News

Live: President Yoon to attend impeachment trial again as key witness testimonies begin

2025/01/23 10:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol will be attending his impeachment trial hearing for the second time. The series of witness testimonies will begin as the Constitutional Court continues to hear and deliberate on whether Yoon's martial law order last month calls for his removal from office. For more, we have our Oh Soo-young standing by at the Constitutional Court. 1. From today, justices will begin hearing testimonies from key witnesses, beginning with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Yes, from 2:30PM, the former defense minister will testify, the first of the eight witnesses approved by the Court so far. Both sides the National Assembly and President Yoon will have the opportunity to question him. Kim Yong-hyun is one of the key figures implicated in planning and executing the martial law. Considered Yoon's right-hand man, Kim initially said he'd take responsibility for the chaos that ensued. But lately, there have been discrepancies with Yoon's narrative, on key matters under review by the Court. So his testimony and interaction with Yoon may be interesting to watch. But President Yoon and Kim might not confront each other directly during the fourth hearing. At the previous hearing, the National Assembly requested measures such as installing a screen or temporarily excusing President Yoon from the courtroom to ensure that witnesses could testify without intimidation. 2. So what would be the biggest questions posed to Kim? The questions will likely focus on two aspects. First, the martial law proclamation released on December 3rd set out various decrees including a ban on political activities. That decree was one of the main grounds for Yoon's impeachment. President Yoon’s side has argued that the document was not produced by Yoon but "mistakenly copied by Kim.” Kim’s legal team says while the former minister drafted the initial version, it was "of course reviewed by the President.” Justices are also likely to focus on a note the Finance Minister received, instructing him to draft a budget for an emergency legislative body to presumably replace the elected parliament after shutting it down under martial law. Yoon on Tuesday claimed he did not write the note and said he thinks it was written by the Defense Minister. So the justices will take these accounts into their deliberation when deciding whether Yoon's martial law was unconstitutional. 3. While he's refusing to cooperate with investigators who arrested him for questioning, the President seems determined to attend the impeachment trial. Yes. Yoon's lawyers say he will if possible attend all future hearings which have been scheduled until February 13th. He's filed without success an appeal against his arrest, and major figures implicated in the suspected insurrection have also been arrested so he is looking cornered when it comes to the criminal investigation against him. By attending future hearings, President Yoon could emphasize his narrative and might even directly question witnesses if necessary. Also, he may be more determined to appear at the Constitutional Court as a means of further rallying his supporters, emboldened by the latest polls which show growing numbers back the ruling party, and his non-impeachment. Soo-young, thanks for the coverage. Do keep up updated throughout the day.

Quad joint statement omits reference to Korean Peninsula denuclearization

2025/01/23 10:00

The first Quad foreign ministers' meeting since the launch of the new Donald Trump administration has taken place. But their joint statement left out any reference to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and included nothing about North Korea issues. Lee Seung-jae reports. The top diplomats of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan met in Washington for their first Quad foreign minister's meeting since the launch of the Donald Trump administration earlier this week. This meant that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was the first to be confirmed in Trump's new Cabinet, was taking part in the meeting for the first time. However,.. the joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of the Quad nations saw the removal of any reference to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Instead,.. the top diplomats vowed to strengthen a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, while opposing "any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion." It also did not mention China or North Korea by name. The latest joint statement is in stark contrast to the previous years, where the foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The difference in the joint statement also comes as Trump and his defense chief nominee Peter Hegseth used the term "nuclear power" to describe North Korea. And according to a prominent U.S. expert and former officer at the U.S. National Intelligence Council Sydney Seiler,.. the new U.S. administration believes Pyongyang's nuclear threat has evolved over the last four years,.. given the use of a term,.. that was largely avoided by U.S. officials in the past. Seiler says the Trump administration "faced the reality" that the regime "continues to grow its arsenal qualitatively and quantitatively," and the threat is greater than four years ago. He added that the remarks are a "realistic view" of the threat. While the term "nuclear power" is different from "nuclear-weapon state," a term used to describe countries like the U.S., Russia, and the UK, it raises concerns for South Korea,.. which seeks close policy coordination with Washington to achieve denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Live from Seoul Detention Center: Forced summons attempt, Presidential Office raid by CIO fail again

