News

Putin declares temporary ceasefire next month to mark 80th anniversary of Victory Day

2025/04/29 20:00

Russia's Putin has once again unilaterally called for a ceasefire in Ukraine, this time, a 72-hour truce starting next Thursday ahead of its Victory Day celebration. Washington calls for the one that is permanent. Shin Se-byuck covers this latest development. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, unilaterally declared a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8th to the 10th, to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, two weeks after a 30-hour truce over Easter. The latest announcement, made via a Telegram message, added that the ceasefire was "based on humanitarian considerations." It further explained that all military actions will be prohibited during the ceasefire period, and called on Ukraine to follow the ceasefire protocols. It warned that if Ukraine violates the ceasefire, the Russian military would respond "appropriately and effectively." The temporary ceasefire also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Saturday, that he may consider introducing sanctions against Russia, if Putin doesn't intend to end the war. However, the White House on Monday stressed that what Trump wants to see is a permanent ceasefire, adding that the U.S. leader has been frustrated with the lack of progress made in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. "He wants to see a permanent ceasefire. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire -first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video speech on Monday also dismissed Moscow's announcement as an "attempt at manipulation," and called for an unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days. "Now, once again, there is another attempt at manipulation An immediate, complete, and unconditional ceasefire, for at least 30 days to ensure it is guaranteed and reliable, is what can provide the foundation for real diplomacy." According to one expert, Putin's unilateral ceasefire decision is a gesture aimed at seizing the initiative in war-related negotiations and attempting to negotiate directly with Trump, bypassing Ukraine. "If I am a bit blunt here, Ukraine can only resist Russia with the help of the U.S. So what Putin is trying to do now is that he's trying to negotiate directly with Trump over the head of Ukrainians." He added that Putin's underlying message is clear, that he can end the war at any time if his demands are met. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

N. Korean delegation left for Moscow on Tuesday ahead of 80th Victory Day

2025/04/29 20:00

In other news. A North Korean military delegation has departed for Mowscow ahead of Russia's Victory Day in May. Earlier, the regime has made public Putin thanking Pyongyang for sending troops to help Russia amid their ever-growing military alliance. Kim Bo-kyoung explains. Ahead of Russia's 80th Victory Day celebrations on May 9th, North Korea's military delegation has left for Moscow to attend an international event. According to the North's state-run Korea Central News Agency on Tuesday, the delegation led by the deputy director of the General Political Bureau of the North's Korean People's Army, departed Pyongyang. Though the North's media said the visit was for an international anti-fascist conference, speculation has risen over the possibility of the delegation visiting Moscow to discuss Russia's Victory Day parade, or North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's potential visit to Russia around that time. "Instead of attending Russia's Victory Day ceremony, the focus is likely to be on a potential North Korea-Russia summit, with Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia expected to happen around that time. Rather than participating as just another leader in a multilateral setting, Kim is likely to focus on a one-on-one meeting, where his alliance with Russia and contributions to its war effort could be more highlighted." The North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper published Putin's recent statement thanking Pyongyang on its front page. This, came a day after North Korea officially confirmed its troop deployment to Russia. Putin's statement said that the deployment was in accordance with international laws, along with the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty which Kim and Putin signed in June last year. While expressing HIS deepest gratitude to North Korea, Putin claimed Russia would forever remember the heroes of Korea who sacrificed their lives for Russia and for their shared freedom. Meanwhile, as both Pyongyang and Moscow have now admitted the deployment of North Korean troops, Ukraine urged tougher sanctions on them on Monday local time. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the deployment is in violation of international laws and UN Security Council resolutions, and stressed that the deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow would pose a threat not only to the Korean peninsula but also to global security. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Supreme Court to rule on DP presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's criminal case on Thursday

2025/04/29 20:00

The Supreme Court will rule this week on the election law violation case of the Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. According to the court on Tuesday, the verdict will be delivered at 3 PM on Thursday, May 1st. This comes 34 days after the case was submitted, following an appeal by prosecutors against a high court ruling that had overturned an initial guilty verdict last month. The top court decided last week to have the full bench oversee the case and has been reviewing it at an unusually fast pace. Lee was convicted of making false statements during the previous presidential campaign when he was a candidate. Lee denied knowing a man involved in a land development scandal in the city of Seongnam during a media interview in 2021, and also reportedly made false claims during a related National Assembly audit. The ruling will be broadcast live on the court's YouTube channel.

