News

Trump's approval rating drops as he nears first 100 days back in office; tariff stance continues

2025/04/28 20:00

U.S. President Donald Trump is approaching his 100th day back in the Oval Office. Amid his strong, unpredictable push on tariff policies, several polls show that Trump's approval ratings have been dropping recently. Our Park Kun-woo has the details. U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push forward with his tariff policies, as he approaches 100 days back in office. On Sunday local time, Trump posted on social media that many people's income taxes will be "substantially reduced" or even "eliminated" when the tariffs take effect. He added numerous jobs and new factories are being created, also hinting at the External Revenue Service, which'll take charge of tariffs, is on its way. However, Trump's recent approval ratings have been in decline. A Washington Post poll conducted by Ipsos in April showed that just under 40 percent of American adults approve of Trump's job performance, while 55 percent disapprove. That's down from two months ago when 45 percent approved and 53 percent disapproved. And the result marks the lowest 100-day approval rating for any president, as most enjoy "honeymoons" early into their terms, despite eventual drops later in the first year. Regarding applying tariffs to imported goods, more than 6 in 10 say they disapprove of Trump's economic policy. A new CNN poll by SSRS also showed Trump's approval rating at 41 percent, the lowest for any newly elected president since Dwight Eisenhower, including Trump's own first term. The numbers were down by 4-percentage points from March and seven from February. Along with these results, Trump had previously announced a 90-day pause on imposing reciprocal tariffs on trading partners, which pundits say is part of his dealmaking strategy. "Trump loves dealmaking and the tariffs pauses, these deadlines they're all sort of part of that process. I think it's keeping pressure on the counterparties and perhaps giving local firms time to sort of plan where they source and manufacture their products." He added that given the Trump administration's unpredictability, Trump's next move will likely depend on who he's negotiating with if he doesn't get what he wants after the 90-day period. And with the temporary pause set to expire in July, attention is now turning to Trump's next steps. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

PPP's interim-chair calls DP's convention "coronation," amid PPP's fierce 4-way battle

2025/04/28 20:00

The People Power Party was quick to take sharp aim at its rival, as the party is in the process of electing its contender, with the second round of its primary voting results slated for tomorrow. Kim Do-yeon reports. The People Power Party took shots at its rival the Democratic Party of Korea on Monday, saying that its convention, where the party announced its presidential candidate, was nothing more than a coronation ceremony. "It was virtually a coronation for Lee Jae-myung, proving that the Democratic Party has become a one-man dictatorship under his leadership, with an overwhelming 89.77% of the vote. Some even said it already felt like a Democratic Party government would be in place in just 40 days." The comments came as the PPP's second round of voting by eligible PPP members continues throughout Monday until 10 PM. For this round, the final vote will be calculated by amalgamating 50-percent of this vote with 50-percent from an open public survey. The results of the voting will be announced on Tuesday, and if no one receives more than 50 percent of the final tally, there will be a run-off between the top two contenders, with the final results coming on May 3rd during the PPP's convention. The four contestants, Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Hong Joon-pyo and Han Dong-hoon, continued to promote their candidacy. Kim focused on media interviews and kept an "on-air campaign" doing 3 live interviews and a press briefing in one day. Ahn visited the Daejeon National Cemetery, before announcing his pledges for the Chungcheong-do provinces. Han visited the Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan City. As it's a place to honor the famous Admiral Yi Sun-shin, Han revealed his military and security pledges there. Hong visited the Korea Federation of SMEs to assess the state of the industry. Meanwhile Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's possible declaration of his candidacy, which started as speculation, seems to be emerging as a key variable in the PPP's presidential primary. Local reports confirmed the PM's chief of staff and three others resigned from their current posts, likely to prepare for the election. Among the four Kim Moon-soo is the only one so far who has welcomed the idea of Han running for the presidency. Ahn and Hong have openly criticized the idea, while Han Dong-hoon has so far refrained from a direct answer, saying he will focus on the primary. That said, the three did pledge to merge their camps with the acting president if he does run and if they win the primary. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Lee Jae-myung secures DP’s presidential nomination with landslide victory in primary

