News
Hamas threatens to postpone next hostage release citing broken terms of ceasefire deal by Israel
2025/02/11 10:00
Palestinian military group Hamas on Monday threatened to postpone the next hostage release, citing a breach of the ceasefire deal by Israel. Israel refuted the claims, saying instead that the postponement is a "complete violation of the ceasefire." Lee Seung-jae reports. Palestinian militant group Hamas had planned to release Israeli hostages this coming Saturday, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, that swap may now be in doubt, as the militant group announced on Monday that it would delay those plans,.. accusing Israel of breaching the Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to Hamas Armed Wing Spokesperson Abu Obeida, the release of the Israeli hostages will be postponed until further notice, pending Israel's "compliance and retroactive compensation for the past weeks." He added that Hamas will reaffirm its commitment to the ceasefire agreement, as long as Israel adheres to it. The spokesperson further explained that for the past three weeks, the Israelis did not abide by the terms of the agreement, having delayed the return of residents of northern Gaza, targeting Palestinians with shelling and gunfire, and stopping aid from entering the enclave. Israel has refuted the claims made by Hamas, and instead blamed the militant group for violating the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also announced on Monday that he had instructed his military to "prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza." In response,.. the Israel Defense Forces said it was "raising its level of readiness in southern Israel and postponing leave for combat soldiers," raising concerns over further escalation of tension in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also moved up a political-security cabinet meeting, originally scheduled for Tuesday evening, after the Hamas announcement. An Israeli official said the Israeli leader is consulting with his security leadership team to discuss response measures. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
What Trump's 25% tariffs mean for S. Korea's steel, automobile industry
2025/02/11 10:00
And Monday's announcement is another red flag for South Korea, as Trump said himself that there will be no exceptions or exemptions. How big of a blow will it be this time? Lee Soo-jin reports. South Korean companies are bracing themselves for the potential impact of Trump's universal tariff threat on their production costs and global competitiveness. "Yeah. Any steel coming into the United States is going to have a 25% tariff. Aluminum too." The import tax is drawing global attention because unlike last week's tariffs, this will be the first time in Trump's second term that a tariff measure is targeting all countries. And Korea is one of those that is expected to be affected, as it is a major steel exporter to the U.S., and its car manufacturers with plants there rely on imported steel and aluminum for car production. "Our main export items to the United States are items like vehicles and semiconductors. But if tariffs are imposed, the competitiveness of our products will likely take a big hit." But this isn't the first time that Trump has imposed a 25 percent on all imports of steel, as he did so previously in 2018 during his first term. South Korea at the time negotiated a deal with the Trump administration whereby it was granted a tariff-free quota for steel exports amounting to around 70 percent of the average amount of steel shipped annually to the U.S. As anything above that limit was subject to the 25 percent tariff, it reduced the volume of steel imports from South Korea. With universal tariffs also expected during his second term, Korean companies had already begun exploring ways to expand investments in the U.S. to minimize related risks. Hyundai Steel, for one, is considering building a steel mill in the U.S. to produce automotive steel sheets, while Hyundai Motor Group plans to further expand local vehicle production there. But compared to other nations facing a 50 percent tariff, the impact on Korea may be of less concern, according to the expert. "While universal tariffs will directly impact our country, it's hard to say that we'll be more impacted than others as they target all nations." The government, however,.. is remaining vigilant with the trade and industry ministry announcing on Monday that it plans to closely monitor the situation and work with the steel industry to come up with response measures. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.
On-point: Why is Trump targeting steel and aluminum this time?
