News

Colombia agrees to deportation flights; U.S. suspends tariffs

2025/01/27 18:00

In other news, U.S. President Donald Trump has put a hold on imposing tariffs and sanctions, after Colombia agreed it would accept deported migrants. In a statement late Sunday, the White House said that Colombia had now agreed to accept the return of its citizens. Colombia had earlier refused entry to two U.S. military planes carrying deported migrants, arguing deportees were treated as criminals. The U.S. in response had vowed to impose a 25-percent tariff on all imports from Colombia, raising it to 50-percent after a week. The White House said the imposition of tariffs and sanctions on Colombia would be "held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement."

Prosecutors indict Pres. Yoon under detention for insurrection

2025/01/27 18:00

And on the political front, South Korean prosecutors indicted President Yoon Suk Yeol, on charges of leading an insurrection, just a day before his detention was set to end. This is the first time in the country's history, that a sitting president has been indicted. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to stand trial, becoming the first sitting president in South Korea's history to be indicted under detention. Prosecutors on Sunday indicted President Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law. The move came 54 days after the declaration of martial law and just one day before Yoon's detention period was set to end. The prosecution's special investigation team took over the case from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on Thursday earlier than planned, following Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the CIO. The prosecutors twice requested to extend Yoon's detention for further investigations but the Seoul Central District Court rejected it. Although the court's decision prevented further investigations, such as questioning the President in person, the prosecution concluded that indicting him was appropriate after reviewing the evidence gathered so far. They also cited ongoing concerns about evidence tampering. Yoon also faced allegations of abuse of power, but those charges were dropped, because under South Korean law, a sitting president has immunity from most criminal prosecutions, except for charges related to insurrection or inciting foreign aggression. In response, Yoon's legal team condemned the indictment, saying the prosecution has committed a historic mistake. It expressed confidence that the truth will be uncovered in court and vowed to expose the illegalities in the investigation and the truth behind the insurrection accusations. Yoon will be held in custody for up to six months in the first trial, and up to eight months each for the second and third trials. The prosecution claims they can prove guilt without further investigations, but with President Yoon's side denying the insurrection charges and claiming the investigation was illegal, intense courtroom battles are expected. As the unprecedented investigation of a sitting president ended abruptly with numerous challenges, this hints that controversies are expected to continue throughout the trial. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Prosecutors indict Pres. Yoon under detention for insurrection

2025/01/27 12:00

Just a day before President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention was set to end, South Korean prosecutors indicted him, on charges of leading an insurrection. This is the first time in the country's history, that a sitting president has been indicted. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young starts us off. President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to stand trial, becoming the first sitting president in South Korea's history to be indicted under detention. Prosecutors on Sunday indicted President Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection through his brief imposition of martial law. The move came 54 days after the declaration of martial law and just one day before Yoon's detention period was set to end. The prosecution's special investigation team took over the case from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on Thursday earlier than planned, following Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the CIO. The prosecutors twice requested to extend Yoon's detention for further investigations but the Seoul Central District Court rejected it. Although the court's decision prevented further investigations, such as questioning the President in person, the prosecution concluded that indicting him was appropriate after reviewing the evidence gathered so far. They also cited ongoing concerns about evidence tampering. Yoon also faced allegations of abuse of power, but those charges were dropped, because under South Korean law, a sitting president has immunity from most criminal prosecutions, except for charges related to insurrection or inciting foreign aggression. In response, Yoon's legal team condemned the indictment, saying the prosecution has committed a historic mistake. It expressed confidence that the truth will be uncovered in court and vowed to expose the illegalities in the investigation and the truth behind the insurrection accusations. Yoon will be held in custody for up to six months in the first trial, and up to eight months each for the second and third trials. The prosecution claims they can prove guilt without further investigations, but with President Yoon's side denying the insurrection charges and claiming the investigation was illegal, intense courtroom battles are expected. As the unprecedented investigation of a sitting president ended abruptly with numerous challenges, this hints that controversies are expected to continue throughout the trial. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Trump vows tariffs and sanctions after Colombia rejects deportation flights

2025/01/27 12:00

In other news, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced sweeping retaliatory measures, including tariffs and sanctions, against Colombia, after it refused entry to two U.S. military planes carrying deported migrants. Trump on Sunday, vowed to impose a 25-percent tariff on all imports coming into the U.S. from Colombia. He said this would be raised to 50-percent after a week. He stated that the measures are only the beginning, emphasizing that the U.S. will not tolerate Colombia's failure, to meet its legal obligations in accepting the return of its citizens, who are illegally in the U.S. Earlier on Sunday, Colombia refused the flights, arguing that using military aircraft to transport deportees treated them as criminals. In response to Trump's actions,.. Colombia threatened a 50-percent tariff on U.S. goods.