2025/04/28 20:00

On the political front. The Democratic Party has elected its party candidate for the presidential race. Lee Jae-myung officially kicked off his campaign with a move seen as an attempt to broaden his appeal to centrist and conservative voters. Shin Ha-young reports. "Lee Jae-myung has been confirmed as the DP's presidential nominee after winning 89-point-7-7 percent of the vote." No surprises, as expected. The Democratic Party wrapped up its presidential primaries on Sunday with a victory for former party leader Lee Jae-myung. In his acceptance speech, Lee blamed himself for losing in the last presidential election and vowed to win this time. "I will win and take back the government. I promise to build a new Korea, full of hope and energy, to repay your trust." According to the DP, Lee won the votes of over 90 percent of party members and delegates, and over 89 percent in a public poll of one million people. With both results weighted 50 percent each, he secured 89-point-7-7 percent of the total vote. It's the highest figure ever recorded in a presidential primary among DP-affiliated candidates. Lee's two opponents Kim Dong-yeon, who came in second with 6-point-8-7 percent, and Kim Kyung-soo, who followed with 3-point-3-6 percent finished well behind. "Lee Jae-myung, who stayed as the front-runner throughout the primary, is now running for president as the Democratic Party's candidate for the second time, following his presidential bid in 2022." Lee kicked off his first day as a presidential candidate with a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery on Monday morning. He paid tribute to former presidents, including those from the conservative side, seen as a move to emphasize unity and expand his appeal to centrist and conservative voters. "We must work to unite the country. While I am the DP's candidate, I will also do my best to become a candidate for all the people. I hope today's cemetery visit doesn't spark new conflict." In the afternoon, Lee held a meeting at SK hynix headquarters on AI memory semiconductors. Ahead of the meeting, he emphasized his goal of making South Korea the top semiconductor country and pledged to quickly pass a special act aimed at boosting the domestic semiconductor industry. Meanwhile, the DP plans to launch its election campaign committee on Wednesday. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

North Korea confirms it deployed troops to Russia for first time

2025/04/28 17:00

In a surprise announcement on this Monday North Korea acknowledged its deployment of soldiers to the battlefield of Russia's war against Ukraine. Our foreign affairs correspondent Bae Eun-ji covers this announcement. North Korea confirmed for the first time that it has sent troops to support Russia's war efforts against Ukraine. Citing the North's ruling party, the state news agency KCNA said Monday that the troop deployment was ordered by leader Kim Jong-un himself, who made the decision under the 'comprehensive strategic partnership treaty,' which he signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year. Article 4 of the treaty says North Korea and Russia "shall immediately provide military and other assistance" to the other party if it "falls into a state of war due to armed invasion from an individual or multiple states." Putin thanked the North Korean leader for deploying troops to Russia. Russia's Tass news agency reported Monday that Putin said he commends the North Korean soldiers' "heroism," adding that friendship and cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow will continue to grow. Meanwhile, the South Korean government criticized the North's deployment of troops, saying it threatens global security. "We strongly urge the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops. If the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia continues, we will not stand by idly and will respond firmly with the international community." Separately, the U.S. State Department also told Reuters that the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia and any support by Russia in return must end, adding that Russia had violated UN Security Council resolutions by training North Korean soldiers. North Korea's announcement comes after Russia on Saturday local time said that all Ukrainian troops were forced out of the western Russian region of Kursk, with the help of North Korean troops. "I would like to separately note the participation of the servicemen of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the liberation of the border areas of the Kursk region, who provided significant assistance in the defeat of a group of Ukrainian armed forces." South Korea's intelligence agency in October of last year assessed that around 12-thousand North Korean troops had been deployed to the Kursk region. It also said in January that about 300 of them were killed in combat and another 2-thousand-700 were injured. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

