News

S. Korea's first couple hosts Vietnam's top leader, spouse at Cheong Wa Dae

2025/08/12 22:40

And South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung invited the top political leader and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly to the Sangchunjae reception hall at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the couples enjoyed musical performances featuring traditional instruments from each country. Over tea and a walk in the Nokjiwon garden, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation. The Presidential Office says this was the first official event at Sangchunjae under the new administration and called it "the highest honor" in hosting a state guest.

S. Korea, Vietnam defense ministers agree to enhance defense cooperation

2025/08/12 22:40

South Korea's defense minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang have agreed to boost ties in defense and industry. The two defense chiefs talked on Tuesday about specific ways to enhance defense cooperation in line with the "comprehensive strategic partnership" between the two nations. They additionally agreed to transfer a retired South Korean patrol vessel --the Jecheon , to Vietnam. This marks the third patrol vessel that Seoul has transferred to Hanoi, following similar moves in 2017 and 2018.

Gov't, biz officials from Seoul and Hanoi meet to enhance economic ties

2025/08/12 22:39

South Korea and Vietnam continue to explore ways to further strengthen their ties, in light of Vietnam's top political leader's visit to South Korea this week. Today, Seoul hosted a business forum aimed at further beefing up its economic ties with Hanoi. Our correspondent Moon Ji-young reports. To mark the first visit in 11 years by Vietnam's top party leader, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted a business forum on Tuesday, aiming to bolster economic cooperation between the two nations. The forum was attended by Vietnam's Party General Secretary To Lam, 5-hundred officials from both governments and the business community, and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. "Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1992, Korea and Vietnam have mutually become among each other's top-three trading partners. Korea is also Vietnam's largest investor, with nearly 10,000 companies operating there, making them essential economic partners across diverse sectors like textiles, electronics, chemicals, and shipbuilding." Prime Minister Kim further emphasized expanding cooperation beyond manufacturing into new industrial sectors such as high-tech, culture, and digital, and also underscored comprehensive supply chain collaboration, particularly in energy. Vietnam's finance minister highlighted mutually beneficial cooperation. "The Vietnamese government welcomes Korean businesses to jointly enter Vietnam and third markets, and we are prepared for mutually beneficial cooperation. We will particularly work closely with Korea in new energy, semiconductors, AI, and the e-digital economy, and we will spare no support for large-scale cooperation projects." The forum notably spurred significant collaboration, culminating in the signing of 52 Memoranda of Understanding across diverse sectors such as industrial cooperation, energy, and food and tourism. Specifically, 47 Korean companies and organizations, along with 37 Vietnamese counterparts, committed to strengthening cooperation in a wide array of fields, from energy, shipbuilding, and aviation to cutting-edge areas like AI, advanced materials, and drones. Moon Ji-young. Arirang News.

[THE INTERVIEW] Victor Cha on what’s at stake if Trump meets Kim

2025/08/12 22:38

In part two of our interview, the CSIS Korea chair weighs in on the prospects for a Trump–Kim summit and the issues that could define it. He also notes that Washington's pursuit of denuclearization of North Korea is a long-term goal. Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil reports. Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says Washington's official stance remains unchanged: the end goal is still the denuclearization of North Korea. But he warns that's no short-term prospect. "Stated U.S. policy is that the end game is denuclearization, right? That's our stated U.S. policy. But that's really a long-term goal. I mean given how much North Korea's nuclear program has developed. So the question then becomes, in the interim, what would the United States be seeking?" In that interim, Dr. Cha says Washington could pursue other priorities and perhaps a diplomatic opening. He's suggested that if the U.S. President attends October's APEC meeting in Gyeongju, the trip might also take him to Panmunjom, and possibly to talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "If that (the summit) happened, I just wanted to ask you the real end game for both sides this time?" "Certainly, I think some form of freeze on the program, some of the initial steps towards denuclearization, would be important. But at the same time, there are other things that I think the United States is concerned about when it comes to North Korea. And one of them, of course, is their deep military relationship with Russia." He says that relationship now factors directly into Trump's top foreign policy priority. "This is clearly a priority of the Trump administration to end the war in Europe, and North Korea now plays a role in that. So one wonders whether that will become a high priority issue if President Trump meets the leader of North Korea." But Pyongyang has set its own terms for any meeting. In a recent statement, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korea's leader, rejected any challenge to the regime's "nuclear weapons status". "She made very clear that any meeting between the two leaders will be as a de facto recognized nuclear weapons state. That's a condition they've laid out for meeting, and it's one theTrump administration has to determine whether they're willing to meet that condition or not." Dr. Cha says a Trump–Kim meeting could sideline denuclearization issues for others, such as Pyongyang's military ties with Moscow, or stopping North Korea from helping rebuild Iran's nuclear program. "But as we've seen with this president, like in the end he makes the decision, and as far as we know he won't make that decision till he walks into the room with Kim." For now, all eyes are on what Trump decides when, and if, he meets Kim. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

