News
S. Korean, U.S. leaders hint at "win-win" deal in 1st phone call since Trump took office
2025/04/09 10:00
As South Korea's political uncertainty subsides after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's dismissal last Friday, and with Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in full command of the nation's foreign affairs, the first leader-level talks with the U.S. took place on Tuesday. We have our Oh Soo-young who's at the Prime Minister's Office at the Sejong Government Complex. Q1. Good morning Sooyoung. The two leaders held quite a lengthy phone call, didn't they? Let's go over the highlights. Sure, Dami. According to the Acting President's office, Han and Trump held a 28-minute conversation, marking the first top-level talks between Seoul and Washington. The call also came around 16 hours ahead of Trump's 25 percent reciprocal tariffs targeting South Korea, that could significantly impact its export-driven industries. That's on top of the 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminium levied last month. Han's office said the two leaders agreed to continue ministerial-level dialogue on economic cooperation on issues including the allies' trade balance. As such, Han underscored South Korea's willingness to deepen cooperation in three key sectors: shipbuilding, liquefied natural gas, and addressing the trade imbalance. On the security front, Han called for stronger unity on North Korea, stressing that the allies' resolve for denuclearization must outweigh Pyongyang's ambitions. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to South Korea-U.S. military alliance and agreed to closely coordinate North Korea policy, while also advancing trilateral cooperation with Japan. 2. Of course, the phone call was full 의례적인 부분도 있었겠지만, 행간을 읽어보면 무역 긴장 속에서 두 정상이 전달하려던 메시지는 무엇이라고 생각하십니까? It seems both leaders could be angling for a deal. In an interview with CNN hours before the phone call, Acting President Han Duck-soo called for a win-win deal with President Trump—saying Seoul has no intention of retaliating against U.S. tariffs, unlike China and Japan. He proposed what he called a "cool negotiation," expressing confidence that the friends and allies could reach a "mutually beneficial deal" that might prompt Washington to recalibrate its trade policies. President Trump took to his social media Truth Social, describing what he called a "great phone call" with Han. He said they discussed South Korea's "tremendous and unsustainable trade surplus," as well as tariffs, LNG deals, a joint Alaska pipeline venture, and the cost of stationing U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula. Trump claimed South Korea began paying "billions" in contributions towards military costs during his first term but that the deal was terminated by "Sleepy Joe Biden." However, this doesn't align with facts. A new defense cost-sharing agreement was reached last October, under the Biden government, under which South Korea will increase its contribution by 8.3 percent starting in 2026, with yearly increases based on the inflationary growth, marking a significant financial commitment by Seoul. Despite the sticking points, the U.S President said there is "room and potential for a great deal" that could benefit both countries. He expressed his preference for "one-stop shopping," which refers to bundling trade, defense, and industrial cooperation into a single, comprehensive deal. Trump further noted that their trade officials are to engage in talks, noting that South Korea's "top team" was coming to Washington, referring to Seoul's Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during his two-day trip to D.C. After the call, several high-ranking officials including National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Trump gave orders to "prioritize" reciprocal tariff negotiations with allies such as Korea and Japan. Alright, let's see what happens over in Washington. Thanks for your coverage Sooyoung.
Zelenskyy says Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine
2025/04/09 10:00
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday, local time, that Ukrainian forces have captured two Chinese nationals fighting alongside the Russian army in the eastern part of the country. Zelenskyy stated that intelligence suggests more Chinese individuals are present in Russian military units. He directed Ukraine's foreign minister to engage with Beijing to seek clarification on this matter, but has not heard from the Chinese government yet. The development raises questions about China's role in the conflict, given its previously declared stance for peace.
UN chief calls Gaza a 'killing field', condemning Israel for aid blockade
2025/04/09 10:00
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described Gaza as a "killing field," following urgent appeals from UN agencies for immediate action to ensure the delivery of food and aid to Palestinians in Gaza. On Tuesday, the UN chief addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling the area a "killing field" where civilians face extreme suffering. He emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and humanitarian access to the enclave. Guterres also rejected an Israeli proposal to control aid deliveries into Gaza, saying it could potentially restrict humanitarian support "down to the last calorie and grain of flour." The heads of six UN agencies issued a joint appeal to world leaders calling for urgent action to facilitate the delivery of food and aid to Gaza's residents, who have been without supplies since March 2.
