News

World News: Pakistan military ends train standoff, says 21 hostages and four troops killed

2025/03/13 17:00

This is the World Now, bringing you the latest stories from around the globe. In Pakistan's Balochistan province, a military operation took place to rescue hostages on a hijacked train, killing all 33 militants. But during the day-long standoff, 21 hostages and four security personnel also lost their lives. On Wednesday local time, the Pakistani military initiated a comprehensive rescue operation on a train that had been ambushed by militants from the separatist Baloch Liberation Army the day before. The Jaffar Express, carrying over 440 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar had been hijacked by the separatist BLA. The militants detonated explosives on the railway track and launched rockets at the train, forcing it to a halt before seizing control of the train and taking hundreds hostage. The BLA had been demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners. Defense ministers from five European nations convened in Paris on Wednesday local time, to discuss bolstering regional security and defense cooperation in the aftermath of the Ukraine war. The meeting comes amid Washington's efforts to pursue a peace deal with Moscow. Defense ministers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland discussed strengthening European defense mechanisms and providing security assurances to Ukraine amidst ongoing geopolitical shifts. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov also participated. A key point of the discussions was the potential establishment of a European reassurance force, aimed at deterring future aggression and ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty. The deliberations also addressed the proposed ReArm Europe plan, which seeks to mobilize up to 800 billion Euros to boost Europe's defense infrastructure. Japan began the 11th release of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday. The operation is part of an ongoing process to manage and dispose of water used to cool the reactors following the 2011 disaster. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that the tritium concentration in the discharged water is below Japan's regulatory standards, aligning with international safety guidelines. Tokyo Electric Power Company recently announced plans for the 11th batch of wastewater discharge from March 12 to 17. In London, climate activists have protested against Tesla, targeting the company's robots to highlight environmental concerns. On Wednesday local time, two activists in west London poured orange liquid latex over a life-sized humanoid robot at a Tesla store. Following political activities by Elon Musk, CEO of the carmaker, a number of Tesla outlets in the U.S. and parts of Europe have also faced protests recently. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.

Japanese translator for Han Kang's "We Do Not Part" awarded Yomiuri Prize for Literature

2025/03/13 17:00

A Japanese translator has won a prestigious Japanese literary award for her translation of author Han Kang's novel "We Do Not Part". According to the Literature Translation Institute of Korea on this Thursday translator and poet Mariko Saito ( ) was recently awarded the 76th Yomiuri Prize for Literature in translation. Saito has translated quite a number of Nobel laureate Han Kang's books including "The White Book" and introduced over 30 other Korean literary works to Japanese readers.

U.S. and Russia hold talks following U.S.-Ukraine agreement on 30-day ceasefire

2025/03/13 17:00

Efforts to ensure a thirty-day truce between Ukraine and Russia continue with U.S. officials now actively seeking interaction with their counterparts at the Kremlin. Our Park Kun-woo has the latest. According to the White House press secretary on Wednesday, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz spoke with his Russian counterpart to pursue ending the war and to strike a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. That marked the first discussion between senior security advisors from the U.S. and Russia following an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire proposal made between the U.S. and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia the day before. Also on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his hopes that Russia would accept the proposal. "It's up to Russia now. Hopefully we can get a ceasefire from Russia. And if we do, I think that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath (ended)." Trump also warned that Russia could face sanctions if it doesn't accept the deal but added he doesn't want that to happen as he wants peace. He also said officials would be in Russia for further talks, with the White House confirming that Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Moscow this week. A Kremlin spokesperson said on Wednesday that Moscow is waiting for "detailed information" from the U.S. before taking a stance on the peace deal. And following the deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in military uniform, visited the Kursk region on Wednesday for the first time since Ukraine invaded the Kursk region in August of last year. During the visit, Putin ordered the "complete" liberation of the Kursk region. "Our task in the near future is to completely defeat the enemy who has dug in on the territory of the Kursk region and is still conducting military operations here." He also spoke about the need to consider creating a buffer zone inside Ukraine's Sumy region, which borders Kursk to prevent any further incursions by Ukraine. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

