trade policies, the press secretary reiterated the U.S. president's call for even trade, adding that such policies are needed to benefit American workers and improve its national security. "And it's very simple logic as to why the president wants to impose reciprocal tariffs. It's the golden rule, which we all learned, when we were growing up in school. Treat others the way you want to be treated. And far too many nations around this world have been ripping off the United States of America for far too long. And that's why the president believes this will be a great policy that will benefit American workers and improve our national security. " Meanwhile, with the reciprocal tariff announcement looming countries have been in talks with Trump's trade officials. Earlier on Wednesday, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said that Washington is in talks with other countries on reciprocal tariffs. According to Reuters, European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič held phone talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer as well as Hassett. Pundits say, despite Trump's looming announcement on reciprocal tariffs, it's likely that he will disclose his plans for how to proceed with the tariffs first, rather than immediately announcing the tariffs to be imposed on each country. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump kick starts summit diplomacy with world leaders

2025/02/13 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. U.S. President Donald Trump's recent diplomatic moves are making waves on the global stage. His push for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has sparked fresh hopes, while his bold Gaza transformation proposal is stirring heated geopolitical debate. Meanwhile, Trump's hardline trade policies with allies like Japan and growing gaps in diplomacy with South Korea raise questions about the future of U.S. partnerships in Asia. For more on how Trump's high-stakes diplomacy continues to unfold, we invite Lim Eun-jung, Professor of International Studies at Kongju National University. Welcome. Also joining us is Michael Allen, Professor of Political Science at Boise State University's School of Public Service. (LIM) 1. So Professor Lim, on Wednesday, Trump announced that he had separate phone calls that day with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as he ordered top U.S. officials to begin truce negotiations. He mentioned that a ceasefire is to come in the not-too-distant future, raising hopes for a peaceful resolution. How significant is this breakthrough, and what challenges might arise in implementing an agreement between the two nations? (ALLEN) 2. Given Trump's direct communication with President Putin and the agreement to start peace negotiations immediately, how do you assess the likelihood of a sustained ceasefire? Could this move shift the dynamics of U.S.-Russia relations? (LIM) 3. President Trump's proposal to take control of Gaza and transform it into a Mediterranean tourist hub has sparked global debate. How do you view this plan from a geopolitical and political feasibility perspective? (ALLEN) 4. King Abdullah II of Jordan firmly rejected the proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan. How significant is this rejection for U.S.-Jordan relations and the broader Middle East peace process? (LIM) 5. Meanwhile, following the Washington-Tokyo summit, Japan agreed to double its defense budget by 2027. We are aware that Japan has been cautious about increasing its military presence due to its pacifist constitution. What do you think triggered the latest decision? (ALLEN) 6. Trump's recent meeting with Japan's prime minister focused heavily on defense spending and trade. But despite the good atmosphere, Trump pushed through by slapping 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. The U.S.-Japan relationship is often described as an "economic partnership." Do you think this tariff policy could fracture that partnership? (LIM) 7. With a one-month grace period before the tariffs take effect, how could Japan leverage diplomatic channels to negotiate an exemption or soften the impact of this policy? (ALLEN) 8. President Trump is set to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later today U.S. time. Given Trump's emphasis on trade deficits and protectionist policies, what do you expect will be the main focus of the U.S.-India summit? (ALLEN) 9. South Korea is facing a prolonged absence of high-level diplomacy with President Trump's second administration, especially compared to other nations actively engaging in summits. How do you interpret the impact of this diplomatic void on U.S.-Korea relations? (LIM) 10. The lack of early communication between South Korea's acting president and President Trump has raised concerns. How critical is it for Korea to secure a summit soon, and what issues should be prioritized in such talks?

