News

S. Korean markets tumble after Trump's tariffs amp up risk of trade war

2025/02/03 17:00

And here in South Korea. The local bourse responded sharply to news of Trump tariffs on U.S. trade partners. The benchmark KOSPI surrendered 2-point-5 percent to close Monday's session at 2-thousand-4-hundred-53 while the tech-heavy Kosdaq sank 3-point-3 percent to settle at 7-hundred-3. The Korean won also weakened against the U.S. dollar with the exchange rate ending at 1-thousand-4-hundred-67 won against the greenback.

China, Canada, Mexico hit back against Trump tariffs

2025/02/03 17:00

Now as expected the three countries Canada Mexico and China that are facing the first set of Trump tariffs have vowed to retaliate. Ahn Sung-jin covers their response. Following the imposition of tariffs by the U.S., China stated that it would challenge Trump's move. "The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the U.S. seriously violates World Trade Organization rules, which is not conducive to solving its own problems, but disrupts normal China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation." In a written statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, China expressed strong discontent and added that not only will it file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization, but it will take other countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests. Though nothing has been specifically stated, some of its retaliation measures may be hardening export controls on rare earth metals or targeting U.S. companies with interests in China. There's also speculation that China may impose a 10 percent tariff on U.S. imports after Tuesday, when Trump's new sanctions will be put in place. Mexico and Canada have also vowed immediate retaliatory measures against the U.S. for tariffs imposed on both countries. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Saturday posted on X that she has informed her economy minister to implement what she called "plan B" which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico's interests. "This measure, of 25% tariffs, has effects for both countries but it has very serious effects for the economy of the United States as it is going to greatly increase the costs of all products that are exported from Mexico to the United States." Canada responded with a 25 percent tariff on American goods, including beer and wine starting Tuesday, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also urged Canadians to restrict travel to the U.S. and to boycott U.S. products, adding that Americans will feel pain from Trump's tariffs. "This is a choice that yes, will harm Canadians but beyond that, it will have real consequences for you, the American people." A spokesman for the European Commission said the EU regrets U.S. tariffs against neighboring countries and China and vowed to respond strongly to unfair levies levelled against the bloc. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

PROSPECTS OF SUMMIT BETWEEN U.S. AND N. KOREA

2025/02/03 17:00

Hello and welcome to Press Perspective for this Monday February 3rd. For those of you celebrating the lunar new year hope your festivities last week were good. We start this workweek with a look at prospects of possible engagement between the U.S. and North Korea amid the return of the Trump administration to the White House. For more I have Cheon Soram with US government-funded broadcaster Radio Free Asia here in the studio. Soram welcome. I also have Celio Fioretti with French daily La Croix. Celio it's good to have you here. 1) Soram, North Korea's delegate to the UN office in Geneva has reaffirmed his regime's dedication to its nuclear weapons. Let's begin with his remarks and their relevance. 2) Celio, after the remarks by the North Korean delegate to the UN in Geneva, the regime tested a cruise missile system in late January. Do tell us more about this test and its implications. 3) Soram, the tough rhetoric and the cruise missile test was then followed by a visit to a nuclear facility by Kim Jong-un. What appears to be the purpose of these latest words and actions by North Korea? 4) Celio, during an interview with Fox News that aired on January 24th, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke of reaching out to North Korea's Kim Jong-un. Pundits believe talks will be harder this time. What do they mean? 5) Soram, last Friday, American magazine "The National Interest" shared the thoughts of two North Korean defectors about the possible demands that may be made by Trump and Kim in the event of another summit between them. Do tell us more about the potential demands and their prospects. 6) Celio, Mr. Trump has called North Korea a "nuclear power", triggering concerns about a potential shift in U.S. policy on North Korea. What are the prospects of North Korea being recognized as a nuclear weapons state? I mean, how would France, which is one of the five nations formally recognized as possessing nuclear weapons, respond? 7) Soram, beyond the Korean peninsula. There have been quite a number of media reports about the absence of North Korean soldiers from the front lines in the battle between Ukraine and Russia. What more can you tell us? 8) Celio, last Friday, Mr. Trump claimed he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin may soon take "significant" action to ending the violence in Ukraine. What precisely did he say, and what endgame do you envision? All right.