PPP presidential primary goes to run-off between 'against impeachment' and 'for impeachment'

2025/04/29 20:00

The People Power Party contenders are now cut to two: Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon, who do not see eye-to-eye when it comes to the ouster of the former president. The party will hold a run-off election and the results are expected on Saturday. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon reports. It's now down to two Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon. The People Power Party announced the winners of the second round of voting on Tuesday. The second round had been fierce, with no clear front-runner from the three days of heated debates. But as the results were announced, they continued to emphasize party unity as the Democratic Party of Korea's Lee Jae-myung certainly not an easy opponent awaits in the presidential election. I am also grateful to Han Dong-hoon for joining me in the final stage of the primary. I believe he has a bright future ahead, and I look forward to seeing him play a major role for the good of our country. In this challenging presidential race, there are differences between Kim Moon-soo and I, but that's exactly why we must team up — like a three-legged race — and stand as one against Lee Jae-myung. The results follow voting on Sunday and Monday, under the same rules as the second round: 50 percent PPP members and 50 percent an open survey. Neither candidate secured over 50 percent of the total tally, leading to a run-off proving the tightness of the race. A one-on-one debate will be held on Wednesday, followed by voting, with the final result announced on Saturday at the party's presidential race convention. Meanwhile, Ahn Cheol-soo in his exit speech pledged to support the winner of the race. We must work harder to overcome the crisis facing our party. Whoever wins, I'll give my all to stop Lee Jae-myung and bring about a change in government. Hong Joon-pyo as he said before declared his retirement from politics a 30-year career with five terms at the parliament and 두 gubernatorial posts. I will return to private life and live a quieter life. My role in this presidential race ends here. The race yet again is between one candidate who was against impeachment Kim Moon-soo and one pro-impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol Han Dong-hoon. This translates to someone more appealing to conservative and traditional PPP members versus someone more appealing to moderate and undecided voters. In addition, Kim has been openly supporting the idea of Acting President Han Duck-soo running for the presidency and merging camps while Han has even called the Party's support of this a "defeatist" mindset. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

U.S.-South Korea tariff talks: Currency, LNG Deals, and Trump's last strategy in focus

