News

Israel, Hamas conduct third round of prisoner-hostage exchange

2025/01/31 17:00

Moving on to the situation in the Middle East,. Israel and Hamas on Thursday conducted their third prisoner-hostage exchange. The latest exchange saw three Israelis being released in exchange for 1-hundred-10 Palestinians. However, the exchange did not go smoothly, leading to criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Our Lee Seung-jae has more. Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas conducted their third prisoner-hostage exchange on Thursday. The exchange saw 8 hostages being released, comprising five Thai nationals and three Israelis. In exchange, Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners. The first hostage released on Thursday was a 20-year-old female Israeli soldier Agam Berger, who was among the seven female soldiers taken hostage from her unit on October 7th, 2023. The two other Israeli hostages released on the day were 29-year-old Arbel Yehoud and 80-year-old Gadi Moses. Meanwhile,.. among the 110 Palestinian prisoners who were released in exchange for the hostages, was a high-ranking militant officer who had been sentenced to life in prison. Another prisoner was given 13 life sentences for killing 12 Israeli citizens. However, the exchange saw a bit of a delay, when one of the hostages, Yehoud, was surrounded by a large crowd of Gazans. Hamas had to build a wall around her to get her to the bus, that would eventually take her back to her family. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called this a violation of their agreement, and described the scene as "shocking." The prisoners were released following the confirmation that the three Israeli nationals were safe. The latest round was among the agreed-upon 33 hostages and 19-hundred Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged during a six-week ceasefire. Seven Israeli hostages and 290 Palestinian prisoners were released in the two previous rounds. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Acting Defense Minister Kim has phone call with newly appointed U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth on Fri.

2025/01/31 17:00

Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho, spoke with newly appointed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday. Minister Kim congratulated Secretary Hegseth, and expressed confidence in his leadership amid global security challenges. Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the strong U.S. commitment to South Korea's defense, promising to further strengthen the alliance. The two agreed on deepening cooperation, especially in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and expressed concerns over growing Russia-North Korea military ties.

Will President Yoon's impeachment trial end quickly or drag on?

2025/01/31 17:00

President Yoon's impeachment trial is now halfway into the proceedings but it looks like it could stretch on for longer than scheduled. It resumes on Tuesday next week, with three key witnesses to speak on Yoon's martial law decree. Our Oh Soo-young reports. The Constitutional Court will resume President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, after the Lunar New Year holiday, with more witnesses to testify. On Tuesday at 2 PM, the Court will hold the trial's fifth hearing, with a focus on questioning key witnesses requested by the National Assembly, which is arguing for Yoon's impeachment. Beginning at 2:30 PM, three witnesses will each undergo 90 minutes of questioning. Lee Jin-woo, former Commander of the Capital Defense Command, and Yeo In-hyung, former chief of Military Counterintelligence Command, have both been arrested as key figures implicated in the execution of martial law. Lee reportedly received calls from President Yoon to drag out legislators from parliament to stop them from voting to lift martial law, while Yeo was in charge of searching and seizing the National Election Commission. Former intelligence official Hong Jang-won will also testify. Hong has already said he received orders including from the President to "totally round up and clean up" political opponents. During the previous hearing, Yoon denied he gave such orders. Also, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun testified that the President meant for military members to be pulled out of the Assembly, not the members of parliament. As justices cross-examine the witnesses and their conflicting testimonies, the panel can ask their own questions. Yoon is likely to attend every trial hearing, and also question witnesses himself as he did in the previous hearing. "For now, with four hearings left until February 13th, when a verdict will be reached remains unclear. Observers say by the end of February at the earliest, but there's a fair chance of delays due to legal and political factors at play." Press officer Cheon Jaehyun said Friday that the Court has selected additional witnesses which include interior minister Lee Sang-min, and National Election Commission Secretary General Kim Yong-bin requested by the National Assembly's side. On Yoon's side, the Court approved National Security Advisor Shin Won-shik, security expert Baek Jong-wook who was involved in the electoral operations, and Director of the National Intelligence Service Cho Tae-yong. The selection of witnesses indicates the Court will consider Yoon's argument that suspected election fraud in the General Election last year served as a pretext for declaring martial law. The Court is still considering further witness requests by the President's team. If it approves more, the trial could be extended. Justices could also postpone the hearings considering the pace of Yoon's criminal trial. Still, the judicial panel has been clear that it's focused on holding speedy trial proceedings. Meanwhile, another highly anticipated ruling will be delivered on Monday on the eve of Yoon's fifth trial hearing. The Court will rule on whether Acting President Choi Sang-mok violated the Constitution by appointing only two out of three justices recommended by the National Assembly. Choi had left out left-leaning candidate Ma Eun-hyuk, raising the need for bipartisan consensus to move forward. If the court finds the omission unconstitutional, Choi would be under significant pressure to appoint him. This would mean the Court will operate as a full panel of nine justices also increasing the chance of a two-thirds majority vote required to impeach the President. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Acting President turns down special probe for Yoon's martial law as opposition warns of retaliation

