News

Trump-Zelenskyy call: Trump proposes running Ukrainian nuclear power plants

2025/03/20 17:00

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agrees to a partial ceasefire with the Kremlin on energy facilities during talks on the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday. Our Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. U.S. President Trump and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy have had a direct phone call to talk about a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. On Wednesday local time, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the call "to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs" lasted about an hour and went smoothly. Trump said Zelenskyy also agreed on a partial ceasefire for energy and infrastructure facilities. During the call, Trump suggested that the U.S. could help with nuclear power plant operations using its expertise in the energy sector. "He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure." The White House added that the U.S. will continue to provide intelligence resources to Ukraine to end the war. This means that Trump rejected Putin's demand to stop military support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. "They reviewed the situation in Kursk and agreed to share information closely between their defense staffs as the battlefield situation evolved." President Zelenskyy also reportedly requested additional air defense systems, including the Patriot missile system and Trump said he would work to find available systems in Europe to support Ukraine. Trump also promised to help ensure that children who were kidnapped or went missing during the war could return to Ukraine. Regarding the partial deal on Tuesday, after the call with Putin, the White House stated that the U.S. position supports a ceasefire for "energy and infrastructure," not just energy infrastructure, as Russia claims. The U.S. will continue negotiations with Russia for a wider ceasefire deal in meetings in Saudi Arabia in the end of this week. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

S. Korea-U.S. Freedom Shield joint military exercise wraps up on Thurs. after 11-day run

2025/03/20 17:00

A major military exercise between South Korea and the U.S. came to an end on this Thursday after 11 days of comprehensive drills. This year's Freedom Shield was the first under the second Trump administration and featured expanded on-field drills. It also took into account realistic threats such as potential changes in North Korea's military strategy in light of its defense deal with Russia. Meanwhile North Korea for its part condemned the annual training between South Korea and U.S. and test-launched a series of close-range ballistic missiles into the West Sea on the first day of the training but stayed silent in the following days.

Bipartisan agreement reached for pension reform but another unilateral special probe bill for first lady

2025/03/20 17:00

Meanwhile at the parliament. A bill to overhaul Korea's pension system secured bipartisan approval at a plenary session this afternoon. The gist of the new plan is pay more to get more. I have our correspondent Kim Do-yeon live on the line with more. Do-yeon, welcome. Let's begin with the significance of this latest event. That's right, Sun-hee, it's significant in that this is a reform to the nation's pension system, a sensitive issue that requires agreements across the aisle, generations, and working classes but something that needs to be done as the fund will be depleted due to the aging population and the low birth rate. This also comes as the nation's political scene has only been seeing strong stand-offs. First, take a listen to what the speaker of the National Assembly had to say. "At a time of heightened tension and deep conflict, it was truly a valuable process for both the ruling and opposition parties to come together with a focus on the lives of the people. I believe this is a significant matter that will be greatly recorded in our political and social history." Now to be specific, the current insurance premium stands at 9 percent and it will be raised by 0.5 percent annually for the next eight years to reach 13 percent. That means that the portion from people's paychecks will be bigger but starting next year the money you receive after retiring will be at 43 percent. According to the current standing pension system the return rate was at 41.5 percent this year but was gradually getting lower with the goal of 40 percent by 2028. The credit system has also been expanded. Credit means additional months added to the insured period for specific people. Those who served mandatory military service will now receive 12 additional months in their pension credit instead of 6. Women who give birth will also receive credits. For the first two children, it will be 12 months each while starting from the third child it'll be 18 months. However, there are more things that need to be settled and that is why the two parties have agreed to kick off a special committee. The current system according to the new plan pushed back the depletion of the fund by around 10 years until around 2055. The Committee is set to tackle issues like this going forward. Now despite consensus with regard to pension reform I hear lawmakers continued to clash over other matters? That's right, Sun-hee. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea is set to unilaterally pass another special probe bill against First Lady Kim Keon Hee. The bill would kick off an investigation into the first lady and her allegations of stock meddling. Such a bill had been passed unilaterally four times before and was vetoed three times by President Yoon Suk Yeol and once by then Acting President Han Duck-soo. In addition, another special probe bill is likely to be passed unilaterally, a new one that would look into the allegations that some customs officers were involved in smuggling drugs into South Korea with the allegations pointing toward the top office. That's all for now, back to you Sun-hee. All right Do-yeon, thank you for the latest at the National Assembly.