President Trump says he has 'flexibility' on tariffs, rejects claims of inconsistency

2025/03/13 17:00

U.S. President Donald Trump is challenging claims of inconsistency with regard to his tariff campaign calling his approach thus far "flexible" but pledging "very little flexibility" after reciprocal tariffs take effect in early April. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday stressed that April 2nd will be a "very big day" for the United States. as his reciprocal tariffs go into effect. Trump slammed the previous administration for America's losses in trade., but said the U.S. will "take back a lot of what was stolen from it by other countries." However, Trump also noted that he has shown "flexibility" on his tariff policy, rejecting claims that his policy implementation has been inconsistent, as seen through his on-and-off tariff impositions on Canada and Mexico. The U.S. leader also warned that once the tariffs go into effect, "there will be very little flexibility." Meanwhile,.. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Wednesday, that the European Union's new retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. came "too little too late." According to Greer, the EU's latest tariff on U.S. imports "completely disregards" the national security imperatives of the United States, adding that the bloc's trade and economic policies are "out of step with reality." The comments come as the EU announced it will respond to Trump's 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, by imposing its own tariffs on U.S. goods worth over 28 billion U.S. dollars, set to take effect on April 13. Canada also announced its own retaliatory tariffs on nearly 30 billion dollars worth of U.S. imports,.. after the 25 percent steel and aluminum tariffs went into effect on Wednesday. Canada says it will follow a "dollar-by-dollar" approach, and impose 25-percent tariffs on U.S. imports, including steel, computers, and sports equipment. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her country will wait until April 2nd to decide whether to respond to the steel and aluminum tariffs. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/03/13 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province and its biggest city Jeonju have united in their bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics. More than 1,000 people, including Governor of Jeonbuk State Kim Kwan-young, Jeonju Mayor Woo Beom-ki, and local residents, gathered on Wednesday to reaffirm their commitment to securing the games. Highlighting Jeollabuk-do's victory over Seoul in securing Korea's candidacy for the 2036 Olympics, Governor Kim presented the province's strategy and roadmap leading up to the global sporting event. The gathering also featured various celebratory performances in support of the initiative. The province aims to secure swift pan-government support and focus on promoting bipartisan cooperation to strengthen its bid. An event celebrating the beauty of royal palaces amid Korea's vibrant spring atmosphere is set to begin next month. Two signature nighttime tour programs, "Moonlight Tour at Changdeokgung Palace" and "Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour" will be offered to visitors selected through a lottery. Participants can explore the palaces' hidden corners with expert guides, enjoy traditional performances, and immerse themselves in royal culture while strolling through illuminated palaces. The program also includes an opportunity to try "surasang," a royal meal once prepared for kings and queens, along with exclusive access to normally restricted annexes. Tickets can be applied for through Ticketlink, with a limit of two per person. The Seogwipo Canola Flower International Walking Festival will return to Jeju Island next weekend. The festival is a signature spring event of Seogwipo City, where participants can stroll along routes that include Jeju's southern coastline against a background of vibrant yellow canola flowers. The event will feature three courses of 5, 10, and 20 kilometers. More than 2,000 participants have already pre-registered. Those wishing to take part can sign up online through the Seogwipo Tourism Association's website. The annual event is part of the "East Asia Flower Walking League" formed by Seogwipo City, Japan's Kurume City, and China's Dalian City. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Hallyu People] Meet overseas Korean "KrossOveR" supporters in search for true identity