K-wave AI News

2025/02/03 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The 2025 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, Korea's only winter festival officially designated as a global event, concluded on Sunday, with a new record. This year's festival drew nearly 1.9 million visitors, the highest figure since its inception in 2003. The number of foreign tourists surged to roughly 122,000, surpassing last year's 85,000. The unique festival has continued to attract over one million visitors annually since 2006, cementing its reputation as a world-class winter attraction. The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival, another iconic celebration of winter in Gangwon Province, has wrapped up its enchanting ten-day run. Celebrating its 31st year, the festival dazzled visitors with a range of interactive experiences, from a magical snow tunnel and stunning sculpture zone to an ice café and exciting sledding areas. A standout event was the 2025 Pyeongchang Bare-body Marathon, where participants braved Daegwallyeong's frigid temperatures running only in shorts, highlighting the festival's adventurous spirit. The Seoul Sky Observatory at Lotte World Tower is hosting a special exhibition titled "Coexistence," featuring renowned "artainers" from Korea and abroad. Focusing on the theme of "Coexistence," the exhibition explores the balance between nature conservation and the inescapable realities of industrial society. It will showcase over 90 works by 30 artainers, including Kim Wan-sun, a pioneering figure in the K-pop industry, and Bob Dylan, the iconic American singer-songwriter. It runs through April 13. That's all from me. Stay tuned for more cultural updates and insightful discussions ahead!

[Kulture Issue] Non-Korean K-pop groups and K-pop localization

2025/02/03 14:00

K-pop groups without Korean members? Seems like a new trend, as K-pop idol groups are not confined to just one or two foreign members anymore. There are even groups that are almost entirely composed of foreign nationals and they are increasingly successful in the global K-pop industry. This change is demonstrating how K-pop is not just pop music done by Koreans, but a genre of its own. Let's delve deeper into K-pop localization with Claire Marie Lim, music technologist, artist, and faculty member at Berklee College of Music. Hello Claire! Q1. Claire, let's begin by explaining the term "K-pop localization" and some background on how multinational K-pop groups were born. Q2. So, let's talk a bit about some of the groups that fit into this category and that we should keep an eye out for. (ex: Katseye, dearALICE, XG, NiziU, etc.) Q3. What elements of K-pop do you think have played a big role in the success of groups like Katseye and what's the relation between the rise in these groups and the global expansion of K-pop? Q4. Major entertainment agencies are applying their K-pop methodologies on these multinational groups, including production methods and training systems. How are these being applied effectively on the global stage? Q5. Are there any challenges though in applying Korean systems to groups that have members from such diverse cultural backgrounds? Q6. What are the most important things to consider in K-pop localization? Q7. What are your thoughts on the further expansion of K-pop localization? And what are the challenges lying ahead? Thank you very much Claire for your insights today. Thank you Walter. We'll see you back tomorrow.

[Short-form] Korea’s top spots to soak in nature’s refreshing energy in winter

2025/02/03 14:00

Check out top spots handpicked by the Korea Tourism Organization to mark ‘Ipchun,’ the start of spring in the traditional solar calendar

[K-enter] Rosé's "APT" music video surpasses 1 billion views, and Jennie announces "Love Hangover."