S. Korea mulling over skipping annual report on N. Korean human rights

2025/08/12 22:37

South Korea is considering skipping its annual report on human rights violations in North Korea. If one is not released, it will be the first time since 2018. A Unification Ministry official said on Tuesday that it has been difficult to obtain new testimonies, as fewer than ten people defected directly from the North last year. Though difficulty in collecting firsthand testimonies is cited as a reason, the ongoing review appears to be part of the Lee Jae Myung administration's efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula. During his confirmation hearing last month, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said it is not appropriate to use North Korean human rights as a means of criticizing the regime.

Trump says he'll pursue Russia-Ukraine summit ahead of Putin talks

2025/08/12 22:36

Over in the U.S., where President Donald Trump has said he'll hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week in Alaska. Trump also said that following the talks, he would pursue a trilateral summit with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he would be holding a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska. Trump also raised the possibility of a trilateral summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his one-on-one talks with Putin. However, he said while he would be available if needed, he'd prefer a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. While leaving open the possibility of a trilateral summit, President Trump stated that he would first hear Putin's thoughts and, potentially, share the details of the meeting with President Zelenskyy, the EU, and NATO leaders. "I'm gonna meet with President Putin and we're going to see what he has in mind. And if it's a fair deal, I'll reveal it to the European Union leaders and to the NATO leaders, and also to President Zelensky. I think out of respect, I will call him first and then I'll call them after." Meanwhile, during a press conference at the White House on Monday, Trump said he'll try to get some territory back for Ukraine during his meeting with Putin on Friday. Trump stressed that Russia has occupied a "big portion of Ukraine." The U.S. leader raised the possibility that both Russia and Ukraine would need to make some territorial concessions in order to work out a peace deal, saying that there could be "some swapping, changes in land." However, Zelenskyy on Saturday shot down any chance of Ukraine giving up territory captured by Russia in the ongoing war. In a video posted on X, Zelenskyy said that "Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier," adding that his country will not "reward Russia for what it has perpetrated." Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

U.S.-China extend trade truce another 90 days, while Trump signals further tariffs

2025/08/12 22:35

As the U.S. and China have agreed to extend their trade truce for another 90 days, Beijing will give relief to American companies listed on a trade and investment control list in April. Meanwhile, global tariff uncertainty is expected to persist due to the Trump administration's tariffs imposition. Cha Yun-kyung has more. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday extending the U.S.-China tariff truce by 90 days. The move finalizes the outcome of last month's high-level trade talks in Sweden. As a result, U.S. tariffs on China, cut to 30 percent in May, and China's tariffs on the U.S., lowered to 10 percent, will remain in place until early November. Analysts say any breakthrough is likely to come only after a face-to-face meeting between President Trump and China's President Xi Jinping, possibly on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, this October. Reviewing the Joint Statement on U.S.-China Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva on May 12, 2025, the White House said on Monday that regarding articles outlined in "the Announcement of the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council No. 4 of 2025," it would suspend 24 percentage points of the 34-percent rate set then "for an additional period of 90 days." China announced it would "adopt or maintain all necessary administrative measures to suspend or remove the non-tariff countermeasures taken against the United States as agreed in the Geneva Joint Statement." To implement the consensus reached at the China-U.S. high-level economic and trade talks, effective August 12, 2025, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce of China said on Tuesday that it would extend relief to American companies that were placed on a trade and investment control and unreliable entities list in April. The Ministry of Commerce said it would stop those restrictions for some companies, while giving others another 90-day extension. However, as the Trump administration has signaled upcoming tariffs on the pharmaceutical and semiconductor sectors later this week, global tariff uncertainty persists. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