2025/01/31 17:00

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok has today vetoed a bill, that would kick off a special probe behind the declaration of martial law last December by President Yoon Suk Yeol and his charges of insurrection from this. The bill was a second, revised version of the first one which was turned down by Choi at the end of last month as well. We have our Kim Do-yeon on the line with us to explain further. Do-yeon, what does this mean? That's right Min-jung, as you said for the second time Acting President Choi has sent back a bill to start a special investigation into President Yoon and those who were involved in the situation. This came at a Cabinet Meeting earlier this afternoon and the move was widely expected so suggested by the ruling People Power Party. First, take a listen to what he had to say. As the Acting President, I see vetoing this bill as inevitable, considering the constitutional order, protection of national interests, and urgency of responding to the crises, as well as the wishes of the public. Choi cited a number of reasons behind this move. That a criminal trial is already underway after an investigation; that the bill still seems to have an unconstitutional aspect with possibilities of exposing national secrets and lastly, the fact that the bill was again passed unilaterally. He emphasized the trial part saying that the state prosecutors have already indicted the President and some of the case's key figures while having them under arrest. He says kicking off a new special probe is only necessary when it needs to complement an investigation that's finished. Therefore, the result of the ongoing trial must come first. As for the unconstitutional aspect he vetoed the first version saying that the bill could breach the three branches of government rule. For this one he says some aspects were resolved from the first version but some issues remain. In addition, the wide scope of the investigation laid out on the bill could compromise some of the nation's confidential information as well. Meanwhile, this new version cut down the allegations from 11 to 6 with different ways to appoint the special prosecutor in charge to address the reasons behind the first veto. Now, how are lawmakers from both sides responding to this decision? As expected, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea responded by saying it would hold Choi responsible possibly referring to another impeachment. The party's floor spokesperson released a written statement saying that it was not unilaterally passed as the ruling People Power Party refused to negotiate the details of the bill. In addition, while the investigation and trial are going on others who worked with President Yoon for this declaration not yet questioned need to be vetted as well The ruling People Power Party had already suggested the Acting President veto the bill with the same reasoning as the acting president, but, the PPP went further saying that the special probe bill was a political act by the opposition. That's all for now, back to you Min-jung.

Russian drone strikes apartment block in Ukraine, killing nine

2025/01/31 10:00

Starting in Ukraine, a Russian drone strike, on Thursday local time, hit an apartment building in the northeastern Sumy region, killing at least 9 people and injuring 13 others. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack a "horrific tragedy" and a "terrible crime." The strike occurred just after 1 A.M. local time when an Iranian-made Shahed drone crashed into a multi-story residential building, destroying five apartments and damaging over 20 vehicles. Among the injured are several children. Ukraine's air force stated that Russia launched 81 drones overnight, targeting homes and businesses across the country. While 37 drones were shot down and 39 others jammed, five made direct impact. Drone strikes in southern Odesa and central Poltava also caused significant damage, though no casualties have been reported there.

U.S. Commerce Department nominee vows to pressure allies into manufacturing in the U.S.