2025/02/03 14:00

It's now time for our daily dose of K-entertainment news with Walter Lee who also talked about a number of these groups we saw in Yoo-jin's report. Yes, "KickFlip" was a big story for us over the past month, we are still waiting for "Hearts2Hearts", which I am looking forward to personally and what are YG going to do with their new group? So much mystery surrounding them. But Walter let's now move on to your latest K-enter news. Our first story definitely no rookies anymore news on two BlackPink members. The music video for "APT.", a hit collaboration between BLACKPINK's Rosé and pop star Bruno Mars, has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube, according to Rosé's entertainment company The Black Label on Saturday. This is the fastest time for any K-pop artist to hit 1 billion views and is the fifth fastest music video worldwide to achieve this feat. Ahead of Rosé is.. 4. J Balvin, Willy William -Mi Gente 3. Ed Sheeran -Shape of You 2. Luis Fonsi -Despacito ft. Daddy Yankee 1. Adele -Hello Rosé beat out Psy's "Gangnam Style" by 56 days, with Psy taking 158 days to reach the one billion mark. The song is still dominating global charts, peaking at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the UK Official Singles Chart Top 100. And next up, the second member we are going to talk about is Jennie, and she has recently released a new single. Let's talk about that. On Friday, BlackPink's Jennie released her third single titled "Love Hangover" off her upcoming album "Ruby", less than a week after also releasing hard hitting single "Zen". Both singles are quite in contrast to each other with "Zen" coming in with some power vocals and bass while "Love Hangover" shows the versatility of Jennie's voice and the high-pitch, angelic side of her range. This is the third release coming off Jennie's album with the first song being "Mantra", leaving fans wanting more. Jennie's "Ruby" album is set for release on March 7. We have more girl group news. What's next? To celebrate their 10th anniversary, K-pop girl group Red Velvet will release a live concert film titled "Red Velvet Happiness Diary: My Dear, ReVeluv in Cinema". The film, which is available in special formats such as 4DX, SCREENX, and ULTRA 4DX, showcases the incredible talent that the group has built over the last decade and feature some of their greatest hits such as, "Happiness," "Ice Cream Cake," "Psycho," "Feel My Rhythm," "Cosmic," and "Red Flavour." . The film captures the Seoul performance of their fan concert tour and is set for an exclusive CGV release on February 5. Thanks for that news Walter stick around. And now time for other culture-related news with our AI anchor Ari who has exciting events to introduce for us today. Ari!

[Features_reporter] New wave of K-pop coming up in 2025

2025/02/03 14:00

2025 is expected to be a huge year for K-pop, with one reason being a new wave of rookie K-pop groups already turning heads, even before their official debut. Our culture correspondent Song Yoo-jin introduces some of them. These boys are among the rising stars breaking into the world of K-pop this year. 2025 is shaping up to be a dynamic year for the industry, with a fresh wave of rookie groups lined up. Three of K-pop's biggest entertainment agencies are preparing to debut highly anticipated new groups. First up is JYP Entertainment's KickFlip. Even before their official debut on January 20th, the boy group was named on Grammy.com's list of "Rookie K-pop Acts to Watch in 2025." And they are having a strong start, with their debut album "Flip It, Kick It!" topping two domestic music charts in the fourth week of January. "The group's vibe is really upbeat and lively. These days, people want boy groups to exude a bright, energetic presence, so in that sense, I think they nailed their image." Coming up next is SM's first girl group since Aespa's debut five years ago: Hearts2Hearts. The eight-member group is ready to steal the hearts of K-pop fans when they officially debut on February 24th. "SM's identity under former producer Lee Soo-man has been less about relatable, down-to-earth K-pop groups, but more about crafting myth-like figures, who seem distinct from typical teens or young adults. But now, artists need to connect with their fans on a more personal and emotional level. The question is how well they can pull it off this time." Last but not least is YG Entertainment. "Our new group, tentatively named Next Monster is waiting for their debut. We're looking forward to introducing them to fans soon." The label's newest group remains a mystery, with little information out there, except for one thing: YG is set to unveil them this year. "There are quite a few trainees at YG preparing for their debut. We'll reveal more details, including the official debut date, at a later time." With fresh talent, bold sounds, and new stories to tell, these rising stars are ready to take the spotlight. Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.

Egyptian border with Gaza at Rafah reopens after 9 months

2025/02/03 10:00

Starting in the Middle East, the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on Saturday local time after being closed for nearly nine months. This reopening aims to facilitate the evacuation of Palestinians, including children who require urgent medical treatment. The development is part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, aiming to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It signals that negotiations on the possible extension of the current ceasefire are gaining traction. The World Health Organization estimated just before the current ceasefire that approximately 12,000 patients require medical evacuation, including those with war injuries and chronic conditions. A group of 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children were the first to be allowed through the crossing on Saturday.

