News

Fmr. President Yoon's legal team goes head-to-head with key witness at second criminal trial hearing

2025/04/21 20:00

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was in court today for the second hearing of the criminal case against him on charges of insurrection. This time, the footage of him in the defendant's seat was made public. Moon Hye-ryeon reports. A dark navy suit paired with a red tie — this is what former President Yoon Suk Yeol wore to the second hearing of his criminal trial on Monday. In the first footage made available to the public since his trial began, he was seen entering the courtroom and taking his seat at the defendant's bench with his lips tightly closed, ignoring the press cameras flashing around him. The media were required to leave before proceedings officially began. Previously, the court did not allow the media to film in the courtroom, explaining that the request came in too late for the appropriate judicial procedures to be followed. At today's trial, Yoon's legal team cross-examined Cho Sung-hyun from the army's capital defense command, who had been summoned as a key witness by the prosecution. During the first hearing last week, Cho testified that he received a direct order from his superior to enter the National Assembly and remove lawmakers on the night of the martial law order declaration last December. Yoon's legal team questioned the feasibility of such an order before challenging the credibility of his testimony by highlighting inconsistencies between his statements across different legal proceedings. Throughout the session, the defense continued to warn Cho that false testimony could result in legal consequences and demanded that he "speak accurately." The exchange escalated when Cho, frustrated by repeated questioning, appealed directly to the bench — which was acknowledged by the judge. To secure a conviction on charges of insurrection, prosecutors must prove that Yoon deliberately sought to overthrow the constitutional order by mobilizing the military. If found guilty, he could face life imprisonment — or even the death penalty. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

DP's Lee solidifies lead for presidential candidacy while PPP's first cut-off to come on Tues. evening

2025/04/21 20:00

On the political front. The Democratic Party's presidential contender for the early election will be announced this weekend while the results of the People Power Party's first elimination will be shared late Tuesday. Kim Do-yeon covers the partisan campaigns. As the Democratic Party of Korea's front-runner Lee Jae-myung strengthens his dominance in the party's presidential primary, with around 90 percent of the cumulative votes so far, he now looks beyond the primaries and eyes the undecided voters for the actual presidential race. On Monday he visited the Korea Financial Investment Association and discussed the stock exchange. He pledged to surpass 5-thousand points in the stock market through various measures around double of what it's at today. Meanwhile, the current runner-up, Kim Dong-yeon, has pledged to turn the primary around, saying having a clear front-runner is not good for the party overall. The party will announce the results of its primaries in the Jeolla-do provinces on Saturday, and those for the Seoul Metropolitan Area, alongside Gangwon-do Province and Jeju on Sunday. Public polls, accounting for 50 percent of the total, will be held for two days between April 21st and 27th, with the final candidate confirmed on April 27th. Meanwhile, after two days of heated debates, the open poll for the first round cut-off for the People Power Party primary started on Monday with four of eight to be cut. This is a 100-percent open opinion survey where both PPP and undecided supporters will be surveyed. And to boost their chances, three contestants traveled to Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province on Monday a region known as a conservative stronghold. Han Dong-hoon went to Gyeongju City to visit the preparations for this year's APEC Summit. Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo also visited Daegu to meet with supporters there. Kim Moon-soo, who has a slight lead among the eight contestants according to recent polls, pledged to expand rapid train lines across the nation, while Hong Joon-pyo shared his vision for welfare through a press conference. The result of the polling done on Monday and Tuesday will be released sometime on Tuesday evening. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