2025/04/29 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Beginning today, official negotiations on tariffs between South Korea and the U.S. will kick off, as both sides aim to address the ongoing trade tensions. The two countries have agreed to focus their discussions under four main sectors: tariffs, economic security, investment cooperation, and, notably, exchange rates. While the U.S. seeks a fast-paced resolution, South Korea is calling for a more measured approach, largely as the nation awaits a snap election in June. This timing and the differing priorities raise critical questions about how the acting government will navigate these high-stakes talks with the U.S. For more on this, we connect to Lee Yoon-soo, Professor of Economics at Sogang University. Welcome. Also joining us is Chai Sang min Professor of Business admin, at Ewha Woman's University. (LEE) 1. So, Prof. Lee, during the recent "2+2 Trade Consultation," the inclusion of "exchange rates" as a key issue was unexpected. How significant is this for South Korea's economy, and what impact could this have on the country's currency policy and broader economic strategies? (CHAI) 2. There is speculation that the U.S. might push for a "second Plaza Accord" in a bid to weaken the dollar. Could you explain to our viewers what this is and what effects this could have on South Korea's foreign exchange stability? (LEE) 3. If the U.S. continues to link exchange rates to trade imbalances, Prof. Lee, how could this affect the overall tone and outcome of the South Korea-U.S. tariff discussions? And what strategies should South Korea adopt to mitigate the impact on its economy? (CHAI) 4. Now let's also touch upon key rates. Prof. Chai, given the significant difference between U.S. and South Korean interest rates, could the U.S. pressure South Korea's central bank, the Bank of Korea, to adjust its policies? How would such pressure affect South Korea's monetary policy? (CHAI) 5. The U.S. is seeking South Korea's participation in the Alaska LNG project as part of broader trade negotiations. What potential benefits or risks does this present to South Korean businesses? (LEE) 6. There's also some concerning news that the IMF expects a 1.5% global economic contraction compared to its previous forecast before Trump's inauguration, possibly affected by his trade policies. How do you see this impacting South Korea's economy? Prof. Lee, what specific strategies should the government implement to cushion the economic blow? (CHAI) 7. Donald Trump Jr., the son of U.S. President Donald Trump, came to South Korea today at the invitation of Shinsegae Group Chairman Jeong Yong-jin. During his two-day visit, Trump Jr. will meet with top executives of major South Korean conglomerates. Prof. Chai, how do you foresee this visit influencing business relations between the two countries, in light of the ongoing tariff negotiations? (LEE) 8. Meanwhile, in a significant move, Trump has announced plans to separate tariff and defense negotiations. From an economic perspective, what do you think is the strategic reasoning behind this decision? How might this shift in approach influence South Korea's leverage in trade negotiations? (BOTH) 9.-10. Given that President Trump has indicated a fast-paced resolution to the tariff discussions, giving a timeline of less than a month, and South Korea still awaiting a snap election in two month's time, how should the current government under an acting presidency navigate its discussions with the U.S.?

PARTISAN PRIMARIES AND NATIONAL SECURITY

2025/04/29 17:00

Hello and welcome to Press Perspective for this Tuesday April 29th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sun-hee. Today we touch upon partisan preparations ahead of the June third presidential election and the pending tasks ahead on the security front. For more I have Yang Chien-Hao a freelance journalist from Taiwan currently based here in Seoul. Chien-Hao welcome back. I also have Professor Kim Jae-chun at Sogang University joining our talk virtually with the pundit's take on today's topic. Professor Kim it's a pleasure. 1) Chien-Hao, let's start with the result of the Democratic Party's primary that was revealed on Sunday. 2) And Chien-Hao, what's the latest with regard to the primary at the People Power Party? 3) Professor Kim, speaking purely as a scholar with all political inclinations aside, what do you suggest as a strategy for the Democratic Party in the upcoming election and why? 4) And Professor Kim, what do you propose as a plan for the People Power Party in this latest presidential race and why? 5) Chien-Hao, against the backdrop of partisan primaries, an American weekly news magazine says the U.S. recently prepared South Korea for a nuclear attack by North Korea. Do tell us more about this report and its relevance. 6) Professor Kim, what do you suppose are the implications of this latest training session? I mean, should we be worried about heightened provocations by Pyongyang going forward? 7) Chien-Hao, contrary to initial expectations, defense cost sharing was not included in the latest trade talks between Seoul and Washington. Now according to a U.S. military newspaper, pundits have warned against the linking of tariffs and troop costs. Do tell us more about this coverage. 8) Professor Kim, what are your prospects with regard to the fate of defense cost sharing between South Korea and the U.S. under the new administration at the White House and soon here in Korea? I mean, what would be a pragmatic approach to this issue? All right.

DP to launch election campaign committee Wednesday, with members from various factions