2025/01/22 20:00

Thank you for joining us, I'm Yoon Jung-min. We start at the Seoul Detention Center where President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to refuse to take part in questioning sessions led by anti-corruption investigators. We have our Lee Soo-jin standing by. Soo-jin, I understand a third attempt was made to take him in by investigators to no end. Sure,.. the CIO had moved forward with another forced summons today that was, like you mentioned, the third such attempt. But the CIO announced around earlier this evening that this attempt was also unsuccessful. A CIO vehicle was spotted passing through the main gate of the Seoul Detention Center at 10:20 AM today. The CIO had considered two options forcibly transferring Yoon to the CIO interrogation room at the Government Complex in Gwacheon, or carrying out on-site interviews in an investigation room at the detention center. But Yoon, refused to comply with either, as he continued to sit in consultations with his lawyers. The agency is continuously making these efforts as there isn't much time before the CIO has to hand Yoon's case over to prosecutors before the detention period expires on the 28th. Separately, I hear anti-corruption officials also launched a search and seize operation today. Right, the CIO began a search and seizure operation this morning, at the Presidential Office and Yoon's residence. But this operation, also ended unsuccessfully, at both locations. The agency had attempted to secure encrypted phone records, computers, as well as meeting minutes. Yoon is currently facing allegations of using an encrypted phone to order top police and military officials to command troops to remove lawmakers from the National Assembly during his brief imposition of martial law. But the search and seize operations once again faced challenges from the Presidential Security Service, which had blocked previous such attempts. The CIO announced that the Presidential Security Service decided to not approve the execution of the search warrants for the Presidential Office at around 3 PM. And the CIO suspended the execution of the warrant at the President's residence at around 4:50 PM. And what has been the response from the President's side? Yoon's lawyers have steadfastly maintained their stance of refusing to comply with the CIO investigation, saying that as they plan to attend all the impeachment hearings at the Constitution Court, including the one that is taking place tomorrow, they need time to prepare. His team also said that they have said all they needed to say at the hearings and called these attempts a "violation of human rights." Here's what an expert said on the refusal to comply with CIO investigations. "I believe President Yoon is avoiding CIO investigations for three reasons: to rally his supporters, to delay the investigation process, and to delay the impeachment trial." And that's all I have. Back to you, Jung-min.

Trump 2.0: Opportunity or challenge for S. Korean students in the U.S.?

2025/01/22 20:00

Quite a number of young Korean scholars have chosen to further broaden their academic horizons by seeking studies in the U.S. So how does Mr. Trump's return to the White House look to affect their plans? Our Lee Eun-hee takes a look. Now that Donald Trump is back in office, what does his second term mean for South Korean students in the U.S.? Is it an emerging challenge or possibly a new opportunity? The latest data shows that there are over 45-thousand Korean students in the U.S., ranking third in terms of the largest international student populations, following China and India. Given Trump's first-term "America First" immigration policies, which focused on stricter visa rules and limiting post-graduation work opportunities, there are concerns about the impact on Korean students. However, there may also be areas of focus that could open new pathways for international students in fields like technology, engineering, and research. A "STEM visa" is commonly used to refer to visa options available for those pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields, including the F-1 student visa with additional work opportunities. A recent graduate from grad school in data science in 2024 and currently working in the United States, Kim Kyu-hyun gives us more details. "It's a policy that benefits the United States mostly. Of course, individuals working in the United States can also benefit but it's a policy to retain talent in the country. So I don't think it'll be in the best interests of anyone to cancel or revoke the STEM, OPT or H-1B policy but I do think that it might be less friendlier than before in that it'll be more selective of who gets the stem visa." In June 2024, while running for president, Donald Trump proposed to offer green cards to international students who graduate from American schools. This could be a potential game-changer for those looking to build their futures in the United States, but with over a million international students in the U.S., questions remain. "He claimed it would be implemented right after taking office, but many experts are skeptical about its feasibility due to the scale of the proposal. There are doubts about whether Trump and his current team can actually make it happen." The professor also added that, although Korean students in the United States may not be directly affected for now, under the Trump administration, it's likely that the overall environment in American society could become more unwelcoming for international students. "Visa policies and restrictions could add an extra layer of complexity for international students like me. But I see these challenges as an opportunity to refine my strategies and explore alternative pathways." While the direct impact on international students may not be immediate, the shifting atmosphere in American society could present new challenges, making it important to stay adaptable and prepared for any changes ahead. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

Trump, Kim Jong-un could reach 'Small Deal': Fmr. U.S. intelligence official

2025/01/22 20:00

Meanwhile, speculation is mounting about prospects of fresh engagement between Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-un. For more on such prospects, our Oh Soo-young had a chance to talk to a former U.S. envoy to the six-party nuclear talks. Seoul and Washington could aim for small but meaningful steps towards denuclearizing North Korea, in a possible small deal under the new Trump Administration. Former U.S. intelligence official Joseph Detrani told Arirang News he sees potential for a revival of top-level talks between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, after their Hanoi Summit in 2019 broke down, which showed that Kim was not ready for a "big deal" to close down all his nuclear facilities. Ambassador Detrani was Washington's special envoy to the Six Party Talks that aimed to negotiate with North Korea two decades ago. "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." Despite Kim Jong-un's reported disappointment and anger over the failed talks, Detrani said the potential lifting of economic sanctions for smaller concessions could draw him back to negotiations. "This hasn't been put on the table before but ideally stop the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. These are all these are all moves in the right direction. Now, is North Korea going to give up their arsenal of nuclear weapons? No, and Kim Jung-un has made that very clear, but our goal should be and, I think, will be the complete verifiable dismantlement of all nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons facilities and that should continue to be our goal." Detrani stressed the importance of reaching even small deals to freeze North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development, especially as the regime last year forged a comprehensive partnership with Russia, which includes mutual defence in times of war, and experts fear a potential transfer of key missile and nuclear technologies. "The assessment at least in the United States is reportedly that they can miniaturise their nuclear warheads and they can make them to these short range, intermediate range long range ballistic missiles what they could be getting from Russia. There's more work on their hypersonics because the hypersonic they're working on is capable of defeating, in theory, missile defense systems which is very important but also merging them where they have multiple re-entry of vehicles where there are multiple re-entry, if you will, of nuclear warheads where you can have one missile, an ICBM like the Hwasong carrying five to 6 nuclear warheads that could be independently maneuvered to strike different targets." While the South Korean president's suspension from office has hindered top-level diplomacy with Washington, Detrani says the bilateral alliance will likely remain "robust" due to such challenges, among other security issues in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly as Washington continues to counter China's growing influence. The Ambassador added it is highly unlikely the U.S. would formally recognize North Korea as a nuclear state, as that could potentially trigger distrust among U.S. allies, and an arms race in the region. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