What is expected to top agenda at Korea-U.S. summit?

2025/08/12 22:34

And attention is now on what specific items will be on the table. For now, security and trade are expected to top the agenda. Park Kun-woo has more. As the Korea-U.S. summit approaches later this month, speculation is mounting over the possible agenda items. One is security, including "modernizing" the alliance, which could involve changes to the size and role of the U.S. Forces Korea, increasing defense spending, and greater strategic flexibility. This comes after remarks last week from USFK Commander Xavier Brunson, who cited evolving security threats, including from the North's nuclear program expansion. Asked about a potential troop reduction, he stressed capability over numbers. Observers are watching how much Seoul can concede, as fully rejecting U.S. requests may be difficult while maintaining stability on the peninsula. The Washington Post also reported that the U.S. initially sought to raise Korea's defense spending from 2-point-6 percent to 3-point-8 percent of GDP, along with boosting Seoul's annual cost-sharing payments for U.S. troops. Another expected key item is finalizing details of Korea's 350 billion U.S. dollar investment pledge made during tariff negotiations. About 150 billion is expected to go toward the MASGA project, possibly through acquiring and operating U.S. shipyards, and building and supplying naval and commercial vessels. The rest would possibly be invested more broadly in sectors such as chips and batteries. Specific investment sectors and timelines for implementation are expected to be discussed. Talks may also touch on non-tariff barriers, from the possible allowance of agriculture and beef imports to digital trade issues. With about two weeks remaining, the summit is expected to tackle these issues, with the hope of concluding the talks with constructive outcomes for both sides. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

From military warnings to global maneuvers; is North Korea poised for a strategic shift?

2025/08/12 21:35

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. Tensions are rising ahead of the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills starting August 18th. North Korea warns it will defend itself if "red lines" are crossed, while calling the exercises a "real nuclear war simulation." Yet in a rare gesture, Pyongyang has also taken down some of its border loudspeakers after the South removed theirs. Kim Jong-un's daughter, Kim Ju-ae, is appearing more often at military events, stirring succession talk. And as Washington and Seoul prepare for a key summit, the North is tightening military ties with Russia, pledging thousands more personnel by year's end. To help us break down what's driving these moves and where the Peninsula may be headed, we're joined by Go Myong-hyun, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy. Welcome. Also joining us from New York is Dr. Mark Barry, Associate Editor Emeritus at the International Journal on World Peace. Good to see you. (GO) 1. To start, in a couple of days, the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills will bring in U.S. Marines and UN Command troops. Pyongyang warns it will "exercise sovereign self-defense" if red lines are crossed. Dr. Go, why raise the statement's rank but keep the tone restrained? (BARRY) 2. Staying with the drills, the North's defense minister calls them a "real nuclear war simulation" that will make the Peninsula less safe. Dr. Barry, is this meant to deter the drills, rally the public, or sway foreign opinion? (GO) 3. At the same time, some field training exercises have been postponed to September, though the North didn't mention it. Dr. Go, could this change affect Pyongyang's military stance? (BARRY) 4. In a related move, after Seoul removed its anti-North loudspeakers, Pyongyang dismantled some of its 40-plus along the border. Dr. Barry, is this proportional de-escalation or just symbolic? (GO) 5. Turning to leadership signals, Kim Jong-un's daughter Kim Ju-ae has made 39 public appearances since late 2022, including 24 at military events, often beside her father. Dr. Go, is this a clear succession signal, and how might the world react to a female leader? (BARRY) 6. Adding to that, she's been visible at missile launches, military inspections, and space program briefings. Dr. Barry, what's the message behind her heavy military exposure? (GO) 7. Looking ahead, the August 25th Seoul-Washington summit will be the first between President Trump and President Lee Jae Myung, with North Korea high on the agenda. Dr. Go, how might Trump's interest in talks with Kim reshape inter-Korean diplomacy? (BARRY) 8. But on that point, there's concern about "Korea passing" if Trump and Kim restart direct talks without Seoul. Dr. Barry, how real is that risk, and how can Seoul avoid being sidelined? (GO) 9. Meanwhile, Russian visits to North Korea hit 2,772 in quarter two 2025, the highest since 2011, while Moscow stopped releasing inbound North Korean data amid troop deployment reports. Dr. Go, does this secrecy point to actual deployments, and what's the impact? (BARRY) 10. Finally, in June, Pyongyang reportedly agreed to send 6,000 more military personnel to Russia by year's end. Dr. Barry, when you combine this with other moves, what's the single biggest factor for the Peninsula's next six months?