Trump 2.0: South Korea's challenges and opportunities amid domestic political crisis

2025/01/25 12:00

As President Donald Trump took office as the 47th leader of the United States, the world has been bracing for the return of his 'America First' foreign policy. Experts have brought up various concerns related to tariffs, trade wars and potentially a high-stakes deal with North Korea that could undermine South Korea's security. We focus on the challenges and opportunities for Seoul, amid its domestic political crisis. For this we have our Oh Soo-young in the studio. Q1. Now there's been concern that South Korea is unable to fully engage the Trump Administration due to President Yoon Suk Yeol's suspension from his duties, following the martial law decree. Yes, the lack of top-level interaction does affect our diplomacy early in the game, particularly as during Trump's first term, he didn't have much affection for the then-Moon Jae-in government, which was considered too close to Beijing for Washington's comfort and was more focused on peace with North Korea than upholding the South Korea-U.S. alliance according to observers. Now, with Trump back and ready to revise trade agreements, impose tariffs and demand that allies pay more towards security cooperation, it's a worrying time for America's allies and partners like South Korea. There's been hope that in recent years, Seoul's strategic value has arguably increased, as an economic and cultural powerhouse but moreover, a producer of core technologies and as a liberal democracy. "South Korea should adopt a tailored strategy that aligns with the transactional nature of the Trump Administration, rather than its usual abstract rhetoric about the strength of the alliance. It is essential to highlight areas where South Korea excels and offers tangible benefits, such as semiconductors, shipbuilding, defence industries, large-scale investments in the United States – and its role in countering China." Q2. Now what do you think will be Trump's approach to the Indo-Pacific region, and what would it mean for South Korea? In this part of the world, the U.S. is focused on outcompeting China, economically, technologically and militarily --all of which are now interconnected under the broad framework of security. That means increasing U.S. prowess in all domains but also working with allies and partners. "I would expect the Trump administration to lean on allies in East Asia but to put much greater focus on hard power. And so the way it might lean on those allies could express itself in periods of tension when for example, it complaints about woeful underspending on defense among some of our key allies. And for that reason, I would imagine that an alliance based approach remains in the forefront. But a bigger focus on hard power capabilities is kind of characteristic of where Trump might go." Trump in his first term has been a key driver of so-called "minilaterals", such as the Quad with Japan, India and Australia, and AUKUS with Australia and the UK. South Korea has recently moved towards joining the second pillar of AUKUS which is about technological cooperation in cutting-edge areas, and participated in some Quad Plus initiatives. But there have been question marks around the future of initiatives formed under the Biden Administration --such as the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation. Still, experts say Washington wouldn't necessarily scrap partnerships if they're aligned with U.S. interests. "I think the trilateral Tokyo, Seoul, Washington format is one that has bipartisan support in the U.S. This was something that for example, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell really pushed forward an Indo-Pacific hand and which was widely applauded and, and lauded by Republicans. So I would expect that that remains a point of emphasis for the U.S." Rough suggested Indo-Pacific partners and allies cooperate more with European nations, perhaps through the defense industry. "South Korea's played a major role here in Europe both in foreign military sales and also in the provision via the U.S. of artillery to Ukraine. Moreover, there might be the frontiers of technology and innovation type of cooperation that are possible between leading European and Indo Pacific research institutes, universities and cutting edge technologies. All of that I think the U.S. would welcome, would even foster and would help us forge a strong front on the Eurasian land mass against this axis of revisionists led by the Chinese with their junior partner, the Russians, but also the Iranians and the North Koreans that has formed in past years." Q3. Of course, we need to talk about North Korea. Whether we will see a revival of the Trump-Kim bromance and what that means for South Korea. Right. Experts say there's a fair chance of President Trump reviving talks with Kim Jong-un --and even striking a 'small deal' with the regime. That's despite the breakdown of their talks in Hanoi in 2019, where Trump requested Kim close down all of the North's nuclear facilities. Washington's former special envoy to the Six Party Talks, Joseph Detrani says, the possibility of lifting economic sanctions could draw Kim back to the table. "In regards to what sort of a process could be used to better engage with North Korea? I think we learned from Hanoi that the Libya Model where we expect North Korea to put everything on the table is unrealistic. It's not going to happen. I think we knew this from the 6 Party Talks with North Korea going back to 2005 with the joint statement -it's actions for actions. As North Korea gets certain benefits, they will start to dismantle their nuclear weapons programs." Amid concerns over Trump officials referring to North Korea as a nuclear state, Detrani said it's unlikely the foreign policy establishment in Washington would ever accept Pyongyang's nuclear program, and that the South Korea-U.S alliance will likely remain "robust" due to the multiple challenges they face together. However, to move forward, experts agree that Seoul's domestic situation needs to stabilise. "South Korea must demonstrate its resilience in overcoming the current polycrisis to the international community. On contentious bilateral issues, negotiations with Washington should be approached with strong resolve." I see. There'll be challenges but hopefully opportunities for the alliance too. Thank you Soo-young for coming in today. We appreciate it.