PARTIAL CEASEFIRE ON ENERGY FACILITIES

2025/03/20 17:00

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Thursday March 20th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. Today we touch U.S. efforts to end the three-year Russian aggression against Ukraine given its broader implications on global stability and order. For more I have Celio Fioretti for French daily La Croix. Celio it's great to have you here. I also have Ruy Valdes with Spanish news agency EFE Spain. Ruy it's a pleasure to have you with us. 1) Celio, let's begin with the latest on efforts to halt Russian aggression against Ukraine. The heads of the White House and the Kremlin spoke on the phone on Tuesday U.S. time. What has been shared about their talks by their respective offices? 2) And Ruy, for the sake of clarity, do walk us through some of the details of the thirty-day truce that the U.S. and Ukraine had agreed upon, and Russia's following calls for additional conditions on Ukraine. 3) Ruy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also spoke with Mr. Trump following the latter's talks with Putin. What was the gist of their conversation? 4) In the meantime, Celio, France and Germany continue to underscore the importance of Ukraine's role in peace talks with Russia. Do tell us more. 5) Celio, France has also spoken of extending its nuclear umbrella to allies. What's the latest on that front? 6) Ruy, the big question now is "can France's nuclear umbrella protect Europe?" What appears to be the general consensus? 7) Celio, moving on. Also this week, there was a war of words, if you will, between a French politician and the White House Press Secretary. First for the sake of those who may not be aware, do tell us about the confrontation itself, and your takeaways as a French journalist. 8) Staying with broader diplomacy, Ruy, what can you tell us about trade talks between Mexico and the U.S.? All right.

Constitutional Court to deliver impeachment verdict on PM Han Duck-soo next Monday

2025/03/20 17:00

We start with the latest on the political front. The fate of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will be determined next Monday. According to the court today its ruling on the impeachment of Han will be shared on the morning of March 24th. Now this verdict comes 87 days after the opposition-led National Assembly voted to remove him from his post as acting president following his reluctance to approve new justices for the Constitutional Court.

World News: Erdogan rival arrested days before becoming presidential candidate

2025/03/20 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. Turkiye is seeing widespread protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor and potential presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu. On Wednesday local time, Turkiye authorities detained Imamoglu on charges of corruption and alleged links to terrorist organizations. The arrest comes just days before the Republican People's Party primaries, where Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was anticipated to be nominated as the presidential candidate for the 2028 elections. Imamoglu's party has denounced the detention as a "coup," arguing that it is politically motivated to undermine the opposition. In response to the arrest, thousands of citizens have taken to the streets in Istanbul and Ankara to protest what they see as a violation of democratic processes. The Turkiye government has refuted allegations linking Imamoglu's detention to President Erdogan. In Africa, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have addressed the escalating conflict in eastern DRC, in their first in-person encounter since hostilities resurged in the region earlier this year. President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda met in Qatar on Tuesday, facilitated by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The leaders jointly called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" in eastern DRC, to stop the ongoing violence that has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. The conflict intensified in January when the M23 rebel group, reportedly backed by Rwanda, captured key cities in the mineral-rich eastern region of the DRC. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, while Rwanda denies the claim, asserting its forces act in self-defense. In Germany, the outgoing government has approved approximately 3.3 billion U.S. dollars in additional military aid for Ukraine. The decision, announced by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday local time, follows a recent fiscal policy overhaul that allows increased borrowing to support defense initiatives. The aid package includes 2.8 billion dollars allocated for immediate military assistance, supplemented by reimbursements from the European Peace Facility. Germany also plans to commit an additional 8.9 billion dollars between 2026 and 2029 to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities. In other news, German automaker Mercedes-Benz is integrating AI-powered humanoid robots into its manufacturing processes at the Digital Factory Campus in Berlin. According to reports on Tuesday, the automaker is testing the 175 centimeters Apollo robot, in collaboration with U.S.-based robotics firm Apptronik, to handle tasks such as transporting components and conducting quality inspections. Unlike traditional factory robots, Apollo isn't fixed and can move around. The aim is to enhance efficiency by automating repetitive and physically demanding activities, and allowing human workers to focus on more complex tasks. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Gov't vows to support successful hosting of APEC 2025 in Gyeongju, promote travel across Korea

2025/03/20 17:00

Acting President Choi Sang-mok was at the ancient Korean city of Gyeongju today as the city is poised to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit this autumn. On the checklist were accommodation, transportation, and the city's framework for public safety. Choi also pledged full government support to ensure a successful APEC summit this year which is Korea's second hosting of the event following the first in the southern port city of Busan back in 2005. Meanwhile, at a meeting that followed, Choi also shared intentions to bolster tourism to different parts of the country among international visitors.