2025/02/11 10:00
Trump continues to roll out his tariff plans as planned and expected this time a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum coming into the U.S. We discuss more with Voice of America correspondent Jessica Stone. Welcome back, Jessica. 1. Let's begin with the targeted items. Why are steel and aluminum on the list this time? What is the intention here? 2. Also in the coming days, Trump is expected to make a formal announcement about reciprocal tariffs on every country. What are reciprocal tariffs? 3. Which countries are to be included? India? Thailand? What sectors or fields will be targeted next time? 4. How are European countries reacting to Trump's latest tariff plans? 5. Are we hearing anything about possible Trump-Xi negotiations? How likely is it that Trump and Xi will hold talks in the near future? Jessica, thanks for the report today. We appreciate it.
Live: Questions over martial law process as President Yoon's impeachment trial nears end
2025/02/11 10:00
President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial resumes on Tuesday as we speak, with more witnesses to testify at the Constitutional Court. It's the second-to-last hearing, and the question is whether the Court will add any additional sessions or not. We have our Oh Soo-young live to bring us the latest. Q1. Let's begin with what today's hearing will look like. Sure, Dami. Just moments ago, the Court kicked off Yoon's seventh trial hearing, which will see four witnesses summoned to testify: Beginning at 10:30am, questions for the former interior minister Lee Sang-min are expected to focus on the meeting of Cabinet members held before the martial law declaration on December 3 last year. The National Assembly's impeachment panel says the President had bypassed Cabinet procedures before imposing the decree. He's also believed to have received instructions on restricting the press under the rule of the Martial Law Command. Next, National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik who served as defense minister until September last year, is expected to be grilled over whether there was prior planning. As both the National Assembly and President Yoon's legal team have requested Lee and Shin as witnesses, the lawyers will directly question and cross-examine each witness twice. For former Third Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Baek Jong-wook, and Secretary-General of the National Election Commission Kim Yong-bin,.., the questions are expected to focus on election fraud allegations raised by President Yoon as a pretext for declaring martial law. Yoon previously said the intelligence service found significant issues while inspecting the election commission's electronic voting system. Thus, he ordered the military to be deployed to its headquarters to conduct a comprehensive review. Q2. The eighth and final hearing is currently scheduled for Thursday but we don't know if or how long it will be extended yet. That's right. A Constitutional Court official told reporters on Monday that the judicial bench has not yet confirmed whether additional hearings will be held beyond this coming Thursday. In order to conclude the hearings, the bench must hear the closing arguments from both legal teams and President Yoon's final statement. This would take around 2 to 3 hours, and given that four witness testimonies are planned for Thursday, it is unlikely that justices will conclude the hearings then. Experts say more witnesses are likely to be summoned as some of the main testimonies we've heard so far have caused more confusion due to discrepancies with previous statements or conflicting narratives between witnesses. While the Court has emphasised its commitment to a speedy trial, there's been concern that the back-to-back witness questioning twice a week doesn't allow much time for a thorough review of the testimonies or evidence. For now, it seems the Court has not yet instructed either side to prepare their final arguments. We'll see what happens. Thanks for keeping us updated.
S. Korea's human rights commission ensures Pres. Yoon's right to defense during impeachment trial
2025/02/11 10:00
South Korea's National Human Rights Commission has passed a proposal guaranteeing President Yoon's right to defense during his impeachment trial. The proposal was passed on Monday with six out of 11 commission members voting in favor, after a heated four-hour debate. The adoption ensures a strict adherence to due process, guaranteeing Yoon's right to defense, similar to criminal proceedings, despite the impeachment being a political process. Some supporters of President Yoon also caused a commotion on Monday, entering the commission building to demand the adoption of the proposal, before the police intervened.
Russia said concrete proposals for Ukraine peace negotiations were not received
2025/02/11 10:00
Russia says it has not received any concrete proposals about beginning negotiations with Ukraine to end the war. Russia's deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin said Monday that reports from the West and Ukraine are more likely "media hype" aimed at creating favorable conditions. He added that such statements should be backed by practical actions that consider Russia's legitimate interests. Meanwhile, the Kremlin also declined to comment on reports of a phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukraine.