World News: Israel launches air strike on Beirut

2025/04/28 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Israel conducted an airstrike on Sunday targeting a Hezbollah facility in southern Beirut. The airstrike comes despite the ceasefire established in November 2024. It destroyed a building in the Dhiyeh suburb of Beirut, which the Israeli Defense Forces identified as a Hezbollah precision missile storage facility. No casualties have been reported. Before the strike, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents, advising them to maintain a distance of at least 300 meters from the site. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the airstrike and called upon the United States and France, co-guarantors of the existing ceasefire agreement, to intervene and prevent further hostilities. Another Israeli airstrike earlier this month in Beirut's southern suburbs had killed four people, including a Hezbollah official. In Vancouver, Canada, a vehicle drove into a crowd at a festival celebrating Filipino heritage, killing at least 11 people. On Saturday, at approximately 8:14 PM local time, a black SUV entered a pedestrian-only area, where the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival, an annual celebration of Filipino culture, was taking place. The vehicle accelerated into the crowd, killing at least 11 people and injuring more than twenty others. The victims' ages ranged from five to 65, according to police. The driver, a 30-year-old Vancouver resident known to have mental health issues, was taken into custody after being detained by bystanders at the scene. Police stated that the suspect acted alone and there was no evidence suggesting acts of terrorism. India conducted long-range precision missile tests to demonstrate military readiness on Sunday, as tensions between India and Pakistan flared following a deadly militant attack that killed 26 people in Kashmir on April 22. India has since announced a series of measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan, including suspending a key water-sharing treaty and closing borders. Pakistan responded by canceling Indian visas and closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong warning on Saturday, stating that Pakistan would respond with full force if India decides to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. Finally, in Rome, the Vatican opened Pope Francis' tomb to the public on Sunday. The late pontiff, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, was laid to rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore church, with a single white rose and a simple inscription of his name "Franciscus" on his stone tomb. The simplicity reflected his commitment to humility. Thousands of mourners visited the site, lining up to pay their respects. Following the funeral on Saturday, which drew approximately 250,000 attendees, the College of Cardinals began preparations for the papal conclave, which is expected to begin between May 5 and May 10. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

S. Korea, U.S. can find "win-win" solutions through "cooperative negotiations" on tariffs, trade: Han

2025/04/28 17:00

Acting President Han Duck-soo has reaffirmed.. his confidence in cooperation.. rather than conflict with regard to South Korea's tariff and trade talks with the U.S. In an interview with The Economist that was published this past Sunday Han claimed a win-win solution is possible for Seoul and Washington through dialogue. He also highlighted the importance of American troop presence on the Korean peninsula in response to a question about the fate of U.S. soldiers in South Korea by the British outlet.

Trump's approval rating drops ahead of 100 days mark

2025/04/28 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump is witnessing the lowest 100-day approval rating of any American leader over the past eight decades. According to the most recent public poll conducted by ABC News, The Washington Post and Ipsos, 39 percent approved of his policies, down six percentage points compared to February. Pundits are linking this latest finding to public backlash against Mr. Trump's economic policy with many of the respondents concerned about the risk of a recession. His immigration as well as diplomatic policies have also ignited fears. Trump this week marks his first 100 days at the White House under a second term at the top office.

At least 40 killed in Iran port explosion

2025/04/28 17:00

Iran is reeling in the aftermath of a deadly detonation at a port this past weekend that has led to hundreds of casualties. Lee Seung-jae covers this tragic event. A massive explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas on Saturday killed at least forty people,.. and left at least a thousand others injured. According to eyewitnesses and surveillance footage,.. chemicals in an area with shipping containers caught fire, setting off the massive explosion. According to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, quoting an Iranian official,.. the explosion was likely due to containers of chemicals, but the official did not elaborate on what type of chemical. Iran's national oil company also explained that the explosion was "not related to refineries, fuel tanks, or oil pipelines" in the area. The deadly explosion on Saturday was also a grim reminder of another massive explosion in Beirut nearly five years ago. The similarity in the smoke created from the blast also shed light on what type of chemical could have been involved. Video and images from CNN showed orange-brown smoke rising from the port, suggesting that a chemical such as sodium or ammonia was involved. The New York Times also reported on Sunday, that a person with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said what exploded in the incident was sodium perchlorate, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles. Other experts have said that ammonium nitrate was behind the deadly blast, the same chemical involved in the 2020 Beirut explosion. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

PPP's interim-chair calls DP's convention "coronation," amid PPP's fierce 4-way battle