[Short-form] Gyeongju, where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly

2025/03/20 14:00

Dive into the charms of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom and the host city of the 2025 APEC Summit.

German government backs additional $3.3 billion in military aid for Ukraine

2025/03/20 10:00

In Germany, the outgoing government has approved approximately 3.3 billion U.S. dollars in additional military aid for Ukraine. The decision, announced by the Finance Ministry on Wednesday local time, follows a recent fiscal policy overhaul that allows increased borrowing to support defense initiatives. The aid package includes 2.8 billion dollars allocated for immediate military assistance, supplemented by reimbursements from the European Peace Facility. Germany also plans to commit an additional 8.9 billion dollars between 2026 and 2029 to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities.

Congolese and Rwandan presidents meet in Qatar to discuss east Congo conflict

2025/03/20 10:00

Over in Africa, the presidents of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda convened in Qatar to address the escalating conflict in eastern DRC, in their first in-person encounter since hostilities resurged in the region earlier this year. President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda met in Doha on Tuesday, facilitated by Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The leaders jointly called for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" in eastern DRC, to stop the ongoing violence that has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. The conflict intensified in January when the M23 rebel group, reportedly backed by Rwanda, captured key cities in the mineral-rich eastern region of the DRC. The DRC government accuses Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, while Rwanda denies the claim, asserting its forces act in self-defense.

Erdogan rival arrested days before becoming presidential candidate

2025/03/20 10:00

Starting in Turkiye, which is seeing widespread protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor and potential presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu. On Wednesday local time, Turkiye authorities detained Imamoglu on charges of corruption and alleged links to terrorist organizations. The arrest comes just days before the Republican People's Party primaries, where Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was anticipated to be nominated as the presidential candidate for the 2028 elections. Imamoglu's party has denounced the detention as a "coup," arguing that it is politically motivated to undermine the opposition. In response to the arrest, thousands of citizens have taken to the streets in Istanbul and Ankara to protest what they see as a violation of democratic processes. The Turkiye government has refuted allegations linking Imamoglu's detention to President Erdogan.

On-point: President Yoon's impeachment ruling date up in the air; when will it be?

2025/03/20 10:00

The justices are really taking their time before they rule to reinstate or remove President Yoon over his martial law order. Let's turn to legal expert Kim Ji-su for more. Thanks for joining us. 1. No announcement yet is it safe to say the ruling will come next week? 2. Speculations abound over why the court's decision is being delayed. 3. Speaking of the timing of the ruling 4. Do you think the ruling will be aired live? Or recorded considering what we went through including all the violence at the Seoul Western District Court? 5. Some say the ruling for Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment trial will come after Yoon's. Thanks so much for connecting with us, Jisu.

Pres. Yoon's impeachment verdict date highly unlikely to be announced this week

2025/03/20 10:00

It's been three weeks since hearings for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial wrapped up, and a ruling date is still up in the air, which further solidifies speculation that the ruling will happen next week. Our correspondent Oh Soo-young reports. Three weeks and counting, the Constitutional Court is yet to announce when it will rule on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, meaning there will be no verdict this week. As of Wednesday 22 days since Yoon's final trial hearing was held, the Court has not revealed the date it would make the fateful ruling. Given that the Court notified former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Roh Moo-hyun two to three days in advance of their respective ruling dates, Yoon's verdict is now expected to take place next week at the earliest. The eight-member bench is reportedly continuing to deliberate on Yoon's impeachment The longer-than-expected process has given rise to diverse speculation over what's holding up the justices. Some experts believe they have already decided unanimously to impeach President Yoon, and are fine-tuning their positions to deliver an indisputable judgment amid fears the result may trigger extreme reactions from the public. The Seoul Western District Court's approval to extend a warrant to detain Yoon,.. prompted violence from his supporters. Some believe the bench may be divided ideologically, and are struggling to align their views, given how an earlier impeachment case of Korea Communications Commission chair Lee Jin-sook was dismissed as the justices' opinions were split evenly in line with their political orientations. In any case, the justices are facing growing calls to make a swift decision as Yoon's prolonged suspension from office, hinders effective governance of the nation. The bench is also under significant political pressure. Those supporting Yoon's impeachment wish to quickly trigger a snap presidential election, which polls show would largely favor opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. Meanwhile, conservatives including Yoon's supporters are calling for the case to be dismissed, or for the Court to deliver a ruling after Lee Jae-myung's own verdict, on one of his five criminal cases next Tuesday. If at least six justices agree to uphold the presidential impeachment, Yoon will be removed from office immediately, triggering an early election that must be held within 60 days. If at least three are against impeachment, the President will resume his duties. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

EU to reduce steel imports by up to 15% starting next month

2025/03/20 10:00

The EU is responding to high U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum products, by announcing a reduction in steel and aluminum imports. According to European Commission Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné on Wednesday, the EU will reduce steel and aluminum imports by up to 15 percent starting April 1st. This comes amid concerns that the Trump administration's 25 percent steel tariff will lead to steel exporters flooding the European market. The move is expected to impact South Korean steel exporters, as the fourth-largest economy in Asia ranks third among all EU imports.