Possible largest N. Korean-made new naval guided missile frigate spotted: Beyond Parallel
2025/04/09 10:00
What could possibly be the largest North Korean-manufactured warship, a new naval guided missile frigate, has been spotted at the Nampo Navy Shipyard. According to the U.S. think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies' affiliated website Beyond Parallel, the warship is undergoing a "fitting out" process, in which equipment is installed and supplies are loaded before it is handed over to the navy. The frigate is approximately 140 meters long, making it the largest warship made in the North, and is assumed to be the vessel leader Kim Jong-un visited in early March this year.
Russia “welcomes” U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, ratifies treaty to upgrade relations with Iran
2025/04/09 10:00
The United States and Iran will begin nuclear negotiations in Oman this weekend, while Russia ratified a treaty that upgrades its relations with Iran and has expressed willingness to help Washington and Tehran in negotiations. Lee Seung-jae reports. The United States and Iran will sit down for nuclear talks in Oman on Saturday. Tuesday's announcement comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Iran could be in great danger if the nuclear negotiations do not go well. "He has said there will be direct talks with Iran on Saturday. You can strike a deal with the president, you can negotiate or there will be hell to pay. And as the president said yesterday, if they don't choose to move forward with diplomacy and a deal, which is the direction we do see them headed in, there will be grave consequences to pay." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a nuclear deal is possible as long as the U.S. is willing, while he dismissed the Libyan model, which would mean the full dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, mentioned by Israel. Russia welcomed the news of the upcoming talks, and expressed its willingness to provide assistance. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday, Moscow supports resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means. The remarks by the Kremlin also comes as Russia's lower-house, the State Duma, on Tuesday ratified a 20-year strategic partnership treaty with Iran, elevating their bilateral relations. The treaty which was signed by the leaders of Russia and Iran in January, strengthens political, military and economic cooperation between the two countries. One of the key provisions commits Moscow and Tehran to counter shared security threats, exchange intelligence and refrain from helping an aggressor if either country is attacked. However, unlike the treaty Russia signed with North Korea in October 2024, Iran did not include a clause allowing the deployment of troops to support military operations. Meanwhile, Russia also announced a separate expert-level talks with China and Iran on nuclear issues took place in Moscow on Tuesday. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Washington's 104% tariffs on Beijing to take effect on Wednesday: White House
2025/04/09 10:00
Reciprocal tariffs by the Trump administration come into force in the coming hours for South Korea. While leaving all options on the table for each country, the U.S. has also confirmed its total of whopping 104% tariffs on China. Kim Bo-kyoung reports. Washington announced it would impose an astounding one-hundred-four-percent tariff across all Chinese imports, starting Wednesday. The White House Press Secretary said the day earlier that Beijing's decision to retaliate was a mistake. "Countries like China, who have chosen to retaliate and try to double down on their mistreatment of American workers, are making a mistake. President Trump has a spine of steel and he will not break and America will not break under his leadership." China was already set to see tariffs increase by 34-percent on Wednesday, following two rounds of ten-percent levies. The rate shot up again as Beijing did not back down on its decision to impose 34-percent retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods by noon on Tuesday. Leavitt also said if China were to reach out to Trump over tariffs, Trump will be incredibly gracious, but will do what is best for American interests. The White House further noted that nearly 70 countries have already reached out to Trump to begin negotiations, for "tailor-made" trade deals. "All options are on the table for each country. But again, these are going to be tailor-made deals." US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, during a hearing with the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, hinted at possible negotiations if a country offers a better alternative than the tariff plan but said Washington would not offer exemptions or exceptions in the near term. Meanwhile, with the imposition of a 25% reciprocal tariffs on South Korean imports to take effect starting Wednesday, Seoul's trade minister arrived in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, for talks with Washington's top trade negotiator. He said Korea would had two major projects it could bring to the table. "The Alaska LNG project is an important part, and shipbuilding, where discussions are already ongoing between the two countries is an area the U.S. is particularly interested in so it will likely be brought to the negotiating table for discussions." While saying his goal is to completely eliminate mutual tariffs, Cheong said Korea will aim to reduce the tariffs gradually if elimination is difficult. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.