Lee-Trump summit date set on Aug. 25 for key discussions

2025/08/12 19:44

The Presidential Office has confirmed that President Lee Jae Myung will meet with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump at the White House on August 25th. Arirang's Yoon Jung-min files this report from the top office. The date has been made official for the first Lee-Trump summit: August 25th. President Lee Jae Myung will be in Washington from August 24th to 26th, upon invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the top office in Seoul, it'll be a working visit involving a luncheon. During the first summit in more than two months since Lee took office, the agenda will include key issues. "The two leaders will discuss ways to develop the South Korea-U.S. alliance into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance in response to the changing international security and economic environment." An economic partnership on chips, batteries and shipbuilding will top the agenda, as well as high-technology and critical minerals, as part of the allies' framework trade deal that was reached late last month before the Trump administration's August 1st deadline. Security issues that were not addressed at that time could be on the table. Eyes are also on whether the two leaders will discuss resuming dialogue with North Korea, reflecting peace efforts by the new government in Seoul. "The leaders will discuss measures to coordinate peace on the Korean Peninsula and denuclearization, while further strengthening the robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture." First lady Kim Hea Kyung will be accompanying the president. Business leaders could also join the trip, though the presidential office says it has yet to be decided. With much speculation that President Lee's trip to neighboring Japan will precede his U.S. trip, his office remains tight-lipped, adding it's sounding out various possibilities. Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.

[Weather] Rain all over the country tomorrow

2025/08/12 19:43

It has rained in the southern parts of the country today due to a slow-moving front located in the southern sea. In Yeosu, there was more than 45 millimeters of heavy rain per hour. Heavy rain warnings have been issued in the mountainous areas of Jeju island and heavy rain advisories are also in place for some parts of the south coast. Tomorrow, this rain will spread across the country. In particular, it is expected to rain as much as 150 millimeters in northern Gyeonggi-do Province and Incheon, and up to 120 millimeters in Seoul. Please be prepared to avoid damage from rain. The morning will start warm at 25 degrees Celsius in Seoul and Gwangju, Jeju at 27 degrees. Highs will move up to 27 degrees in Seoul and Chuncheon, Gwangju and Daegu will reach 32 degrees. It will get hotter in the second half of the week when the rain stops. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world.

