News

U.S. Immigration enforcement raids Hyundai plant in GA, detaining 450 people

2025/09/05 19:40

U.S. authorities raided a Hyundai Motor plant in Georgia on Thursday. This according to ATF Atlanta's X post. Some 4-hundred-50 people have been detained including about 30 South Korean nationals. The raid has also halted construction work at the site for a car battery factory that Hyundai is partnering with LG Energy Solution. The raided site is one of Georgia's largest manufacturing sites employing about 12-hundred people and where Hyundai Motor Group makes EVs.

Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping, Putin signal complications for South Korea, U.S diplomacy with N. Korea: Experts

2025/09/05 19:39

Analysts here in South Korea believe this week's show of solidarity among the leaders of China North Korea and Russia in Beijing looks to complicate efforts to ensure nuclear disarmament on the Korean peninsula. Our foreign affairs correspondent Oh Soo-young explains. A new phase of bloc politics could complicate the equation for peace on the Korean Peninsula. That’s according to analysts in Seoul, after Kim Jong-un joined Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at China’s Victory Day celebration in Beijing. On Wednesday, the leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia put on a united front throughout China’s major military parade, hardening the fault lines against South Korea’s strengthened trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan. "China and Russia have openly declared that they intend to advance a so-called multipolar international order, which would revolve around the Global South, BRICS, and Eurasian states. Their gathering reflected that push. Second, it signaled a counter-message to the US and the West, considering the recent South Korea–U.S. summit and their solidarity with Japan, reinforcing bloc confrontation in the region. For Kim Jong-un, it also underscored his push for recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power. While South Korea and the United States say they remain committed to reviving dialogue with Pyongyang, both allies maintain their push for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. But for now, Pyongyang has little incentive to talk, as it benefits from Russia’s war in Ukraine with troop deployments and arms supplies exchanged for economic and diplomatic returns. At the same time, the potential end of the Ukraine war could means Kim must keep his options open, shoring up ties with China, and pressing for deeper economic cooperation. "From Kim Jong-un’s perspective, it would be the North Korean-style division of labor: the economy from China, security from Russia, reaping benefits from both. Still, if talks to end the Ukraine war do take place and move forward, US North Korea dialogue could open up. In that dialogue, North Korea would seek to leverage China's backing to pressure the U.S. This reflects a calculated diplomatic strategy." For South Korea and the U.S., China adds another layer of complexity. "China’s decision to invite Kim underscores its role as a key player in Korean Peninsula and regional affairs, displaying Beijing's firm influence on Pyongyang. The message is that Seoul and Washington must maintain amicable ties with China if they want to improve relations with the North." It's a leverage Xi Jinping clearly flaunted as he elevated Kim Jong-un's treatment with special protocol in Tiananmen Square. The diplomatic calendar further raises the stakes. South Korea will host the APEC leaders’ meeting this October, and has hoped to see the leaders of the U.S., China, and even North Korea show up. Attending the Victory Day parade instead of President Lee Jae Myung, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has invited Xi Jinping to APEC once again. It remains unclear whether the Chinese leader will accept. "China initially had high hopes at the start of the Lee Administration. But despite stressing “pragmatic, national interest–based diplomacy,” Lee prioritized a summit with Japan and reaffirmed its alliance with Washington. That likely displeased Beijing." Looking forward, Seoul says it will continue strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance, while aiming to develop “mature relations” with China in a way that mutually benefits their citizens,.. also requesting Beijing play a constructive role in Korean Peninsula affairs. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

FTC chairman nominee outlines vision for updated market system in confirmation hearing

2025/09/05 19:38

Ju Biung-Ghi the nominee to head the Fair Trade Commission has highlighted the importance of an upgrade in the market system. Speaking at his confirmation hearing earlier on this Friday Ju pledged support for innovative companies and stern punishment for those that abuse their power for unfair gain. He claimed the move is necessary for South Korea to compete with advanced economies. Ju also emphasized the need to protect small and medium-sized businesses from technology theft and to ensure fair market conditions for online platforms.

President Lee to meet with DP and PPP leaders on Mon. to foster cooperation

2025/09/05 19:37

President Lee Jae Myung will host the leaders of the two major political parties Jung Chung-rae of the Democratic Party and newly elected Jang Dong-hyeok of People Power Party for lunch next Monday. Monday's meeting will be the first between the president and the new head of the PPP who was elected last week. Following lunch the two will sit down for a separate one-on-one to discuss a wide range of issues without a specific agenda. The Presidential Office hopes the talks will open a new chapter of dialogue between the government and the opposition.