2025/03/13 14:00

1. Valerie Youmi Depreytere / KrossOveR Supporter 2. OH Min Ju / KrossOveR Supporter More than 7 million people are registered as overseas Korean residents as of 2023. In a bid to spread information on the Korean diaspora and encourage a stronger Korean identity, the first wave of the “KrossOveR” a group of overseas Koreans, have wrapped up their six month long activities as “KrossOveR” supporters. For today's Hallyu People we are now connected to two of them, Oh Minju and Valerie Youmi Depreytere! Hello Minju and Youmi! 1-1) (Minju) Minju, Youmi, last month you wrapped up your roles as “KrossOveR” supporters, a program by the Overseas Koreans Cooperation Center, an affiliate of the Overseas Koreans Agency. How was that experience? Let's start with Minju. 1-2) (Youmi) And Youmi, how was it for you? 2) (Youmi) Youmi, I heard that your mother, who is Korean, encouraged you to apply for the “KrossOveR” supporter program. How did it start for you, and how were you able to take part in the activities in Singapore where you are currently based? 3) (Minju) Now turning to Minju, just like many other Koreans who live overseas, we heard you experienced some difficulties from being “different”? Please tell us in what way and also was there any change to that feeling while you were active as a “KrossOveR” supporter? 4) (Minju) Minju, you currently live in South Africa and have also lived in the UK, I heard. How is Korea perceived in those countries? (What’s the image of Korea, what’s Korea known for, etc.) 5) (Youmi) Youmi, in what way do you recognize the cultural phenomenon around you? (In Singapore, Belgium, or any other places you’ve been) 6) (Minju) How does it make you feel as an overseas Korean when you hear about Korean cultural content being recognized around the world, such as the popularity of K-pop or the Nobel Prize for literature won by author Han Kang? 7-1) (Minju) Finally, do you have any words for Koreans overseas who may be struggling with finding their identity or other difficulties? 7-2) (Youmi) And you Youmi?

[K-wave] "Game engine" making game creation more accessible

2025/03/13 14:00

Game development requires a great deal of expert knowledge in fields like graphic coding and music. But now there is a tool that has made this process more accessible, for anyone to create their own game. Lee Eun-jin tells us more. There has been a recent trend in the IT industry, where people with expertise in a different field are changing the direction of game development. Even with limited knowledge of what game development requires, like graphics and coding, this new gaming company is focusing on developing a game set to be released in the second half of this year. This is all thanks to what's called a "game engine." It is like a toolbox of all the technological skills needed to create a game. With its intuitive interface, users can apply graphic effects in just a few clicks. The use of these game engines has increased efficiency in game development, as they generate the graphics created by the user in real-time, and display them on the screen. "The game engine has helped me enjoy game development, even during my times of having limited knowledge of programming, and that has made it possible for me to ease into game development." "I think game engines are the foundation to constructing the world. And we need this game engine to develop our games " There is now greater access for anybody with a creative idea to develop a PC game. "The goal is to democratize game development, where all creators can easily create their own games as they wish." There are game companies that have developed their own game engines, like Pearl Abyss. It uses its own game engine, called 'Blackspace Engine', to develop new games. "Internally developed game engines enhance the company's technological assets, and also the quality of development. It will introduce more realistic and highly immersive games." Recently, with the application of AI technology, game engines are expanding their use into other industries like architecture, automobiles, and fashion. Lee Eun-jin, Arirang News.