S. Korea "will not fight" U.S. over tariffs but will put nat'l interests first as top officials meet in D.C. on Thursday

2025/04/21 20:00

Top finance and trade officials are sitting down with their U.S. counterparts in Washington D.C. later this week for tariff talks. The nation's acting president says the strategy is dialogue, not dispute. Oh Soo-young explains. South Korea will not fight the United States over Donald Trump's tariffs But it will also seek national interest first, as top trade officials meet in Washington this Thursday. That's according to Acting President Han Duck-soo, who on Monday confirmed South Korea's finance and trade ministers will meet their U.S. counterparts for a "2+2" consultation. On Thursday, 8 AM local time or 9 PM in South Korea Choi Sang-mok and Ahn Duk-geun will sit down with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings. This will be followed by separate one-on-one meetings between the ministers. The bilateral was first proposed by the U.S., after the Trump Administration decided to delay its reciprocal tariffs, including a 25-percent duty on South Korean goods. The wide-ranging tariffs were paused for 90 days, after panic in U.S markets, wiped out five-point-four trillion dollars in just 48 hours. Shortly before implementing the pause on April 9th, the U.S. President held a half-hour phone call with Acting President Han Duck-soo, and ordered officials to prioritize deals with allied countries like South Korea and Japan, projecting optimism that a "great deal" could be made. Han told government officials Monday that the talks "won't be easy," but he expects it will mark the beginning of cooperation. "With the principle of putting our national interests first, the government will approach the consultations with the U.S. calmly and earnestly, doing our utmost to find a mutually beneficial win-win solution. We will specifically confirm each side's interests regarding the three key areas mentioned during my phone call with President Trump: trade balance, 무역 수지, shipbuilding, 조선, and LNG, 액화천연가스, and seek mutually reciprocal points of agreement. In interviews with foreign media, Han has said Seoul would not fight the U.S., but hinted there could be concessions, for a win-win deal between the long-term allies. He suggested South Korea could increase purchases of U.S. liquefied natural gas and commercial aircraft. Korean shipyards could also help America maintain its naval shipbuilding capacity. Seoul could further discuss non-tariff barriers, addressing existing U.S. concerns about auto emissions regulations, pharmaceutical pricing, beef imports, and network fees imposed on platforms like Netflix. It's unclear whether the cost of keeping U.S. soldiers in South Korea will be raised during the session. While Trump has indicated he'd like a "one-stop shopping" deal combining trade and defense issues into a single package, Seoul officials are prioritizing trade talks to tackle tariffs, keeping security matters separate. The government has described the meeting as a "consultation," not a "negotiation," signaling a measured approach. On whether the U.S. leader might appear at the meeting in person, as he did unexpectedly during talks with Japan last week, South Korea's trade minister said Sunday that Seoul is preparing for such a scenario. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

U.S. designates S.Korea as 'sensitive country' – what it means for bilateral relations

2025/04/21 20:00

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. As of April 15th, the U.S. Department of Energy officially designated South Korea as a "sensitive country." This move has raised significant concerns about the future of their cooperation, particularly in areas like science, technology, and energy. Despite the lack of explanation from the U.S. government, questions are being raised about the implications of this decision for a long-standing alliance that has been vital to regional stability. As tensions grow over South Korea's role in global strategy, the Korean government now faces a delicate diplomatic challenge. Tonight, we'll explore what this means for the future of U.S.-South Korea relations and what steps the government may take to navigate these turbulent waters. For this, we invite Robert Kelly, Professor of International Relations at Pusan National University. Welcome Also joining us is Hannah Kim, Associate Professor at Sogang University GSIS. Thank you for joining us. (Kelly) 1. So last week, America's measure to include South Korea on its sensitive country list went into effect. However, the U.S. still hasn't disclosed specific reasons for designating Korea as a sensitive country. How should we read into this? (Kim) 2. While the U.S. has stated its intent to continue close cooperation with South Korea, there are concerns that the latest measure could hinder bilateral cooperation in the science and energy sectors. Prof. Kim, what specific disruptions are anticipated? (Kelly) 3. South Korea was included in the lowest-tier category for countries with relatively low levels of concern, labeled "Other Designated Countries." Prof. Kelly, what impact do you think this move has in terms of the ROK-U.S. alliance? (Kim) 4. Last month, Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun urgently traveled to the U.S. for negotiations but failed to prevent the implementation of the sensitive country designation. Prof. Kim, the Korean government says it may take more time to have the designation lifted. What kind of approach could be helpful for the Korean government? (Kelly) 5. Some analyses suggest that President Trump may use the lifting of the sensitive country designation as a bargaining chip in future negotiations over tariffs or defense cost-sharing. What's your take on that, Prof. Kelly? (Kim) 6. Meanwhile, concerns about ROK-U.S. diplomatic and security cooperation continue. Following Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, it has been reported that Senior Official Sean O'Neill of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs also excluded South Korea from his Asia tour. Since the launch of Trump's second term, similar cases of South Korea being skipped in official visits are increasing. Prof. Kim, should we be concerned about a "Korea passing" situation? (Kelly) 7. If this pattern of Korea being sidelined continues, disruptions will inevitably occur in diplomatic and security cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. What diplomatic response strategy would you recommend for the Korean government, Prof. Kelly? (Kim) 8. In addition, following an executive order from the Trump administration, the Woodrow Wilson Center— a public policy research institution—has begun the process of closure. Korean studies programs at the Wilson Center have also been suspended. What kind of gap might this create in policy continuity and trust-building between the two countries, Prof. Kim? (Kelly) 10. Furthermore, foreign media reports suggest that the Trump administration is reviewing the shutdown of 27 overseas missions, including the U.S. Consulate in Busan. While the U.S. Embassy in Seoul has stated that "no official announcement has been made," could the review itself be interpreted as a weakening of U.S. strategic interest in South Korea, Prof. Kelly?