Kim A-lim wins LPGA Tour opener

2025/02/03 10:00

South Korean golfer Kim A-lim kicked off her 2025 season, with an LPGA Tour season opener victory on Sunday. Kim held off top-ranked Nelly Korda in the final round at the LPGA Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida, to shoot a five-under-67 on the day, and finish at 20-under par overall. The win also marks her third career LPGA title, and second in three months, following her victory at the Lotte Championship in November. She won her first LPGA Tour title at the 2020 U.S. Women's Open, one of the five majors.

N. Korea denounces Rubio's "rogue state" remarks

2025/02/03 10:00

North Korea has openly denounced the Trump administration for the first time since Donald Trump returned to office. According to the Korean Central News Agency on Monday, North Korea's foreign ministry condemned new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for calling Pyongyang a "rogue state." It also called the remarks "slanderous" and reiterated the U.S.'s unchanged hostile policy toward Pyongyang stating that it is absurd for the world's most troublesome country to call others troublesome. The North appears to be commenting on remarks made by Rubio on a U.S. podcast on January 30th where he said the world is becoming multi-polar with "rogue states" including Iran and North Korea to deal with.

On-point: How will President Yoon brace for two trials simultaneously?

2025/02/03 10:00

Things are going to be even more hectic for President Yoon, now that he has to brace for two simultaneous trials. We discuss this more with legal expert Joung Hwang. Good morning. 1. Busy weeks ahead for President Yoon now that the holidays are over. What do you think about the prospect that the court will speed up the impeachment trial considering that it is the trial of a sitting president and that he is under detention? 2. Witnesses are scheduled to appear again this week. What aspects will the Constitutional Court focus on? 3. President Yoon is actively participating in his impeachment trial. Will he appear in person at the criminal trial? How actively do you think he'll participate? 4. President Yoon is set to receive visits including from his party leadership in the coming hour. There is a limit to the number of visits and visitors? Will he receive all of them? 5. That means his wife, first lady, Kim Kun-hee, can also visit him. How likely is it that she'll visit? What makes you think so? Thanks so much for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

Yoon facing two simultaneous trials as detention continues

2025/02/03 10:00

Now onto the latest on the martial law saga. Starting this week, President Yoon faces two trials: his impeachment trial and a criminal one. Let's head to Seoul Detention Center where he is currently being held. Do-yeon, what is the scene like there, and walk us through what President Yoon has in store this week. Good morning Dami, as you said I'm standing in front of Seoul Detention Center where President Yoon has been detained since mid-January and could be for another six months during his trials. At the moment, you only see a handful of protesters here right now with speaker equipment for protests being set up. But you can see that there is heavy security with the police officers and buses on site. As for President Yoon's schedule this week he's set to head to the Constitutional Court on Tuesday and Thursday for his trial. Some key witnesses are set to be at the Court with him then. To be exact, key military personnel will take the witness stand who can testify to Yoon's orders during the declaration and the brief execution of martial law. They include Yeo In-hyeong, former chief of the Defense Counterintelligence Command and others. NIS Chief Cho Tae-yong and the National Security Advisor Shin Won-shik have also been asked to appear as witnesses by Yoon's legal team. Now, this is not the only trial Yoon is facing. His criminal trial also has begun and this means he could be appearing at two different courts three times a week. And because of this Yoon's legal team requested the Constitutional Court to stop the review of his impeachment motion as there is a criminal case going on for the same reason his declaration of martial law. According to Article 51 of the Constitutional Court Act this is a possibility. Meanwhile, the legal team is also looking at requesting bail for President Yoon to have him released during the trials. Now, Do-yeon, while the legal team may try to get President Yoon out of detention, he is allowed to receive visitors. Who's making their way to the detention center? That's right Dami, in fact the leadership of the ruling People Power Party is set to visit here in less than an hour. Yesterday during a press conference, floor leader Kwon Seong-dong said he would be joined by the PPP's interim chair Kwon Young-se during his visit at 11 AM. This is the first time the two top leaders of the party have visited President Yoon. While they did receive criticism from both within and outside of the party Kwon made it clear that it is a personal visit. He said the point isn't to discuss the ongoing trial or the political scene but to show support for an old friend. That's all for now, back to you Dami.