John Noh sworn in as U.S. deputy assistant defense secretary for East Asia

2025/01/22 20:00

A Korean American official, John Noh , has been appointed to a key post at the Pentagon, and will be in charge of crafting policies toward South Korea, Japan and other East Asian countries under the Trump administration. Announcing a list of new officials that were sworn in, the U.S. Department of Defense said Noh, is now the new deputy assistant defense secretary for East Asia. Until recently, he served as the deputy general counsel for the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

Trump says he is considering 10% tariff on China starting February 1

2025/01/22 20:00

Over in the U.S. President Trump says he is considering a 10-percent tariff on China, starting February, seen as part of his effort to "put America first." Our Kim Bo-kyoung tells us more. U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten other countries with tariffs this time targeting China. On Tuesday at the Oval Office, Trump said he is considering a 10-percent tariff on China starting as early as February first, citing that too much fentanyl is coming into the U.S. from China via Mexico and Canada. "We're talking about a tariff of 10 percent on China based on the fact that they're sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada." This comes after Trump on Monday threatened 25-percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada. accusing them of allowing undocumented migrants and drugs to come into the U.S. Meanwhile, Trump announced investment plans worth 500 billion U.S. dollars to build artificial intelligence infrastructure in the country. And as part of such efforts, OpenAI, Softbank, and Oracle are planning a joint venture called 'Stargate.' During Trump's briefing, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, along with Sam Altman of OpenAI and Larry Ellison of Oracle joined the President. One hundred billion U.S. dollars in funding has been committed for now, with more expected over the next four years. Ellison said ten data centers for the project are under construction in Texas, with more to come in other states. "Each building is half a million square feet. There are ten buildings currently being built, but that will expand to 20." And, Trump says this project will create hundreds and thousands of jobs. "A new American company that will invest 500 billion dollars, at least, in AI infrastructure in the United States and very quickly moving very rapidly, creating over one-hundred-thousand American jobs almost immediately." Meanwhile, when asked about whether he is open to Elon Musk buying TikTok, Trump said he would be if he wanted to buy it. He previously had directed the Justice Department on Monday to pause the enforcement of the TikTok ban for 75 days until early April, after TikTok became unusable in the U.S. Trump suggested to TikTok that the United States jointly owns half the company. "With a permit, it's worth, like a trillion dollars. So what I'm thinking about saying to somebody is buy it and give half to the United States of America. Half and we'll give you the permit." Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

[Politics & Diplomacy] Political turmoil over Yoon's trial: Assembly committee orders Pres. Yoon to appear

2025/01/22 20:00

Since the president's martial law declaration almost two months ago, tensions and feud have only grown within the political circles. To delve deeper into the standoff, let's turn to our political correspondent Shin Ha-young. Ha-young, the first hearing of the National Assembly's special committee to investigate the Yoon administration's alleged insurrection plan took place today. What are the key takeaways from today's hearing? Well, the first thing we need to look at is the issuance of orders to bring key officials including President Yoon Suk Yeol to the hearing as witnesses. President Yoon and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who were requested to appear at the National Assembly to answer lawmakers' questions, did not show up to the hearing. In response, the opposition-led committee issued orders to bring Yoon and six other military officials to the Assembly as witnesses. "We are issuing an order for seven witnesses, including Yoon Suk Yeol, please carry them out." The ruling People Power Party criticized the opposition for trying to embarrass the president. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min attended the hearing, but Lee continued to refuse to answer questions. At the hearing, the opposition focused on verifying allegations that President Yoon denied during yesterday's impeachment trial; while the ruling party argued that the CIO's insurrection investigation and Yoon's detention were unlawful. "Without legal grounds, how can the CIO conduct illegal investigations and claim the Presidential Security Service acted unlawfully? Deputy Chief, you should respond firmly." President Yoon refuses investigations, but he did attend his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court yesterday. What could have been the reasons behind this? Well, first of all, it was an unprecedented moment, as Yoon became the first president to attend his own impeachment trial. President Yoon had said he would attend the trial but skipped the first two hearings, citing security and protocol reasons. Experts say that there were concerns he could be arrested upon arrival, as an outstanding warrant hadn't been executed at that time. However, the situation changed after another arrest warrant seeking a longer period of detention was issued. Unlike other investigations, impeachment hearings are public, and by attending, Yoon seems to want to show his supporters he's strong while also emphasizing the unfairness of the impeachment. Some even interpret this as an attempt to sway public opinion. As Yoon's legal team stated, the president will attend the hearing at the Constitutional Court again tomorrow. So this is another point to watch for on Thursday. Lawmakers are also clashing over a bill for a special investigation into the president's brief imposition of martial law. How has the situation been unfolding? Well, all eyes were on whether there would be room for negotiations over the bill, but the political strife only intensified. An opposition-led revised bill to launch a special counsel investigation into President Yoon's short-lived imposition of martial law was passed by a National Assembly plenary session on Friday. This came after rival party floor leaders failed to reach an agreement on the bill during negotiations. Instead, the DP revised its own version of the bill and brought it to a vote. The bill that passed excludes allegations of "inducement of foreign aggression" and focuses on six specific allegations, compared to the 11 outlined in the original version. Instead, the DP added a provision allowing the special counsel to investigate "related cases," not just Yoon's declaration of martial law. The ruling party opposed the revised bill, arguing that its vague provisions could allow investigations into accusations not originally listed, including those previously removed. One factor we also need to take a close look at is that the investigation appears to be losing momentum after Yoon transitioned from a temporary detainee to a criminal suspect on insurrection charges. Since overlapping investigations are not allowed, the special prosecutor would be unable to charge Yoon with insurrection. The PPP argues that the bill is unnecessary because most key figures, including President Yoon, have already been arrested or indicted. The DP, on the other hand, claimed that it had incorporated the PPP's demands, and urged the acting president to approve the bill immediately, warning that any delay would prolong the insurrection. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has until February 2nd to either approve or reject the bill; if rejected, it will be returned to the Assembly for a revote. He is expected to decide after the Lunar New Year holiday, or Seollal. Thanks for the wrap-up today, Ha-young. My pleasure.