[K-enter] Stray Kids earn ninth gold certification

2025/03/13 14:00

To start us off, we have a story on Stray Kids’ new achievement? Stray Kids have received their ninth gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America, RIAA, for their 2024 single album “Hop.” The RIAA grants gold certification to singles and albums that surpass 500-thousand units in sales in the United States. According to the RIAA, the group earned the gold certification after “Hop” surpassed 500-thousand units sold in the U.S. With this achievement, Stray Kids now hold four RIAA gold singles and five gold albums, including “Maniac,” “Back Door,” “Rock-Star,” and “Ate.” This make them the first-ever K-pop act to hold five RIAA gold-certified albums. Meanwhile, Stray Kids are set to release a new digital single, “Mixtape : dominATE,” on March 21st the group’s first release of 2025. Let’s see if they can get their tenth gold certification with the new release. We now move onto K-movies. There is an upcoming film that you are especially looking forward to? I enjoy most films of course, but I have to say my favorites are crime and investigation-related action films. Well, there is an upcoming film perfect for me! It’s “YADANG: THE SNITCH.” The new film follows a broker who controls South Korea’s drug trade, a prosecutor eager to rise through the ranks, and a detective willing to risk everything to bring down drug-related crime. It stars Kang Ha-neul, 강하늘, Yoo Hae-jin, 유해진, and Park Hae-joon. 박해준. The posters and trailer for “YADANG: THE SNITCH” have been released. The anticipation is definitely growing as the trailer promises to reveal the backdoor dealings of the country’s drug investigations. “YADANG: THE SNITCH” is set to hit theaters on April 23rd, so join me in marking your calendars! And we end off with an update on Korean ballad singer Wheesung, who died earlier this week. On Tuesday, we reported that Wheesung was found dead at his home in Seoul on Monday, with no signs of foul play, and that an autopsy will be conducted to determine his cause of death. Well, the preliminary results came in on Wednesday. According to the National Forensic Service, the cause of Wheesung’s death is unknown. It’s expected that the detailed examination results, which could include the outcome of drug tests, will take about two more weeks to come out. Authorities are looking into whether he left a note or any forms of message. They also found at least one syringe near him when he was discovered at his home. Meanwhile, a three-day funeral service for Wheesung is set to begin this Friday at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul. His family initially planned to keep the funeral private, but they decided to make it public to allow time for those who loved him to mourn together. Wheesung’s brother asked the fans to visit the funeral hall, saying, “Please do not hesitate to keep my brother company on his final journey so that he does not feel lonely.” Please keep us updated when the detailed examination results come out. Thank you Bella for today’s stories.

Impeachment verdict date for President Yoon pushed back as Court rules on other cases Thursday

2025/03/13 10:00

The Constitutional Court is delivering its ruling on the impeachment trial of Auditor General Choe Jae-hae and three prosecutors. While no ruling schedules have been set for President Yoon, the court has decided to first rule on cases unrelated to martial law. Our Oh Soo-young reports. Before issuing President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment verdict, the Constitutional Court is ruling on the impeachment of four state officials accused of acting in line with the Yoon Administration's interests. On Thursday, the Court is deciding whether or not to uphold the National Assembly's motion last year to impeach chief state auditor Choe Jae-hae, on allegations he acted in the interests of the Yoon administration, and conducted a weak audit of the relocating of the Presidential Office and residence in 2022. That move by President Yoon was criticized by his political opponents. Choe has claimed the charges presented by the opposition-led National Assembly are inaccurate and distorted. The Constitutional Court will also rule on the impeachment of three prosecutors, including Seoul Central District Chief Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo, and members of his staff, Cho Sang-won and Choi Jae-hun, who have been accused of conducting a lenient investigation into First Lady Kim Keon Hee's alleged involvement in a stock manipulation case. The Court has been working on 9 impeachment cases, 8 of which were pushed through by the Assembly, after President Yoon's martial law on December third last year. As it has pledged to prioritize President Yoon's impeachment case above all others, Thursday's ruling on other officials has drawn further attention to the timing of Yoon's verdict,.. which was initially expected this Friday. Typically, the Court notifies both parties of the ruling date two days in advance. However, there has been no such notification so far. As political and public pressure both for and against Yoon's impeachment grow more fervent by the day, particularly after his release from detention, experts say the judicial bench is likely moving more cautiously, to deliver a broadly acceptable decision to a highly polarized society. More than 2-point-6 million petitions, both supporting and opposing Yoon's impeachment, have been submitted to the Court. Observers also say the ruling on whether or not to uphold Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's impeachment from office as well as Acting President in Yoon's place, is also likely to precede the Presidential impeachment verdict, given that it is a strongly related matter that affects the nation's governance. In any case, a decision within the next few weeks is widely expected as two justices are due to retire from the bench on April 18th. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