Trump announces new tariffs on steel, aluminum amid U.S.-China trade war
2025/02/10 20:00
Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing a blanket tariff of 25 percent on steel and aluminium imports into the U.S. Park Kun-woo covers the trade war that looks to be intensifying. The tariffs imposed by the U.S. are intensifying. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will announce plans for new 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum shipments to the U.S. He also said reciprocal tariffs for countries that impose tariffs on the U.S. will be revealed in the coming days and will take effect almost immediately. "If they charge us, we charge them. If they are charging us 130%, and we're charging them nothing, it's not going to stand that way. Every country will be reciprocal." This comes as the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China has intensified. The U.S. implemented an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports to the U.S. starting last Tuesday. In retaliation, China announced plans to impose tariffs of 10 to 15 percent on items, including coal, liquefied natural gas, and crude oil from the U.S., effective Monday. As China previously expressed its intention to negotiate with the U.S., there had been an expectation that an agreement would be reached before actual implementation. Last week, Trump also shared his intention to talk with China's President Xi Jinping but said he was in no hurry. "I will speak to him at the appropriate time. I'm in no rush. The deficit with China is about a trillion dollars. Think of it. A trillion dollars. They're using our money to build their military, and Biden let that happen." That's compared to when he delayed the implementation of additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a month after some discussions. But as both the U.S. and China have expressed their intention to hold talks, pundits believe there is still a chance of reaching a consensus. The two countries previously ended the trade war during the first Trump administration after 18 months, after China agreed to purchase more U.S. products, while the U.S. held off on imposing additional high tariffs on Chinese goods. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.
Court still silent on whether President Yoon's impeachment trial will be extended
2025/02/10 20:00
The Constitutional Court launches its final week of hearings for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, starting tomorrow, and it has yet to announce whether or not more sessions will be held before its verdict on the case. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young has the latest. The Constitutional Court has not yet announced whether it will extend President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, which is scheduled to wrap up this week. A Court official told reporters Monday that the eight-member judicial bench has not yet conveyed whether additional hearings will be held beyond this coming Thursday. With time running out, and just two hearings left at the Constitutional Court this week, making an extension is likely. On Tuesday, the Court will hold Yoon's seventh trial hearing, with four witnesses summoned to testify. First up will be former interior minister Lee Sang-min, who is expected to be questioned extensively about the meeting of Cabinet members held before the martial law declaration on December third last year. The National Assembly's impeachment panel says the President had bypassed Cabinet procedures before imposing the decree. Also standing witness will be National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik who served as Defense Minister until September last year. Shin is likely to be grilled over whether there was prior planning before December third. As for former National Intelligence Service deputy director Baek Jong-wook, and National Election Commission Secretary-General Kim Yong-bin, questions are expected to focus on election fraud allegations raised by President Yoon as a pretext for declaring martial law. The eighth and final hearing is currently scheduled for Thursday. In order to conclude the hearings, the court must hear the closing arguments from both legal teams and President Yoon's final statement. It seems the Constitutional Court has not yet instructed either side to prepare their final arguments. Meanwhile, the Court on Monday concluded hearings on a dispute case regarding Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to withhold the appointment of Constitutional Court Justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk, while appointing two others recommended alongside him. The case was filed by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who claims Choi neglected to follow a parliamentary resolution to appoint three justices in December last year. Choi, however, had pledged to appoint a third Justice after bipartisan agreement on the candidate. The court initially planned to deliver its ruling last Monday, but accepted Choi's request for additional arguments to be made. Choi's side said Monday that Speaker Woo had unilaterally filed the case, bypassing a plenary session vote, thus the dispute should be made invalid. The Court says it will reach a verdict and notify the involved parties. The question of Ma's appointment has caused a strong political stand-off, as the left-leaning judge would become the ninth member of the judicial bench,.. as it rules on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