Two S. Koreans among 16 dead in Lisbon funicular crash

2025/09/05 19:37

In Portugal. Two South Korean nationals are among the 16 victims who lost their lives in a crash of a popular funicular railway car in the capital city Lisbon. Cha Yun-kyung has the latest. In the tragic crash of the historic Gloria funicular, 16 people were killed, and more than 20 others injured. On Wednesday, around 6:15 PM local time, Lisbon's 140-year-old funicular train, which is popular with tourists, derailed and crashed into a building. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro visited the site of the funicular accident on Thursday evening for a mass in honor of the 16 victims of the crash. Prime Minister Montenegro called the crash "one of the biggest human tragedies" in the country's recent history, and President Rebelo de Sousa told journalists that it was a time to mourn the deceased and to console their family members. "Today is a national day of mourning, it's mourning for Lisbon but also for Portugal. In this hour of mourning, we are waiting for a time when, first and foremost, we must mourn the dead, respect the dead. Believers pray for the dead, non-believers think of the dead." The yellow funicular that carried many tourists up and down a steep hillside in Lisbon was left overturned on the cobblestone street. Of the 16 victims the coroner has so far identified the bodies of five Portuguese, two South Koreans and one Swiss national. "Five Portuguese citizens have been fully identified through scientific methods. Two South Korean citizens ---we have had close collaboration with the South Korean embassy from the outset ---were identified and one Swiss victim through Interpol." According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, the two Koreans are a man and a woman, and there was another injured Korean woman in the accident, who is currently undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit of a local hospital after surgery. Meanwhile, President Lee Jae Myung on Friday extended condolences to the families of the victims of the deadly crash. He posted a message on Facebook saying, "I offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved families and the people of Portugal, who must be in profound sorrow and shock, and I wish a swift recovery for the injured." Lee said the Korean Embassy in Portugal formed a task force immediately after the accident, and the ambassador also checked the situation at the site of the accident. He added that the government will convey condolences to the Portuguese prime minister and request special support for Korean nationals. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Assembly speaker calls meeting and handshake with N. Korean leader an achievement

2025/09/05 19:36

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik is back here in Seoul from Beijing having attended China's Victory Day Parade on behalf of the South Korean government. Our political correspondent Shin Ha-young reports. After attending China's Victory Day ceremony as South Korea's representative, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik returned home on Friday, saying there had been progress in strengthening Korea-China cooperation and even some unexpected gains for peace on the Korean Peninsula. "It seems there was some progress in improving Korea-China cooperation, which was our original goal, and I think this could open up a new opportunity. I believe there was some unexpected progress for peace on the Korean Peninsula." Regarding his encounter with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday, Speaker Woo said that just being able to meet and shake hands was already an achievement, adding that many had thought the chances of meeting Kim before his trip to Beijing were very low. This echoes what he said at a press conference in China the day before. "It was hard to have a full discussion, which I find a bit regrettable, but given the current state of inter-Korean relations, I think even a brief meeting was still meaningful." Woo left for Beijing on Tuesday evening to attend the military parade, and the next day, he was seen shaking hands with the North Korean leader. According to the National Assembly Speaker's office, Woo told Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also attended the event, that he hopes the South and North will usher in an era of peace and prosperity and work toward building peace on the Korean Peninsula. He also mentioned that South Korea is hosting next year's UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting, and asked Putin to convey to Kim his hope to visit North Korea's Mount Kumgang, recently named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.

Kim and Xi reaffirm unwavering friendship and signals restorations of close ties

2025/09/05 19:35

In Beijing. North Korea's Kim Jong-un and his Chinese host Xi Jinping sat down for separate bilateral talks Thursday evening on the sidelines of China's Victory Day parade to reaffirm their ties. Our correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung has details. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping's meeting signaled the restoration of close ties that had grown distant due to the recent North Korea–Russia rapprochement. The two met at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, marking the first such meeting since 2019, with Kim visiting China in January of that year, while Xi visited Pyongyang in June. During the meeting, the two leaders shared the pleasure of seeing each other yet again, and agreed to work together to safeguard their common interests, as part of what was described as a community of shared destiny. "In the face of a turbulent international landscape, China stands ready to strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and cooperation, and deepen exchanges of experience in governance with the DPRK, so as to effectively advance our respective socialist cause and jointly promote regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity." "The past six years have seen earthshaking changes and development in China, which impressed me greatly. What touched me even more is the unwavering and profound friendship between our two peoples. Despite the ever-changing world, this friendship will never change." While touting the development Beijing achieved, Kim stressed the regime's readiness to deepen economic and trade cooperation to achieve greater results. When it comes to the tension on the Korean Peninsula, Kim did mention how he appreciated China's (quote) "fair stance" regarding the issues, to which Xi responded that China will continue to strengthen coordination with the North to safeguard peace and stability in the region. However, the joint statement released by China after the meeting did not include any mention of the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Kim arrived at Beijing Station at 9:50 PM, departing on his special train 15 minutes later. He is expected to arrive in Pyongyang on Friday afternoon, if he heads straight back. His fifth visit to China was his longest one on record, lasting four days and five nights. His stay in Beijing was also his longest, at around 54 hours. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