How Trump's potential tariffs on cars, semiconductors may affect South Korea

2025/02/13 17:00

And as the government seeks to better support its corporate sector Korean businesses are bracing for strong headwinds given earlier remarks by Mr. Trump targeting cars chips and more. Our Bae Eun-ji covers the mounting concerns. Starting March 12th, the United States will be imposing 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports Announcing this, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he's also looking at tariffs on cars and semiconductor chips to create jobs. "But we'll be talking about other subjects like cars. We'll be talking about drugs and pharmaceuticals. We'll be discussing chips. And we're going to be doing some other things in addition to that, all of which will bring in a lot of jobs into our country. Cars is going to be a very big one and a very important one." Trump's comments have raised more concerns in South Korea, as cars and semiconductors take up more than 30 percent of the country's total exports to the United States. S&P Global Ratings said in a report released in November, that a potential 20-percent tariff on imports from South Korea could cut Hyundai and Kia's earnings by up to 19 percent. As for chips, experts say that the potential tariff hikes on chips are not likely to have a significant impact on Korean companies for the time being. "As for memory chips, there's not really a product in the market that can replace South Korean chips. So considering the time until the tariffs start to have an impact --for example, the time needed for South Korea to build a semiconductor factory in the U.S. --I don't think it will have that much of an impact in the semiconductor industry for now." But pundits warn the message that Trump is trying to say is clear: to pressure foreign companies. "Using tariffs, they're trying to pressure South Korean companies to make it more beneficial to the United States, when those companies invest in the U.S." To avoid tariff risks, industry watchers say that it's now more important than ever for Korean semiconductor manufacturers such as Samsung and SK hynix to secure deals with big tech companies in the U.S. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Lawmakers conduct gov't Q&A on issues related to economy

2025/02/13 17:00

Meanwhile against the backdrop of broader U.S. tariffs the National Assembly here in Korea opened its second day of interpellation earlier on this Thursday with the focus on the country's economy. Lawmakers are grilling related Cabinet members on the government's potential countermeasures to the Trump administration's protectionist trade campaign as well as on efforts to strengthen Korea's semiconductor industry and to support its AI ambitions. With regard to the chip sector debate continues over flexible work hours for those in the industry amid the current cap of 52 hours per week.

Trump reciprocal tariffs could come by Thursday: White House

2025/02/13 17:00

Also at the White House. Mr. Trump's reciprocal tariffs on American trade partners are expected to be announced on Thursday local time. Lee Seung-jae has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump will announce his reciprocal tariffs sometime this week,.. in response to tariffs being imposed on U.S. exports by other countries. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Trump will announce his latest tariff plan before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this Thursday. Amid criticism over Trump's trade policies, the press secretary reiterated the U.S. president's call for even trade, adding that such policies are needed to benefit American workers and improve its national security. "And it's very simple logic as to why the president wants to impose reciprocal tariffs. It's the golden rule, which we all learned, when we were growing up in school. Treat others the way you want to be treated. And far too many nations around this world have been ripping off the United States of America for far too long. And that's why the president believes this will be a great policy that will benefit American workers and improve our national security. " Meanwhile, with the reciprocal tariff announcement looming countries have been in talks with Trump's trade officials. Earlier on Wednesday, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said that Washington is in talks with other countries on reciprocal tariffs. According to Reuters, European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič held phone talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer as well as Hassett. Pundits say, despite Trump's looming announcement on reciprocal tariffs, it's likely that he will disclose his plans for how to proceed with the tariffs first, rather than immediately announcing the tariffs to be imposed on each country. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump, Putin agree to begin talks to stop war in Ukraine during phone call