2025/04/28 17:00

The People Power Party for its part is in the process of electing its contender with a name to be announced as early as this coming Tuesday or on Saturday at the latest. Kim Do-yeon covers this partisan primary as well as the party's criticism of its rival. The People Power Party took shots at its rival the Democratic Party of Korea on Monday, saying that its convention, where the party announced its presidential candidate, was nothing more than a coronation ceremony. "It was virtually a coronation for Lee Jae-myung, proving that the Democratic Party has become a one-man dictatorship under his leadership, with an overwhelming 89.77% of the vote. Some even said it already felt like a Democratic Party government would be in place in just 40 days." The comments came as the PPP's second round of voting by eligible PPP members continues throughout Monday until 10 PM. For this round, the final vote will be calculated by amalgamating 50-percent of this vote with 50-percent from an open public survey. The results of the voting will be announced on Tuesday, and if no one receives more than 50 percent of the final tally, there will be a run-off between the top two contenders, with the final results coming on May 3rd during the PPP's convention. The four contestants, Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Hong Joon-pyo and Han Dong-hoon, continued to promote their candidacy. Kim focused on media interviews and kept an "on-air campaign" doing 3 live interviews and a press briefing in one day. Ahn visited the Daejeon National Cemetery, before announcing his pledges for the Chungcheong-do provinces. Han visited the Hyeonchungsa Shrine in Asan City. As it's a place to honor the famous Admiral Yi Sun-shin, Han revealed his military and security pledges there. Hong visited the Korea Federation of SMEs to assess the state of the industry. Meanwhile Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's possible declaration of his candidacy, which started as speculation, seems to be emerging as a key variable in the PPP's presidential primary. Local reports confirmed the PM's chief of staff and three others resigned from their current posts, likely to prepare for the election. Among the four Kim Moon-soo is the only one so far who has welcomed the idea of Han running for the presidency. Ahn and Hong have openly criticized the idea, while Han Dong-hoon has so far refrained from a direct answer, saying he will focus on the primary. That said, the three did pledge to merge their camps with the acting president if he does run and if they win the primary. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Lee Jae-myung secures DP’s presidential nomination with landslide victory in primary

2025/04/28 17:00

On the political front. The Democratic Party has elected its party candidate for the presidential race on June 3rd. Lee Jae-myung will seek a second attempt at the top office. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. "Lee Jae-myung has been confirmed as the DP's presidential nominee after winning 89-point-7-7 percent of the vote." No surprises, as expected. The Democratic Party wrapped up its presidential primaries on Sunday with a victory for former party leader Lee Jae-myung. In his acceptance speech, Lee blamed himself for losing in the last presidential election and vowed to win this time. "I will win and take back the government. I promise to build a new Korea, full of hope and energy, to repay your trust." According to the DP, Lee won the votes of over 90 percent of party members and delegates, and over 89 percent in a public poll of one million people. With both results weighted 50 percent each, he secured 89-point-7-7 percent of the total vote. It's the highest figure ever recorded in a presidential primary among DP-affiliated candidates. Lee's two opponents Kim Dong-yeon, who came in second with 6-point-8-7 percent, and Kim Kyung-soo, who followed with 3-point-3-6 percent finished well behind. "Lee Jae-myung, who stayed as the front-runner throughout the primary, is now running for president as the Democratic Party's candidate for the second time, following his presidential bid in 2022." Lee kicked off his first day as a presidential candidate with a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery on Monday morning. He paid tribute to former presidents, including those from the conservative side, seen as a move to emphasize unity and expand his appeal to centrist and conservative voters. "We must work to unite the country. While I am the DP's candidate, I will also do my best to become a candidate for all the people. I hope today's cemetery visit doesn't spark new conflict." In the afternoon, Lee held a meeting at SK hynix headquarters on AI memory semiconductors. Ahead of the meeting, he emphasized his goal of making South Korea the top semiconductor country and pledged to quickly pass a special act aimed at boosting the domestic semiconductor industry. Meanwhile, the DP plans to launch its election campaign committee on Wednesday. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

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

2025/04/28 17:00

North Korea's confirmation of active combat duty by its soldiers in support of Russia against Ukraine has pundits pondering over the purpose of this public announcement made on the front page of its state-run daily. Our correspondent 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.

North Korea confirms it deployed troops to Russia for first time

2025/04/28 10:00

North Korea has officially acknowledged its dispatch of troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine on Monday, just two days after Russia did so in the latest effort by the two allies to justify the military support. Bae Eun-ji starts us off. North Korea confirmed for the first time that it has sent troops to support Russia's war efforts against Ukraine. Citing the North's ruling party, the state news agency KCNA said Monday that the troop deployment was ordered by leader Kim Jong-un himself, who made the decision under the 'comprehensive strategic partnership treaty,' which he signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year. Article 4 of the treaty says North Korea and Russia "shall immediately provide military and other assistance" to the other party if it "falls into a state of war due to armed invasion from an individual or multiple states." Kim Jong-un reportedly hailed those deployed to Russia as 'heroes' and representatives of the honor of the motherland. And the KCNA also cited the Central Military Commission of the regime's ruling Workers' Party as saying the deployment of troops showed the firm alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow, as it declared Russia's victory in a battle to "liberate the Kursk region." This comes after Russia on Saturday local time confirmed that all Ukrainian troops were forced out of the western Russian region of Kursk, with the help of North Korean troops. "I would like to separately note the participation of the servicemen of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the liberation of the border areas of the Kursk region, who, provided significant assistance in the defeat of the wedged group of the Ukrainian armed forces." South Korea's intelligence agency in October of last year assessed that around 12-thousand North Korean troops had been deployed to the Kursk region. The news also comes as Kim Jong-un is likely set to visit Moscow for Russia's Victory Day celebration in May and as U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Vatican City on the sidelines of the pope's funeral to discuss a potential ceasefire deal. Bae Eun-ji, Arirang News.