2025/01/31 10:00

Comments from U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for Commerce Secretary, is causing concern for U.S. allies and the global trade market. The nominee backed plans to impose levies on foreign goods, while possibly backing out of subsidies signed under the Biden administration. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. President Trump's nominee to lead the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, backed Trump's plans to impose tariffs and stated that American allies – including South Korea – have exploited the United States in trade. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Lutnick claimed that Washington will need to work closely with allies such as Tokyo and Seoul in order to push foreign companies toward U.S.-based manufacturing. These remarks came in response to a question that asked about his plans to promote joint investments with allies to stimulate growth in the U.S. Lutnick made clear that tariffs would serve as a tool to encourage domestic manufacturing, and emphasized that while tariffs on China should be the highest, allies should not expect any exceptions. "We need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect. And we can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness and respect." He also addressed Trump's recent announcement of a 25-percent tariff on Mexico and Canada scheduled to take effect at the start of next month, clarifying that these tariffs are separate from general trade tariffs. He explained that these specific tariffs aim to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, and would not be implemented if both countries cooperate on these issues. As for general trade tariffs, he revealed his preference for across-the-board tariffs by country, suggesting that he favors tariffs applied across all goods rather than specific goods categories. Lutnick expressed skepticism about subsidies provided under the Biden administration through the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, raising concerns about how South Korean firms investing in the U.S. might be negatively affected. Tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have made significant investments in the U.S. based on these incentives, but Lutnick stated that even if contracts under the CHIPS Act were finalized under the Biden administration, they would need to be reviewed. He ALSO opposed the tax credit for leased electric vehicles – a provision under the IRA that has benefited South Korean auto companies such as Hyundai Motor. The hearing also addressed growing concerns over China's advances in artificial intelligence – including the recent breakthroughs by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company. Lutnick advocated for stringent export controls and tariffs to curb China's technological rise, and accused DeepSeek of stealing intellectual property from the U.S. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Israel, Hamas conduct third prisoner-hostage exchange

2025/01/31 10:00

The third phase of the prisoner-hostage release between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, took place on Thursday. Eight hostages, comprising three Israelis and five Thai nationals were released by Hamas. Among the three Israeli hostages, one was a female soldier in her 20s, as well as a man in his 80s. The other being a female in her 20s. In exchange, Israel released 1-hundred-10 Palestinian prisoners. So far, seven Israeli hostages and 2-hundred-90 Palestinian prisoners, have been released in two previous exchanges.

Yoon's impeachment trial to review conflicting testimonies after Lunar New Year holiday

2025/01/31 10:00

President Yoon's impeachment trial is now halfway into the proceedings. It resumes next Tuesday, and that trial hearing will include testimonies from three key witnesses, to Yoon's martial law decree. Our Oh Soo-young has more. The Constitutional Court will resume President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, following a break for the Lunar New Year holidays. According to legal sources, the Constitutional Court will hold Yoon's fifth hearing on Tuesday at 2 PM. This will mark the fifth hearing in the case, with a focus on questioning key witnesses requested by the National Assembly, which is arguing for Yoon's impeachment. Beginning at 2:30 PM, three witnesses will each undergo 90 minutes of questioning. Lee Jin-woo, former Commander of the Capital Defense Command, and Yeo In-hyung, former chief of Military Counterintelligence Command, have both been arrested as key figures implicated in the execution of martial law. Lee reportedly received calls from President Yoon to drag out legislators from parliament to stop them from voting to lift martial law, while Yeo was in charge of searching and seizing the National Election Commission. Former intelligence official Hong Jang-won will also testify. Hong has already said he received orders including from the President to "totally round up and clean up" political opponents. During the previous hearing, Yoon denied he gave such orders. Also, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun testified that the President meant for military members to be pulled out of the Assembly, not the members of parliament. As justices cross-examine the witnesses and their conflicting testimonies, the panel can ask their own questions during the session. Yoon is likely to attend every trial hearing, and also question witnesses himself as he did in the previous hearing. With four hearings left until February 13th for now, the timing of the verdict is still unclear. Observers say the earliest verdict could come by the end of February, but could be delayed if justices approve more witnesses requested by Yoon's side. They could also postpone the hearings considering the pace of Yoon's criminal trial. Justices have been emphasizing they will hold swift trial proceedings, given the magnitude of the President's impeachment case and its impact on the country. Most believe a decision will be made before two justices step down from the panel in April when their tenures expire. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Live from Seoul Central District Court, where Pres. Yoon's criminal trial sets to take place