2025/02/13 17:00

Beyond borders. U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly engaged in constructive dialogue with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in SEPARATE phone calls about ending the Kremlin's aggression against Kyiv. Choi Min-jung has details. The United States and Russia have reportedly agreed to begin talks to stop the war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media on Wednesday,. that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the almost three-year-long war. Trump said he had a "lengthy and highly productive phone call" with Putin, and that their respective teams have agreed to start negotiations immediately. "I think I can say with great confidence he wants to see it, end it also. And that's good. And we are going to work toward getting it ended and as fast as possible." The two leaders also agreed to meet in the future,.. with Putin inviting Trump to Moscow. Trump said he would likely meet with Putin in the "not too distant future," probably in Saudi Arabia. Trump also held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, which Zelenskyy described as a "long, substantive" discussion. "President Trump informed me of what Putin told him. We believe that America's strength, together with us and all our partners, is enough to pressure Russia and Putin into peace." Following Trump's separate phone calls with both the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, the White House confirmed that the conversations went very well and that all three sides were committed to peace. "It is time to stop this ridiculous war where there has been massive and totally unnecessary death and destruction." On Friday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to attend the Munich Security Conference, and reaffirm Washington's determination to end the war. The Vice President is scheduled to hold in-person talks with Zelenskyy that day as well. Meanwhile, European foreign ministers and officials warned that the future of Ukraine could not be decided without Europe or Kyiv. Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged unity against Moscow, stating that lasting peace for Ukraine depends on military and financial strength. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

World News: Russia to get back jailed cybercrime boss from U.S. after freeing teacher Marc Fogel

2025/02/13 17:00

This is The World Now, bring you the latest stories from around the globe. With expectations growing over a possible peace deal in Ukraine, the United States and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange, for the first time in six months, involving American teacher Marc Fogel and Russian cybercrime suspect Alexander Vinnik. On Wednesday, the U.S. released Alexander Vinnik, co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BT-e, who had been detained since 2017 on charges of laundering over 4 billion U.S. dollars through the platform. Vinnik admitted to being part of a money laundering scheme and was waiting to be sentenced in the U.S. Moscow released Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old American schoolteacher based in Russia, who was arrested in 2021 for having medically prescribed marijuana and was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison. Fogel returned to the U.S. on Tuesday and was welcomed by President Donald Trump. Following U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports earlier this week Mexico and Canada plan to seek exemptions through discussions. On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that top officials will engage in discussions with the United States over the 25% tariffs later this week. Mexico's economy minister emphasized that the levies are "unjustified," noting that the U.S. maintains a trade surplus in these metals with Mexico. Also on Wednesday, Canada made a diplomatic push by sending all 13 Canadian premiers to Washington, D.C. for the first time. They'll meet with U.S. senators and members of Congress to speak against the impending tariffs and highlight the negative impacts on industries that rely heavily on steel and aluminum in both nations. Inflation rose 3% in January, in the U.S., up from 2.9 percent in December last year, marking the highest rate since June. The figure is driven by increased costs of groceries, gasoline, and rent. Egg prices surged by 15.2%, due to an avian flu outbreak, 조류독감 발생으로 인해 계란 가격이 15.2% 급등하여 1다스 A등급 계란의 평균 가격이 4달러 95센트에 달했습니다.reaching a record average of 4 dollars 95 cents per dozen Grade A eggs. The Federal Reserve expressed concern over the persistent inflation, which challenges its plans for future interest rate cuts. President Trump has pledged to mitigate prices, but pundits believe his recent tariffs could increase costs in the short term. Finally, in Taiwan, the 2025 Taiwan Lantern Festival for the Year of the Snake officially began on Wednesday, with an opening ceremony held in Taoyuan City. Daily light shows and a variety of lantern displays will be held across Taoyuan's 13 districts from 6 to 10 PM until February 23. The Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City also attracted thousands of visitors who participated in the release of illuminated lanterns into the night sky. The tradition symbolizes peace and prosperity for the new year. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Newly declassified inter-Korean talks reveal Pyongyang’s shifting stance on division