Gov't declares June 3 as early Election Day after Yoon's removal
2025/04/08 20:00
The date of the nation's next presidential election has been officially set for June 3rd. Oh Soo-young covers the protocols ahead for the presidential race. South Korea will hold an early presidential election on June 3rd, two months after the removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. In a meeting chaired by Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Cabinet ministers on Tuesday confirmed the date of the early election, and declared it a temporary holiday to encourage voter turnout. The decision comes four days after the Constitutional Court upheld former President Yoon's impeachment over his martial law declaration last year, effectively ousting the nation's 20th president. Under the Constitution, a snap election must be held within 60 days of a presidential vacancy, with a date set within 10 days. While June 3rd is the last possible day to hold the election, it's considered a necessary period of time for sufficient campaigning and preparation. In 2017, following former President Park Geun-hye's removal from office, an election was held 60 days later. “We considered the time required to smoothly execute legally mandated tasks for election management and preparation time for each political party. To ensure citizens can exercise their precious right to vote, we have designated election day as a temporary public holiday.” The National Election Commission Tuesday promptly confirmed the election schedule. It will accept candidate registrations on May 10th and 11th, before official campaigning starts on the 12th until June 2nd --the day before the vote. Televised interviews and debates hosted by electoral authorities will be held during this time. Overseas Koreans must register to vote 40 days before election day, and ballots for them will open from May 20th to 25th at embassies and consulates around the world. Early voting will be held the weekend before --on May 29th and 30th, from 6 AM to 6 PM. On the official election day, voting hours will be from 6 AM to 8 PM. To support a fair and transparent electoral process, the Interior Ministry will operate a “Fair Election Support Situation Room” through Election Day. A nationwide mock exam for the November college entrance test has been rescheduled to a day later on June 4th. In an early election, the winner must immediately assume presidential duties, without a transition committee. In the 2017 presidential race, then-President-elect Moon Jae-in took office straight after his victory was confirmed on May 10th, the day after ballots were cast. Until the leadership vacuum is filled, Acting President Han told Cabinet ministers they must devote themselves fully to ensuring the safety of the people, restoring livelihoods, and responding to the ongoing trade war triggered by the United States. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.
S. Korea to provide additional US$ 2 mil. worth of relief items to earthquake-hit Myanmar
2025/04/08 20:00
Korea will provide an additional two-million U.S. dollars worth of urgent relief items to Myanmar to aid its recovery after the recent deadly earthquake there. According to the Foreign Ministry, the items will include 500 camping tents for the displaced, 4-thousand water bottles, and 80-thousand blankets. This follows Seoul's initial two-million dollars worth of humanitarian assistance sent last week through the International Committee of the Red Cross. More than ten days have passed since the massive quake, and as of Tuesday, the death toll stands at around three-thousand-six-hundred.
Foreign Ministry calls in senior Japanese diplomat over Tokyo's false territorial claims over Dokdo
2025/04/08 20:00
The Foreign Ministry has lodged a protest against Japan's false claim over South Korea's Dokdo Island. The protest follows Japan laying claim to Dokyo in its diplomatic bluebook released on Tuesday. In response, the Foreign Ministry called in Taisuke Mibae , deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy here in Seoul, to share its displeasure. In a separate statement, the ministry also stressed that Dokdo is South Korean territory historically, geographically, and under international law and that the government would respond firmly to any false claim over the island.
S. Korea vows to negotiate with U.S. over 25% reciprocal tariffs
2025/04/08 20:00
Against this backdrop, a Korean trade delegation led by its trade minister has departed for the U.S. with intentions to address the 25-percent American tariff on Korean imports. Park Jun-han has more. Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo traveled to Washington on Tuesday to discuss tariffs imposed by the U.S. on South Korean products. Cheong will meet U.S. trade representatives in Washington, and emphasized that the 25% tariffs affecting steel and automobiles would be the subject of talks during his visit. "So we are trying to use multiple channels to solve the tariffs issue with the United States, and to come up with a trade policy outcome that will maximize South Korea's national interests." This is the first visit by a South Korean government official to the U.S. since Trump announced his detailed reciprocal tariffs plan on April 2nd. Regarding South Korea's stance on U.S. trade policy, Cheong said the Cabinet has been discussing the possibility of increasing imports from the United States, such as Alaskan liquefied natural gas. The move is aimed at addressing the trade imbalance that Trump has repeatedly raised. "I think as long as Korea is willing to provide some concessions to the United States, we could reduce the tariff rate from 25-percent to 15-percent or 10-percent." At a ministerial meeting on economic affairs, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok outlined a plan to create a supplementary budget to combat issues related to trade and AI. Choi said the government is planning to spend 3 to 4 trillion won, about 2.04 to 2.72 billion dollars, to respond to rapid changes in the trade environment and enhance AI competitiveness. Choi also called on the National Assembly to swiftly approve the budget, emphasizing the need to seize this critical window to save South Korea's industries and businesses. Park Jun-han, Arirang News.