2025/01/31 10:00

Now moving on to the domestic front, With President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial ongoing, he is also expected to participate in a criminal trial on charges of insurrection. Meanwhile, Yoon's team is making preparations to defend the president. For more we have our Park Kun-woo standing by live, near the Seoul Central District Court. Kun-woo, how are the trials proceeding? Good morning Min-jung. As mentioned, I'm now standing at the Central District Court in southern Seoul where Yoon's criminal trial on charges of insurrection, following his indictment by the prosecution, is set to take place, possibly in March. The panel of judges for the case is expected to be announced as early as Friday. Then, after pretrial preparations in February, the trial will begin. Usually, such preparations for a criminal trial take two to three months, but given that this is an unprecedented trial of a sitting president, who has been arrested, there are expectations that it will proceed faster than usual. Accordingly, Yoon's defense is facing two different trials -the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial and the criminal trial. This could result in the president undergoing at least three hearings a week, as those for the impeachment will resume their twice-weekly schedule from next week, which will last until February 13th. Yoon previously expressed his intention to attend all hearings. 2. Now, how has Yoon been preparing for these trials? President Yoon has continued meeting with his defense team even during the Lunar New Year holidays that ended Thursday, to discuss trial preparations, though details remain undisclosed. That came after the team submitted over a hundred pieces of evidence to the Constitutional Court on Jan. 26th, which some pundits believe may be a strategy to delay the impeachment trial. One possible scenario for Yoon and his defense team is to request bail to participate in the trials without detention. The court could deny the bail request due to concerns about evidence tampering, but could also accept the request with conditions such as prohibiting contact with related parties. Another possibility is requesting the suspension of the impeachment trial. That's based on a Constitutional Court Act that allows the suspension of such a trial when a criminal trial is also ongoing over the same matter. 3. And I hear regular visitation to the Detention Center where President Yoon is at, is allowed starting today. Can you tell us more? Yes, as you mentioned general visitation to the Seoul Detention Center where President Yoon is being held, will be available starting today. These visits are expected to take place once a day with only a few people allowed. High-ranking officials from the Presidential Office are expected to visit Yoon this morning. Members of the People Power Party are also planning to visit Yoon, while first lady Kim Keon-hee is reportedly not planning to visit at the moment. That's all I have for you now. Back to you, Min-jung. All right Kun-woo thank you for that coverage. That was our Park Kun-woo reporting live, from the Seoul Central District Court.

All 67 believed dead after collision between helicopter and American Airlines plane

2025/01/31 10:00

A collision between a military helicopter, and a passenger plane carrying 64 people in Washington, D.C., has killed all 67 people on board both aircraft. It was the deadliest aviation accident in the U.S. since 2001. Our Shin Ha-young starts us off. Rescue efforts went on through the night, but no survivors were found from the deadly collision of an American Airlines aircraft and the Army helicopter. U.S. authorities announced that 28 bodies had been recovered and believe all 67 people on board died. "Despite all these efforts, we are now at a point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation. At this point, we don't believe there are any survivors from this accident." A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on a training flight collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 on Wednesday night (local time) while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., sending the two aircraft plummeting into the Potomac River --the deadliest U.S. air crash since 2001. The jet had departed from Wichita, Kansas with 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three military personnel on board. According to AP, less than 30 seconds before the crash, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the arriving plane in sight. According to CBS News, figure skating athletes and their coaches were on board the plane, including teenagers Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, who are believed to be of Korean descent. They were returning home from the National Development Camp, which was held in connection with the recent U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. U.S. President Donald Trump shared his condolences and paid tribute to the victims and families ahead of a press conference. But he then criticized the previous administration, indicating that its diversity, equity and inclusion program for air traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration were partially to blame for the crash. "And then when I left office and Biden took over, he changed them back to lower than ever before. ( ) I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters there appeared to have been an elevation issue with the helicopter, and said Army investigators were on the ground looking into the matter. Meanwhile, South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul expressed his deep sorrow over the plane crash. The Seoul government is working to obtain a passenger list, though it is still unclear if any Korean nationals were on board. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

U.S. Commerce Department nominee vows to pressure allies into manufacturing in the U.S.