S. Korean prosecutors file request to extend Yoon's detention period

2025/01/24 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring you today's most pressing issues from across the globe, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korean prosecutors filed for an extension of the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, as they seek to speed up the investigation into his short-lived martial law declaration. This request, submitted to the Seoul Central District Court, could keep Yoon in detention until February 6th, pending approval. The move follows the transfer of the case from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials to the prosecution, as the agency lacks the authority to indict a sitting president. With a potential in-person interrogation on the horizon, questions remain about President Yoon's cooperation and the implications of the unfolding legal battle. For more on this, we invite Cho Hee-kyung, Professor of Law at Hongik University. Also joining us is Lee Hee-eun, Dean and Professor of Law at Handong International Law School. Great to have you. (Lee) 1. So today, prosecutors applied for an extension to keep President Yoon detained for longer. Professor Lee, Could you explain what the procedure is? Is there a possibility that the court may deny the extension? (Cho) 2. If the court grants the extension, the expected end of the detention period is until the 6th of next month. In this case President Yoon will be interrogated while still in detention. Professor Cho, if this scenario proceeds as planned, when can we expect a trial verdict? (Lee) 3. So the latest development came as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials sent the insurrection case to the prosecution and requested an indictment. Professor Lee, what do you think is the reason behind this early transmission decision? (Cho) 4. Then Professor Cho, we are aware that that President Yoon has continually refused to cooperate with the CIO's investigation, will he comply with the prosecution's investigation this time? Reports indicate that the prosecution is focusing on a plan to visit him at the detention center rather than summoning him to the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office. What do you think is the reason for this approach? (Cho) 5. In the meantime, President Yoon's side issued a stern warning, stating, "We will hold the CIO legally accountable for its unlawful investigation and illegal actions." What does the legal responsibility mentioned by President Yoon's side imply? Professor Cho (Cho) 6. Now let's take a look at the 4th trial session held on Thursday. The first witness, former Minister of Defense Kim Yong-hyun's face-to-face encounter with President Yoon has garnered much attention. There was no partition between President Yoon and Former Minister Kim. How would you generally assess the testimonies made? (Lee) 7. How about you Professor Lee? What were your takeaways from yesterday's session? (Lee) 8. A battle of truth between President Yoon and former Minister Kim was expected to unfold. However, during the witness testimony on that day, Former Minister Kim accepted the claims of President Yoon's side and took sole responsibility for the state of emergency. Professor Lee, so based on his statement that he personally wrote the proclamation and that President Yoon did not thoroughly review it, can it be interpreted that he essentially led the planning and execution of the state of emergency? (Cho) 9. Former Minister Kim has consistently defended President Yoon, even while in detention, and did so again during his testimony yesterday. Professor Cho, why do you think this is the case?