S. Korea's industrial output rises in 2024 despite persistent weak domestic demand

2025/02/03 10:00

South Korea's industrial production rose for the first time in four months in December, rounding off the year with an overall rise. Data from Statistics Korea on Monday showed that industrial output rose by 2-point-7 percent in the last month of 2024, contributing to an increase of 1-point-7 percent for the entire year compared to 2023. Manufacturing output showed growth due to a boom in the semiconductor sector, while services output continued to show a downturn. This comes on the back of weak performance in the retail and wholesale sectors especially with domestic demand failing to recover from the fallout of the December martial law declaration.

Constitutional Court to rule on Acting President's partial bench appointment

2025/02/03 10:00

A day before President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial resumes after the Lunar New Year holiday, the Constitutional Court will rule on another major case regarding its own judicial vacancy. Oh Soo-young has the details. The Constitutional Court will decide whether Acting President Choi Sang-mok should have appointed a third judge to fill the court bench's remaining seat a crucial ruling as the bench deliberates on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial. On Monday, the 8-member bench will deliver a verdict on a competence dispute filed by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik against the Acting President's decision to appoint only two out of the three candidates recommended the Assembly. Under pressure from both ends of the political spectrum, Choi in late-December chose to instate two candidates one recommended by the ruling party and one by the opposition party. But he omitted left-leaning judge Ma Eun-hyuk, saying there should be bipartisan agreement on the third candidate. The Assembly's resolution to appoint the judges was forced through by the majority-holding opposition party, which recommended two left-leaning candidates. The Speaker, who comes from the opposition party, claims Choi has disregarded the parliament's decision, by only partially enacting the resolution. The ruling People Power Party, however, have called for the case to be scrapped, and say the Speaker's competence dispute bypassed a formal vote at the National Assembly. The Court's composition is a particularly sensitive issue, amid President Yoon's trial, which requires a two-thirds majority vote to uphold his impeachment. The ruling party, and Yoon's supporters have raised concerns about the political orientation of the bench,. with the President's legal team requesting the recusal of three Justices on Saturday, citing their connections to a left-leaning legal organisation, and their associations with key figures espousing Yoon's impeachment. If the Court finds Choi Sang-mok's partial appointment unconstitutional, there would be significant pressure on the Acting President to appoint Ma Eun-hyuk as the ninth justice to the bench. However, as the ruling is not binding, observers say it is likely Choi would sustain the eight-member bench until a compromise is reached between the ruling and opposition parties. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

China, Canada, Mexico hit back against Trump tariffs

2025/02/03 10:00

And these countries under the influence of Trump's steep tariff plans plan on taking swift countermeasures. China is looking to sue the U.S., and Canada and Mexico are issuing retaliatory tariffs. Ahn Sung-jin has more. Following the imposition of tariffs by the U.S., China stated that it would challenge Trump's move. "The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the U.S. seriously violates World Trade Organization rules, which is not conducive to solving its own problems, but disrupts normal China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation." In a written statement from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, China expressed strong discontent and added that not only will it file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization, but it will take other countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests. Though nothing has been specifically stated, some of its retaliation measures may be hardening export controls on rare earth metals or targeting U.S. companies with interests in China. There's also speculation that China may impose a 10 percent tariff on U.S. imports after Tuesday, when Trump's new sanctions will be put in place. Mexico and Canada have also vowed immediate retaliatory measures against the U.S. for tariffs imposed on both countries. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Saturday posted on X that she has informed her economy minister to implement what she called "plan B" which includes tariff and non-tariff measures in defense of Mexico's interests. "This measure, of 25% tariffs, has effects for both countries but it has very serious effects for the economy of the United States as it is going to greatly increase the costs of all products that are exported from Mexico to the United States." Canada responded with a 25 percent tariff on American goods, including beer and wine starting Tuesday, while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also urged Canadians to restrict travel to the U.S. and to boycott U.S. products, adding that Americans will feel pain from Trump's tariffs. "This is a choice that yes, will harm Canadians but beyond that, it will have real consequences for you, the American people." A spokesman for the European Commission said the EU regrets U.S. tariffs against neighboring countries and China and vowed to respond strongly to unfair levies levelled against the bloc. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Trump says possible pain from tariffs "worth the price"