2025/01/30 18:00

Meanwhile, comments from U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for Commerce Secretary, is causing concern for U.S. allies and the global trade market. The nominee backed plans to impose levies on foreign goods, while possibly backing out of subsidies signed under the Biden administration. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. President Trump's nominee to lead the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, backed Trump's plans to impose tariffs and stated that American allies – including South Korea – have exploited the United States in trade. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Lutnick claimed that Washington will need to work closely with allies such as Tokyo and Seoul in order to push foreign companies toward U.S.-based manufacturing. These remarks came in response to a question that asked about his plans to promote joint investments with allies to stimulate growth in the U.S. Lutnick made clear that tariffs would serve as a tool to encourage domestic manufacturing, and emphasized that while tariffs on China should be the highest, allies should not expect any exceptions. "We need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect. And we can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness and respect." He also addressed Trump's recent announcement of a 25-percent tariff on Mexico and Canada scheduled to take effect at the start of next month, clarifying that these tariffs are separate from general trade tariffs. He explained that these specific tariffs aim to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, and would not be implemented if both countries cooperate on these issues. As for general trade tariffs, he revealed his preference for across-the-board tariffs by country, suggesting that he favors tariffs applied across all goods rather than specific goods categories. Lutnick expressed skepticism about subsidies provided under the Biden administration through the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, raising concerns about how South Korean firms investing in the U.S. might be negatively affected. Tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have made significant investments in the U.S. based on these incentives, but Lutnick stated that even if contracts under the CHIPS Act were finalized under the Biden administration, they would need to be reviewed. He ALSO opposed the tax credit for leased electric vehicles – a provision under the IRA that has benefited South Korean auto companies such as Hyundai Motor. The hearing also addressed growing concerns over China's advances in artificial intelligence – including the recent breakthroughs by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company. Lutnick advocated for stringent export controls and tariffs to curb China's technological rise, and accused DeepSeek of stealing intellectual property from the U.S. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

U.S. Commerce Department nominee vows to pressure allies into manufacturing in the U.S.

2025/01/30 12:00

We begin with the comments from U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for Commerce Secretary, which is causing concern for U.S. allies and the global trade market. The nominee backed plans to impose levies on foreign goods, while possibly backing out of subsidies signed under the Biden administration. Our Moon Hye-ryeon has the details. President Trump's nominee to lead the Commerce Department, Howard Lutnick, backed Trump's plans to impose tariffs and stated that American allies – including South Korea – have exploited the United States in trade. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Lutnick claimed that Washington will need to work closely with allies such as Tokyo and Seoul in order to push foreign companies toward U.S.-based manufacturing. These remarks came in response to a question that asked about his plans to promote joint investments with allies to stimulate growth in the U.S. Lutnick made clear that tariffs would serve as a tool to encourage domestic manufacturing, and emphasized that while tariffs on China should be the highest, allies should not expect any exceptions. "We need to be treated better. We need to be treated with respect. And we can use tariffs to create reciprocity, fairness and respect." He also addressed Trump's recent announcement of a 25-percent tariff on Mexico and Canada scheduled to take effect at the start of next month, clarifying that these tariffs are separate from general trade tariffs. He explained that these specific tariffs aim to curb illegal immigration and fentanyl trafficking, and would not be implemented if both countries cooperate on these issues. As for general trade tariffs, he revealed his preference for across-the-board tariffs by country, suggesting that he favors tariffs applied across all goods rather than specific goods categories. Lutnick expressed skepticism about subsidies provided under the Biden administration through the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, raising concerns about how South Korean firms investing in the U.S. might be negatively affected. Tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have made significant investments in the U.S. based on these incentives, but Lutnick stated that even if contracts under the CHIPS Act were finalized under the Biden administration, they would need to be reviewed. He ALSO opposed the tax credit for leased electric vehicles – a provision under the IRA that has benefited South Korean auto companies such as Hyundai Motor. The hearing also addressed growing concerns over China's advances in artificial intelligence – including the recent breakthroughs by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company. Lutnick advocated for stringent export controls and tariffs to curb China's technological rise, and accused DeepSeek of stealing intellectual property from the U.S. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Three Israeli hostages, five Thai nationals to be released in Gaza on Thursday