With less than two months to go, big names declare candidacy for presidency
2025/04/08 20:00
With the date set, a number of presidential hopefuls are making their moves to join the race. Kim Do-yeon reports. With the next presidential election officially set for June 3rd, eyes are now on who's going to be running in this relatively short election season. The Democratic Party of Korea, which holds the majority on the floor, does have a clear front runner though he's yet to announce his official candidacy. The Party's Chair Lee Jae-myung, who lost the last presidential election to Yoon Suk Yeol by just 0.7 points, is expected to resign from the party's leadership as early as Wednesday to make a bid for the presidency. Despite this, there are other DP politicians not from Lee's faction who are going to compete for the candidacy. Kim Doo-kwan, former Minister of Interior and Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Province as well as a lawmaker said he will run. Kim Dong-yeon, current Governor of Gyeonggi-do Province, announced that he will formally declare on Wednesday as he leaves for the state of Michigan in the U.S. to deal with tariff issues. As for the People Power Party, there is no front runner like its rival and the primary is expected to have around 10 candidates. First up is lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, who held an official press conference on Tuesday declaring his fourth run for presidency. Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo resigned from his post on Tuesday and said he will officially start his campaign on Wednesday. Former PPP Chair Han Dong-hoon said his camp will kick off on Thursday, while Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo's camp said his official announcement will be on the 14th of April. The two most watched so far are Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon. Kim famously refused to apologize for the martial law declaration at the National Assembly when all other Cabinet members stood up. Han was the chair of PPP and despite being from the party, openly supported the impeachment of President Yoon. Meanwhile, third party candidates are expected to announce their bids as well. It began with Lee Jun-seok the New Reform Party Chair who was formerly the Chair of the PPP, registering as a preliminary candidate already. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
Beijing threatens retaliation against Trump's threat of 50% additional tariffs
2025/04/08 20:00
A day before the U.S.'s so-called reciprocal tariffs take effect, Washington and Beijing look to be engaged in a game of chicken, each vowing to retaliate without backing down. China vows further retaliation if the U.S. goes ahead with an additional tariff. Moon Hye-ryeon explains. China is threatening further retaliation against the United States should they impose the additional tariff promised by U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the Wall Street Journal, a statement from Beijing's Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday said that it would take countermeasures to "safeguard its own rights and interests" in response to Trump's social media post, which said Washington could impose an additional 50 percent tariff on Beijing. The statement called the move a "mistake on top of a mistake". Previously, China announced a 34 percent tariff on American goods in response to U.S. levies – which, in turn, led to Trump's threat of additional tariffs unless Beijing withdraws these retaliatory tariffs. The escalation of the trade war between the two countries brings the total rate to be levied on Chinese imports to 104 percent. This is expected to have a staggering impact, as China was the second-largest trading partner with the U.S. last year. Trump also warned that unless Beijing accepts his demands, its negotiations with the U.S. will come to a standstill. Meanwhile, negotiations with other countries are due to begin immediately. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said more than 50 countries reached out for talks, while Trump said leaders from Asia and Europe called him over the weekend as well as Japan's Prime Minister on Monday. "We have many, many countries that are coming to negotiate deals with us, and they're going to be fair deals. And in certain cases, they're going to be paying substantial tariffs. They'll be fair deals." This marks a shift from earlier statements, which stated there would be no negotiations for the time being. During interviews with various media outlets, White House officials said that such deals would need to be "really great" for American manufacturing and farmers – and countries would need to do more than just lowering their tariffs for relief. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.