2025/04/29 17:00

We start on the political front today. Having elected its presidential candidate for the June third election the Democratic Party is poised to launch its campaign committee tomorrow that is Wednesday. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. With five weeks left until the presidential election, the Democratic Party, having officially confirmed former leader Lee Jae-myung as its presidential candidate, is now putting together its election campaign committee. With plans to launch the committee on Wednesday, the party aims to form it with a focus on unity. "A true Republic of Korea is a community that comes together through greater unity and cooperation that's what we need to build. Starting tomorrow, the DP will shift into campaign mode and focus all its efforts on winning the presidential election." Lee has been taking steps to emphasize unity and broaden his appeal to centrist and conservative voters, mentioning the word "unity" 14 times in his acceptance speech on Sunday. The party said the committee will include members from various factions, regardless of their political background. It has already shown such an intention by recruiting former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon, known as a conservative strategist, to one of the top posts in the campaign. The party is also open to bringing in more centrist and conservative figures from across the political spectrum. Lee is reportedly planning to meet with his primary rivals Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor, and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor. Kim Dong-yeon cannot officially join the committee because he is a sitting governor, but Kim Kyung-soo is expected to join if asked. Liberal figures outside Lee's faction, such as former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Kim Boo-kyum , are also being considered for the campaign committee. Kang Kum-sil , a former justice minister under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, is joining the campaign as the committee's chief chair. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

N. Korean delegation left for Moscow on Tuesday ahead of 80th Victory Day

2025/04/29 17:00

Meanwhile a North Korean defense delegation has departed for Russia sparking rampant speculation about its purpose. Kim Bo-kyoung explains. Ahead of Russia's 80th Victory Day celebrations on May 9th, North Korea's military delegation has left for Moscow to attend an international event. According to the North's state-run Korea Central News Agency on Tuesday, the delegation led by the deputy director of the General Political Bureau of the North's Korean People's Army, departed Pyongyang. Though the North's media said the visit was for an international anti-fascist conference, speculation has risen over the possibility of the delegation visiting Moscow to discuss Russia's Victory Day parade, or North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's potential visit to Russia around that time. "Instead of attending Russia's Victory Day ceremony, the focus is likely to be on a potential North Korea-Russia summit, with Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia expected to happen around that time. Rather than participating as just another leader in a multilateral setting, Kim is likely to focus on a one-on-one meeting, where his alliance with Russia and contributions to its war effort could be more highlighted." The North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper published Putin's recent statement thanking Pyongyang on its front page. This, came a day after North Korea officially confirmed its troop deployment to Russia. Putin's statement said that the deployment was in accordance with international laws, along with the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty which Kim and Putin signed in June last year. While expressing HIS deepest gratitude to North Korea, Putin claimed Russia would forever remember the heroes of Korea who sacrificed their lives for Russia and for their shared freedom. Meanwhile, as both Pyongyang and Moscow have now admitted the deployment of North Korean troops, Ukraine urged tougher sanctions on them on Monday local time. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the deployment is in violation of international laws and UN Security Council resolutions, and stressed that the deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow would pose a threat not only to the Korean peninsula but also to global security. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Putin declares temporary ceasefire next month to mark 80th anniversary of Victory Day

2025/04/29 17:00

Russia has unilaterally called for a 72-hour truce in Ukraine starting next Thursday ahead of its Victory Day celebration. Shin Se-byuck covers this latest development. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, unilaterally declared a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8th to the 10th, to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, two weeks after a 30-hour truce over Easter. The latest announcement, made via a Telegram message, added that the ceasefire was "based on humanitarian considerations." It further explained that all military actions will be prohibited during the ceasefire period, and called on Ukraine to follow the ceasefire protocols. It warned that if Ukraine violates the ceasefire, the Russian military would respond "appropriately and effectively." The temporary ceasefire also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Saturday, that he may consider introducing sanctions against Russia, if Putin doesn't intend to end the war. However, the White House on Monday stressed that what Trump wants to see is a permanent ceasefire, adding that the U.S. leader has been frustrated with the lack of progress made in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. "He wants to see a permanent ceasefire. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire -first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video speech on Monday also dismissed Moscow's announcement as an "attempt at manipulation," and called for an unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days. "Now, once again, there is another attempt at manipulation An immediate, complete, and unconditional ceasefire, for at least 30 days to ensure it is guaranteed and reliable, is what can provide the foundation for real diplomacy." According to one expert, Putin's unilateral ceasefire decision is a gesture aimed at seizing the initiative in war-related negotiations and attempting to negotiate directly with Trump, bypassing Ukraine. "If I am a bit blunt here, Ukraine can only resist Russia with the help of the U.S. So what Putin is trying to do now is that he's trying to negotiate directly with Trump over the head of Ukrainians." He added that Putin's underlying message is clear, that he can end the war at any time if his demands are met. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