How will U.S. policies on N. Korea evolve under Trump 2.0?

2025/01/22 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. With Donald Trump's return to the White House, the world is bracing for big changes to the global landscape. As for the Korean Peninsula, all eyes are on whether the American leader's policies on North Korea's denuclearization remain solid. Following his inauguration, Trump referred to North Korea as a "nuclear power" and spoke about his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He also emphasized that he and Kim got along well, expressing confidence that Kim would be pleased with his return to office. Following a period of high-stakes diplomacy and direct engagement with North Korea during his first term, experts are closely watching whether Trump's approach will evolve or face new challenges given shifting regional and global dynamics. Today, we explore what lies ahead for U.S. policy in dealing with North Korea and its broader implications for global security. For this, we invite Patrick Cronin, Asia-Pacific Security Chair at the Hudson Institute. Welcome. Also joining us is Brian Myers, Professor of International Studies at Dongseo University. Thank you for coming on. (Cronin) 1. Let's start with Dr. Cronin, During his first term, President Trump's approach to North Korea was marked by high-stakes diplomacy and direct engagement with Kim Jong-un. Do you think this style of engagement prove effective again, or do you foresee new challenges given the current regional and geopolitical dynamics? (Myers) 2. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State nominee, Marco Rubio, recently acknowledged the failure of sanctions in curbing North Korea's nuclear development and emphasized the need for a new approach. Professor Myers, How do you gauge the potential for a drastic shift in Washington's policies? (Myers) 3. Professor, U.S. President Donald Trump described North Korea as a "nuclear power" on inauguration day. This comes after controversy spurred over similar remarks by his Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth. Though this differs from the term "nuclear-armed state," such remarks sparked controversy over a potential shift in Washington's stance on the Non-proliferation treaty. What are the chances? (Cronin) 4. How about you Dr. Cronin? Some say that Trump may want to seek a "small deal" with North Korea which means a freeze of its nuclear programs in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. How likely could this scenario be? (Myers) 5.Professor Myers, How do you see the chances of Trump jumping on North Korea issues during his first few months? How much of a priority will the denuclearization issue be? (Cronin) 6. Now from North Korea's perspective Dr. Cronin, given Trump's history of direct engagement with Kim Jong-un, do you believe North Korea would be willing to return to the negotiating table under a Trump administration? What factors would influence North Korea's decision to engage diplomatically with the U.S. again? (Myers) 7. South Korea had been concerned about not being involved in the decision-making process if Trump moves forward with his direct-engagement strategy with North Korea's Kim Jong-un. Since Seoul currently has a leadership vacancy with the ongoing impeachment trial against President Yoon Suk Yeol, what can it do to ensure its interests are protected Professor Myers? (Myers) 8. North Korea's state media on Friday reported on impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's detention by the South's anti-corruption agency over his botched December third martial law imposition. Since November, the regime has often been updating its people on the situation in Korea, especially on the anti-Yoon rallies. How would you read into this? Professor, aren't they concerned about the public being shocked over the democratic activities of citizens in the South? (Cronin) 9. Now in a recent report, Kim Jong-un reportedly sent a New Year's letter to encourage and express gratitude to North Korean troops deployed to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine. Dr. Cronin, How much longer do you think this troop support for Russia could continue? (Myers) 10. Meanwhile, South Korea announced the development of a low-altitude missile defense system, akin to Israel's Iron Dome, to better counter North Korea's long-range artillery threats. Professor Myers, What's the background behind this development and what will this latest technology be capable of? 11. As North Korea continues to enhance its missile capabilities and cyber warfare abilities, how do you assess the effectiveness of current global sanctions and diplomatic efforts in containing these advancements?