Countries take varied measures to tackle Trump's tariffs
2025/04/08 20:00
Meanwhile, countries in Europe and Asia are gearing up different responses, including negotiations with Washington. Ahn Sung-jin takes a look at how the world is tackling the trade war triggered by the U.S. As Trump's tariffs threaten countries around the world, most have been drafting response measures. Trump's taxes will start with a baseline of 10-percent on all goods coming into the U.S., with some countries reaching up to 50-percent on imports. With the "reciprocal tariffs" on specific countries to begin on April 9th, countries have been ramping up retaliatory measures. Trump has imposed a 20 percent tariff on goods from the European Union, which stated that it will be defending its interests with countermeasures. "Further diversifying our trade relations is very critical for us because this broadens the market opportunities and is crucial for our companies. So it is very clear that we are open for negotiations and that, in parallel, we are preparing a potential list for retaliation and other measures for retaliation if this is necessary." The 27-country bloc will also be working closely with the UK, and though it has levied 25 percent tariffs on some U.S. imports, it further made clear that it would prefer a negotiated solution by offering a "zero-for-zero" tariff deal. Asian countries have also varied in their approach to tariff impositions. U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had a 25-minute phone talk on Monday, with the Japanese leader stating that he will dispatch a team for further trade talks. However, Ishiba did voice his disappointment over the tariffs as he noted that Japan had been the biggest investor in the U.S. for five straight years. Meanwhile, Vietnam took a conciliatory approach by suggesting it could lower tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, while Malaysia will be drafting a joint response plan at the ASEAN level. Pakistan will be sending representatives to the U.S. for discussions, and the Philippines has also pledged to lower taxes on American imports. However, some countries have also stated that they do not plan to retaliate. India referred to ongoing trade negotiations as it expressed no retaliation efforts, while Taiwan also disclosed no intention for reciprocal trade tariffs as of now against the 32 percent on Taiwanese goods. The U.S. national economic council director said more than 50 countries have reached out to the White House to negotiate trade talks with Washington. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.
Political and social impact of Yoon's Impeachment on S. Korean society
2025/04/08 20:30
Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus, I'm Kim Mok-yeon. The Constitutional Court’s unanimous decision to remove President Yoon Suk-yeol from office marked a significant turning point in South Korea’s political landscape. While the ruling ended a four-month-long impeachment process, it also set the stage for new questions about national unity, democratic resilience, and the future of political leadership. Public reaction over the weekend was active but largely restrained, with both pro-and anti-impeachment rallies taking place without major unrest. At the same time, increased political engagement among younger generations and rising concerns over ideological polarization suggest deeper shifts underway in Korean society. To better understand the significance of this moment—and what it may mean moving forward—we speak with two guests in the studio with us. To my is Hans Schattle, Professor of Political Science at Yonsei University. Welcome Professor. And to my is Suh Chan-seok, Associate Professor of Sociology at Chung-Ang University. Thank you for joining us. 1. (Schattle) So, Professor Schattle, last Friday, the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled to remove former President Yoon from office. How do you read into the political and societal significance of this decision? 2. (SUH) Now to Prof. Suh, even after the decision had been announced, pro-and anti-impeachment rallies were held across Seoul over the weekend. Thankfully, the level of chaos was not as extreme as expected. What do you think are the reasons behind this? 3. (Schattle) So it's been said that it took 123 days for Yoon to be removed since the martial law declaration on December 3rd. Based on the roughly four-month-long impeachment process and the public protests, Prof. Schattle, what do you think this incident signifies for South Korean democracy? 4. (SUH) Notably, rallies for and against Yoon’s impeachment showed a sharp increase in political participation from people in their 20s and 30s. This generation was once dubbed “politically indifferent.” Prof. Suh, how could the surge in political engagement among younger people be analyzed? 5. (Schattle) Prof. Schattle, what kind of shift in the political landscape do you foresee from this increased participation among younger generations? 6. (Schattle) Following the impeachment, national reconciliation has become the most pressing issue. There are growing concerns that the ideological divide between progressives and conservatives has reached a peak through this impeachment. How do you assess the current situation, Prof. Schattle? 7. (SUH) Prof. Suh, some say that this political polarization is triggering other forms of social conflict. Which areas should we be concerned about? 8. (SUH) According to Statistics Korea’s 2024 Social Indicators of Korea released last month, the country is already facing severe societal conflict across categories like political ideology, gender, and generation. Prof.Suh, why do you think South Korea had been seeing these divisions even before the impeachment ruling? 9. (Schattle) The impeachment has now brought South Korea into an early presidential election phase. There are concerns that the coming election might be just as divisive as the impeachment process itself. Prof. Schattle, what steps should political leaders take to reduce polarization during this time? 10. (SUH) Some foreign media outlets have warned that, in the short term, South Korean society may become even more polarized following the impeachment. Prof. Suh, given the country’s heightened political divisions, what efforts are needed to achieve social cohesion?