[Weather] Dusty air nationwide, warmth continues

2025/03/13 10:00

Much of Korea is on high alert due to dust levels. Yellow dust will spike fine dust levels across Korea, raising dust levels to very bad at times. Refrain from going outdoors without a face mask. Incheon, Sejong and Chungcheong-do Provinces are at the "attention" level on the yellow dust warning system. Avoid outdoor activities, if you are in these areas. While the air quality isn't great, temperatures continue to be on the promising side. Readings will rise rapidly as we head towards the afternoon leading to wide daily temperature gaps. Afternoon highs will be 1 to 4 degrees higher than yesterday, Seoul gets up to 15 degrees, Daegu and Gwangju make it to 17 degrees. Mostly sunny skies will be blurred by an awful dust storm. Tomorrow looks like being warmer with a high of 18 degrees in the capital but thankfully air quality should improve. The mild weather continues through Saturday, but nationwide rain on Sunday will bring chillier air to start early next week! Keep your face mask on today!

UK climate activists target Tesla robot in Elon Musk protest

2025/03/13 10:00

In London, climate activists have protested against Tesla, targeting the company's robots to highlight environmental concerns. On Wednesday local time, two activists in west London poured orange liquid latex over a life-sized humanoid robot at a Tesla store. Following political activities by Elon Musk, CEO of the carmaker, a number of Tesla outlets in the U.S. and parts of Europe have also faced protests recently.

Japan starts 11th ocean discharge of Fukushima wastewater

2025/03/13 10:00

Japan began the 11th release of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday. The operation is part of an ongoing process to manage and dispose of water used to cool the reactors following the 2011 disaster. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that the tritium concentration in the discharged water is below Japan's regulatory standards, aligning with international safety guidelines. Tokyo Electric Power Company recently announced plans for the 11th batch of wastewater discharge from March 12 to 17.

French, German, Italian, British and Polish defense ministers meet in Paris

2025/03/13 10:00

Defense ministers from five European nations convened in Paris on Wednesday local time, to discuss bolstering regional security and defense cooperation in the aftermath of the Ukraine war. The meeting comes amid Washington's efforts to pursue a peace deal with Moscow. Defense ministers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland discussed strengthening European defense mechanisms and providing security assurances to Ukraine amidst ongoing geopolitical shifts. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov also participated. A key point of the discussions was the potential establishment of a European reassurance force, aimed at deterring future aggression and ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty. The deliberations also addressed the proposed ReArm Europe plan, which seeks to mobilize up to 800 billion Euros to boost Europe's defense infrastructure.

Pakistan military ends train standoff, says 21 hostages and four troops killed

2025/03/13 10:00

Let's start with updates on the train hijacking in Pakistan by separatist militants, which ended after a day-long standoff. Right. In Pakistan's Balochistan province, a military operation took place to rescue hostages on the hijacked train, killing all 33 militants. But during the standoff, 21 hostages and four security personnel also lost their lives. On Wednesday local time, the Pakistani military initiated a comprehensive rescue operation on a train that had been ambushed by militants from the separatist Baloch Liberation Army the day before. The Jaffar Express, carrying over 440 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar had been hijacked by the separatist BLA. The militants detonated explosives on the railway track and launched rockets at the train, forcing it to a halt before seizing control of the train and taking hundreds hostage. The BLA had been demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners.

NASA's SPHEREx space telescope, in partnership with S. Korea's KASI, successfully launched

2025/03/13 10:00

The SPHEREx space telescope, part of NASA's mission to map the universe, is now in space, in partnership with South Korea's Space Institute. SPHEREx was launched successfully on Tuesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at around 8:10 PM local time. According to NASA, it later established successful communication with its Near Space Network in Norway. The launch comes after several delays since late February due to rocket assessments and bad weather. The mission will help scientists uncover how the universe formed and evolved.