PEACE RANKING, ACCELERATED AGING IN THE HEADLINES

2025/09/05 19:34

Welcome to Press Perspective for this Friday September 5th here in Seoul. I'm Min Sunhee. It's that time of the week during which we touch upon a number of intriguing headlines related to the broader society and of course South Korea. For this I have freelance journalist Raphael Rashid. Raphael it's good to have you here. I also have writer Colin Marshall with us. Colin welcome back. Raphael, let's start off with the latest rankings for the most peaceful countries this year. Which are the top countries, where does South Korea stand, and what are your takeaways from the latest findings? Raphael, another intriguing study published in Nature Medicine reportedly shows social inequality and weak democracy accelerates aging. What are your thoughts? Colin, what are your thoughts with regard to the findings related to South Korea from these two studies? Raphael, staying with living trends here in South Korea. We've touched upon this a few times in the past, but it's been highlighted again, this time by the South China Morning Post. So why are foreigners loving but leaving South Korea according to this latest article? And what are your takeaways? Colin, what makes long-term residence in South Korea tough for foreign immigrants? Raphael, moving on to the screens now. Director Park Chan-wook's latest production "No Other Choice" has been the talk of the town at the Venice Film Festival. Do tell us more. Colin, despite the ongoing global popularity of K-entertainment, its big screen productions have been lacking at international festivals. What do you believe is the reason behind this unfortunate reality? Meanwhile Raphael, the New York Times says Korean tattoo artists are garnering much attention here and beyond. What appears to be fueling this interest? Colin, public perception regarding tattoos are also changing here in the country. Do you suppose South Korea's legal framework should reflect this reality? All right. On that note we end this week's EDITIONS of Press Perspective. Thank you for watching.

[K-enter] "Dynamite" MV surpasses 2 billion views

2025/09/05 15:37

Time for some K-entertainment news with Bella Kim. Bella, BTS has reached another amazing milestone? BTS’s hit song “Dynamite” music video surpassed 2 billion views on YouTube, a first for the group. The video hit the 2 billion view mark on Thursday morning, five years after the song was released back in August of 2020. “Dynamite” was BTS’s first official English track, released with sights set on the global music charts. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, which was a first for a song by a Korean act back then, and maintained the top spot for three weeks. It also won BTS the ‘Best Song’ award at the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards and the ‘Top Selling Song’ award at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. Meanwhile, BTS is set to return with new music and a world tour next year. Can't wait for that! The next story is also about a boy group? It’s DAY6! The band is releasing their fourth full-length album in about 6 years to commemorate their 10th anniversary. The new album is titled “The DECADE” (of course, in line with their 10 year anniversary) and will be released today, that’s Friday, Korean time. On Thursday, the music video teaser for one of the new songs, “INSIDE OUT,” was released on the group’s official SNS channels. The video heightened anticipation for the full music video with its intense melody and lyrics that stand out for their honesty. “The DECADE” has a total of 10 tracks, including the double title song “Dream Bus” and “INSIDE OUT.” Meanwhile, DAY6 renewed their contract with their agency JYP Entertainment once again, ahead of their 10th anniversary, which is coming up this weekend, September 7th. Congrats, congrats! And lastly, we will round this segment off with BAEKHYUN. K-pop boy group EXO member and solo artist BAEKHYUN has become the first South Korean celebrity to reach Diamond Level 1 for his personal ‘Super Topic’ on Weibo, China’s largest SNS platform. ‘Super Topic’ is a community operated within Weibo centered around artists, their works, and specific topics, and is considered a key indicator of the largest fanbase scale and activity level in China. BAEKHYUN is the first and only South Korean artist to reach Diamond Level 1 for his personal ‘Super Topic.’ This achievement is believed to have been significantly influenced by his world tour “Reverie” Macau performances held on the 30th and 31st of last month. Meanwhile, BAEKHYUN is scheduled to meet fans from various regions through his ongoing world tour. Thank you Bella for today’s stories. Now, let's go over to our AI anchor Ari, for more on the culture front. Ari!