World News: Trump and Netanyahu meet to discuss Gaza, Iran, and more
2025/04/08 17:00
This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened at the White House to address a wide range of issues, including the Gaza conflict and Iran's nuclear ambitions. During their meeting on Monday at the Oval Office, Trump announced the initiation of direct talks with Iran over its nuclear program, with high-level discussions scheduled to begin on Saturday. Netanyahu expressed conditional support for the diplomatic efforts, stating that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities through diplomatic means would be favorable. The leaders also discussed the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu highlighted Israel's commitment to securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and mentioned its ongoing military operations aimed at achieving this objective. The U.S. President once again expressed his desire for the U.S. to take over the Gaza Strip, saying that it would be a "good thing." In the Middle East, a Palestinian-American teenager was fatally shot by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. On Sunday evening local time, a 14-year-old U.S. citizen from New Jersey was shot and killed near the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah. According to the Israel Defense Forces, soldiers identified three individuals throwing rocks at civilian vehicles on a nearby highway. The IDF said its soldiers opened fire during a counterterrorism operation in the area after spotting three "terrorist" individuals who were throwing rocks at the highway. The mayor of Turmus Ayya said three teenagers were shot on this day, resulting in one death and injuries to two others. The Palestinian Ministry of Health called the shooting an "extrajudicial killing." India's northern regions, including the capital, Delhi, are experiencing an unseasonal heatwave, with temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels for early April. On Monday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of over 40 degrees Celsius, marking the highest of the season and exceeding the average temperature for this time of year by about 5 degrees. The India Meteorological Department has issued heatwave alerts for several northern and central states, forecasting temperatures to reach up to 42 degrees Celsius in the coming days. Authorities are advising residents to avoid heat exposure, stay hydrated, and wear lightweight clothing. Finally, in England in the run-up to Easter, chocolate-maker Cadbury has unveiled what it claims to be the world's largest Creme Egg. The giant chocolate egg was unveiled on Monday local time at Cadbury World in Birmingham. It is about 90 centimeters high and weighs 45 kilograms, which is as much as a newborn horse. The egg took two chocolatiers two and a half days to complete. It features the classic Creme Egg design with its signature purple, gold, and red foil wrapper. The creation will be on display in Cadbury World's chocolate-making zone until April 27th. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.
S. Korea's Foreign Ministry calls in senior Japanese diplomat over Tokyo's false territorial claims over Dokdo
2025/04/08 17:00
The Foreign Ministry has lodged a protest against Japan's false claim over South Korea's Dokdo Island. The protest follows Japan laying claim to Dokyo in its diplomatic bluebook released on this Tuesday. In response the Foreign Ministry called in Taisuke Mibae deputy head of mission at the Japanese Embassy here in Seoul to share its displeasure. In a separate statement the ministry also stressed that Dokdo is South Korean territory historically geographically and under international law and that the government would respond firmly to any false claim over Dokdo.
EU offers to remove all industrial tariffs on U.S.
2025/04/08 17:00
And U.S. President Donald Trump has brushed aside.. an offer by the European Union of "zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods." Addressing members of the media at the White House on Monday he claimed "the offer was NOT enough." Our Lee Seung-jae covers that offer and more. After the announcement of sweeping reciprocal tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, countries are looking to negotiate a deal before April 9th, when the tariffs go into effect. The European Union,.. in the hopes of striking a deal with the U.S.,.. said Monday that it has offered "zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods." The announcement was made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who stressed that such deals were done successfully with other countries in the past. The U.S. and the EU were close to removing tariffs on all industrial goods a decade ago during the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks, but this was ultimately scrapped by Trump in his first term. In response to Trump's automobile tariffs, the UK government said Monday, it would relax electric vehicle sales targets, in order to help its domestic auto industry. The ban on selling new gas and diesel cars will still come into effect in 2030,.. but automakers will now have more flexibility on annual targets. Currently,.. 28 percent of new cars sold in the UK in 2025 must be electric, as the target will rise annually until 2030. However, automakers will be given more freedom on how they meet their annual targets. This means that if they don't sell enough EVs in one year,.. they can make it up by selling more next year. Also, a penalty of 15-thousand pounds or 19-thousand U.S. dollars per vehicle sold that does not meet the latest emissions standards will be cut to just over 15-thousand U.S. dollars. Meanwhile,.. U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held phone talks on Monday, where the Japanese leader voiced his disappointment over the tariffs. Ishiba told Trump that Japan has been the biggest investor in the U.S for five straight years, and that his tariff policies could hurt Japanese companies and their investments. During the 25-minute call, the two leaders also agreed on constructive dialogue on the matter, with Ishiba sending a team to negotiate with the U.S. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.