Trump to hold talks on ending Ukraine war: White House
2025/02/10 20:00
Meanwhile, the Trump administration will seek talks with its European counterparts this week to end Russian aggression against Ukraine. Lee Seung-jae has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz said Sunday that Washington will hold talks with European officials this week on how to end the Ukraine war. Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press,.. Waltz said a delegation including the U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Vice President, and the U.S. Special Envoy to Europe will hold talks on ending the war. The national security advisor did not go into the details,.. but said that Trump is ready to bring the Ukraine issue to the table this week. This includes the issue of future American aid to Ukraine. However, Waltz stressed that the U.S. needs to recoup the costs, through a partnership with the Ukrainians over its rare earth, and natural resources, all of which are going to be discussed this week. While Waltz says Trump will end the war, the security guarantees will be up to the Europeans. The announcement of the high-level talks comes as the New York Post last Friday reported that President Trump has spoken to President Putin about ending the Ukraine war. In an interview aboard Air Force One, Trump said he spoke on the phone with Putin to try to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, but would not say how many times the two leaders have spoken since his return to the Oval Office last month. While Trump did not go into specific details of their phone call, he said that Putin wants to "see people stop dying," adding that the three-year-old war "never would have happened" if he had been president in 2022. The Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied that the two leaders have spoken on the phone to discuss ending the war. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
S. Korea exemplifies democracy, U.S. military presence vital: Rep. Marilyn Strickland
2025/02/10 20:00
The 119th U.S. Congress includes Marilyn Strickland, a Democrat representing Washington's 10th District. She is also a Korean-American who believes firmly in the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. She recently spoke with us and our Choi Min-jung has more. Korean-American Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, one of the first three Korean-American women elected to Congress and reelected to represent Washington's 10th District for a third term,. affirmed that the Seoul-Washington alliance will remain "ironclad," regardless of South Korea's current political landscape. In an exclusive interview with Arirang, Strickland addressed the implications of South Korea's domestic political turbulence regarding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, noting that while the situation is unfortunate, it exemplifies democracy in action. "It's why you have separate coequal branches of government to serve as checks and balances. So in many ways what happened is a prime example of how democracy is meant to work and supposed to work we want to make sure that we are staying strong with our partners and allies who value an uplift democracy." With former President Donald Trump returning to the White House for a second term,. concerns over the continuation of "America First" policies—including increased defense cost-sharing—are mounting. However, Strickland noted that despite media speculation, no formal discussions have taken place. "And so we want to make sure that it's being done fairly. We're doing it conscientiously but understanding that having military presence in Korea is important again, for a free, safe, and open Indo-Pacific." An area of concern for the Korean-American community is Trump's intensified immigration policies, including deportations. Some 150-thousand Koreans living in the U.S. are reportedly subject to deportation following a Trump administration order. 20-thousand of those are believed to be Korean adoptees who have not yet received U.S. citizenship. Strickland expressed concern,. saying immigrants play an essential role across all sectors in the U.S., and that the American economy will collapse, if they are deported simply for lacking documentation. "So as a Korean-American, as someone who values immigrant talent, I definitely want to make sure that we're able to stop Trump from doing the wrong thing but finding a way to do the right thing as well." This rise in Korean-American political representation, exemplified by Strickland, signals a growing influence that will not only strengthen ties between Seoul and Washington, but also shape the broader political landscape of the Korean-American community in the U.S. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News. You can watch the full interview on Within the Frame which will be aired right after this newscast.