Live from Seoul Detention Center: CIO attempts another forced summons, Presidential Office raid

2025/01/22 17:00

We start at the Seoul Detention Center where President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to refuse to partake in questioning sessions led by anti-corruption investigators. For details I have Arirang Lee Soo-jin standing by live. Soo-jin SO in light of the president's refusal to meet with investigators I understand a third attempt was made to take him in. Do tell us more. Sure,.. as announced during a briefing this morning, the CIO has moved forward with another forced summons today. And this is, like you mentioned, the third such attempt. But the CIO announced less than two hours ago that this attempt was also,.. unsuccessful. A CIO vehicle was spotted passing through the main gate of the Seoul Detention Center at 10:20 AM today. The CIO had considered several options. One was forcibly transferring Yoon to the CIO interrogation room at the Government Complex in Gwacheon, and the other was carrying out on-site interviews in an investigation room at the detention center. But Yoon, refused to comply with either, as he continued to sit in consultations with his lawyers. This third attempt follows the first attempt that took place on Monday, followed by the second just yesterday, when the CIO had dispatched six investigators and prosecutors to the Seoul Detention Center at around 5 PM, after the agency confirmed that the impeachment trial hearing had been concluded. But as Yoon did not immediately return to the facility but instead stopped by a military hospital for a medical check-up, the CIO officials were left to wait at the detention center. The officials were eventually forced to leave around 30 minutes after Yoon arrived at the detention center, after 9 PM as regulations prohibit questioning detainees without their consent after 9 PM. The agency is continuously making these efforts as there isn't much time before the CIO has to hand Yoon's case over to prosecutors before the detention period expires on the 28th. Separately Soo-jin I hear anti-corruption officials launched a search and seize operation today targeting the presidential headquarters and residence? Right, the CIO began a search and seizure operation this morning, at the Presidential Office and Yoon's residence, both located in Yongsan-gu District in central Seoul. The agency is aiming to secure encrypted phone records, computers, as well as meeting minutes. Yoon is currently facing allegations of using an encrypted phone to order top police and military officials to command troops to command troops to remove lawmakers from the National Assembly during his brief imposition of martial law. This move is seen as part of the CIO's attempt to secure additional evidence amid the difficulties faced when trying to conduct in-person interviews with Yoon. Yoon's lawyers have steadfastly maintained their stance of refusing to comply with the CIO investigation, saying that as they plan to attend all the impeachment hearings at the Constitution Court, they need time to prepare. The search and seize operations are expected to face challenges, namely from the Presidential Security Service, which has blocked previous attempts. And what has been the response to the events thus far from the public gathered there outside the detention center? I've been here since the morning and even then I was able to see Yoon's supporters holding up posters, and hear their voices amplified through through loudspeakers. But while there weren't that many people gathered this morning and early afternoon, now you can see and hear that more people have arrived. And along with the growing number of people on-site, I've also noticed more police, as part of precautions to prevent another incident like the storming of the Seoul Western District Court by Yoon's supporters on Sunday. There are also numerous 119 emergency trucks that have been dispatched. And that's all I have for now. Back to you, Sunny. All right Soo-jin thank you for that coverage. That was our Lee Soo-jin reporting live on the latest regarding the investigation into the president.

S. Korea raises concerns over N. Korea's nuclear weapons at UN disarmament conference

2025/01/22 17:00

Over in Geneva. A fresh war of words between the two Koreas took place at the latest UN forum on arms control with South Korea underscoring North Korea's blatant defiance of UN Security Council resolutions and the regime finding fault with joint military drills between Seoul and Washington. Lee Seung-jae has more. The UN Conference on Disarmament was held on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland, with much of the attention on North Korea. At the meeting North Korean ambassador to the U.N. office in Geneva Jo Chol-su slammed the U.S. for conducting aerial intelligence activities against the regime since the beginning of the year. He further criticized the simulated nuclear war exercises being conducted on the Korean Peninsula, and U.S.' strategic bombers being deployed to the region. Jo said that U.S. political and military provocations are what's causing armed conflicts and undermining regional stability. He further stressed that a strong national defense force is the only way to protect peace, and vowed to deter all military provocations by "hostile forces." The envoy concluded his remarks by saying, that as a "responsible nuclear state", the North will continue its efforts to prevent all forms of war and protect peace and stability. In response, Kim Il-hoon, counselor at South Korea's Permanent Mission to Geneva pointed out that North Korea not only provide Russia with a large quantity of lethal weapons and ballistic missiles, a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, but also dispatched more than 11 thousand troops. Kim pointed out the recent capture of two North Korean soldiers, as evidence of North Korea's participation in the Ukraine War. He also stressed that North Korea lowering its threshold for a nuclear attack is a "present-day threat," adding that it goes against peace and stability in the region. However, Kim still emphasized the importance of holding talks, saying that the only way North Korea can benefit is through dialogue and diplomacy. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump, Kim Jong-un could reach 'Small Deal': Fmr. U.S. intelligence official