2025/02/13 17:00

Staying at the Unification Ministry. Officials there today made public a collection of past cross-border interactions that offers an interesting insight into North Korea's shifting policy toward South Korea. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil explains. Looking back at history may offer insights into the future, especially when it comes to inter-Korean relations. On Thursday, the Ministry of Unification released newly declassified records of inter-Korean talks from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance public access to information and deepen understanding of North Korea. One of the most striking revelations from these records is how North Korea's stance on inter-Korean division has dramatically changed—contradicting what it once asserted. In official transcripts from 1990, Pyongyang condemned South Korea's anti-tank barriers near the military demarcation line, calling them a "symbol of permanent division." It stated: "It is already heartbreaking that a military demarcation line exists within our nation, but having an artificial barrier built on top of it is nothing short of a national disgrace." North Korea further demanded the removal of these barriers saying , "The concrete wall in the southern part of the demarcation line must be removed." Yet fast forward to today, Pyongyang is building its own barriers along the DMZ, demolishing cross-border roads and railways, and rejecting reunification—declaring South Korea a hostile state. As North Korea reinforces division, the Ministry of Unification is shedding light on the past. It says these records provide critical insight into Pyongyang's evolving stance on division and inter-Korean relations. "Through these newly declassified documents, the public can get a vivid look at inter-Korean dialogue in the late 1980s and the records of preliminary meetings held in preparation for high-level talks in the 1990s." Those interested in reviewing these records can visit the Ministry of Unification's Inter-Korean Relations Management Bureau website or the Information Center on North Korea in Seoul. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

N. Korea dismantling facility for separated families near border

2025/02/13 17:00

North Korea is dismantling a reunion center for separated families located at its Kumgangsan Mountain. This is according to the Unification Ministry here on this Thursday in a statement that also denounced the demolition of the property as an "inhumane act" that tramples on the hopes of families separated by the Korean War. South Korea built the center in 2008 at a cost of over 35 million U.S. dollars. The 12-story building can accommodate up to a thousand family members and is owned by the South Korean government. The last cross-border family reunion took place in 2018.

Former NSC official, Allison Hooker, tapped as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

2025/02/13 10:00

Former U.S. National Security Council official, Allison Hooker, who was involved in U.S.-North Korea summits during Trump's first term, has been nominated as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. This is the third-highest position in the U.S. State Department and oversees the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau, which handles affairs related to Korea. Trump notified Congress of his decision on Tuesday. Hooker served as the former senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council and took part in preparations for Trump's summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore in 2018, Hanoi in 2019, and the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in 2019.

U.S. says minerals deal with Ukraine could serve as post-war security for Kyiv

2025/02/13 10:00

The U.S. and Ukraine are working toward a minerals deal that could serve as a post-war security shield for Kyiv. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Ukrainian President President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the potential agreement in Kyiv on Wednesday. Bessent said the deal would provide Ukraine with long-term security, while Zelenskyy expressed hope that negotiations could be finalized later this week. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly promoted the idea of trading U.S. aid for Ukraine's critical minerals, as part of his push to secure 500 billion dollars worth of rare earth minerals from Ukraine. Bessent is the first cabinet-level official from the Trump administration to visit Ukraine.

Trump reciprocal tariffs could come by Thursday: White House

2025/02/13 10:00

According to the White House, reciprocal tariffs that President Donald Trump has warned he will impose will be signed on Thursday. Trump's trade officials have also begun holding talks with key global allies, in the hope of avoiding the worst. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump will announce his reciprocal tariffs sometime this week,.. in response to tariffs being imposed on U.S. exports by other countries. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday, Trump will announce his latest tariff plan before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this Thursday. This means that Trump could make the announcement as early as Wednesday, but no later than Thursday. Amid criticism over Trump's trade policies, the press secretary reiterated the U.S. president's call for even trade, adding that such policies are needed to benefit American workers and improve its national security. "And it's very simple logic as to why the president wants to impose reciprocal tariffs. It's the golden rule, which we all learned, when we were growing up in school. Treat others the way you want to be treated. And far too many nations around this world have been ripping off the United States of America for far too long. And that's why the president believes this will be a great policy that will benefit American workers and improve our national security. " Meanwhile, with the reciprocal tariff announcement looming countries have been in talks with Trump's trade officials. Earlier on Wednesday, Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House National Economic Council, said that Washington is in talks with other countries on reciprocal tariffs. According to Reuters, European Union Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič held phone talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer as well as Hassett. Pundits say, despite Trump's looming announcement on reciprocal tariffs, it's likely that he will disclose his plans for how to proceed with the tariffs first, rather than immediately announcing the tariffs to be imposed on each country. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump, Putin agree to begin talks to stop war in Ukraine during phone call