Prosecution requests extension of Yoon's detention period until Feb. 6

2025/01/24 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start with the prosecution's probe into allegations of insurrection by the president in light of his short-lived martial law on the night of December third. For details, I have our Choi Min-jung standing by live at the Prosecutors' Office here in Seoul. Min-jung , prosecutors are seeking to further extend the president's detention. Jung-min, the prosecution does not have much time, with a detention deadline approaching, as early as the 26th of January. And because of the tight schedule,. we just learned just a few hours ago, that the investigation team had already requested with the Seoul Central District Court yesterday. an extension of President Yoon's detention until February sixth. If approved, that would allow more time for the prosecutors to investigate. Under such a plan, the prosecution is expected to make every effort to interrogate President Yoon. They also plan to continue the investigation throughout the weekend, and even during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Considering past cases of former presidents who were detained, prosecutors will likely visit President Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center for questioning, rather than summoning him to the prosecution office, due to security and confidentiality concerns. Previously, when former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Park Geun-hye, and Lee Myung-bak were detained, the prosecution conducted their investigations at the prison. The prosecution is reportedly only willing to question Yoon in person, given the gravity of the case. And what been the response from his defense team thus far? Right, the question is whether Yoon will respond to the prosecution's investigation. But given his team's latest response, they appear unlikely to cooperate. Around an hour ago, Yoon's legal team released a statement, criticizing the prosecution's handling of the situation. It argued that the prosecution should cancel the President's detention and wait for the impeachment trial to proceed. The statement stressed that keeping the President in detention could interfere with the impeachment process. The team also stated that the prosecution should disregard the illegal investigation conducted by the CIO and start a fresh investigation. Hours ago, Yoon's lawyers, Yun Gap-geun and Kim Hong-il, briefly stopped by, and told reporters that they came to convey their thoughts to the prosecution. Though exact details were not revealed, they may have discussed scheduling coordination with the investigators. But, just to give you a brief background, the prosecution's special investigation team took the case back yesterday, after the anti-corruption agency formally requested that the prosecution take over the investigation. The case was handed over earlier than planned due to President Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the CIO. That's all I have for now. Back to you, Jung-min. All right Min-jung thank you for the latest.

Trump pushes "America First" agenda at Davos: Invest or face tariffs

2025/01/24 20:00

Elsewhere In his first address to a global audience following his return to the White House, President Trump called on companies worldwide to make their products in America or face hefty tariffs. Moon Hye-ryeon explains. "Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth." U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized his stance on tariffs once again in front of the global elite at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as he followed up his push to bring manufacturing into the U.S. with a threat to impose levies for foreign goods. "But if you don't make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff." Speaking in a video call on Thursday at his first major appearance since his inauguration earlier this week, Trump went on to describe how these tariffs will add up to "trillions of dollars" to strengthen the U.S. economy. This follows an earlier announcement that he plans to impose tariffs of 25 percent on Mexico and Canada starting February – alongside a 10 percent tariff for China. During the rest of his 45-minute speech, he went on to lay out more of his vision for the U.S. economy, which includes lowering the corporate tax to 15 percent from the current 21 percent, lowering energy costs by pressuring OPEC and lowering interest rates in turn. And in a panel discussion following his speech, he addressed the European Union for its substantial trade imbalance with the United States and condemned their regulatory actions against American tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Facebook. His comments spurred a chain of reactions – oil prices fell, the greenback showed fluctuations, and U.S. stocks rose. It also inspired commentary from attendees, who called for a measured response to Trump's tariff policies – cautioning against hasty retaliatory actions. The Director-General of the World Trade Organization called for careful analysis to examine the economic impact to gauge whether they are excessive and warned that retaliatory tariffs can have disastrous effects on the global economy. The European Union's economic commissioner echoed this sentiment, while some attendees showed a more nuanced understanding of Trump's approach to tariffs by viewing it as a bargaining tool. Trump also advocated for a reduction in nuclear arms and urged for global cooperation at the forum, stating that he had discussed the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin prior to the 2020 U.S. presidential election. He revealed that Putin had been receptive to the idea of nuclear disarmament and that China would have joined the initiative – warning that Beijing is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and could catch up with the U.S. in a few years. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

