News
N. Korea fires SRBMs, signaling military strength amid rising tensions before U.S. inauguration
2025/01/14 17:00
North Korea test-fired a series of short-range ballistic missiles earlier on this Tuesday morning posing its second act of provocation for the new year in just over a week as the Trump administration is poised to return to the White House next Monday. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil reports. At around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles from the Ganggye area in Jagang-do Province. The missiles flew approximately 250 kilometers before landing in the East Sea, a frequent target in North Korean missile tests. The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that South Korea and U.S. intelligence detected North Korea's launch preparations early and tracked the missiles in real time. "Our military has increased its surveillance and readiness to prepare for any additional launches while closely sharing related information with the U.S. and Japan." Tuesday's SRBM launches mark North Korea's second missile test this year. On January 6th, North Korea fired an intermediate-class hypersonic solid-fuel ballistic missile from the Pyongyang area.Some analysts tie the launches to the upcoming U.S. presidential transition, while others point to broader strategic motives. Yang Moo-jin, President of the University of North Korean Studies, explains North Korea's possible intentions. "First, North Korea aims to speed up the completion of its five-year defense development plan. Second, it's testing new short-range missiles. Third, it's showing confidence in its ability to launch various types of missiles anytime and anywhere. Lastly, it's a display of military dominance over Seoul and the greater capital region." In response, Acting President Choi Sang-mok condemned Tuesday's launch as a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, vowing a firm response in coordination with the U.S. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.
Gov't confirms Jan. 27 as holiday as Acting-President pleads for spending on local goods
2025/01/14 17:00
Meanwhile it's official. January 27th this year has been declared a holiday to pave the path for a six-day lunar new year celebration that authorities hope will serve to encourage domestic spending. Our Kim Do-yeon has more. The government has confirmed that January 27th will be a temporary holiday making this year's Seollal or Lunar New Year a six-day holiday. While this had already been announced, the final confirmation vote by Cabinet was held on Tuesday during a weekly meeting. Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Finance Choi Sang-mok said this is to boost the suffering economy. "I hope citizens take the opportunity to recharge during the long holiday, while also boosting the domestic economy through local travel and 관광 및 책임 있는 소비를 통해 국내 경제를 활성화하는 데 기여해주시기를 바랍니다. 상호 성장과 연대의 정신을 함양하는 데 함께 참여해주시길 부탁드립니다." He said this year's Seollal needs to be used as an opportunity to help the economy recover. He also added that as previously announced the government decided on the biggest Seollal support package. This includes increasing the supply of 16 key grocery items by 150 percent, to help lower grocery bills as well as train ticket discounts. In the meantime, he also made a push for locally produced gift sets. "During this holiday, to promote domestic agricultural and seafood consumption, we ask that you actively participate in buying the highly discounted gift sets made of local rice or local beef, the key Seollal gift items." He also urged the members of the Cabinet to share the government's efforts saying if the public isn't aware of the policies then they are useless. Meanwhile, he also said that as government agencies' new year's briefings continue the government has been focusing on resolving major issues. But, he said speed is the most important aspect and called on Cabinet members to treat each day as if it were a month during normal times. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
Live from presidential residence: operations being planned for arrest warrant execution
2025/01/14 17:00
We move now onto the latest regarding the attempt to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol. For details Arirang's Moon Hye-ryeon joins us live from the president's residential neighborhood. Hye-ryeon, it's good to have you on. Now I believe there was a three-way meeting earlier this morning among anti-corruption officials, the police, and the presidential security team. What has been shared about that meeting? That's right, so the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the police, and the presidential security team held a meeting this morning to discuss the execution of the warrant to detain President Yoon. The CIO has said that the discussion will not influence their plans and that they simply "listened to opinions" raised. According to a CIO official, the discussions were centered on ensuring a peaceful execution of the warrant, but no conclusions were reached. The CIO noted that it is waiting for a more solid response from the presidential security service, without setting a specific deadline and further added that there are no additional meetings planned as of now. This comes following the public appeal from the President's Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk this morning, which said the Presidential Office is willing to cooperate with the police and the CIO. This included options for investigation at a neutral location or through a visit. However, the CIO commented that they have yet to receive a formal request regarding alternative arrangements. In this morning's statement, Chung further emphasized that Yoon must be allowed to fully exercise his right to defend himself and present his position, as should be guaranteed for all South Korean citizens. He also expressed concerns over potential clashes between police forces and presidential security personnel, as well as the crowds gathering