World News: Iran and U.S. conclude second round of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program

2025/04/21 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. The U.S. and Iran concluded a second round of nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday and agreed to hold another round this week. On April 19, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi engaged again in indirect talks mediated by Oman at the Omani embassy in Rome. The talks lasted for about four hours, focusing on reviving an agreement to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons while allowing for peaceful nuclear energy use. Both sides reported progress and agreed to begin "expert-level" discussions in Muscat, Oman, starting Wednesday, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for Saturday. Key negotiation points include how to handle Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium and how to ensure that the U.S. does not withdraw from any agreement. The U.S. suggests transferring the uranium to a third country, possibly Russia, while Iran insists on keeping it within its borders. The United States launched more airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and the coastal city of Hodeida over the weekend. This comes less than two days after a strike on the Ras Isa oil terminal on the Red Sea coast. On Saturday, local time, U.S. forces conducted 13 airstrikes targeting sites controlled by the Houthis Sanaa and Hodeida, including an airport and a port facility. The airstrikes resulted in at least 3 deaths and 4 injuries. This follows an attack on April 17 on the Ras Isa oil terminal, which reportedly killed at least 80 people and injured more than 150 others. The U.S. military says these strikes aim to degrade the Houthis' offensive capabilities and protect international shipping routes in the Red Sea. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed on Saturday grave concern over the attack on Ras Isa and escalating violence in the region. In Germany, the 37th annual Easter egg-throwing competition took place on Sunday in the western town of Horhausen. Participants were given a single brightly colored hard-boiled egg to throw as far as possible without it breaking. The longest recorded egg throw to date is 78 meters, set in 2002. Eggs that remain intact are collected and distributed to the crowd, while broken eggs become bird feed. The tradition of Easter egg throwing continues to be a part of Horhausen's Easter celebrations, dating back to the post-Second World War era. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

"Freedom Flag," S. Korea and U.S. large-scale joint air exercise kicks off its two-week run

2025/04/21 17:00

And on the defense front. South Korea and the U.S. are currently involved in a two-week air drill that began last week and will last until early May. Our correspondent Kim Bo-kyung files this report. Fighter jets fly through the air, making thunderous sounds. This, as part of South Korea and the U.S.' large-scale joint air power exercise the "Freedom Flag" at Gwangju Air Base. Held two times in a year, combining "Korea Flying Training" and "Vigilant Defense, " this over two-week journey began on Thursday. Aiming to advance combined air power capabilities, while improving interoperability between pilots from both countries, the 24-hour operating Mission Planning Cell organizes the exercise, for pilots to embark on their missions. Approximately 11-hundred personnel join the drill, and more than 90 aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles such as U.S. MQ-9, take part in the event. "This drill will serve as a chance to further strengthen the combined defense posture and enhance our joint response capabilities against various threats on future battlefields." Another notable part is that the drill will also be based on complex scenarios against a high-level simulated threat, involving an advanced stealth jet. "This is a U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B, one of the U.S. stealth fighter jets that came from Japan. Along with ROK F-35As,. these fifth-generation jets will play the role of "red air" enemy aircraft for the first time during the exercise." "By putting a stealth fighter, our most capable, on the red side, it gives our pilots, our airbound managers, everyone involved, a more difficult problem to try and solve. So, by going against a capable threat, we're just enhancing our own capability through these missions." By carrying out high-level air-to-air combat missions, and working side by side, South Korea and the U.S. expect bolstered trust, building upon the alliance. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News, Gwangju.