No immediate signs of provocation from N. Korea but preparing ICBM, satellite launches: JCS

2025/01/24 20:00

While there is no indication of an imminent provocation, North Korea looks to be prepared for an intercontinental ballistic missile launch or a satellite mission at any time. Our Kim Bo-kyoung reports. No immediate signs of North Korean missile launches have been detected since Trump's inauguration, but preparations for a spy satellite or an ICBM continue. This is the recent assessment made by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on North Korea. released on Friday. Regarding Pyongyang's potential missile launches, the regime had earlier this month already fired two missiles before Trump was sworn in as the new U.S. president. And, the JCS says the North appears to be ready to launch short-range ballistic and cruise missiles at any time. Yet, as Trump has delivered a message to resume talks, one expert says it is unlikely that Pyongyang will be highly provocative. "In response to President Trump's conciliatory message, it is unlikely that North Korea will conduct a high-intensity display of force, such as an ICBM launch." Meanwhile, Pyongyang has been dismantling and removing the materials from the Kaesong Industrial Complex's Comprehensive Support Center for over a month, since mid-December last year. Considering that North Korea had shown similar activities before demolishing the inter-Korean liaison office in June 2020, the same expert again says the possibility of utterly blowing up the complex would take some time. "North Korea has already dismantled symbolic South Korean buildings and facilities in the Geumgangsan Mountain area and destroyed the inter-Korean liaison office. Given that it is unclear what benefit would come from destroying the Kaesong Industrial Complex, they could dismantle, but it would take time to demolish." When it comes to North Korea sending troops to Russia. the South's military expects Pyongyang to accelerate preparations for additional deployments with around four months already having passed since the first troop deployment. It is likely, given the fact that the battle nearing its end could get fierce, but the expert said the relationship between Russia and the U.S. could bring a change in Kim Jong-un's decision. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Gov't strengthens emergency medical system ahead of Seollal holidays

2025/01/24 20:00

With the holiday just around the corner, the authorities are making sure that the emergency medical system is managed in a stable manner. Our Park Kun-woo has more. Efforts to stabilize the emergency medical system are underway. During a central disaster meeting on Friday, Acting President Choi Sang-mok emphasized that stabilizing the system during the upcoming Seollal holidays was crucial. "The government and local authorities will focus their efforts on ensuring the smooth implementation of special measures to maintain the emergency medical system, so people can spend the holidays peacefully." This comes after the emergency medical response period was set for two weeks from January 22nd, to cover the holidays. Choi said all domestic emergency medical facilities are being monitored around the clock with medical officers dispatched. He also stressed that every effort will be made to provide specialized care for high-risk pregnant women, nighttime pediatric care, and other special conditions. Choi also urged that emergency rooms be prioritized for those who are in real need. "If you have an urgent problem, call 119; if not please visit a local clinic or small to medium-sized hospital emergency room first." The government said more hospitals will be open during the holidays, up by over 3-hundred-60 percent from last year's Seollal holidays. The National Fire Agency will also increase its emergency personnel and medical consultations beyond normal levels. Korean nationals living abroad or traveling can also receive consultations through the agency's internet or social media channels. The health authorities advised caution regarding respiratory diseases during the holidays even though the flu season peak has passed. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said people should follow infectious disease prevention measures, including maintaining hygiene and ventilation, and especially high-risk groups should get vaccinated as the flu season continues. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Lawmakers greet people traveling for Seollal holiday at major stations in Seoul

2025/01/24 20:00

Meanwhile, lawmakers across the aisle also made their way to major bus and train stations on this Friday here in Seoul to meet with travelers as they head home for the lunar new year holiday. Members of the ruling People Power Party were at Seoul Station while their counterparts of main opposition Democratic Party were at Seoul Express Bus Terminal. During their brief interactions with members of the public, rival lawmakers pledged to pledge to promote issues related to the cost of living for ordinary people.