S. Korean firms brace for impact with new U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs

2025/03/13 10:00

And Choi's interview came with anxieties here in the country that South Korean firms are also no exception from Trump's merciless tariff policies. Our Moon Hye-ryeon tells us more. With the Trump administration’s 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports kicking in starting Wednesday, South Korean firms are bracing for impact. Previously, exports were duty-free but capped at 2-point-6-3 million tons under a quota system. Now, the quota is gone, but all shipments will face the tariffs posing both risks and opportunities. As tariffs now apply to top exporters Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, South Korea the fourth largest supplier to the U.S. may find new openings in the U.S. market. Still, the risks are significant, with intense competition such as cheaper steel products from Southeast Asia, as well as the inclusion of steel and aluminum-derived products – such as bolts, nuts, and springs – under the new tariff scheme. These products are primarily manufactured by small and medium-sized businesses, which have fewer resources to absorb the impact, making them especially vulnerable to financial losses. At a conference on Wednesday led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, industry insiders spoke up about their concerns. Shinjin Fasteners is one such company that produces nuts and bolts, with 35 percent of its sales dependent on exports to the U.S. and Europe. "Developing new products to stay competitive isn't easy, especially when it comes to sourcing materials. It's not like there's a set supply from the start you have to create value and generate demand through product development." Another company, GJ Aluminum, discussed the challenges of diversifying its exports. "We're trying to focus more on Europe and Southeast Asia, but the challenge is that our facilities have primarily been set up for the U.S. market and each of these new regions has very different requirements and characteristics." In order to minimize the impact on domestic firms, the South Korean government is building a support system such as stabilization funds and 15 nationwide support centers, as well as gathering opinions. "It looks to be around 1800 domestic firms that are currently exporting to the U.S. We want to move quickly with a survey to get a clearer picture of the expected impact and what kind of targeted support these businesses will need." Following Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun's visit to Washington to establish a communication channel with the Trump administration regarding tariffs, the country's Minister for Trade is also due to visit the U.S. to continue talks. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News.

U.S. and Russia hold talks following U.S.-Ukraine agreement on 30-day ceasefire

2025/03/13 10:00

A day after Ukraine accepted a 30-day ceasefire deal, the White House says talks between the U.S. and Russia have taken place, while Trump ramps up pressure on Russia to accept the ceasefire proposal. Our Park Kun-woo reports. According to the White House press secretary on Wednesday, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz spoke with his Russian counterpart to pursue ending the war and to strike a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. That marked the first discussion between senior security advisors from the U.S. and Russia following an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire proposal made between the U.S. and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia the day before. Also on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his hopes that Russia would accept the proposal. "It's up to Russia now. Hopefully we can get a ceasefire from Russia. And if we do, I think that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath (ended)." Trump also warned that Russia could face sanctions if it doesn't accept the deal but added he doesn't want that to happen as he wants peace. He also said officials would be in Russia for further talks, with the White House confirming that Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Moscow this week. A Kremlin spokesperson said on Wednesday that Moscow is waiting for "detailed information" from the U.S. before taking a stance on the peace deal. And following the deal between the U.S. and Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in military uniform, visited the Kursk region on Wednesday for the first time since Ukraine invaded the Kursk region in August of last year. During the visit, Putin ordered the "complete" liberation of the Kursk region. "Our task in the near future is to completely defeat the enemy who has dug in on the territory of the Kursk region and is still conducting military operations here." He also spoke about the need to consider creating a buffer zone inside Ukraine's Sumy region, which borders Kursk to prevent any further incursions by Ukraine. Park Kun-woo, Arirang News.

Acting President says "more balanced and mutually beneficial" relationship with U.S. on trade possible

2025/03/13 10:00

Acting President Choi Sang-mok said Seoul and Washington can strive to reach "more balanced and mutually beneficial" ties on trade and economics, which would ultimately upgrade their bilateral alliance. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Wednesday, Choi said that the South Korean government, along with the private sector, is fully prepared to improve trade with the U.S. The acting president also noted that the trade surplus with the U.S. is temporary, adding that South Korea's shipbuilding could help the U.S. revive its naval shipbuilding industry. Choi's interview was published on the same day that the Trump administration implemented the 25-percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports, including from South Korea.