2025/01/30 12:00

Israel has confirmed that three Israeli hostages will be released in Gaza on Thursday, along with five Thai nationals. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office revealed the list of names provided by Hamas to mediators, though the identities of the five Thai citizens have not been disclosed. On the same day, Israel is expected to release 1-hundred-10 Palestinian prisoners. The hostage and prisoner release comes under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. Hamas promised to release thirty-three Israeli hostages captured on October seventh, while Israel vowed to free nearly 2-thousand Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of the deal.

Judge blocks Trump's freeze on federal assistance

2025/01/29 18:00

A U.S. federal district judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to freeze all federal assistance. Judge Loren AliKhan on Tuesday local time issued an order to pause the plan until 5 PM on February 3rd after a lawsuit was filed earlier in the day by a coalition of nonprofit organizations that receive federal funds. The Trump administration on Monday night announced an abrupt halt on federal loans and grants while it conducts a review to ensure that the spending is in compliance with recent executive actions. While the memo did not detail the specific programs that would be affected, it is unlikely that South Korean companies with existing subsidy and loan contracts with the U.S. government will be impacted.

Trump will pursue complete denuclearization of North Korea as Kim strengthens nuclear capabilities: NSC

2025/01/29 18:00

Turning to the U.S., President Donald Trump last week referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power," raising concerns that this could signal a shift in Washington's long-standing policy of denuclearizing the regime. However, the White House says that President Trump remains committed to that policy. Our Lee Soo-jin has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump could once again pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea. White House National Security Council spokesperson, Brian Hughes, told Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday local time that Trump will pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea, as he did during his first term. The spokesperson also emphasized that Trump had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and that his "mix of toughness and diplomacy led to the first-ever leader-level commitment to complete denuclearization." This comes shortly after the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency revealed that Kim had conducted an on-site visit to a nuclear material production facility and a nuclear weapons research institute. During the visit, he inspected the current state of nuclear material production and assessed the institute's research agenda for 2025. The exact date of the visit, however, was not disclosed. Kim also reportedly said during the visit that "a prolonged confrontation with the world's most hostile adversaries" is inevitable, and emphasized that "strengthening of the nuclear shield is essential to address current threats and emerging security risks, as well as to protect the nation's sovereignty, interests, and right to development." And as this report comes less than a week after Trump in an interview with Fox News expressed his willingness to reach out to Kim again, it's likely that the North will refuse to engage in talks for the time being. During his first term, Trump held three historic meetings with Kim. It was after the Singapore Summit in June 2018, the first-ever meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader, that a joint statement was made saying the North would commit to working towards the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula. But while groundbreaking, the summit as well as the following Hanoi Summit in February 2019 and the DMZ meeting in June 2019,.. failed to result in a definitive agreement on denuclearization. As such, there has been speculation that Trump may pursue "small deals" that address only parts of North Korea's nuclear capabilities. "Well I think the problem with a large deal is that Kim rejected that even back in 2019. So he's not going to try to cross that path again. It's going to be Trump leveraging Kim." But as the White House's statement appears to refute these speculations,.. Trump may make the denuclearization of North Korea a key diplomatic goal in his second term as well. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Pentagon official says S. Korea-U.S. joint military exercise could be subject to change: RFA

2025/01/29 12:00

On the defense front, the Pentagon says this year's South Korea-U.S. combined military training could be subject to change depending on U.S. President Donald Trump's policies and the impeachment proceedings against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Radio Free Asia reported this, citing an unnamed Defense Department official who emphasized that, for now, the drills are scheduled to proceed as planned. This has fueled speculation that President Trump could consider halting the large-scale exercises to revive negotiations with North Korea, which has called the drills rehearsals for invasion. In 2018, Trump ordered the suspension of joint military exercises with South Korea following his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.