Prosecution requests extension of Yoon's detention period until Feb. 6

2025/01/24 17:00

We start with the prosecution's probe into allegations of insurrection by the president in light of his short-lived martial law on the night of December third. For details I have Arirang News correspondent Choi Min-jung standing by live at the Prosecutors' Office here in Seoul. Min-jung first then let's begin with talk about a further extension of the president's detention as sought by prosecutors. Sunny, the prosecution does not have much time, with a detention deadline approaching, as early as the 26th of January. And because of the tight schedule,. we just learned moments ago, that the investigation team has already requested with the Seoul Central District Court yesterday. an extension of President Yoon's detention until February sixth. If approved, that would allow more time for the prosecutors to investigate. Under such a plan, the prosecution is expected to make every effort to interrogate President Yoon as much as possible. They also plan to continue the investigation throughout the weekend, and even during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Considering past cases of former presidents who were detained, prosecutors will likely visit President Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center for questioning, rather than summoning him to the prosecution office, due to security and confidentiality concerns. Previously, when former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Park Geun-hye, and Lee Myung-bak were detained, the prosecution conducted their investigations at the prison. The prosecution is reportedly only willing to question Yoon in person, given the gravity of the case. And what been the response from his defense team thus far? Right, the question is whether Yoon will respond to the prosecution's investigation. President Yoon's legal team said nothing has been decided yet, but did urge the prosecution to comply with proper legal procedures, unlike what they call the "illegal" actions of the CIO. His lawyer said yesterday that his team will decide on whether to cooperate with the prosecution's potential visit to the detention center after consulting with the president. He added that many factors, including the prosecution's approach, still need to be considered. Just to give you a brief background, the prosecution's special investigation team took back the case yesterday, after the anti-corruption agency formally requested that the prosecution take over the investigation. The case was handed over earlier than planned due to President Yoon's refusal to cooperate with the CIO. That's all I have for now. But I'll be back with more on our later newscast. Back to you, Sunny. All right Min-jung thank you for the latest on the probe by prosecutors into insurrection charges against the president.

World News: Federal court blocks Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship

2025/01/24 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the U.S., on Thursday, District Judge John Coughenour in Seattle put a two-week temporary halt, on President Donald Trump's executive order, aimed at ending birthright citizenship, calling it "blatantly unconstitutional." Trump's order sought to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. The order challenges the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born in America, with a few minor exceptions. 22 states and several immigrant rights groups are challenging Trump's executive order, arguing that it would strip many individuals of their right to citizenship. The Justice Department plans to appeal Judge Coughenour's decision, asserting that the order correctly interprets the Constitution. The case, which represents an early setback for the Trump administration's immigration agenda, could potentially end up at the Supreme Court for a final decision. Also in the U.S., Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, on Thursday, agreed to a 7.4 billion U.S. dollar settlement, to resolve numerous lawsuits alleging their role in the U.S. opioid crisis through the marketing of their product, OxyContin. Under the settlement terms, the Sacklers will pay 6.5 billion U.S. dollars over 15 years, and give up their ownership of Purdue Pharma. An additional 900 million U.S. dollars will come from Purdue itself. The agreement follows the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of a 6 billion dollar settlement that would have granted the Sacklers immunity from future civil lawsuits. The new settlement does not provide such immunity. The OxyContin crisis led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and addictions in the U.S. since the drug's release in 1996. The Sackler family continues to deny any wrongdoing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Thursday that recent tests of seawater samples collected near Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant revealed no abnormalities. The first independent test of samples since October 2024, was conducted as part of an agreement between China and Japan, allowing stakeholders to perform independent sampling and monitoring, under the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency. China's foreign ministry spokesperson noted the limits of the significance of a single test result, and China has not yet hinted at lifting its ban on Japanese seafood imports, which was imposed in August 2023. In Australia, Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden saw the blooming of a "corpse flower," or Putricia, for the first time in 15 years on Thursday. The rare flower, which is native to Sumatra, Indonesia, is known for its pungent odor, often compared to rotting flesh. The occasion attracted over 20,000 visitors, as the flower's bloom is a significant event, due to its rarity and brief 24-hour lifespan. Visitors endured lines exceeding two hours to witness the rare spectacle, and some described the scent as being like a dead animal. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Lawmakers greet people traveling for Seollal holiday at major stations in Seoul

2025/01/24 17:00

Meanwhile lawmakers across the aisle also made their way to major bus and train stations on this Friday here in Seoul to meet with travelers as they head home for the lunar new year holiday. Members of the ruling People Power Party were at Seoul Station while their counterparts of main opposition Democratic Party were at Seoul Express Bus Terminal. During their brief interactions with members of the public rival lawmakers pledged to promote issues related to the cost of living for ordinary people.