World News: Trump deploys National Guard to Washington, D.C. and pledges crime crackdown

2025/08/12 19:42

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In the United States, President Donald Trump has declared a "public safety emergency" in Washington, D.C., placing the city's police under direct federal control. At a White House press conference on Monday, President Trump also announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops. Trump stated the move was to "re-establish law, order, and public safety" in the capital. He referenced the emergency powers granted by the D.C. Home Rule Act, which allow him to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department, bypassing elected city leaders. Attorney General Pam Bondi was appointed to oversee the federalized police force. National Guard troops are expected to arrive by the end of the week, with between 100 and 200 deployed at any given time to assist the police. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the President's actions as "unsettling and unprecedented," asserting that the city is not experiencing a crime surge and that violent crime is at a 30-year low. The United Nations has strongly condemned a targeted Israeli airstrike that killed five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza on Sunday, calling it a serious breach of international law. UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, condemned the killing and demanded an "independent and impartial" investigation into the incident, according to his spokesperson on Monday. Al Jazeera labeled the attack a "blatant and premeditated assault on press freedom," asserting that it aimed to silence those documenting the impending occupation of Gaza. The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists urged accountability and denounced Israel's repeated claims of Hamas affiliation as justification for targeting journalists. According to reports, at least 242 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September, aligning with similar commitments from France, the UK, and Canada. The decision is conditional on key assurances from the Palestinian Authority, including excluding Hamas from any governing role, demilitarizing Gaza, and holding democratic elections. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Foreign Minister said his country was also considering recognizing Palestinian statehood and would make a formal decision in September. Finally, in China, a robot band comprised of five autonomous humanoid robot musicians will debut at the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Thursday. The ensemble, engineered by Hefei Panshi Technology, will include a keyboardist, lead guitarist, drummer, bassist, and rhythm guitarist, and will use a shared computing system that processes musical scores in real-time to coordinate movements. Engineers have upgraded pneumatic joints with faster motor-driven ones to handle quicker rhythms during their performance, which will feature traditional folk songs. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

HUNTR/X’s “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters tops Billboard Hot 10

2025/08/12 19:41

On the entertainment front. KPOP Demon Hunters continues to make Billboard headlines and this week its song "Golden" topped the publication's Hot 100. Byeon Ye-young covers this feat and its broader implications. The "KPop Demon Hunters" sensation shows no signs of slowing down, this time topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Praised for its high-quality animation, visually striking characters, and clever use of Korean traditional folklore, the Netflix original animation's soundtrack "Golden" climbed up a spot to reach number 1 for the first time. Billboard announced the feat on Monday, local time, noting that "Golden" is the ninth song linked to Korean pop to top the Hot 100, and the first to do so with female lead vocalists. "This is the first time a girl group has topped the Billboard Hot 100 since Destiny's Child. And in K-pop history, it's also the first time virtual idols, or an animated act based on K-pop, have reached number 1 on the chart." Sung by the virtual girl group "Huntr/x" in the movie, the vocalists behind the song are Korean-American artists EJAE, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna. Of all the tracks in KPop Demon Hunters, "Golden" has stood out for its soaring high notes in the latter part of the song, a section that has even become a benchmark for proving one's vocal skills and sparked the "Golden Challenge" among K-pop stars. Big K-pop names like Solar of Mamamoo, Lily of NMIXX, and Ailee have all joined in. "K-pop is not just about listening to and enjoying the music; it's about enjoying it together. That's one of K-pop's charms. Participating, singing along, even creating content, all of that has helped bring the songs from KPop Demon Hunters closer to the public." Earlier this month, "Golden" also topped the UK's Official Singles Top 100 chart, one of the two biggest music charts in the world alongside Billboard's Hot 100, making it a rare track to conquer both the UK and U.S. pop markets. Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News.