Indian Navy tests missiles in wake of Kashmir militant attack

2025/04/28 10:00

India conducted long-range precision missile tests to demonstrate military readiness on Sunday, as tensions between India and Pakistan flared following a deadly militant attack that killed 26 people in Kashmir on April 22. India has since announced a series of measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan, including suspending a key water-sharing treaty and closing borders. Pakistan responded by canceling Indian visas and closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong warning on Saturday, stating that Pakistan would respond with full force if India decides to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.

Israel launches air strike on Beirut

2025/04/28 10:00

Starting in the Middle East, where Israel has conducted an airstrike on Beirut. Tell us more. Israel conducted an airstrike on Sunday targeting a Hezbollah facility in southern Beirut. The airstrike comes despite the ceasefire established in November 2024. It destroyed a building in the Dhiyeh suburb of Beirut, which the Israeli Defense Forces identified as a Hezbollah precision missile storage facility. No casualties have been reported. Before the strike, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents, advising them to maintain a distance of at least 300 meters from the site. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the airstrike and called upon the United States and France, co-guarantors of the existing ceasefire agreement, to intervene and prevent further hostilities. Another Israeli airstrike earlier this month in Beirut's southern suburbs had killed four people, including a Hezbollah official.

On-point: Trump's approval rating at lowest for any newly elected president after 100 days

2025/04/28 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating has reached the lowest for any newly elected president at 100 days mainly due to the rollout of his aggressive tariff plan. Why is he taking the risk, and what does that mean for South Korea? Let's turn to Professor Breg Buchak. Welcome back. 1. It's been less than 100 days since Trump returned to the Oval Office, and his 41% approval rating is the lowest for any newly elected U.S. leader. Why is he rushing through his tariff policies this time? 2. There's this 90-day tariff pause for now. 3. Seoul and Washington are looking to draw up a July package, but to realize a package that works in favor of South Korea, what would be crucial for South Korea to appeal to the U.S. in negotiations in the coming weeks and months? 4. Based on consultations held last week will South Korea's LNG imports be enough leverage for South Korea to find a breakthrough in Trump's tariff policies? 5. South Korea made a counterproposal to establish a consultative body with other Asian countries. How feasible is this idea, realistically speaking? Thanks so much for sharing your insight with us this morning.

PPP presidential primary: 2nd round voting starts with no clear lead

2025/04/28 10:00

The People Power Party primary is still going on, with the voting for the second round opening on Sunday. The results will come on Tuesday, but whether there will be a run-off is still a question. Our Kim Do-yeon has the details. The People Power Party, on Sunday, began the voting process for the 2nd round of its presidential primaries. This will run for two days and if one of the four contestants Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Han Dong-hoon, and Hong Joon-pyo gets more than 50 percent of the total votes he will be the presidential candidate. If not, there will be a run-off for the top two. The competition will be decided by votes with, 50 percent of voters eligible PPP members, and the remaining 50 percent coming from an open survey. Meanwhile, on Sunday the contestants pushed for their candidacy. Kim Moon-soo seen as the most conservative and appealing to the older generation revealed his pledges for virtual assets including cryptocurrency. He's looking to make it so that government and financial institutions would be able to invest in them. Ahn Cheol-soo first had a press briefing at the National Assembly pleading for support, saying he's the only one to beat the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate Lee Jae-myung before visiting his hometown Busan. Han Dong-hoon traveled around the capital region meeting with local politicians and PPP members. He said he will give "200 percent" to beat Lee Jae-myung and asked for votes to finish the primary in this round with more than 50 percent of votes. Hong Joon-pyo took to the streets to meet with citizens especially younger ones on the streets of Hongdae a popular hangout area for students and young people. There, he appealed to those in their 20s and 30s to favor him the most among the PPP contestants. The talk of the town continues to be whether Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will declare candidacy. The window is closing as if he wants to run he has to step down from a public post by May 4th. As the Acting President's candidacy is being requested by some PPP supporters all PPP primary contestants have said they will merge with his camp if they become the PPP presidential candidate seeking the supporters' votes. As for the final result of the primary if the race ends in the second round it'll be announced on Tuesday. If there is a run-off it'll be announced during the party's convention on May 3rd. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