Discussion on U.S.-South Korea relations and Trump's immigration Policy with Rep. Marilyn Strickland
2025/02/10 20:00
Welcome to Within The Frame where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As the 119th U.S. Congress gets underway, a notable shift in political representation is emerging, with the rise of Korean-American politicians such as Senator Andy Kim gaining increasing influence. This growing presence has sparked anticipation about the role these leaders will play in shaping U.S.-Korea relations and the Korean-American community. However, there are rising concerns over the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies, with around 150,000 Korean immigrants reportedly facing deportation. Due to this, questions have arisen about the impact of these policies on both the Korean-American community and even the broader U.S. economy. From the future of the U.S.-South Korea alliance to the economic ramifications of the new U.S. administration's stance, many are now weighing in on how these developments will unfold. To delve into these issues, today we invite one of the first Korean-American women elected to the U.S. Congress. Representative Marilyn Strickland, congresswoman for Washington's 10th District. Welcome to the program. 1. So, the 119th U.S. Congress kick started last month, and there are not only veteran lawmakers like yourself, but also four other Korean-American politicians, including Senator Andy Kim. What do you think has driven the rise of Korean-American politicians? 2. So as Korean-American politicians gain influence, there are increasing expectations for them to play a positive role in both the Korean-American community and U.S.-Korea relations. However, due to President Trump's stronger immigration policies, around 150,000 Koreans are reportedly facing deportation. What is your perspective on this issue, and are there any measures being considered? 3. As a congresswoman yourself, what positive roles do you expect Korean-American politicians to play in areas like the Korean-American community, the U.S.-Korea alliance, and U.S.-Korea relations? Additionally, are there any issues you are particularly focused on or prioritizing in? 4. Recently, South Korea has experienced political turmoil regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment. How does the U.S. political circle view the political situation in South Korea? 5. Given the current political instability in Korea, some fear it could weaken the U.S.-South Korea alliance or trilateral cooperation between the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. What is your opinion on this? 6. With a second term for President Trump, the "America First" policies are likely to continue. Do you think measures such as further tariffs on allied countries or increases in defense cost-sharing are likely? What is the stance of the U.S. Congress regarding the Seoul-Washington alliance? Thank you, Representative Strickland, for those thoughtful insights. It's clear that U.S. lawmakers are focused on maintaining strong alliances while navigating the complexities of international relations. As we look ahead, it will be interesting to see how Congress balances these priorities in the coming years. We appreciate you joining us today and sharing your perspective on these important issues. Thank you again for your time. And now, let's further dig into the Trump administration's latest immigration policies, which have sparked widespread debate and concern. From deportations affecting thousands of immigrants, to the broader implications for both communities and the U.S. economy, the current political climate is raising questions about the future of immigration and its effects on American society. To bring us the latest from we connect to our Voice of America Correspondent Chris Casquejo. Chris, good to see you again. 1. U.S. President Trump is rapidly implementing the anti-immigration policies he declared before taking office. Is it true that he is even using military aircraft to deport illegal immigrants? How much enforcement and forced repatriation of illegal immigrants is currently taking place? 2. It is reported that about 150,000 Korean illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. are among those targeted for deportation. What is the response from the Korean community and other immigrant communities from various countries? 3. Protests condemning the large-scale deportation of illegal immigrants, which is being pushed by the Trump administration, are occurring across the U.S. What is the current situation and the general public opinion? 4. In addition, President Trump signed executive orders right after taking office to strengthen immigration screening and to end birthright citizenship. What is the current status of these initiatives? (how much progress) 5. Meanwhile, there are concerns that the anti-immigration policies pushed by the Trump administration could have a negative impact on the U.S. economy. What are the projections regarding the economic impact (e.g., huge deportation costs, labor shortages)? What is the Trump administration's response to these concerns?