Japanese PM Ishiba sends offering to Yasukuni Shrine, unlikely to visit amid Seoul, Beijing backlash

2025/04/21 17:00

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent a ritual offering to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine on this Monday as the shrine began its three-day annual spring festival. A similar offering was made during the autumn festival last year. The Japanese leader is reportedly not expected to make an in-person visit in light of concerns of a potential backlash from South Korea and China. The shrine honors 14 convicted Class A Japanese war criminals from the Second World War. The last sitting Japanese prime minister to visit the shrine in person was Shinzo Abe in 2013.

Russia, Ukraine trade accusations over "Easter truce" violations

2025/04/21 17:00

On the international front. A 30-hour ceasefire unilaterally declared by Russia to mark Easter Sunday this past weekend has come to an end amid much doubt about the sincerity of the declaration. Park Kun-woo has more. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of violating the "Easter truce" that lasted 30-hours from 6 PM Saturday, Moscow time, and has now expired. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has alleged that Russian forces breached the ceasefire around 3-thousand times since Sunday. He earlier said Russia had no intention of ending the war, adding it was only interested in a PR exercise. Similar skepticism was shared by those on the front lines. "It was announced only to show to the world as if they are making some steps, concessions for us. But in reality, nothing has changed." On the other side, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused Kyiv of violating the truce over a thousand times, firing shells and launching hundreds of drones, and even some U.S.-supplied missiles. Its defense ministry said Moscow "strictly observed" the ceasefire. Some residents in Donetsk, that's been under Russian control since 2014, expressed distrust toward Ukraine. "I don't have hopes on the Ukrainian side, they have deceived us so many times, I do not trust them." While Ukraine urged for an extension of the truce, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said just hours before its expiration that no new orders had been received from President Vladimir Putin. Amid the continuing tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope on Sunday that the two sides will be able to make a peace deal this week, adding it could open the doors for "big business" with the U.S. With a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal possibly being signed later this week, attention now turns to whether new efforts will be made to help bring the war to an end. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Fmr. President Yoon's legal team goes head-to-head with key witness at second criminal trial hearing

2025/04/21 17:00

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was in court earlier on this Monday for the second hearing of the criminal case against him on charges of insurrection. Our Moon Hye-ryeon reports. A dark navy suit paired with a red tie — this is what former President Yoon Suk Yeol wore to the second hearing of his criminal trial on Monday. In the first footage made available to the public since his trial began, he was seen entering the courtroom and taking his seat at the defendant's bench with his lips tightly closed, ignoring the press cameras flashing around him. The media were required to leave before proceedings officially began. Previously, the court did not allow the media to film in the courtroom, explaining that the request came in too late for the appropriate judicial procedures to be followed. At today's trial, Yoon's legal team cross-examined Cho Sung-hyun from the army's capital defense command, who had been summoned as a key witness by the prosecution. During the first hearing last week, Cho testified that he received a direct order from his superior to enter the National Assembly and remove lawmakers on the night of the martial law order declaration last December. Yoon's legal team questioned the feasibility of such an order before challenging the credibility of his testimony by highlighting inconsistencies between his statements across different legal proceedings. Throughout the session, the defense continued to warn Cho that false testimony could result in legal consequences and demanded that he "speak accurately." The exchange escalated when Cho, frustrated by repeated questioning, appealed directly to the bench — which was acknowledged by the judge. To secure a conviction on charges of insurrection, prosecutors must prove that Yoon deliberately sought to overthrow the constitutional order by mobilizing the military. If found guilty, he could face life imprisonment — or even the death penalty. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

DP's Lee solidifies lead for presidential candidacy while PPP's first cut-off to come on Tues. evening