S. Korea to hold second senior APEC officials meeting on Jeju next month

2025/04/29 17:00

A second meeting of senior delegates from APEC member states will begin this coming Saturday on Jeju Island for a two-week session. This is according to the Foreign Ministry here. The first such gathering took place earlier in March in Gyeongju the host city of this year's APEC summit which is scheduled to take place in late autumn. Over three-thousand officials are expected to fly into Jeju for the latest forum that includes discussions on demographic trends and artificial intelligence.

PPP presidential primary goes to run-off between 'against impeachment' and 'for impeachment'

2025/04/29 17:00

The People Power Party for its part is poised to hold a run-off election between two contenders with the results to be revealed this coming Saturday. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the latest. It's now down to two Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon. The People Power Party announced the winners of the second round of voting on Tuesday. The second round had been fierce, with no clear front-runner from the three days of heated debates. But as the results were announced, they continued to emphasize party unity as the Democratic Party of Korea's Lee Jae-myung certainly not an easy opponent awaits in the presidential election. I am also grateful to Han Dong-hoon for joining me in the final stage of the primary. I believe he has a bright future ahead, and I look forward to seeing him play a major role for the good of our country. In this challenging presidential race, there are differences between Kim Moon-soo and I, but that's exactly why we must team up — like a three-legged race — and stand as one against Lee Jae-myung. The results follow voting on Sunday and Monday, under the same rules as the second round: 50 percent PPP members and 50 percent an open survey. Neither candidate secured over 50 percent of the total tally, leading to a run-off proving the tightness of the race. A one-on-one debate will be held on Wednesday, followed by voting, with the final result announced on Saturday at the party's presidential race convention. Meanwhile, Ahn Cheol-soo in his exit speech pledged to support the winner of the race. We must work harder to overcome the crisis facing our party. Whoever wins, I'll give my all to stop Lee Jae-myung and bring about a change in government. Hong Joon-pyo as he said before declared his retirement from politics a 30-year career with five terms at the parliament and two gubernatorial posts. I will return to private life and live a quieter life. My role in this presidential race ends here. The race yet again is between one candidate who was against impeachment Kim Moon-soo and one pro-impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol Han Dong-hoon. This translates to someone more appealing to conservative and traditional PPP members versus someone more appealing to moderate and undecided voters. In addition, Kim has been openly supporting the idea of Acting President Han Duck-soo running for the presidency and merging camps while Han has even called the Party's support of this a "defeatist" mindset. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Putin declares temporary ceasefire next month to mark 80th anniversary of Victory Day

2025/04/29 10:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day a proposal met with another call from the U.S. for a permanent ceasefire, amid frustration over the lack of progress in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Lee Seung-jae reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, unilaterally declared that he would hold a three-day ceasefire from May 8th to the 10th, to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. The announcement was made by the Kremlin via a Telegram message, adding that the ceasefire was "based on humanitarian considerations." It further explained that all military actions will be prohibited during this 72-hour period, and called on Ukraine to follow the ceasefire protocols. It warned that if Ukraine violates the ceasefire, the Russian military would respond "appropriately and effectively." The temporary ceasefire also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Saturday, that he may consider introducing sanctions against Russia, if Putin doesn't intend to end the war. However, the White House on Monday stressed that what Trump wants to see is a permanent ceasefire, adding that the U.S. leader has been frustrated with the lack of progress made in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. "He is increasingly frustrated with leaders of both countries. He wants to see a permanent ceasefire. I understand Vladimir Putin this morning offered a temporary ceasefire. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire -first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed. And while he remains optimistic, he can strike a deal. He's also being realistic as well." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also criticized the temporary ceasefire on Monday, calling for a "full and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days," in order provide "a basis for real diplomacy." Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