TRUMP HOSTS ISHIBA AT WHITE HOUSE
2025/02/10 17:00
Hope this workweek is off to a good start for you. You're watching Press Perspective for Monday February 10th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we touch upon what has been shared about the Trump administration's foreign policy thus far given the U.S. leader's most recent summit this time with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House last Friday. For more I have Anthony Kuhn with American public broadcaster NPR. Anthony it's been a while. Welcome back. I also have freelance journalist Jack Barton with us. Jack we haven't had the pleasure of your company for some time now. It's great to see you again. 1) Anthony, let's begin with details of the most recent summit hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. 2) Anthony, the BBC claims the Japanese Prime Minister's "Trump study sessions" appeared to have "paid off". 3) Jack, for global leaders who have yet to engage with Mr. Trump and his threat of tariffs, what cues might they take from Mr. Ishiba's talks with the U.S. leader? 4) Jack, during the joint press conference following his talks with Prime Minister Ishiba, President Trump reiterated his intentions to engage with North Korea. 5) Anthony, North Korea, for its part, has reaffirmed its commitment to its nuclear weapons. 6) And Jack, against this backdrop of possible fresh interaction with North Korea, what role should South Korea seek to play especially amid concerns that it may be left on the sidelines given its current political uncertainty? 7) Anthony, with regard to South Korea's ties with the U.S., how does the return of the Trump administration look to challenge and at the same time, to consolidate the alliance between Seoul and Washington? 8) Jack, Mr. Trump is also scheduled to sit down with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week at the White House. 9) Anthony, China's counter tariffs against the U.S. are in effect as we speak , do you envision an all-out trade war between the two countries during Mr. Trump's second term in office? 10) Jack, China remains an important trade partner for both South Korea and Japan. All right.
Trump announces new tariffs on steel, aluminum amid U.S.-China trade war
2025/02/10 17:00
U.S. President Donald Trump is announcing on this Monday a blanket tariff of 25 percent on all steel and aluminium imports into the U.S. Park Kun-woo covers these intentions and more. The tariffs imposed by the U.S. are intensifying. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will announce plans for new 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum shipments to the U.S. He also said reciprocal tariffs for countries that impose tariffs on the U.S. will be revealed in the coming days and will take effect almost immediately. "If they charge us, we charge them. If they are charging us 130%, and we're charging them nothing, it's not going to stand that way. Every country will be reciprocal." This comes as the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China has intensified. The U.S. implemented an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports to the U.S. starting last Tuesday. In retaliation, China announced plans to impose tariffs of 10 to 15 percent on items, including coal, liquefied natural gas, and crude oil from the U.S., effective Monday. As China previously expressed its intention to negotiate with the U.S., there had been an expectation that an agreement would be reached before actual implementation. Last week, Trump also shared his intention to talk with China's President Xi Jinping but said he was in no hurry. "I will speak to him at the appropriate time. I'm in no rush. The deficit with China is about a trillion dollars. Think of it. A trillion dollars. They're using our money to build their military, and Biden let that happen." That's compared to when he delayed the implementation of additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a month after some discussions. But as both the U.S. and China have expressed their intention to hold talks, pundits believe there is still a chance of reaching a consensus. The two countries previously ended the trade war during the first Trump administration after 18 months, after China agreed to purchase more U.S. products, while the U.S. held off on imposing additional high tariffs on Chinese goods. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.
Gov't, ruling party to invest over 3 tril. Korean won in defense technology by 2027
2025/02/10 17:00
Meanwhile government officials and ruling lawmakers have shared intentions to invest over three trillion Korean won or some 2-point-2 billion U.S. dollars on strategic defense technology by the year 2027. According to the agreement announced on this Monday support will be extended to ten related sectors including artificial intelligence space technology and advanced materials. Financial assistance worth up to five billion Korean won will also be granted to top small and mid-sized firms in relevant industries to sharpen their edge over the global competition.
DP leader suggests supplementary budget of 30 tril. KRW for economic recovery
2025/02/10 17:00
And against that backdrop main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung called for recovery and growth as national priorities amid the ongoing political uncertainty. Addressing the National Assembly today Lee suggested a supplementary budget of 30 trillion Korean won or around 20 billion U.S. dollars to be earmarked for economic recovery. Separately he also proposed the introduction of a four-day workweek system claiming that reducing working hours is key to becoming an advanced technological society.