Lee Jae-myung secures DP’s presidential nomination with landslide victory in party's primary

2025/04/28 10:00

Shifting gears to the presidential primaries here in the country. As widely expected, the Democratic Party’s front-runner Lee Jae-myung has secured his second presidential run as the party’s candidate for the 21st June presidential election. Our correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. "Lee Jae-myung has been confirmed as the DP’s presidential nominee after winning 89-point-7-7 percent of the vote." No surprises, as expected. The Democratic Party wrapped up its presidential primaries on Sunday with a victory for former party leader Lee Jae-myung. According to the DP, Lee won the votes of over 90 percent of party members and delegates, and over 89 percent in a public poll of one million people. With both results weighted 50 percent each, he secured 89-point-7-7 percent of the total vote against his two opponents Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor, and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor. It's the highest figure ever recorded in a presidential primary among DP-affiliated candidates. Lee told reporters that overwhelming support comes with overwhelming responsibility, and he feels a heavy sense of duty. Kim Dong-yeon came in second with 6-point-8-7 percent, followed by Kim Kyung-soo with 3-point-3-6 percent. "Lee Jae-myung, who stayed as the front-runner throughout the primary, is now running for president as the Democratic Party's candidate for the second time, following his presidential bid in 2022." In his acceptance speech, Lee blamed himself for losing in the last presidential election and vowed to win this time. "The people and party members have given us a chance to build a new country, a true Republic of Korea. I will win and take back the government. I promise to build a new Korea, full of hope and energy, to repay your trust." During his 2022 presidential campaign, Lee emphasized redistribution policies, but in his second run, he has shifted his focus to economic growth and a pragmatic approach to leading the country. He also emphasized his focus on national unity. Lee kicked off his first day as a presidential candidate with a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery on Monday morning and will later hold a meeting at SK hynix headquarters on AI memory semiconductors. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

At least 40 killed in Iran port explosion

2025/04/28 10:00

A deadly explosion at a port in Iran on Saturday killed dozens, and left over a thousand others injured. Reports point to the possibility of chemicals used to make missile propellant being behind the explosion. Lee Seung-jae has more. A massive explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas on Saturday killed at least forty people,.. and left at least a thousand others injured. According to eyewitnesses and surveillance footage,.. chemicals in an area with shipping containers caught fire, setting off the massive explosion. According to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, quoting an Iranian official,.. the explosion was likely due to containers of chemicals, but the official did not elaborate on what type of chemical. Iran's national oil company also explained that the explosion was "not related to refineries, fuel tanks, or oil pipelines" in the area. The deadly explosion on Saturday was also a grim reminder of another massive explosion in Beirut nearly five years ago. The similarity in the smoke created from the blast also shed light on what type of chemical could have been involved. Video and images from CNN showed orange-brown smoke rising from the port, suggesting that a chemical such as sodium or ammonia was involved. The New York Times also reported on Sunday, that a person with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said what exploded in the incident was sodium perchlorate, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles. Other experts have said that ammonium nitrate was behind the deadly blast, the same chemical involved in the 2020 Beirut explosion. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[WEEKLY FOCUS] Partisan primaries in full gear ahead of 21st presidential election