PPP primary 2nd round voting result to be announced on Tuesday

2025/04/29 10:00

The People Power Party is set to announce the results of the second round of presidential primary voting at 2 PM Tuesday. The four-way race between Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Han Dong-hoon, and Hong Joon-pyo will end if one of them gets more than 50 percent of total votes. Voting in the competition took place on Sunday and Monday with 50 percent of voters eligible PPP members, and the remaining 50 percent coming from an open survey. If there isn't a winner, there will be a run-off between the top two, with the results coming out at the PPP Convention on May 3rd. According to PPP officials, the final voter turnout among party member electors was recorded at around 51 percent, with around 390 thousand members casting their votes.

DP to launch its election campaign committee on Wednesday

2025/04/29 10:00

The Democratic Party, having officially confirmed its former leader Lee Jae-myung as its presidential nominee, is now in the process of putting together its election campaign committee. Lee has been taking steps to emphasize unity and broaden his appeal to centrist and conservative voters since his first day as a presidential candidate. As part of this effort, the party is set to appoint former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon, a conservative strategist, to one of the top posts in the campaign. Lee told reporters Monday that Yoon is someone he has relied on for advice. The party's election campaign committee will officially launch on Wednesday at 2 PM.

UN's top court begins hearings on Israel's legal duties towards Palestinians

2025/04/29 10:00

The International Court of Justice in The Hague began hearings on Monday to assess Israel's legal responsibilities concerning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, following the blockade of aid and the cutting of ties with a UN relief agency for Palestinians. A United Nations General Assembly request initiated the proceedings to determine whether Israel is violating international law by restricting aid to the Palestinian territories. The ICJ's week-long series of public hearings will focus on Israel's obligations to facilitate humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. Over 40 countries and international organizations are expected to present arguments during the hearings.

Catholic cardinals set May 7 as start date for conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor

2025/04/29 10:00

The Vatican has officially announced that the conclave to elect the next pope will start on May 7. It will follow the nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis, who died on April 21. The upcoming conclave will be the largest in history, with 135 eligible cardinal electors under the age of 80 participating. Preparations are underway, including the closure of the Sistine Chapel to the public and the installation of the traditional smoke chimney, which will signal the outcome of each voting round. Black smoke will indicate no decision, and white smoke will announce the election of a new pope. The conclave is expected to last several days, with a two-thirds majority required to elect the new pope. Potential successors include Cardinals Pietro Parolin of Italy, Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Peter Turkson of Ghana, and Peter Erdo of Hungary.

U.S. Treasury Secretary expresses optimism over talks with S. Korea

2025/04/29 10:00

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday shared his optimism with regard to trade talks with South Korea. Speaking to CNBC, Bessent stressed that negotiations with Seoul have been going "very well," adding that Washington has had very substantive negotiations with Tokyo. The comments come after Seoul and Washington took part in the two-plus-two ministerial trade talks in the U.S. capital last week. However, the treasury secretary did not elaborate what was discussed between the two allies.

Experts analyze N. Korea's strategic move in acknowledging troop deployment to Russia

2025/04/28 20:00

North Korea's confirmation of active combat duty by its soldiers in support of Russia has left pundits pondering over the purpose of this public announcement. Kim Jung-sil spoke to a few of them. Just days after Russia confirmed North Korea's involvement, Pyongyang made its own public acknowledgment. Experts say the move aligns with Moscow's victory narrative in recapturing the Kursk region and signals stronger ties between the two. "Since President Putin publicly acknowledged the deployment on the 26th, this revelation from North Korea seems to have been made in coordination with Russia." According to experts, Moscow and Pyongyang likely coordinated their messages to maximize their diplomatic impact. With Russia declaring victory in Kursk, North Korea strategically positioned itself as a key player in this ongoing conflict — both militarily and diplomatically. "North Korea is emphasizing its contribution to the victory, and by framing its involvement as a legitimate defensive action under the North Korea-Russia treaty, it is reinforcing its diplomatic standing and legitimacy." The regime has also seized this moment to publicly address the deaths of North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia—a detail previously withheld from the public since their deployment last year. "North Korea has been educating its people about the deployment, and, by promising compensation on a national scale, it seems to believe that any potential backlash can be effectively addressed." Experts suggest Monday's announcement could also set the stage for a summit between Putin and Kim, ahead of Russia's Victory Day celebration next month. However, they note that North Korea may prefer a bilateral meeting to avoid Kim being one of many leaders at a multilateral event. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