Court still silent on whether President Yoon's impeachment trial will be extended
2025/02/10 17:00
The Constitutional Court launches its final week of hearings for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial starting tomorrow and it has yet to announce whether or not more sessions will be held before its verdict on the case. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young has the latest. The Constitutional Court has not yet announced whether it will extend President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, which is scheduled to wrap up this week. A Court official told reporters Monday that the eight-member judicial bench has not yet conveyed whether additional hearings will be held beyond this coming Thursday. With time running out, and just two hearings left at the Constitutional Court this week, making an extension is likely. On Tuesday, the Court will hold Yoon's seventh trial hearing, with four witnesses summoned to testify. First up will be former interior minister Lee Sang-min, who is expected to be questioned extensively about the meeting of Cabinet members held before the martial law declaration on December third last year. The National Assembly's impeachment panel says the President had bypassed Cabinet procedures before imposing the decree. Also standing witness will be National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik who served as Defense Minister until September last year. Shin is likely to be grilled over whether there was prior planning before December third. As for former National Intelligence Service deputy director Baek Jong-wook, and National Election Commission Secretary-General Kim Yong-bin, questions are expected to focus on election fraud allegations raised by President Yoon as a pretext for declaring martial law. The eighth and final hearing is currently scheduled for Thursday. In order to conclude the hearings, the court must hear the closing arguments from both legal teams and President Yoon's final statement. It seems the Constitutional Court has not yet instructed either side to prepare their final arguments. Meanwhile, the Court on Monday concluded hearings on a dispute case regarding Acting President Choi Sang-mok's decision to withhold the appointment of Constitutional Court Justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk, while appointing two others recommended alongside him. The case was filed by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who claims Choi neglected to follow a parliamentary resolution to appoint three justices in December last year. Choi, however, had pledged to appoint a third Justice after bipartisan agreement on the candidate. The court initially planned to deliver its ruling last Monday, but accepted Choi's request for additional arguments to be made. Choi's side said Monday that Speaker Woo had unilaterally filed the case, bypassing a plenary session vote, thus the dispute should be made invalid. The Court says it will reach a verdict and notify the involved parties. The question of Ma's appointment has caused a strong political stand-off, as the left-leaning judge would become the ninth member of the judicial bench,.. as it rules on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment case. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
S. Korea exemplifies democracy, U.S. military presence vital: Rep. Marilyn Strickland
2025/02/10 17:00
The 119th U.S. Congress includes Marilyn Strickland a Democrat representing Washington's 10th District that also houses the largest military installation in the American West. She is also a Korean American who believes firmly in the security alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. Our Choi Min-jung has more. Korean-American Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, one of the first three Korean-American women elected to Congress and reelected to represent Washington's 10th District for a third term,. affirmed that the Seoul-Washington alliance will remain "ironclad," regardless of South Korea's current political landscape. In an exclusive interview with Arirang, Strickland addressed the implications of South Korea's domestic political turbulence regarding President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, noting that while the situation is unfortunate, it exemplifies democracy in action. "It's why you have separate coequal branches of government to serve as checks and balances. So in many ways what happened is a prime example of how democracy is meant to work and supposed to work we want to make sure that we are staying strong with our partners and allies who value an uplift democracy." With former President Donald Trump returning to the White House for a second term,. concerns over the continuation of "America First" policies—including increased defense cost-sharing—are mounting. However, Strickland noted that despite media speculation, no formal discussions have taken place. "And so we want to make sure that it's being done fairly. We're doing it conscientiously but understanding that having military presence in Korea is important again, for a free, safe, and open Indo-Pacific." An area of concern for the Korean-American community is Trump's intensified immigration policies, including deportations. Some 150-thousand Koreans living in the U.S. are reportedly subject to deportation following a Trump administration order. 20-thousand of those are believed to be Korean adoptees who have not yet received U.S. citizenship. Strickland expressed concern,. saying immigrants play an essential role across all sectors in the U.S., and that the American economy will collapse, if they are deported simply for lacking documentation. "So as a Korean-American, as someone who values immigrant talent, I definitely want to make sure that we're able to stop Trump from doing the wrong thing but finding a way to do the right thing as well." This rise in Korean-American political representation, exemplified by Strickland, signals a growing influence that will not only strengthen ties between Seoul and Washington, but also shape the broader political landscape of the Korean-American community in the U.S. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.