Trump says he'll pursue Russia-Ukraine summit ahead of Putin talks

2025/08/12 19:40

Staying with comments by Mr. Trump but this time regarding Russian aggression against Ukraine. He has reaffirmed efforts to ensure a trilateral summit including his Ukrainian and Russian counterparts. Lee Seung-jae has more. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he would be holding a face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska. Trump also raised the possibility of a trilateral summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his one-on-one talks with Putin. However, he said while he would be available if needed, he'd prefer a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy. While leaving open the possibility of a trilateral summit, President Trump stated that he would first hear Putin's thoughts and, potentially, share the details of the meeting with President Zelenskyy, the EU, and NATO leaders. "I'm gonna meet with President Putin and we're going to see what he has in mind. And if it's a fair deal, I'll reveal it to the European Union leaders and to the NATO leaders, and also to President Zelensky. I think out of respect, I will call him first and then I'll call them after." Meanwhile, during a press conference at the White House on Monday, Trump said he'll try to get some territory back for Ukraine during his meeting with Putin on Friday. Trump stressed that Russia has occupied a "big portion of Ukraine." The U.S. leader raised the possibility that both Russia and Ukraine would need to make some territorial concessions in order to work out a peace deal, saying that there could be "some swapping, changes in land." However, Zelenskyy on Saturday shot down any chance of Ukraine giving up territory captured by Russia in the ongoing war. In a video posted on X, Zelenskyy said that "Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier," adding that his country will not "reward Russia for what it has perpetrated." Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

Trump delays China tariffs, declares gold tariff-free

2025/08/12 19:39

The tariff truce between the U.S. and China will stay in place until early November amid speculation that their two leaders may hold talks on the sidelines of the APEC meeting here in South Korea this coming autumn. Lee Soo-jin has the latest. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday extending the U.S.–China tariff truce by 90 days. The move finalizes the outcome of last month's high-level trade talks in Sweden. As a result, U.S. tariffs on China, cut to 30 percent in May, and China's tariffs on the U.S., lowered to 10 percent, will remain in place until early November. "We'll see what happens. China's been, we've been dealing very nicely with China. The relationship is very good with President Xi and myself." Analysts say any breakthrough is likely to come only after a face-to-face meeting between President Trump and China's President Xi Jinping , possibly on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, this October. Trump said in an August 5th phone interview with CNBC that Xi had asked for a meeting and that they would "most likely meet before the end of the year" if a deal is reached. In a separate announcement, Trump said gold imports will be tariff-free. On Truth Social, the President wrote, "Gold will not be Tariffed!" The post came after reports that U.S. Customs planned to apply tariffs to one-kilogram gold bars , news that sent prices to record highs last week. Following Trump's statement, gold futures fell more than two percent, calming earlier market jitters. Lee Soo-jin, Arirang News.

Over 50% of small business owners think consumption coupon boosted sales

2025/08/12 19:38

A recent poll shows over 50 percent of small business owners have noted increased sales following the launch of the so-called consumption coupons. The survey involved over two thousand merchants and was conducted over a three-day period late last week by "Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise" and "Korea Merchant Association". Findings reveal that about 56 percent of the respondents posted sales growth with 51 percent saying their sales rose between 10 to 30 percent. More than 70 percent supported similar consumption initiatives suggesting that coupons be limited for use in traditional markets and that their value be raised.

Hearing concludes on arrest request for former first lady Kim Keon Hee on corruption allegations

2025/08/12 19:38

A Seoul court held a hearing today on the arrest request against former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Kim faces charges of stock manipulation, interference in party nominations, and influence-peddling. Prosecutors say there is a high risk of evidence tampering if she is not arrested. After the four-hour hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, Kim was moved to Seoul Southern Detention Center to await the court's decision. A decision could come as early as tonight, and if granted, it would mark the first time in the country's history that a former president and first lady are detained simultaneously.

Ruling DP launches special committee on judiciary reform, focuses on Supreme Court expansion

2025/08/12 19:38

On the local front ALSO on this Tuesday. The ruling Democratic Party has launched a special committee on judiciary reform. The committee will review the proposals the party has presented thus far and seek to chart a clear path for the changes ahead. Among the key proposals is a bill to expand the number of Supreme Court justices. And to this end DP leader Jung Chung-rae urged members to work with the mission of completing this reform before the Chuseok holiday in early October.