2025/04/21 17:00

On the political front. The Democratic Party's presidential contender for the early election will be announced this coming weekend while the results of the People Power Party's first elimination will be shared late Tuesday. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon covers the partisan campaigns. As the Democratic Party of Korea's front-runner Lee Jae-myung strengthens his dominance in the party's presidential primary, with around 90 percent of the cumulative votes so far, he now looks beyond the primaries and eyes the undecided voters for the actual presidential race. On Monday he visited the Korea Financial Investment Association and discussed the stock exchange. He pledged to surpass 5-thousand points in the stock market through various measures around double of what it's at today. Meanwhile, the current runner-up, Kim Dong-yeon, has pledged to turn the primary around, saying having a clear front-runner is not good for the party overall. The party will announce the results of its primaries in the Jeolla-do provinces on Saturday, and those for the Seoul Metropolitan Area, alongside Gangwon-do Province and Jeju on Sunday. Public polls, accounting for 50 percent of the total, will be held for two days between April 21st and 27th, with the final candidate confirmed on April 27th. Meanwhile, after two days of heated debates, the open poll for the first round cut-off for the People Power Party primary started on Monday with four of eight to be cut. This is a 100-percent open opinion survey where both PPP and undecided supporters will be surveyed. And to boost their chances, three contestants traveled to Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do Province on Monday a region known as a conservative stronghold. Han Dong-hoon went to Gyeongju City to visit the preparations for this year's APEC Summit. Na Kyung-won and Ahn Cheol-soo also visited Daegu to meet with supporters there. Kim Moon-soo, who has a slight lead among the eight contestants according to recent polls, pledged to expand rapid train lines across the nation, while Hong Joon-pyo shared his vision for welfare through a press conference. The result of the polling done on Monday and Tuesday will be released sometime on Tuesday evening. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

"Freedom Flag," S. Korea and U.S. large-scale joint air exercise kicks off its two-week run

2025/04/21 10:00

South Korea and the U.S.' joint large-scale air drill "Freedom Flag" is in full swing here in the country. The two-week drill this year is all about boosting joint response capabilities against various threats on future battlefields. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyung has this report. Fighter jets fly through the air, making thunderous sounds. This, as part of South Korea and the U.S.' large-scale joint air power exercise the "Freedom Flag" at Gwangju Air Base. Held two times in a year, combining "Korea Flying Training" and "Vigilant Defense, " this over two-week journey began on Thursday. Aiming to advance combined air power capabilities, while improving interoperability between pilots from both countries, the 24-hour operating Mission Planning Cell organizes the exercise, for pilots to embark on their missions. Approximately 11-hundred personnel join the drill, and more than 90 aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles such as U.S. MQ-9, take part in the event. "This drill will serve as a chance to further strengthen the combined defense posture and enhance our joint response capabilities against various threats on future battlefields." Another notable part is that the drill will also be based on complex scenarios against a high-level simulated threat, involving an advanced stealth jet. "This is a U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B, one of the U.S. stealth fighter jets that came from Japan. Along with ROK F-35As,. these fifth-generation jets will play the role of "red air" enemy aircraft for the first time during the exercise." "By putting a stealth fighter, our most capable, on the red side, it gives our pilots, our airbound managers, everyone involved, a more difficult problem to try and solve. So, by going against a capable threat, we're just enhancing our own capability through these missions." By carrying out high-level air-to-air combat missions, and working side by side, South Korea and the U.S. expect bolstered trust, building upon the alliance. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News, Gwangju.

On-point: Will South Korea find a breakthrough at 2+2 tariff talks?

2025/04/21 10:00

The 2+2 tariff negotiations in Washington this week will be critical for South Korea to find a breakthrough in Trump's reckless tariffs. Will the talks be the much-needed breakthrough or another setback? Let's turn to Dr. Younbshik Bong. Good morning. 1. Let's start with Acting President Han's statement South Korea not "fighting back" against Trump's tariffs, citing South Korea's historical debt to Washington. 2. The South Korean team will be aiming for win-win scenarios for both Seoul and Washington. 3. About the 2+2 meeting this week which will take place on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers meeting. 4. South Korean officials claim the upcoming talks will be about consultations, not negotiations. 5. What should South Korea aim for during the first round of "consultation" this week? Thanks so much for connecting with us this morning.

Yoon's appearance at second hearing of 'insurrection trial' to be revealed to public

2025/04/21 10:00

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in person for the second hearing of his insurrection trial on Monday. The Seoul Central District Court's trial began at 10 AM, with the court accepting a request from the press to film the courtroom and the appearance of the former president sitting in the defendant's seat. It marks the first time that such footage will be made available to the public since the trial began. While Yoon's side did not agree to the filming, the court made the decision with public interest and people's right to know in mind.