Seoul condemns N. Korea's labor exports to Russia as blatant UNSC violation
2025/02/10 17:00
The Unification Ministry has urged UN member nations to uphold Security Council resolutions against North Korea while raising issue with the regime's labor exports to Russia. The latest remarks follow recent intelligence reports here that assert North Korea had sent thousands of workers to Russian construction sites last year. The reports claim the soaring labor exports are driven by the quote "ever present" demand for young labor in Russia's Far East.
Trump to hold talks on ending Ukraine war: White House
2025/02/10 17:00
Also this week the Trump administration will actively seek talks with its European counterparts to end Russian aggression against Ukraine. Lee Seung-jae has details. U.S. President Donald Trump's national security advisor Mike Waltz said Sunday that Washington will hold talks with European officials this week on how to end the Ukraine war. Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press,.. Waltz said a delegation including the U.S. Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Vice President, and the U.S. Special Envoy to Europe will hold talks on ending the war. The national security advisor did not go into the details,.. but said that Trump is ready to bring the Ukraine issue to the table this week. This includes the issue of future American aid to Ukraine. However, Waltz stressed that the U.S. needs to recoup the costs, through a partnership with the Ukrainians over its rare earth, and natural resources, all of which are going to be discussed this week. While Waltz says Trump will end the war, the security guarantees will be up to the Europeans. The announcement of the high-level talks comes as the New York Post last Friday reported that President Trump has spoken to President Putin about ending the Ukraine war. In an interview aboard Air Force One, Trump said he spoke on the phone with Putin to try to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, but would not say how many times the two leaders have spoken since his return to the Oval Office last month. While Trump did not go into specific details of their phone call, he said that Putin wants to "see people stop dying," adding that the three-year-old war "never would have happened" if he had been president in 2022. The Kremlin has neither confirmed nor denied that the two leaders have spoken on the phone to discuss ending the war. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Trump announces new tariffs on steel, aluminum amid U.S.-China trade war
2025/02/10 10:00
The latest U.S.-China trade war appears to be flaring up, as China's tit-for-tat levies on the U.S. are now in effect. And Trump's next round of tariffs are to be announced on Monday, this time 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. Our Park Kun-woo reports. The tariffs imposed by the U.S. are intensifying. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he will announce plans for new 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum shipments to the U.S. He also said reciprocal tariffs for countries that impose tariffs on the U.S. will be revealed in the coming days and will take effect almost immediately. "If they charge us, we charge them. If they are charging us 130%, and we're charging them nothing, it's not going to stand that way. Every country will be reciprocal." This comes as the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China has intensified. The U.S. implemented an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports to the U.S. starting last Tuesday. In retaliation, China announced plans to impose tariffs of 10 to 15 percent on items, including coal, liquefied natural gas, and crude oil from the U.S., effective Monday. As China previously expressed its intention to negotiate with the U.S., there had been an expectation that an agreement would be reached before actual implementation. Last week, Trump also shared his intention to talk with China's President Xi Jinping but said he was in no hurry. "I will speak to him at the appropriate time. I'm in no rush. The deficit with China is about a trillion dollars. Think of it. A trillion dollars. They're using our money to build their military, and Biden let that happen." That's compared to when he delayed the implementation of additional tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a month after some discussions. But as both the U.S. and China have expressed their intention to hold talks, pundits believe there is still a chance of reaching a consensus. The two countries previously ended the trade war during the first Trump administration after 18 months, after China agreed to purchase more U.S. products, while the U.S. held off on imposing additional high tariffs on Chinese goods. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.