2025/02/13 10:00

With just a week left until the Ukraine crisis enters its third year, U.S. President Donald Trump held a 90-minute phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a potential breakthrough in ending the war in Ukraine. Choi Min-jung reports. The United States and Russia have reportedly agreed to begin talks to stop the war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media on Wednesday,. that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the almost three-year-long war. Trump said he had a "lengthy and highly productive phone call" with Putin, and that their respective teams have agreed to start negotiations immediately. "I think I can say with great confidence he wants to see it, end it also. And that's good. And we are going to work toward getting it ended and as fast as possible." The two leaders also agreed to meet in the future,.. with Putin inviting Trump to Moscow. Trump said he would likely meet with Putin in the "not too distant future," probably in Saudi Arabia. Trump also held a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, which Zelenskyy described as a "long, substantive" discussion. "President Trump informed me of what Putin told him. We believe that America's strength, together with us and all our partners, is enough to pressure Russia and Putin into peace." Following Trump's separate phone calls with both the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, the White House confirmed that the conversations went very well and that all three sides were committed to peace. "It is time to stop this ridiculous war where there has been massive and totally unnecessary death and destruction." On Friday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to attend the Munich Security Conference, and reaffirm Washington's determination to end the war. The Vice President is scheduled to hold in-person talks with Zelenskyy that day as well. Meanwhile, European foreign ministers and officials warned that the future of Ukraine could not be decided without Europe or Kyiv. Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged unity against Moscow, stating that lasting peace for Ukraine depends on military and financial strength. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

Live: Will President Yoon's impeachment trial end today? Court says it "doesn't know"

2025/02/13 10:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial draws near to a close, with the eighth and final session scheduled so far taking place on Thursday. For more, we connect to our Oh Soo-young at the Constitutional Court. Q1. Sooyoung, The eighth hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial began moments ago in the main courtroom. Tell us more. Sure, Dami, The eighth and what could be the final hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial began at 10 AM with the leader once again attending to represent himself. Today, three witness examinations are scheduled, National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong, former Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kim Bong-sik, and head of the Capital Defense Command's 1st Security Group Cho Sung-hyun. National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho was also set to testify but couldn't due to health reasons, marking his second absence. The questions are likely to focus on the orders that were given on the night of December 3rd when the President declared Martial Law, as justices continue to review whether his actions were Constitutional in terms of legality and context. Cho Sung-hyun's questioning session should be interesting as he was summoned to the trial by the judicial bench, as his boss Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo refused to answer certain questions regarding President Yoon's direct orders on sending troops to the National Assembly and the arrest of politicians. Given the conflicting statements we've seen so far at past hearings, it's unclear whether today's will offer more clarity or confusion. Q2. Right. It's still unclear whether the Court will conclude the sessions today or not. That's right, Dami. Press Officer Cheon Jae-hyun said Wednesday that she hasn't been informed of any additional hearings, and when asked about the possibility, simply said she didn't know. She also refused to answer how trials normally wrap up. Based on previous cases, we can assume it would take around two to three hours for both the petitioner and the respondent to make their final arguments. Now, as there's a full day of witness questioning today, experts predict there'll be one or two more hearings scheduled. But if the hearings do conclude today, the verdict could come as early as late February. Former President Park Geun-hye underwent 17 hearings in her impeachment trial, while former President Roh Moo-hyun's trial involved seven hearings. Park's impeachment was upheld in 11 days, and Roh Moo-hyun's was dismissed in 14 days. Q3. Well, what will affect the timeline of the verdict? One key factor is whether additional witnesses will be approved. So far, the court has accepted a total of 15 witnesses in the impeachment trial—seven requested by the National Assembly and eight by President Yoon's side. This compares to the 36 witnesses approved during Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial. The Court says it is reviewing the three new candidates requested by Yoon. Experts say, there could be ramifications later if the justices don't show due process. Another variable affecting the timeline is the dispute case related to Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision not to appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as a Constitutional Court justice. If the Constitutional Court upholds the jurisdictional dispute and Ma is appointed, the court will return to its full nine-member bench, and Ma will participate in the impeachment trial. Yoon's team might request a retrial process then, asking Ma to review evidence records from the beginning, which would delay the ruling. Soo-young, thank you for the coverage. That was our Oh Soo-young live from the Constitutional Court.