Trump hopes Russia, Ukraine will make a deal this week

2025/04/21 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump said he hopes Russia and Ukraine will make a peace deal this week and join the U.S to "do big business", while the Kremlin says Russia will not extend the 30-hour Easter truce, with both Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of breaching the ceasefire deal. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media on Sunday, to express hope that Russia and Ukraine will be able to secure a peace deal this week. According to the U.S. president, if both countries are able to strike a peace deal, they will be able to "do big business with the United States," which he says is "thriving, and make a fortune." Trump's comments come despite his threat to pull U.S. support from the peace process if either Moscow or Kyiv stalls negotiation talks. Meanwhile, on Saturday, the U.S. and Ukraine both called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend his 30-hour 'Easter truce,' and impose a 30-day ceasefire with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposing that Russia abandon drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure for at least 30 days. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin gave no such order, and the ceasefire came to an end at midnight Monday. Zelensky accused Russia of violating the Easter truce over two thousand times, while Russia's defense ministry alleged that Kyiv had broken the truce more than one thousand times. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

DP's Lee Jae-myung wins big in regional primaries; PPP candidates clash over Yoon's impeachment

2025/04/21 10:00

The Democratic Party held regional primaries in the country's southeast, where presidential hopeful Lee Jae-myung won by a wide margin in two regions. The People Power Party held its first debate over the weekend ahead of a public opinion poll that will determine four candidates advancing to the second round. Our Shin Ha-young reports. Both rival parties continued their primary races over the weekend. And there were no surprises as Democratic Party front-runner Lee Jae-myung won big again in the regional primary, this time in the nation's southeastern Gyeongsang-do provinces after his earlier victory in the Chungcheong-do provinces. In the latest round of voting, 70-point-8-8 percent of the 103-thousand eligible voters, including party members and delegates, took part. With the announcement made on Sunday evening, the former party leader strengthened his position as the DP's top contender, earning 90-point-8-1 percent of the vote, followed by Kim Kyung-soo with 5-point-9-3 percent, and Kim Dong-yeon with 3-point-2-6 percent. The latest result came a day after Lee's victory in the Chungcheong-do provinces, where he won with 88-point-1-5 percent. Kim Dong-yeon beat Kim Kyung-soo to take second place. The party will announce the results of its primaries in the Jeolla-do provinces on Saturday, and those for the Seoul Metropolitan Area, alongside Gangwon-do Province and Jeju on Sunday. Public polls, accounting for 50 percent of the total, will be held for two days between April 21st and 27th, with the final candidate confirmed on April 27th. Meanwhile, after two days of heated debates, the People Power Party wrapped up its first round of primary debates on Sunday. With eight contestants, they broke the first round debates into two groups and topics: 'Future for the young generations' and 'Social unity'. Lee Cheol-woo , Na Kyung-won , Han Dong-hoon , and Hong Joon-pyo clashed in the 'Social unity' debate over issues including former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment and his martial law declaration. Han highlighted the illegality of Yoon's martial law declaration, siding with the pro-impeachment side, while the others criticized Han for leading the push to impeach Yoon. During the 'future for the young generations' debate on Saturday, Yoo Jeong-bok , Ahn Cheol-soo , Kim Moon-soo , and Yang Hyang-ja discussed foreign policy, AI, as well as Yoon's impeachment. During the debates, candidates also focused on promoting themselves, each claiming that they are the best option to defeat the DP front-runner Lee Jae-myung. The party will conduct a 100 percent open poll for two days, starting Monday, narrowing the field from the current eight to four candidates on Tuesday. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Pope Francis meets U.S. VP Vance on Easter morning

2025/04/21 10:00

Pope Francis met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance for a brief meeting at the Vatican on Easter Sunday morning. During the informal encounter, the two exchanged Easter greetings and briefly discussed themes such as international tensions and migration issues. They had previously clashed over a few Trump administration policies, including the deportation of migrants, which the Pope called a "disgrace." Vance held more formal talks over the weekend with senior Vatican officials, but the Pope did not participate. Later in the day, the pontiff briefly appeared at St. Peter's Square, marking his return after recovery from pneumonia, and delivered his Easter message, read aloud by an aide.