Acting Pres. Han appoints controversial justice endorsed by opposition party, nominates 2 justices to fill bench
2025/04/08 17:00
Acting President Han Duck-soo has appointed justice nominee Ma Eun-hyuk to the Constitutional Court after months of standoff with opposition lawmakers. The appointment was announced during a Cabinet meeting on this Tuesday along with the nominations of two other justices to succeed the two members of the Court poised to retire next Friday. The two nominees include Lee Wan-gyu Director of the Ministry of Government Legislation and Ham Sang-hoon Chief Judge of the Seoul High Court. And it is the nomination of these two justices that the opposition Democratic Party is taking issue with asserting that Han has no authority to announce such appointments given his role as the acting President of an impeached administration. In a similar vein National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik said the parliament would refuse confirmation hearings for these two candidates.
With less than two months to go, big names declare candidacy for presidency
2025/04/08 17:00
Now that the date has been declared a number of key political figures have formally announced their intentions to join the race to the top office. Our top office correspondent Kim Do-yeon reports. With the next presidential election officially set for June 3rd, eyes are now on who's going to be running in this relatively short election season. The Democratic Party of Korea, which holds the majority on the floor, does have a clear front runner though he's yet to announce his official candidacy. The Party's Chair Lee Jae-myung, who lost the last presidential election to Yoon Suk Yeol by just 0.7 points, is expected to resign from the party's leadership as early as Wednesday to make a bid for the presidency. Despite this, there are other DP politicians not from Lee's faction who are going to compete for the candidacy. Kim Doo-kwan, former Minister of Interior and Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Province as well as a lawmaker said he will run. Kim Dong-yeon, current Governor of Gyeonggi-do Province, announced that he will formally declare on Wednesday as he leaves for the state of Michigan in the U.S. to deal with tariff issues. As for the People Power Party, there is no front runner like its rival and the primary is expected to have around 10 candidates. First up is lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, who held an official press conference on Tuesday declaring his fourth run for presidency. Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo resigned from his post on Tuesday and said he will officially start his campaign on Wednesday. Former PPP Chair Han Dong-hoon said his camp will kick off on Thursday, while Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo's camp said his official announcement will be on the 14th of April. The two most watched so far are Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon. Kim famously refused to apologize for the martial law declaration at the National Assembly when all other Cabinet members stood up. Han was the chair of PPP and despite being from the party, openly supported the impeachment of President Yoon. Meanwhile, third party candidates are expected to announce their bids as well. It began with Lee Jun-seok the New Reform Party Chair who was formerly the Chair of the PPP, registering as a preliminary candidate already. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.
Beijing threatens retaliation against Trump's threat of 50% additional tariffs
2025/04/08 17:00
On the global trade front. The U.S. and China appear engaged in an unsettling game of tit for tat over tariffs with Beijing vowing NOT to back down in response to a fresh warning of an additional 50 percent tariff on Chinese products as pledged in a social post by Mr. Trump. Our correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon has the latest. China is threatening further retaliation against the United States should they impose the additional tariff promised by U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the Wall Street Journal, a statement from Beijing's Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday said that it would take countermeasures to "safeguard its own rights and interests" in response to Trump's social media post, which said Washington could impose an additional 50 percent tariff on Beijing. The statement called the move a "mistake on top of a mistake". Previously, China announced a 34 percent tariff on American goods in response to U.S. levies – which, in turn, led to Trump's threat of additional tariffs unless Beijing withdraws these retaliatory tariffs. The escalation of the trade war between the two countries brings the total rate to be levied on Chinese imports to 104 percent. This is expected to have a staggering impact, as China was the second-largest trading partner with the U.S. last year. Trump also warned that unless Beijing accepts his demands, its negotiations with the U.S. will come to a standstill. Meanwhile, negotiations with other countries are due to begin immediately. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said more than 50 countries reached out for talks, while Trump said leaders from Asia and Europe called him over the weekend as well as Japan's Prime Minister on Monday. "We have many, many countries that are coming to negotiate deals with us, and they're going to be fair deals. And in certain cases, they're going to be paying substantial tariffs. They'll be fair deals." This marks a shift from earlier statements, which stated there would be no negotiations for the time being. During interviews with various media outlets, White House officials said that such deals would need to be "really great" for American manufacturing and farmers – and countries would need to do more than just lowering their tariffs for relief. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.