No immediate signs of provocation from N. Korea but preparing ICBM, satellite launches: JCS

2025/01/24 17:00

While there is no indication of an imminent provocation North Korea is prepared for an intercontinental ballistic missile launch or a satellite mission at any time. This is according to South Korean military officials. Our Kim Bo-kyoung reports. No immediate signs of North Korean missile launches have been detected since Trump's inauguration, but preparations for a spy satellite or an ICBM continue. This is the recent assessment made by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on North Korea. released on Friday. Regarding Pyongyang's potential missile launches, the regime had earlier this month already fired two missiles before Trump was sworn in as the new U.S. president. And, the JCS says the North appears to be ready to launch short-range ballistic and cruise missiles at any time. Yet, as Trump has delivered a message to resume talks, one expert says it is unlikely that Pyongyang will be highly provocative. "In response to President Trump's conciliatory message, it is unlikely that North Korea will conduct a high-intensity display of force, such as an ICBM launch." Meanwhile, Pyongyang has been dismantling and removing the materials from the Kaesong Industrial Complex's Comprehensive Support Center for over a month, since mid-December last year. Considering that North Korea had shown similar activities before demolishing the inter-Korean liaison office in June 2020, the same expert again says the possibility of utterly blowing up the complex would take some time. "North Korea has already dismantled symbolic South Korean buildings and facilities in the Geumgangsan Mountain area and destroyed the inter-Korean liaison office. Given that it is unclear what benefit would come from destroying the Kaesong Industrial Complex, they could dismantle, but it would take time to demolish." When it comes to North Korea sending troops to Russia. the South's military expects Pyongyang to accelerate preparations for additional deployments with around four months already having passed since the first troop deployment. It is likely, given the fact that the battle nearing its end could get fierce, but the expert said the relationship between Russia and the U.S. could bring a change in Kim Jong-un's decision. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Seoul envoy vows to maintain joint goal of N. Korea's denuclearization with Trump administration

2025/01/24 17:00

South Korea's top delegate to the U.S. has reaffirmed intentions to work with Washington to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons. The remarks were made in response to concerns here over Mr. Trump's labeling of the regime as a "nuclear power". Lee Seung-jae has details. South Korea's Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong said Thursday that Seoul and Washington will maintain the goal of North Korea's denuclearization in the new Donald Trump administration. In a monthly press meeting, Seoul's top envoy to Washington emphasized South Korea's focus on reinforcing policy coordination with the Trump administration. In order to remain on the same page on North Korea nuclear policy, Cho said the South Korean government will strengthen its coordination with the U.S., especially given the North's participation in the war in Ukraine. The ambassador also stressed Seoul's priority of strengthening the credibility of the U.S.' extended deterrence commitment. This includes the mobilization of the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons,.. in order to defend South Korea. Cho added that, Seoul will continue to ensure the combined South Korea-U.S. defense posture, while maintaining the Seoul-Washington-Tokyo trilateral cooperation. His comments come amid growing concerns that the U.S. may be changing its policy on North Korea's nuclear program. On the day of his inauguration on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump described North Korea as a "nuclear power." Also,.. Trump's defense chief nominee Pete Hegseth used the same term to describe the regime. U.S. officials have long refrained from using such terms, as it could be seen as Washington's recognition of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. However, the term is different from "the nuclear-weapon states,". often used to describe countries like the U.S., UK, France, Russia, and China. They're officially recognized as countries that possess nuclear weapons in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump pushes "America First" agenda at Davos: Invest or face tariffs