Trump will pursue complete denuclearization of North Korea as Kim strengthens nuclear capabilities: NSC

2025/01/29 12:00

Turning to the U.S., President Donald Trump last week referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power," raising concerns that this could signal a shift in Washington's long-standing policy of denuclearizing the regime. However, the White House says that President Trump remains committed to that policy. Our Lee Soo-jin has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump could once again pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea. White House National Security Council spokesperson, Brian Hughes, told Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday local time that Trump will pursue the complete denuclearization of North Korea, as he did during his first term. The spokesperson also emphasized that Trump had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and that his "mix of toughness and diplomacy led to the first-ever leader-level commitment to complete denuclearization." This comes shortly after the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency revealed that Kim had conducted an on-site visit to a nuclear material production facility and a nuclear weapons research institute. During the visit, he inspected the current state of nuclear material production and assessed the institute's research agenda for 2025. The exact date of the visit, however, was not disclosed. Kim also reportedly said during the visit that "a prolonged confrontation with the world's most hostile adversaries" is inevitable, and emphasized that "strengthening of the nuclear shield is essential to address current threats and emerging security risks, as well as to protect the nation's sovereignty, interests, and right to development." And as this report comes less than a week after Trump in an interview with Fox News expressed his willingness to reach out to Kim again, it's likely that the North will refuse to engage in talks for the time being. During his first term, Trump held three historic meetings with Kim. It was after the Singapore Summit in June 2018, the first-ever meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader, that a joint statement was made saying the North would commit to working towards the "complete denuclearization" of the Korean Peninsula. But while groundbreaking, the summit as well as the following Hanoi Summit in February 2019 and the DMZ meeting in June 2019,.. failed to result in a definitive agreement on denuclearization. As such, there has been speculation that Trump may pursue "small deals" that address only parts of North Korea's nuclear capabilities. "Well I think the problem with a large deal is that Kim rejected that even back in 2019. So he's not going to try to cross that path again. It's going to be Trump leveraging Kim." But as the White House's statement appears to refute these speculations,.. Trump may make the denuclearization of North Korea a key diplomatic goal in his second term as well. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

N. Korean soldiers temporarily pulled out from frontline sector: Report

2025/01/28 18:00

North Korean soldiers appear to have been temporarily pulled back from one of the frontline sectors in Russia's Kursk Oblast. A Special Operations Forces spokesperson told the Kyiv Independent this on Monday as North Korean forces reportedly suffered significant losses fighting against Ukrainian forces. The spokesperson added that the North Korean soldiers had been fighting where Ukraine's 73rd Naval Special Operations Forces had been located. According to a Pentagon official on the same day, Russian forces have taken back over 50 percent of the area of the Kursk region that Ukraine had previously captured and there are no signs of further North Korean troop deployment.

Eight of 33 Israelis to be freed are already dead: Israel

2025/01/28 12:00

Eight of the hostages to be freed in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal are dead. Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer told the press on Monday that Hamas said the rest of the 26 yet to be released are alive. Seven captives have been released so far with the next release of captives set to take place on Thursday, followed by another one on Saturday. Approximately 90 hostages are believed to be held by Hamas still. Under the first phase of the ceasefire deal, 33 hostages in total are to be let go in exchange for more than 19-hundred Palestinian prisoners.

Trump issued more than 300 executive orders in first week back in office: White House

2025/01/28 12:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed more than 300 executive orders during his first week in office. According to the White House on Monday local time, Trump has issued executive orders that included carrying out mass deportations and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement. His administration said Trump was just getting started and that he has already secured one trillion dollars of investment, also mentioning how South Korea's major conglomerates such as Samsung and LG are considering relocating their factories from Mexico to the United States.