Israel resumes ground operations in Gaza

2025/03/20 10:00

Over in Gaza. Israeli forces have resumed ground operations in Gaza, taking control of a key land corridor on Wednesday. Lee Seung-jae reports. Airstrikes in Gaza on Tuesday killed at least 400 Palestinians, ending the two months of relative calm in the enclave. On Wednesday, Israel resumed ground offensives following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement earlier this month, and killed dozens more. Israeli forces say it regained control of the Netzarim Corridor,.. in order to expand a "security zone and create a partial buffer" between the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military had withdrawn from the corridor last month, allowing civilians in central and southern Gaza to return to what little remained of their homes in the north. The resumption of Israeli attacks comes as the two sides have failed to come to an agreement on the second phase of the ceasefire deal, that would have released more Israeli hostages. Meanwhile,.. with the resumption of Israeli strikes, the United Nations says one of its workers was killed, and others injured after a compound in Gaza was damaged on Wednesday. The Palestinian health ministry blamed an Israeli strike, while Israel's military denied striking the UN compound in Deir al-Balah. The UN Office for Project Services said that an "explosive ordinance was dropped or fired" at the compound. However, it added that there was no confirmation on the nature of the incident or the type of artillery used. The UNOPS stressed that the incident was "not an accident," while UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and called for a full investigation. More than 300 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, with most being staff members of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump-Zelenskyy call: Trump proposes running Ukrainian nuclear power plants

2025/03/20 10:00

The leaders of the U.S. and Ukraine held phone talks about moving towards a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, with Trump suggesting that Washington could control Ukraine's power plants for security purposes. Our Choi Soo-hyung reports. U.S. President Trump and Ukraine's President Zelenskyy have had a direct phone call to talk about a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. On Wednesday local time, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the call "to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs" lasted about an hour and went smoothly. Trump said Zelenskyy also agreed on a partial ceasefire for energy and infrastructure facilities. During the call, Trump suggested that the U.S. could help with nuclear power plant operations using its expertise in the energy sector. "He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure." The White House added that the U.S. will continue to provide intelligence resources to Ukraine to end the war. This means that Trump rejected Putin's demand to stop military support and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. "They reviewed the situation in Kursk and agreed to share information closely between their defense staffs as the battlefield situation evolved." President Zelenskyy also reportedly requested additional air defense systems, including the Patriot missile system and Trump said he would work to find available systems in Europe to support Ukraine. Trump also promised to help ensure that children who were kidnapped or went missing during the war could return to Ukraine. Regarding the partial deal on Tuesday, after the call with Putin, the White House stated that the U.S. position supports a ceasefire for "energy and infrastructure," not just energy infrastructure, as Russia claims. The U.S. will continue negotiations with Russia for a wider ceasefire deal in meetings in Saudi Arabia in the end of this week. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Gaza ceasefire collapses as Israel resumes airstrikes

2025/03/19 20:00

Israel's renewed strikes on Gaza have killed more than 400 people, breaking the already fragile ceasefire. The international community raised their voices in condemnation. Choi Min-jung has the latest. The two-month-long ceasefire between Israel and Gaza has been shattered, after Israel resumed airstrikes in Gaza. Early Tuesday, Israeli forces launched strikes that, according to the Gazan Health Ministry, killed over 400 Palestinians, including women and children. This occurred as the first phase of the ceasefire that started in January ended, but with plans for talks on a second phase to end the war and the release of more hostages, beginning. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the airstrikes, asserting that ceasefire negotiations would continue "only under fire." "I want to assure Hamas this is only the beginning. We will continue to fight to achieve all the goals of this war—securing the release of all our hostages, eliminating Hamas, and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel." Both Israel and Hamas blamed each other for violating the truce, which had mostly remained in place since January. Netanyahu stated that the strikes were ordered because Hamas had rejected ceasefire extension proposals. While Hamas did not retaliate directly, it accused Israel of undermining efforts to secure a permanent ceasefire. Hamas still holds 59 of the approximately 250 hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Hamas stated that it saw Israel's attack as Netanyahu's "decision to resume war," and a choice to abandon Israeli captives. The international community has also widely condemned the renewed violence, with the United Nations expressing deep concern over the escalating humanitarian crisis. "We are horrified by last night's Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Gaza, which killed hundreds according to the Ministry of Health in the Strip. This will add tragedy onto the tragedy." Several countries, including Egypt and France, have also called for an immediate halt to hostilities. Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