[THE INTERVIEW] Victor Cha on what’s at stake if Trump meets Kim

2025/08/12 19:37

In our interview segment today we share with you the second part of our online exchange with the Korea Chair of the U.S. think tank CSIS during which he weighed in on prospects of a summit between the U.S. and North Korea on the margins of the APEC meeting here in South Korea later this year. Kim Jung-sil reports. Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says Washington's official stance remains unchanged: the end goal is still the denuclearization of North Korea. But he warns that's no short-term prospect. "Stated U.S. policy is that the end game is denuclearization, right? That's our stated U.S. policy. But that's really a long-term goal. I mean given how much North Korea's nuclear program has developed. So the question then becomes, in the interim, what would the United States be seeking?" In that interim, Dr. Cha says Washington could pursue other priorities and perhaps a diplomatic opening. He's suggested that if the U.S. President attends October's APEC meeting in Gyeongju, the trip might also take him to Panmunjom, and possibly to talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "If that (the summit) happened, I just wanted to ask you the real end game for both sides this time?" "Certainly, I think some form of freeze on the program, some of the initial steps towards denuclearization, would be important. But at the same time, there are other things that I think the United States is concerned about when it comes to North Korea. And one of them, of course, is their deep military relationship with Russia." He says that relationship now factors directly into Trump's top foreign policy priority. "This is clearly a priority of the Trump administration to end the war in Europe, and North Korea now plays a role in that. So one wonders whether that will become a high priority issue if President Trump meets the leader of North Korea." But Pyongyang has set its own terms for any meeting. In a recent statement, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korea's leader, rejected any challenge to the regime's "nuclear weapons status". "She made very clear that any meeting between the two leaders will be as a de facto recognized nuclear weapons state. That's a condition they've laid out for meeting, and it's one theTrump administration has to determine whether they're willing to meet that condition or not." Dr. Cha says a Trump–Kim meeting could sideline denuclearization issues for others, such as Pyongyang's military ties with Moscow, or stopping North Korea from helping rebuild Iran's nuclear program. "But as we've seen with this president, like in the end he makes the decision, and as far as we know he won't make that decision till he walks into the room with Kim." For now, all eyes are on what Trump decides when, and if, he meets Kim. Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.

"I'm abandoning my mom" paves way for more Korea-Vietnam cultural cooperation

2025/08/12 19:36

Meanwhile cooperation between South Korea and Vietnam also includes that in the field of film production and broader entertainment. Our culture correspondent Park Kun-woo files this report. "I'm abandoning my mom." This recent popular movie in Vietnam surpassed the break-even point in the country just three days after its release. What's notable is that it's a Korea-Vietnam co-production, starring popular actors from both countries. More such collaborations are expected as the culture ministers of Korea and Vietnam met in Seoul to explore ways for sustainable growth in the culture industry. "Since establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023, we've strengthened cooperation in various sectors. With our ties closer than ever, it's time to take cultural exchange and cooperation to the next level. We see the culture industry's potential and ripple effects as a key driver of future economic growth." Vietnam has also signaled its commitment to cultural cooperation, following its recently unveiled national strategy to build a culture industry centered on digital transformation. "Korea is a culturally advanced country whose new technologies add significant value to its cultural industries. We hope to learn from Korea's expertise to further develop our industries as we share cultural common ground." Positive messages from both sides led to MOUs being signed between companies from both countries on Monday, covering joint film and game projects. "Korean content is very popular in Vietnam, from music to drama series and movies. I'm very happy that this year the collaboration is extending to another level co-producing a Vietnam-Korean movie with an original story. We will be filming in March next year and releasing it at the end of 2026." And more Korean companies are diversifying their content creation with their Vietnamese counterparts. "We're exploring collaborations such as remaking films with our IP and co-producing Vietnamese dramas, or casting Vietnamese actors in our dramas. While there may be cultural sensitivities or differing social norms, these can be addressed from the early planning stages." Korea's culture ministry also announced plans, including financing and tax incentives, in the cultural field on Monday with the aim for the industry to generate 300 trillion won in revenue by 2030. With more of these efforts paving the way for broader collaboration between the two countries, more cultural content is expected down the road. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.