2025/02/03 10:00

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that America may feel economic pain due to his tariffs on key trading partners. However, he argued that it would be "worth the price" in order to secure U.S. interests. Lee Seung-jae reports. U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday imposed a 25-percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, while China was hit with an additional 10-percent tariff on the various existing duty rates. The tariffs are expected to be met with retaliatory measures from the affected countries, and are also expected to lead to higher inflation. Economists also predict that the ensuing trade war would likely slow U.S. growth. However, Trump says while the Americans may feel the economic "pain" from his tariffs, it would be "worth the price" in order to secure U.S. interests. Taking to his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, he said the tariffs will "Make America Great Again, and it will all be worth the price that must be paid." Meanwhile, in a separate post, the U.S. president reiterated his call for Canada to become a U.S. state. He claimed that the U.S. pays "hundreds of billions of dollars to SUBSIDIZE Canada," adding that Canada would "cease to exist as a viable Country" without the subsidy. With this, he called on Canada to become a "Cherished 51st State," promising that such a move would lead to lower taxes, better military protection and no tariffs. The cryptocurrency market responded negatively to the news of Trump's tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China over the weekend. According to U.S.-based exchange Coinbase as of 7 AM Korea Standard Time, the price of bitcoin stood at just over 97-thousand-200 U.S. dollars. The price of the largest cryptocurrency by market cap, hovered above 100 thousand U.S. dollars before the tariffs went into effect on Saturday. According to cryptocurrency media outlet CoinDesk, the renewed trade war could aggravate inflation in the U.S., and make it difficult for the U.S. Fed to cut interest rates. It added that the weakness in the bitcoin price reflects such concerns, sending a signal to the market to avoid risky assets. On the other hand, spot gold price surpassed 28 hundred U.S. dollars per ounce on Friday, with investors opting to buy safer assets. Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

[Weather] Brutal cold snap for week of Ipchun

2025/02/03 10:00

Today is Ipchun, the start of spring on the seasonal calendar but brace for the coldest week of the season, forget about the weekend's warmth. A cold wave advisory was re-issued for the upper parts of Korea. Tomorrow morning it will feel like minus 20 degrees Celsius in the capital. Gangwon-do and southern provinces are seeing a mix of rain and snow this morning, it will snow up to 1 centimeter. Then heavy snow will return to Jeolla-do Provinces from late this evening, piling up to 25 centimeters until Wednesday, Chungcheong-do could see more than 15 centimeters of massive snowfall. The capital and Gyeongsang-do Province will be under sunny skies, but biting winds will add more chill to the air. Seoul gets up to minus 2 degrees, 9 degrees lower than yesterday, Daegu at 2 degrees. Jeju and Jeolla-do should receive snow possibly into the weekend. Meanwhile, a rapid drop in readings will be no joke with this whole week looking to be a freezing one. It's going to be a long week. Bundle up tight.

67th Annual Grammy Awards

2025/02/03 10:00

In the U.S., the 67th annual Grammy Awards is taking place in Los Angeles on Sunday local time. Hosted by Trevor Noah for the fifth time, the event honors outstanding achievements in the music industry over the past year. Beyonce led the nominations with 11, and secured early wins, including Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Kendrick Lamar also won multiple awards for his track "Not Like Us." The ceremony features performances by artists such as Shakira and Billie Eilish and includes a tribute to Quincy Jones, an iconic producer who died last year. The event also aims to support wildfire victims in Los Angeles.

Ukraine accuses Russia of missile strike on Kursk school

2025/02/03 10:00

Moving to the Ukraine-Russia war Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of bombing a boarding school in Sudzha, located in the area of Russia's Kursk region that has been under Kyiv's control for five months. Civilians were sheltering there and preparing for evacuation when the attack on Saturday occurred. Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that four people were killed, dozens were injured, and 84 people have been rescued or received medical treatment. However, the Russian Defense Ministry says the Ukrainian forces launched the deadly missile strike from Ukraine's Sumy region. These conflicting accounts have not yet been independently verified.