2025/01/24 17:00

Elsewhere. In his first address to a global audience following his return to the White House U.S. President Donald Trump called on companies worldwide to make their products in America or face hefty tariffs. Our business correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon reports. "Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth." U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized his stance on tariffs once again in front of the global elite at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as he followed up his push to bring manufacturing into the U.S. with a threat to impose levies for foreign goods. "But if you don't make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff." Speaking in a video call on Thursday at his first major appearance since his inauguration earlier this week, Trump went on to describe how these tariffs will add up to "trillions of dollars" to strengthen the U.S. economy. This follows an earlier announcement that he plans to impose tariffs of 25 percent on Mexico and Canada starting February – alongside a 10 percent tariff for China. During the rest of his 45-minute speech, he went on to lay out more of his vision for the U.S. economy, which includes lowering the corporate tax to 15 percent from the current 21 percent, lowering energy costs by pressuring OPEC and lowering interest rates in turn. And in a panel discussion following his speech, he addressed the European Union for its substantial trade imbalance with the United States and condemned their regulatory actions against American tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Facebook. His comments spurred a chain of reactions – oil prices fell, the greenback showed fluctuations, and U.S. stocks rose. It also inspired commentary from attendees, who called for a measured response to Trump's tariff policies – cautioning against hasty retaliatory actions. The Director-General of the World Trade Organization called for careful analysis to examine the economic impact to gauge whether they are excessive and warned that retaliatory tariffs can have disastrous effects on the global economy. The European Union's economic commissioner echoed this sentiment, while some attendees showed a more nuanced understanding of Trump's approach to tariffs by viewing it as a bargaining tool. Trump also advocated for a reduction in nuclear arms and urged for global cooperation at the forum, stating that he had discussed the matter with Russian President Vladimir Putin prior to the 2020 U.S. presidential election. He revealed that Putin had been receptive to the idea of nuclear disarmament and that China would have joined the initiative – warning that Beijing is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and could catch up with the U.S. in a few years. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

Choi Sang-mok orders officials to respond to important issues first from Trump's 'America First' policy

2025/01/24 17:00

Acting President Choi Sang-mok has called for a thorough review of the country's response strategy to the Trump administration's America First campaign. The call came earlier on this Friday during a round-table discussion on global economic matters with relevant government officials. According to the Finance Ministry this latest session of talks is the third of its kind and takes place just three days after the last. The overall gist of the agenda is navigating the new U.S. government's protectionist policies.

GROWING GAP IN POLITICS AND AMONG PEOPLE

2025/01/24 17:00

Hello and welcome. You're watching Press Perspective for this Friday January 24th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we address the impact of political polarization on the stability of our societies and more. For more I have Kelly Kasulis Cho with The Washington Post. Kelly it's good to have you back this week. I also have Colin Marshall with the foreign pundit's take on the issues at hand. Colin as always thank you for being here. 1) Kelly, there are grave concerns about the deepening political divide here in Korea. 2) Colin, what do you suppose is further aggravating Korea's political polarization this time around? 3) Kelly, some pro-Yoon supporters have spoken of seeing hope in Mr. Trump's return to the White House where he promptly moved to pardon the January 6th rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in 2021. 4) Colin, back here in Korea. 5) Meanwhile Kelly, I hear this growing political gap between Gen Z women and men is a phenomenon that extends beyond Korean borders. 6) Colin, a local survey shows most Koreans believe the government should take the lead in bridging the political divide, but few trust its ability to do so. 7) Kelly, let's now move on to some other lighter stories. 8) Colin, there has been yet another foreign media report about robots tackling labor shortages amid Korea's aging population. All right.

On-point: Is Yoon better off with prosecution taking over martial law order investigation

2025/01/24 10:00

The investigation of President Yoon's martial law order is now in the hands of prosecutors. Will things speed up for the better? We're joined by Professor Song Se-ryun this morning. Good to have you with us, Professor Song. 1. As our Choi Min-jung reported, the transfer of the case to the prosecution came earlier than expected. Does it mean the investigators have given up on Yoon? 2. What role can the CIO play in the investigation following the transfer to prosecution? To what extent can they take part? 3. How do you think the prosecution will approach questioning Yoon? What options are there? What's the best option for the prosecutors? 4. Is having the investigation passed to the prosecution something that Yoon and his legal team pursued, do you think? Is Yoon better off now that prosecutors are carrying out the investigation? Or not really? 5. Yoon's side has hinted at cooperating with the prosecution. To what extent? Will it depend on the prosecutors' approach to the investigation? Thank you so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate your time and your insight.