U.S. frees jailed Russian cybercriminal after Russia releases teacher Marc Fogel

2025/02/13 10:00

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, And this, is The World Now. With expectations growing over a possible peace deal in Ukraine, the United States and Russia conducted a prisoner exchange, for the first time in six months, involving American teacher Marc Fogel and Russian cybercrime suspect Alexander Vinnik. On Wednesday, the U.S. released Alexander Vinnik, co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange BT-e, who had been detained since 2017 on charges of laundering over 4 billion U.S. dollars through the platform. Vinnik admitted to being part of a money laundering scheme and was waiting to be sentenced in the U.S. Moscow released Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old American schoolteacher based in Russia, who was arrested in 2021 for having medically prescribed marijuana and was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison. Fogel returned to the U.S. on Tuesday and was welcomed by President Donald Trump.

Mexican president says Mexico and U.S. will discuss steel tariffs later this week

2025/02/13 10:00

Following U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports earlier this week Mexico and Canada plan to seek exemptions through discussions. On Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that top officials will engage in discussions with the United States over the 25% tariffs later this week. Mexico's economy minister emphasized that the levies are "unjustified," noting that the U.S. maintains a trade surplus in these metals with Mexico. Also on Wednesday, Canada made a diplomatic push by sending all 13 Canadian premiers to Washington, D.C. for the first time. They'll meet with U.S. senators and members of Congress to speak against the impending tariffs and highlight the negative impacts on industries that rely heavily on steel and aluminum in both nations.

U.S. likely to impose reciprocal tariffs as early as Tuesday

2025/02/12 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. Following his 25-percent blanket tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the American market, U.S. President Donald Trump is now poised to announce reciprocal tariffs on American trade partners. Choi Min-jung has our top story. The U.S. is anticipated to announce plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on other countries, as early as Tuesday, or by Wednesday at the latest. "I'll be announcing probably Tuesday or Wednesday at a news conference reciprocal tariffs. And very simply, it's if they charge us, we charge them." Trump claims that introducing reciprocal tariffs will create a fairer trading environment for the U.S. In theory, the U.S. would apply identical levies on imports from a specific country that the country imposes on American exports. Pundits say one of the most significant countries impacted by reciprocal tariffs would be India. In 2022, India imposed an average tariff of 9-point-5 percent on American products, significantly higher than the 3-percent rate the U.S. imposed on Indian goods. Europe will also likely face reciprocal tariffs. The U.S. imposes a 2-point-5 percent tariff on cars from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, while the EU charges 10 percent on American auto imports. On top of that, there's the question of how Trump will handle value-added tax in the EU, which averages at over 20 percent. "The European Union charges as 20% plus, plus, plus of VAT tax, called a VAT tax, very similar, and it cost us an absolute fortune. We are treated so badly." If Trump takes a country-level approach, countries with which the U.S. has free trade agreements, including South Korea, are likely to remain unaffected, as most products are tariff-free. "Most of the goods that Korea sells to the United States as well as most of the goods that U.S. sells to Korea are covered by the KOR-U.S. FTA, which means that they have zero tariffs So the reciprocal tariffs will probably not affect Korea that much unless Trump specifically targets Korea." Given that South Korea posted a record trade surplus with the U.S. last year, there's a possibility that President Trump could target this issue. Nonetheless, the White House has indicated that reciprocal tariffs may not be implemented immediately this week, as Trump focuses on reviewing existing tariffs. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.