outside of the presidential residence. And Hye-ryeon, what has been shared about the timing of the second arrest attempt? It's been more than a week since the new warrant to detain Yoon was issued, but there has yet to be any movement from the CIO and the police at the presidential residence. But it has been reported that the police held another meeting today to discuss matters related to the execution of the warrant. The meeting took place this morning at 10 AM, lasting for around two hours, between the special investigation team of the National Office of Investigation and commanders from the criminal task forces of the Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Incheon police agencies. Discussions focused on concrete plans on how to enter the heavily fortified presidential residence in Hannam-dong behind me, which is secured with barricades and barbed wire. Specific strategies were reportedly discussed, including measures to suppress resistance from the presidential security team, searching the residence, and detaining President Yoon. The execution of the warrant is reportedly set to begin as early as 5 AM tomorrow. However, given the scale of the operation which could involve mobilizing around one thousand officers changes in the timeline remain possible as the plan continues to be finalized. It has been formerly reported that the operation could take two to three days should the presidential security service resist the warrant's execution. Meanwhile, what is the atmosphere around the president's residential area like as we speak? Well, Sunny, it looks as though there's quite a crowd gathering by the presidential residence behind me despite the less-than-favorable conditions out here. Tensions are mounting alongside expectations of a second attempt at executing the detainment warrant happening within the next twenty-four hours. The proximity of the rally locations for both sides has raised concerns about potential clashes, and to prepare for any possible incidents, the police have positioned riot squad vehicles between the groups to separate them. Security around the presidential residence remains tight, with the presence of armed guards becoming more prominent photos were taken yesterday showing heavily armed security personnel patrolling the area wearing helmets, masks, and tactical gear. It appears that the presidential security team is further reinforcing security measures inside the residence, with barbed wires and chains placed in various areas within the grounds. That's all I have for now, but I'll be back in a later newscast with more updates. Back to you, Sunny. All right Hye-ryeon, thank you for that coverage. That was our Moon Hye-ryeon reporting live from the president's official residential neighborhood.
Pentagon says N. Korean troops make fighting 'much harder' for Ukrainians
2025/01/14 10:00
Washington says the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia's frontline region makes the fighting "much harder" for Ukrainian forces. According to Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder on Monday, North Korean troops are "relatively well disciplined and competent," adding that the 12 thousand troops sent by Pyongyang is a significant number that makes it much more difficult for Ukraine. He added that the U.S. is focused on working with the international community to make sure Ukraine has sufficient help to defend itself. Meanwhile, Ryder said the Pentagon continues to monitor the possibility of further troop deployment by North Korea closely.
Biden administration announces new curbs on AI chip exports
2025/01/14 10:00
The U.S. has imposed new restrictions on AI chip exports, aiming to block advanced chips from reaching China, which has strongly opposed the decision. Shin Ha-young has the details. With just a week left in office, the Biden administration on Monday announced new export restrictions on artificial intelligence chips. The new rule exempts 18 allies, including South Korea, Japan, and the UK, while introducing additional measures to block China's access to such tech. A total of 22 so-called tier three countries, including China, Russia, and Cuba, are already barred from purchasing advanced chips and will be newly subject to restrictions on the sale of closed-weight AI models. North Korea is also banned. Another key change is that entities in countries that are considered neither allies nor adversaries will now face new caps on the amount of computing power they can purchase. Non-verified end-user entities located outside of close allies can still purchase large amounts of computational power, up to the equivalent of 50-thousand advanced graphics processing units, which are used to power data centers needed to train AI models. Those meeting security requirements and based in countries that are not "of concern" can apply for National Verified End-User status, allowing them to purchase up to 320 thousand advanced GPUs over the next two years. The new regulations are seen as ways to block China from building AI capabilities in third countries, like in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, or from importing AI chips with U.S. technology from those countries. Regarding the announcement, China's Ministry of Commerce criticized the move, saying it creates obstacles for third parties engaging in normal trade with China. U.S. AI chip giant Nvidia saw its stock drop on Monday due to fears of reduced export volumes. Nvidia opposed the restriction, saying it threatens to derail innovation and global economic growth and would undermine America's leadership. Now, all eyes are on President-elect Donald Trump. The Biden administration believes new U.S. limits on global sales of AI chips will likely continue under Trump, citing bipartisan national security concerns surrounding China's pursuit of advanced technology. However, chip companies are pushing to roll back Biden's regulations and urging Trump to create new policies. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.