Ukraine conflict reaches critical point, Trump’s last proposal faces rejection

2025/04/28 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The Ukraine war seems to be showing no sign of ending. U.S. President Donald Trump, who once promised to stop the fighting within a day of taking office, is now closing in on 100 days with little real progress. His latest peace plan, asking Ukraine to give up Crimea, has been flatly rejected by Kyiv. On the ground, Russia is pushing harder, claiming new victories, and even admitting North Korean troops are fighting alongside them. At the same time, Ukraine's resistance is showing signs of strain. Despite a brief meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at Pope Francis' funeral, deep gaps remain. With diplomacy stalling and the battlefield growing even bloodier, the prospects for a ceasefire seem uncertain, so at this point, is there still room for a breakthrough, or could the situation worsen moving forward? For more on this, we invite Min Jeong-hun, Professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy, here in the studio. Welcome. Also, joining us from Australia is Dr. Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Great to have you. 1. (Min) Let's start with Prof. Min. President Trump, presented a final mediation proposal last week that effectively requires Ukraine to cede territory — specifically Crimea. 2. (Davis) Now to Dr. Davis. Despite Ukraine's strong opposition to the final proposal, President Trump stated in a media interview that "the fact Russia is not occupying all of Ukraine is already a major concession." Why is the U.S. putting forward statements that seem to be in favor of Russia? 3. (Min) In addition to this, Trump is pressuring Ukraine by warning that if no agreement is reached, the U.S. will completely withdraw from mediating the war. 4. (Davis) At the same time, President Trump has hinted at the possibility of imposing banking-related sanctions and secondary sanctions on Russia, which continues its offensives in Ukraine. Amid criticism that the negotiation process is leaning toward Russia, do you think this move could be seen as an attempt to maintain balance, Dr. Davis? 5. (Min) During the funeral of Pope Francis, President Trump and President Zelenskyy held a brief meeting — their first encounter since the failed White House talks. 6. (Davis) Meanwhile, Russian media reports claim that Russia has fully regained control over the key battleground of Kursk. Ukraine has denied these reports, calling them untrue. Dr. Davis, if Russia's claim about retaking Kursk turns out to be accurate, how might this shift the dynamics of the ceasefire negotiations? 7. (Min) Russia and North Korea officially acknowledged for the first time that North Korean forces have participated in the fighting. 8. (Davis) Latest reports say that President Putin told U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who visited Russia on the 25th, that Russia is ready to engage in peace talks with Ukraine without preconditions. Dr. Davis, what is the likelihood of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine happening, and what variables could impact that? 9. (Min) President Trump had repeatedly vowed during his presidential campaign to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office. Yet negotiations still remain stalled.

S. Korea considering maritime research center, in response to Chinese structures in West Sea

2025/04/28 20:00

Amid concerns in Seoul over Chinese structures built in disputed waters of the West Sea, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has said the government is considering building a maritime research center in the area as a reciprocal measure. Cho told the parliament on Monday that the country is going through a comprehensive review of factors such as economic feasibility to determine the type of structure they would build. He added that they will continue to assess the situation while observing how China responds going forward. From 2018 until last year, China built three structures in the "Provisional Maritime Zone," where the two countries' exclusive economic zones overlap. China claimed the structures were built for fish-farming, but this led to concerns in Seoul that Beijing could possibly be seeking territorial rights in the area.