U.S. airstrikes hit Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen

2025/04/21 10:00

The United States launched more airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and the coastal city of Hodeida over the weekend. This comes less than two days after a strike on the Ras Isa oil terminal on the Red Sea coast. On Saturday, local time, U.S. forces conducted 13 airstrikes targeting sites controlled by the Houthis Sanaa and Hodeida, including an airport and a port facility. The airstrikes resulted in at least 3 deaths and 4 injuries. This follows an attack on April 17 on the Ras Isa oil terminal, which reportedly killed at least 80 people and injured more than 150 others. The U.S. military says these strikes aim to degrade the Houthis' offensive capabilities and protect international shipping routes in the Red Sea. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed on Saturday grave concern over the attack on Ras Isa and escalating violence in the region.

Iran and U.S. conclude second round of negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program

2025/04/21 10:00

Let's begin with the second round of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran over the weekend. Fill us in. Sure. The U.S. and Iran have concluded a second round of nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday, and agreed to hold another round this week. On April 19, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi engaged again in indirect talks mediated by Oman at the Omani embassy in Rome. The talks lasted for about four hours, focusing on reviving an agreement to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons while allowing for peaceful nuclear energy use. Both sides reported progress and agreed to begin "expert-level" discussions in Muscat, Oman, starting Wednesday, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for Saturday. Key negotiation points include how to handle Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium and how to ensure that the U.S. does not withdraw from any agreement. The U.S. suggests transferring the uranium to a third country, possibly Russia, while Iran insists on keeping it within its borders.

PPP presidential hopefuls present vision; DP to hold first televised debate

2025/04/18 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Bae Eun-ji. Partisan primaries are in full gear ahead of the election set for June 3rd. The People Power Party held a round table today with its presidential hopefuls, each speaking on the country's future. And later this evening, the Democratic Party's presidential contenders will face off in their first televised debate. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young starts us off. As the presidential election gets closer, both rival parties are stepping up the pace in their primaries. The People Power Party held a party vision presentation on Friday, where each primary presidential candidate had nine minutes to speak freely on the theme of South Korea's future, following a pre-drawn speaking order. One name that came up among all the contestants, including Kim Moon-soo , Han Dong-hoon and Hong Joon-pyo , was Democratic Party front-runner Lee Jae-myung, as each candidate claimed they were the one best positioned to defeat him. Ahead of the candidates' speech, the PPP floor leader also called for ways to stop wrongdoing by Lee's political faction. "Candidates should explain how they plan to stop the wrongdoing of Lee Jae-myung's political faction if elected president. Please show that the PPP offers a more hopeful and better vision for South Korea than his." The candidates also emphasized that they had no legal risks, while targeting Lee's legal troubles. Friday's presentation was held ahead of the party's first round of debates set for this weekend, with the candidates divided into two groups of four. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has framed the presidential election as a way to end the insurrection scandal and restore the country to normal. "This presidential election is about ending the insurrection and getting the country back on track. What drives change in government and leads to winning the election is the interest and participation of the people." The DP primary candidates will face off in their first televised debate on Friday evening. The 80-minute debate will begin at 8:30 PM, covering politics, the economy, foreign affairs, and social issues. All three candidates have shared a common pledge to fully establish Sejong City, located within Chungcheong-do Provinces, located within Chungcheong-do Provinces, as South Korea's administrative capital, proposing to relocate the presidential office there. Investing in AI has also been a key focus for the candidates. With these issues on the table, the debate is expected to heat up, especially over these policies. Tensions are also expected over tax policy, with preliminary candidates Kim Kyung-soo and Kim Dong-yeon supporting tax hikes, in contrast to Lee Jae-myung. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

U.S. strikes Yemen fuel port; Houthis report at least 38 killed

2025/04/18 20:00

U.S. military airstrikes on Yemen's Ras Isa fuel port on Thursday killed at least thirty-eight people and injured over one-hundred. That's according to media affiliated with the Iran-backed Houthi militants. While U.S. Central Command did not comment on the casualty figures, it stated that the strikes were aimed at cutting off the funding and resources to the Houthis. If confirmed, this would mark one of the deadliest attacks, under the Trump administration, since the U.S. launched its biggest military operation in the Middle East last month. The United States has pledged to continue its strikes until the Houthis halt their attacks on Red Sea shipping routes.