2025/01/22 17:00

Meanwhile speculation is mounting about prospects of fresh engagement between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-un . And for more on such prospects our Oh Soo-young sat down with a former U.S. envoy to the six-party nuclear talks. Do take a listen. Seoul and Washington could aim for small but meaningful steps towards denuclearizing North Korea, in a possible small deal under the new Trump Administration. Former U.S. intelligence official Joseph Detrani told Arirang News he sees potential for a revival of top-level talks between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, after their Hanoi Summit in 2019 broke down, which showed that Kim was not ready for a "big deal" to close down all his nuclear facilities. Ambassador Detrani was Washington's special envoy to the Six Party Talks that aimed to negotiate with North Korea two decades ago. "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." Despite Kim Jong-un's reported disappointment and anger over the failed talks, Detrani said the potential lifting of economic sanctions for smaller concessions could draw him back to negotiations. "This hasn't been put on the table before but ideally stop the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. These are all these are all moves in the right direction. Now, is North Korea going to give up their arsenal of nuclear weapons? No, and Kim Jung-un has made that very clear, but our goal should be and, I think, will be the complete verifiable dismantlement of all nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons facilities and that should continue to be our goal." Detrani stressed the importance of reaching even small deals to freeze North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development, especially as the regime last year forged a comprehensive partnership with Russia, which includes mutual defence in times of war, and experts fear a potential transfer of key missile and nuclear technologies. "The assessment at least in the United States is reportedly that they can miniaturise their nuclear warheads and they can make them to these short range, intermediate range long range ballistic missiles what they could be getting from Russia. There's more work on their hypersonics because the hypersonic they're working on is capable of defeating, in theory, missile defense systems which is very important but also merging them where they have multiple re-entry of vehicles where there are multiple re-entry, if you will, of nuclear warheads where you can have one missile, an ICBM like the Hwasong carrying five to 6 nuclear warheads that could be independently maneuvered to strike different targets." While the South Korean president's suspension from office has hindered top-level diplomacy with Washington, Detrani says the bilateral alliance will likely remain "robust" due to such challenges, among other security issues in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly as Washington continues to counter China's growing influence. The Ambassador added it is highly unlikely the U.S. would formally recognize North Korea as a nuclear state, as that could potentially trigger distrust among U.S. allies, and an arms race in the region. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Trump 2.0: Opportunity or challenge for S. Korean students in the U.S.?

2025/01/22 17:00

Quite a number of young Korean scholars have chosen to further broaden their academic horizons by seeking studies in the U.S. So how does Mr. Trump's return to the White House look to affect their plans? Our Lee Eun-hee takes a look. Now that Donald Trump is back in office, what does his second term mean for South Korean students in the U.S.? Is it an emerging challenge or possibly a new opportunity? The latest data shows that there are over 45-thousand Korean students in the U.S., ranking third in terms of the largest international student populations, following China and India. Given Trump's first-term "America First" immigration policies, which focused on stricter visa rules and limiting post-graduation work opportunities, there are concerns about the impact on Korean students. However, there may also be areas of focus that could open new pathways for international students in fields like technology, engineering, and research. A "STEM visa" is commonly used to refer to visa options available for those pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields, including the F-1 student visa with additional work opportunities. A recent graduate from grad school in data science in 2024 and currently working in the United States, Kim Kyu-hyun gives us more details. "It's a policy that benefits the United States mostly. Of course, individuals working in the United States can also benefit but it's a policy to retain talent in the country. So I don't think it'll be in the best interests of anyone to cancel or revoke the STEM, OPT or H-1B policy but I do think that it might be less friendlier than before in that it'll be more selective of who gets the stem visa." In June 2024, while running for president, Donald Trump proposed to offer green cards to international students who graduate from American schools. This could be a potential game-changer for those looking to build their futures in the United States, but with over a million international students in the U.S., questions remain. "He claimed it would be implemented right after taking office, but many experts are skeptical about its feasibility due to the scale of the proposal. There are doubts about whether Trump and his current team can actually make it happen." The professor also added that, although Korean students in the United States may not be directly affected for now, under the Trump administration, it's likely that the overall environment in American society could become more unwelcoming for international students. "Visa policies and restrictions could add an extra layer of complexity for international students like me. But I see these challenges as an opportunity to refine my strategies and explore alternative pathways." While the direct impact on international students may not be immediate, the shifting atmosphere in American society could present new challenges, making it important to stay adaptable and prepared for any changes ahead. Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.

U.S. announces massive AI infrastructure project worth US$ 500 bil.

2025/01/22 17:00

The U.S. continues to aim for AI dominance under its new administration. In fact President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a partnership among three private firms that will see the investment of billions of U.S. dollars into the AI arena within national boundaries. Park Kun-woo reports. Efforts to "Save America" are being put into action. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the largest AI infrastructure project in history with investment of up to 5-hundred billion U.S. dollars. The massive project includes three companies -OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle -that have decided to partner on a new AI infrastructure company "Stargate." "Beginning immediately, Stargate will be building the physical and virtual infrastructure to power the next generation of advancements in AI and this will include the construction of colossal data centers, very, very massive structures." The first data center project is already under construction in Texas. Also on Tuesday, a mass deportation operation began in the U.S. according to border czar Tom Homan. He said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will primarily crack down on illegal immigrants with criminal records, but added those without such records will also be arrested if found. Homan said "sanctuary cities" and protected areas, including schools and places of worship, will not be exempt from arrests. Trump also hinted at a "tax war" with a memorandum after taking office, which threaten to double tax rates for foreign nationals and companies in the U.S. in response to discriminatory taxation on U.S. multinationals by other countries. He also mentioned potentially withdrawing from the OECD global tax pact that allows other countries to levy top-up taxes on U.S. companies. Trump also spoke about imposing tariffs. "We're thinking in terms of 25% on Mexico and Canada I think we'll do it February 1st." Canada's Prime Minister said it will "respond robustly" if "unfair tariffs" are imposed to protect the country's interests. Trump also spoke about possible tariffs on China early next month. However, investment banks Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs echoed opinion in Wall Street that Trump's recent comments on tariffs were quite moderate, but also noted related uncertainties remain in the coming days. With easing concerns, the New York stock market, including the Dow Jones 30, closed strongly on Tuesday, up by more than 1-point-2 percent from the previous session. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Israel's military chief resigns