2025/04/26 12:00

As the presidential election draws closer, both rival parties have stepped up the pace in their primaries throughout this week. We turn to our political correspondent Shin Ha-young for a closer look at where things stand and what variables could shape the rest of the presidential race. Welcome. Thanks for having me. Ha-young, let's start with the Democratic Party. How did its primary unfold this week? Well, over the past two weeks, the Democratic Party's preliminary candidates have been traveling across the country as the party held regional primaries. The race began as a three-way contest between former party leader Lee Jae-myung; Kim Kyung-soo, former Gyeongsangnam-do Province Governor; and Kim Dong-yeon, current Gyeonggi-do Province Governor. The party's front-runner Lee, started off the week after strengthening his position as the DP's top contender, having secured nearly 90 percent of the cumulative votes from the Chungcheong-do and Gyeongsang-do provinces. This week alone, the DP held three rounds of debates, pushing the primary race into its final stretch. As of Friday, the remaining voting results are from the Jeolla-do provinces, the Seoul Metropolitan Area, Gangwon-do Province, and Jeju --with the final outcomes expected over the weekend. After announcing its final candidate on Sunday --based 50 percent on regional primary results and 50 percent on public opinion polls --the party is expected to shift into full-scale election mode starting next week. Let's talk about the People Power Party's primary. Originally, almost a dozen people signed up for it. How far has the party gone in its primary process? The People Power Party had 11 registered candidates originally, but the party narrowed them down to eight. And on Tuesday, the PPP announced the first round cut-off, which was decided by a 100 percent open poll to have candidates who align with public expectations. Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, four-term lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, former party leader Han Dong-hoon, and former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo survived after the eight initial contestants were cut to four. Without a clear front-runner, the race is between two candidates who were against former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, Kim and Hong, and two who were for the impeachment, Han and Ahn. The candidates faced off in one-on-one debates --two on Thursday and two on Friday. The party also scheduled a four-way debate for Saturday. The second round cut-off will be decided with 50 percent of eligible PPP voters and 50 percent through an open survey, with results expected next Tuesday. If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the total votes, there won't be a run-off. But, if no one reaches that threshold, the final candidate will be announced on May 3rd. Then for the DP, what are the factors to be on the lookout for? For the Democratic Party, front-runner Lee Jae-myung's legal troubles are one factor to be considered. The Supreme Court on Tuesday started reviewing the election violation charge against Lee as a full bench. And on Thursday, all the current justices held a second deliberation session on the case, just two days after the first session. This shows that the court is progressing in the case at unprecedented speed. This also means the court is taking the case more seriously than others due to the level of public interest. Usually, Supreme Court cases are generally overseen by four justices. An initial guilty verdict was overturned on appeal last month. If the top court finds issues with that ruling, it can send the case back to the Seoul High Court for a rehearing. While this is unlikely to block his presidential run as it takes time, it could fuel a political backlash. If there's no final ruling before the election and Lee wins, his presidential immunity could spark debate over whether the trial can continue. For the PPP, Acting President Han Duck-soo's potential presidential run has emerged as a new variable in the race. Do tell us more about it. You're right. Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's unclear stance on a presidential bid remains a key variable that the People Power Party will need to keep an eye on. Though not in the PPP primary, speculation is growing that he may run as an independent. In such a case, some political insiders believe a merger with a conservative candidate later could shake up the race. There are concerns that his possible run is pulling the focus away from the PPP primary. While some party candidates have voiced discomfort, others say Han's presence could still work in their favor. If he plans to run, he must resign as Prime Minister by May 4. Alright, thank you, Ha-young, for your wrap-up. Keep us posted on future developments. Thank you.

President Trump criticizes Russia's biggest attack on Kyiv since last summer

2025/04/25 20:00

Russia has launched an alarming attack against Ukraine amid U.S.-led efforts to secure a ceasefire, prompting a rare rebuke from U.S. President Donald Trump. Lee Eun-jin has the latest. In the early hours of Thursday local time, Russia conducted a massive combined missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing at least 12 people and injuring over 90. The strikes, which began around 1 AM, targeted multiple districts and caused significant damage to residential buildings and vehicles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the assault one of Moscow's "most outrageous," while officials reported that it involved ballistic missiles. The country's Interior Minister said that apart from the Kyiv area, seven other regions were targeted in the "mass" attack. The attack marks the deadliest assault on the capital since last July and comes amid heightened tension over negotiations to end the ongoing conflict. On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump, in a rare move, criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to stop such attacks, adding that Putin demonstrated "very bad timing" and that the attacks were "not necessary." Trump had said on Wednesday that he believed Russia was ready for a peace deal with Ukraine. He also lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying he was harder to deal with than expected, accusing him of prolonging the war by refusing to surrender the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula as part of a possible deal. He also said that Russia had made a "pretty big concession" to end the war by not "taking the whole country." But Ukraine and much of Europe have fiercely pushed back, arguing that Russia holding back on a land grab is hardly a concession. And Zelenskyy reiterated that any peace agreement including Russia's demand to keep control of Crimea is a red line for Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said further discussions were planned for the weekend to finalize a peace deal how things develop in the next few days will be crucial for the future direction of U.S.-led peace talks. Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.