Trump and Putin agree to 30-day Russia-Ukraine ceasefire on energy and infrastructure targets

2025/03/19 20:00

Russia has rejected a full 30-day truce with Ukraine, and instead accepted calls to cease assaults on energy and infrastructure. This latest development follows phone talks between the leaders of the Kremlin and the White House. Our Choi Soo-hyung has more. U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed on a limited ceasefire on energy and infrastructure targets in Russia and Ukraine. On Tuesday, local time, the White House announced that in a lengthy phone call between both parties, Russia agreed to halt attacks on energy and infrastructure facilities for 30 days. The Kremlin stated that Putin had immediately ordered a halt to attacks on these sites. During the three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine, attacks on these sites caused immense damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stated that he supports Trump's proposal. "We support all steps towards ending the war. We will give support but in order to support something we need to understand what specifically it is." He expressed his willingness to speak with Trump at any time to hear the details of the phone talks with Putin. He also stated that Ukraine cannot be excluded from future discussions on the details of the ceasefire. However, a full ceasefire still seems some way off. Recently, Putin rejected Trump's proposal for a 30-day full ceasefire, citing concerns such as Ukraine's potential rearmament. During the call, Putin also insisted that foreign military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine should be halted. Europe welcomed the agreement between Trump and Putin but stressed that Ukraine's position must be taken into account. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron stated in a press conference on Tuesday that Ukraine must be involved in the negotiations to achieve a just peace for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Moscow said that Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 175 prisoners of war each on Wednesday. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.

Acting President Choi pledges efforts to reduce trade risks

2025/03/19 20:00

Meanwhile, acting President Choi Sang-mok has reaffirmed government support for small-and-medium sized businesses amid the 25-percent U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium imports into the American market. During a meeting on Wednesday, he spoke of trade insurance for the steel sector and consultations for smaller companies to address the financial burden of tougher U.S. tariffs. Choi also highlighted the importance of maintaining close and constructive communication with all parties involved to minimize the potential fallout from excessive trade barriers.

'Dirty 15' trading partners imposing substantial tariffs on U.S.: U.S. Treasury Dept.

2025/03/19 20:00

Moving on. The Trump administration has highlighted the presence of "15 dirty" trade partners, as it reaffirms the implementation of reciprocal tariffs on April 2nd. South Korea is closely watching the move. Lee Soo-jin covers this latest development and more. Concerns over how U.S. President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs will impact South Korea are growing, especially with its potential inclusion in the so-called 'Dirty 15' group of trade partners. Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that there were 15 nations, which he referred to as the 'Dirty 15', that are imposing substantial tariffs on the U.S. He did not clarify which nations would be included but with Trump previously highlighting South Korea as one of the countries that he claimed was unfairly benefiting from trade imbalances, there are growing concerns that Korea may be among the countries targeted. "And South Korea's average tariff is four times higher. Think of that four times higher. And we give so much help militarily and in so many other ways to South Korea." South Korea's trade surplus with the U.S. reached over 55 billion U.S. dollars last year, meaning that it could be a major target for the Trump administration. Bessent said that come April 2nd, each country will receive a specific reciprocal tariff number deemed fair by the U.S. and that 'Dirty 15' countries are likely to face higher tariffs due to perceived unfair trade practices. He added that the tariff calculation would be determined by the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Commerce Department. The U.S. Treasury Secretary said that he has not seen any figures yet, as they are still being calculated. But Bessent expressed optimism that "some of the tariffs" may not go into effect if a deal is pre-negotiated or if countries look to negotiate after April 2nd. Emphasizing that the U.S. is only in pursuit of "fair and reciprocal" trade, Bessent said that countries that stop trade practices that the U.S. deems unfair could avoid reciprocal tariffs. Such practices include, non-tariff barriers, currency manipulation, unfair funding and labor suppression. While Bessent believes reciprocal tariffs could lead to a "win-win" situation for everyone,.. they continue to cause concerns here in South Korea, with trade officials keen to avoid new U.S. tariffs. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.