2025/01/22 10:00

Over in Israel, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, General Herzi Halevi, submitted a letter of resignation on Tuesday, acknowledging his responsibility for the shortcomings during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. In his resignation letter, the military chief said the IDF had "failed in its mission to protect the citizens of Israel." The October 7 attacks resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and the abduction of some 250 individuals. It has been described as one of the most significant security failures in Israel's history. Halevi's resignation is set to take effect on March 6. General Yaron Finkelman, head of the IDF's Southern Command, also stepped down, citing similar reasons.

On-point: North Korea reports on Trump's election win and inauguration

2025/01/22 10:00

North Korea reported on U.S. President Donald Trump's election win and inauguration for the first time on Wednesday morning, just a day after Trump officially made it back to the White House. Let us discuss more with Professor Robert Kelly this morning. Thanks for joining us. 1. North Korea report on Trump's election win what should we read into that? 2. Can we say the regime is welcoming back Trump? 3. Then Trump calling North Korea a nuclear power where is this recognition coming from? 4. Then what kind of small deals do you think Trump will propose to Kim? 5. How likely is it do you think that Trump will invite and get Seoul involved in possible future Trump-Kim dialogue? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us.

S. Korea raises concerns over N. Korea's nuclear weapons at UN disarmament conference

2025/01/22 10:00

South Korea has brought up the issue of North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile provocations, as well as its troop deployment to Russia's Kursk region during a UN Conference on Disarmament, where the North vowed to never give up its nuclear development. Lee Seung-jae reports. The UN Conference on Disarmament was held on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland, with much of the attention on North Korea. At the meeting North Korean ambassador to the U.N. office in Geneva Jo Chol-su slammed the U.S. for conducting aerial intelligence activities against the regime since the beginning of the year. He further criticized the simulated nuclear war exercises being conducted on the Korean Peninsula, and U.S.' strategic bombers being deployed to the region. Jo said that U.S. political and military provocations are what's causing armed conflicts and undermining regional stability. He further stressed that a strong national defense force is the only way to protect peace, and vowed to deter all military provocations by "hostile forces." The envoy concluded his remarks by saying, that as a "responsible nuclear state", the North will continue its efforts to prevent all forms of war and protect peace and stability. In response, Kim Il-hoon, counselor at South Korea's Permanent Mission to Geneva pointed out that North Korea not only provide Russia with a large quantity of lethal weapons and ballistic missiles, a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, but also dispatched more than 11 thousand troops. Kim pointed out the recent capture of two North Korean soldiers, as evidence of North Korea's participation in the Ukraine War. He also stressed that North Korea lowering its threshold for a nuclear attack is a "present-day threat," adding that it goes against peace and stability in the region. However, Kim still emphasized the importance of holding talks, saying that the only way North Korea can benefit is through dialogue and diplomacy. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

U.S. announces massive AI infrastructure project worth US$ 500 bil.

2025/01/22 10:00

In the U.S. President Donald Trump announced a historic AI investment project worth 5-hundred billion dollars in collaboration with tech giants. Our Park Kun-woo has the details. Efforts to "Save America" are being put into action. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the largest AI infrastructure project in history with investment of up to 5-hundred billion U.S. dollars. The massive project includes three companies -OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle -that have decided to partner on a new AI infrastructure company "Stargate." "Beginning immediately, Stargate will be building the physical and virtual infrastructure to power the next generation of advancements in AI and this will include the construction of colossal data centers, very, very massive structures." The first data center project is already under construction in Texas. Also on Tuesday, a mass deportation operation began in the U.S. according to border czar Tom Homan. He said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will primarily crack down on illegal immigrants with criminal records, but added those without such records will also be arrested if found. Homan said "sanctuary cities" and protected areas, including schools and places of worship, will not be exempt from arrests. Trump also hinted at a "tax war" with a memorandum after taking office, which threaten to double tax rates for foreign nationals and companies in the U.S. in response to discriminatory taxation on U.S. multinationals by other countries. He also mentioned potentially withdrawing from the OECD global tax pact that allows other countries to levy top-up taxes on U.S. companies. Trump also spoke about imposing tariffs. "We're thinking in terms of 25% on Mexico and Canada I think we'll do it February 1st." Canada's Prime Minister said it will "respond robustly" if "unfair tariffs" are imposed to protect the country's interests. Trump also spoke about possible tariffs on China early next month. However, investment banks Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs echoed opinion in Wall Street that Trump's recent comments on tariffs were quite moderate, but also noted related uncertainties remain in the coming days. With easing concerns, the New York stock market, including the Dow Jones 30, closed strongly on Tuesday, up by more than 1-point-2 percent from the previous session. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Live from Seoul Detention Center: CIO to carry out 3rd forced summons attempt