Trump's second term 1 week away, Cabinet confirmation hearings begin
2025/01/14 10:00
With one week to go until the launch of the second Donald Trump administration, the U.S. capital is preparing for the inauguration, with security greatly strengthened in the area. Lee Seung-jae has more. President-elect Donald Trump will return to the Oval Office as the 47th President of the United States at noon on January 20th, which is the third of four days of related events. Two days before inauguration day on January 18th, the president's reception will take place, along with a fireworks display at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. Later that night, a Cabinet reception and vice president's dinner will take place. On the following day, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The official inauguration day will begin with a service at St. John's church, where Trump will be sworn into office. Trump will then head over to the President's Room near the Senate chamber, where as part of tradition, he will sign nominations. After a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the presidential parade will take place from the Capitol to the White House. The parade will be followed by an Oval Office signing ceremony, before Trump attends the "Commander in Chief Ball," the "Liberty Inaugural Ball" and the "Starlight Ball." On the last day on January 21st, inaugural activities will conclude with the National Prayer Service in the morning. Ahead of the inauguration ceremonies across various locations in the U.S. capital, security in the city has been significantly strengthened. "More than 30 miles of anti-scale fence will be used for the inauguration -more than any other NSSE (National Special Security Event) ever before the Secret Service. This comprehensive security plan will continue to use drones as part of our protective posture." Officials expect nearly a quarter of a million people will attend the inauguration, with many more expected in the downtown area of D.C. for demonstrations. Ahead of the inauguration,.. the U.S. Senate is also set to hold its confirmation hearings for the Cabinet nominees. In particular, attention is focused on the confirmation hearing for the U.S. Secretary of Defense, held on Tuesday. This comes amid controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth, who was investigated by police over sexual assault allegations. More than a dozen other confirmation hearings will take place over a span of a week, as the country prepares for the inauguration of Trump. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Live: President Yoon objects to impeachment trial schedule as first trial begins
2025/01/14 10:00
For the third time in Korean history, the country's leader faces an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court. President Yoon Suk Yeol's trial begins today with the first hearing scheduled for 2 PM. We have our correspondent Oh Soo-young standing by at the Constitutional Court. Q1. The trial already faces a rocky start, with Yoon's legal team disputing much of the proceedings and Yoon not expected to show up, right? That's right. Today, the Court's bench of eight justices will convene the first trial hearing on the President's impeachment, which the opposition-led National Assembly voted on last month. But the President himself will not be showing up, as his lawyers revealed before filing an objection to the hearing Monday afternoon. Now, his absence was expected by the Court, which already fixed four additional hearing dates. The court is obliged to reschedule if one party misses the first session, but a second absence on the 16th two days from now would enable the panel to continue the trial without him. A court official mentioned on Monday that without Yoon present at the first session, it is likely to end quickly. Former President Park Geun-hye's first trial hearing lasted around nine minutes due to her absence. 2. So we're continuing to see this tug-of-war over the timeline of the impeachment trial right? Yes, the President's legal team has criticised the Constitutional Court’s emphasis on “expedited proceedings” and insists that the 180-day trial period stipulated by law must be fully observed. Yoon's team on Monday also filed an objection to how the Constitutional Court scheduled five hearing dates without consulting the representatives, and further objected to Justice Chung Kye-sun presiding over the trial, and filed to recuse, or disqualify her. Yoon's lawyers say Chung who was appointed this month, has links to the opposition Democratic Party, and her husband is associated with former chief justice Kim Yisu who is on the National Assembly's panel of lawyers trying to impeach Yoon. Under the Constitutional Court Act, a party may file a motion to recuse a justice under circumstances that make it difficult to expect a fair trial. The Civil Procedure Act stipulates that trial procedures must be halted until the recusal motion is resolved. However, the court can dismiss the motion if it deems it was filed solely to delay proceedings. To discuss the recusal request, the Court's acting chief justice has decided to convene a meeting as we speak, beginning at 10am. 3. Now that's even before their official arguments begin. Not much progress on the guidelines for the trial either. That's right. Yoon and the Assembly failed to narrow down their differences in two pre-trial hearings where they should have set out the main grounds for impeachment and drawn up lists of witnesses and evidence they wish to present to make their case. Various sticking points remain unresolved. First, Yoon's team says the National Assembly's panel removing charges of insurrection as a main argument for impeachment makes no sense as the Assembly's motion to remove him from power cited insurrection as a major reason. They said National Assembly must vote on impeachment again without insurrection charges. If not, it should retract its withdrawal statement. The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on this matter. Second, there's the issue of whether the proclamation of martial law constitutes an “act of state,” under Yoon's executive powers as President, and therefore is not subject to judicial review. The National Assembly counters this, calling the martial law decree illegal. So the court must determine whether or not the decree was an "act of state." Also, Yoon's team filed an objection to the Court’s decision to obtain records from ongoing trials and criminal investigations over the martial law, arguing that it violates the Constitutional Court Act. On top of the procedural complaints raised by the team observers note that these challenges, if accepted by the court, could delay the trial’s progression. We'll have to see how this first session goes. Thanks for keeping us updated Sooyoung.
Greenland to strengthen defense and mining ties with U.S.
2025/01/14 10:00
Moving over to Greenland, the country's Prime Minister, Mute Egede , announced on Monday, the nation's intent to strengthen defense and mining collaborations with the United States, emphasizing that any agreements will be established on Greenland's terms. This follows President-elect Donald Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the mineral-rich Arctic island in recent weeks, highlighting the region's strategic significance. Also on Monday, Denmark, which currently manages Greenland's foreign affairs and defense, expressed a willingness to discuss the increased U.S. military presence on the island. The dialogue aims to address security concerns and ensure Greenland's safety while avoiding any scenario of American annexation.