President Trump says he has 'flexibility' on tariffs, rejects claims of inconsistency

2025/03/13 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threat continues, with the American leader now shedding light on reciprocal tariffs. Lee Seung-jae has more. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday stressed that April 2nd will be a "very big day" for the United States. as his reciprocal tariffs go into effect. Trump slammed the previous administration for America's losses in trade., but said the U.S. will "take back a lot of what was stolen from it by other countries." However, Trump also noted that he has shown "flexibility" on his tariff policy, rejecting claims that his policy implementation has been inconsistent, as seen through his on-and-off tariff impositions on Canada and Mexico. The U.S. leader also warned that once the tariffs go into effect, "there will be very little flexibility." Meanwhile,.. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Wednesday, that the European Union's new retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. came "too little too late." According to Greer, the EU's latest tariff on U.S. imports "completely disregards" the national security imperatives of the United States, adding that the bloc's trade and economic policies are "out of step with reality." The comments come as the EU announced it will respond to Trump's 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, by imposing its own tariffs on U.S. goods worth over 28 billion U.S. dollars, set to take effect on April 13. Canada also announced its own retaliatory tariffs on nearly 30 billion dollars worth of U.S. imports,.. after the 25 percent steel and aluminum tariffs went into effect on Wednesday. Canada says it will follow a "dollar-by-dollar" approach, and impose 25-percent tariffs on U.S. imports, including steel, computers, and sports equipment. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says her country will wait until April 2nd to decide whether to respond to the steel and aluminum tariffs. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

U.S. imposes 25% steel and aluminum import tariff on Wednesday

2025/03/12 20:00

Thank you for joining us. I'm Yoon Jung-min. Starting today, the Trump administration's 25-percent levy on steel and aluminum products that America imports from countries around the world went into effect. With this, the yearly tariff-free quota applied on Korean steel products has been scrapped. The authorities and businesses here are closely watching the move. Our Choi Soo-hyung has the latest. Starting Wednesday, a 25-percent tariff has been imposed on steel and aluminum exported to the United States. The new tariffs have been applied worldwide without exceptions. For steel, the tariffs affect countries including South Korea, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, European Union member states, Japan and the UK. For aluminum, previous exemptions for certain countries and products have been removed, and the tariff has been raised from 10 percent to 25 percent. However, 166 derivative products,.. including bolts, nuts, and springs are subject to tariffs, whereas 87 derivative items, including automobile and aircraft parts, are exempt until further notice. As a result, Canada, which is the largest supplier of steel and aluminum to the U.S., is expected to face the biggest impact. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2024, Canada accounted for 23 percent of total U.S. steel imports and about 60 percent of aluminum imports, while South Korea ranked 4th in both categories. South Korea's duty-free quota system for 2-point-63 million tons of steel products, which began in 2018, has now been ended, and the tariff on aluminum has been increased from 10 percent to 25 percent. The removal of the export volume limit under the "quota system" could provide an opportunity to expand exports to the U.S. However, there are concerns about the country's weakened competitiveness due to China's low-priced products and a decrease in international demand. The "reciprocal tariffs" that the Trump administration has announced to begin on April 2nd are expected to accelerate the ongoing trade crisis. In particular, the planned tariffs on key South Korean exports, such as semiconductors and automobiles, are increasing uncertainty for its market in the U.S. Moreover, the U.S. livestock industry has called South Korea's ban on beef from cattle over 30 months and its agricultural quarantine system unfair, urging the Trump administration to take action. Amid the growing crisis, the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will strengthen the public-private emergency system in response to U.S. tariff measures and prepare strategies to address reciprocal tariffs on items such as automobiles in early April. Choi Soo-hyung, Arirang News.