2025/01/22 10:00

Following his first appearance at his impeachment trial on Tuesday, President Yoon stopped by a hospital before he returned to Seoul Detention Center. For details, we connect with our Lee Soo-jin at the detention center. Soo-jin, first off, tell us more about his hospital visit. Sure,.. so President Yoon was expected to return straight away to the Seoul Detention Center. But instead, like you said, he went to the Armed Forces Seoul Hospital a military hospital in downtown Seoul. Yoon, along with his escort vehicles, departed from the Constitutional Court at 4:42 PM yesterday,.. and headed towards the hospital for a medical check-up. The hospital visit had been approved by the head of the detention center, as required by detainees. Yoon's lawyers told reporters on Tuesday that this was a check-up that his doctor had asked him to receive a month before. Yoon remained at the hospital for more than three hours until around 8:40PM. He returned here at the Seoul Detention Center a little past 9 PM on Tuesday. As a result, the second attempt by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials to question Yoon on Tuesday was unsuccessful. The CIO dispatched six investigators and prosecutors to the Seoul Detention Center at around 5PM, after the agency confirmed that the hearing had been concluded. But as Yoon did not immediately return to the facility, the CIO officials were left to wait at the detention center. And the officials eventually left around 30 minutes after Yoon arrived back at the detention center past 9PM as regulations prohibit questioning detainees without their consent after 9PM. So Tuesday was another unproductive day for investigators. Now, what's their plan for today? Well, they are planning to carry out another forced summons attempt today. But because there isn't much time before the CIO has to hand Yoon over to prosecutors on the 28th, it said in a briefing just an hour ago, that it will attempt to once again forcibly transfer Yoon to the CIO interrogation room at the Government Complex in Gwacheon today. The CIO has considered both options of carrying out forced summons and an on-site investigation. The latter of those was often seen in cases involving former presidents. Yoon's lawyers,.. however, are maintaining their stance of refusing to comply with the CIO investigation, saying that as they plan to attend all the impeachment hearings at the Constitution Court, they need time to prepare. Last but not least, Soo-jin, please do update us on the investigations into Yoon's supporters who attacked the court that issued the formal arrest warrant against Yoon this past weekend. Sure,.. so prosecutors are moving forward with making sure that Yoon's supporters that stormed the Seoul Western District Court are held accountable for their actions. Legal sources revealed on Tuesday that prosecutors on Monday requested detention warrants for 46 people who were apprehended after Sunday's riots. The 46 individuals face charges of trespassing on court premises and vandalizing the building. Out of the 46 people, six of them were revealed to be in their 20s and 19 of them in their 30s, and their lawyer is currently claiming that the incident was triggered by right-wing YouTubers. The decision on whether to issue the warrants is expected to take some time to be made due to the large number of warrant requests. And that's all I have for now. Back to you, Dami. Soo-jin thank you for the update. That was our Lee Soo-jin reporting live from Seoul Detention Center this morning.

Under-arrest President Yoon defends himself against impeachment at Constitutional Court

2025/01/22 10:00

President Yoon Suk Yeol attended his own impeachment trial on Tuesday, the first time for any South Korean leader to do so. There, he appealed to the bench his long-held belief in liberal democracy. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young reports. A Prosecutor-turned-President, and now a pre-trial inmate, Yoon Suk Yeol argued against his impeachment at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, the third hearing of his trial. The first sitting leader in the nation's history to be arrested and defend himself against impeachment, Yoon attended his trial for the first time to make a personal appeal to the eight-justice bench as a respondent. "Throughout my career in public service, I have held firm conviction in liberal democracy. As the Constitutional Court exists to uphold and protect the Constitution, I humbly ask the honorable justices to carefully examine this matter in every respect." During the hearing, his lawyers outlined various points that they claim substantiate Yoon's martial law which they plan to back with witnesses and evidence. First, they cited the opposition-led National Assembly's abuse of impeachment power against high-ranking officials, indiscriminate budget cuts on key military, nuclear energy and welfare programs essential to the country's future, public livelihoods, and safety. They also underscored "hybrid warfare" as a new type of national crisis that poses security, economic, and political threats. Examples include the leak of classified military intelligence and critical technologies to China. Yoon and his team once again stressed the need to investigate suspicions of electoral fraud in the parliamentary race last year,.. producing photographic materials. When questioned by the judge whether he had sent a note to Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok to prepare a budget for an emergency legislative body, to presumably replace the elected parliament, and whether he'd ordered military commanders to drag out lawmakers from the National Assembly to prevent them from overturning his martial law. Yoon answered he had not. He further stated he'd immediately ordered troops to withdraw from the building once the Assembly passed a motion to end the decree. Meanwhile, the Assembly's side continued to argue that the President's martial law was illegal. It cited media reports, investigation records, and CCTV footage from the National Assembly and the National Election Commission to back its arguments that Yoon had planned and caused disruption to the country's constitutional institutions. The panel members criticized the President's attendance as they walked out of the hearing. "Much of his narrative revolves around allegations of election fraud. It seems his intention in attending these hearings is not to influence the court's direction or to clear his name but rather to continue fueling the propaganda that mobilizes his supporters." Some 42-hundred people rallied in support of Yoon in areas surrounding the Constitutional Court on Tuesday. One participant was arrested, after physically abusing a police officer. The Court says its officials are operating an emergency standby system, with heightened security, and police protection for justices. "Yoon's lawyers say the President will if possible attend all future trial hearings which have been scheduled until February 13th. The fourth hearing takes place on Thursday, with testimony by former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun as the first witness to the trial. Oh Soo-young Arirang News."