K-wave AI News

2025/09/05 15:35

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's budget for next year has been set at around 7.8 trillion won, or nearly 5.6 billion U.S. dollars. That's up about 10% from this year. A key focus of next year's budget is boosting Korea's content industry, with some 330 million dollars set to be allocated to related funds, which marks a significant increase from this year. Over 180 million dollars will be invested in establishing a 'Global K-Culture Hub' in major cities worldwide to support further expansion of K-content. Support will also be expanded for the utilization of AI and other technological support within the K-content industry. The Cheongju Craft Biennale 2025 kicked off Thursday with an opening ceremony, launching a 60-day run. Now in its 14th edition, the biennale is a leading international event showcasing the full spectrum of crafts, from ceramics and textiles to metalwork, bringing together artists and works from around the world. Under the theme "Re_Crafting Tomorrow," this year's biennale runs through November 2, presenting more than 2,500 works by artists from 72 countries. The event explores the essence of craft and its enduring role in human life, rooted in the fundamentals of food, clothing, and shelter. Katsushika Hokusai's "Under the Wave off Kanagawa," a symbolic masterpiece of Japanese art, is currently on display in Korea. The world-famous woodblock print is being showcased as part of the special exhibition "Home of Fujisan, Yamanashi," hosted by the Cheongju National Museum to mark the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic normalization. The exhibition features over 100 cultural treasures from the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, including 13 Important Cultural Properties of Japan and six Yamanashi-designated cultural assets. The show runs through December 28. That's all from me. Stay tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Short-form] September 7, International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies

2025/09/05 15:34

Blue skies aren’t optional – they’re our shared responsibility. Join the movement started by Korea and help shape a cleaner, sustainable tomorrow.

[Kulture Issue] How Korean children's content is grabbing attention of kids around the world

2025/09/05 15:34

The stage for K-content is expanding beyond K-pop and K-dramas. Korean children’s content has also grown into a category of its own, with Teenieping and Baby Shark capturing the hearts of little ones across the globe. What’s behind the popularity of K-Kid content? Let’s find out with culture critic, Professor Chie Hye-won at Kyung Hee University. Hello Professor Chie! Q1. Let’s start with "Baby Shark doo-doo-doo-doo-doo", the song that the average toddler to elementary kid in Korea, and no doubt abroad too, will know off by heart. We recently reported on this, but there was a significant achievement for this children's song, right? Q2. After Pororo, the Korean kids' market had been quiet for a while, but now it's shaking up the global stage again with content like Teenieping, Baby Shark, and also recently, the animated film The King of Kings. How do these resonate with kids around the world? Q3. Korean kids' content has a distinct appeal that sets it apart from Disney or Pixar, doesn't it? Professor, what are the unique strengths of Korean content? Q4. Children’s preferences have probably changed over the years. How do you think Korean kids’ content has evolved to keep pace with quickly changing needs? Q5. Let’s talk about the expansion of intellectual property. With the huge interest in characters from K-content, we see musicals, merchandise, pop-up stores, webtoons, etc., thriving. What are the implications and maybe risks posed by such an expansion? Q6. What about creator rights, copyright, and revenue distribution issues? How should these be addressed? Q7. How do you foresee the K-kids content industry within the global culture market from here on? Thank you very much, Professor Chie, for your insights. Have a great weekend. Thank you Bella, see you next week.

[Weather] Late summer heat returns in central areas, passing rain south...heavy rain this weekend

2025/09/05 13:39

After comfortable morning temperatures, late summer heat makes a comeback in the central parts of Korea today. But intense late summer heat continues in the southern regions with heat advisories in place. Gwangju, Daegu, and Busan will all get up to 32 degrees, but scattered showers in southern regions will lead to muggy conditions. Seoul tops out at 33 degrees under sunny skies. About that passing rain, the amount could be anywhere from 5 to 60 millimeters with a chance of heavy downpours through this evening. Meanwhile, we're tracking a major rain event this weekend. Central and Jeolla-do regions could see up to 80 millimeters of rainfall. Rain will start in the western regions early tomorrow morning, then spread nationwide. It could pound down 50 millimeters per hour at its peak, bringing a risk of travel disruptions. Rain will continue into early next week in southern regions and Jeju, while morning temperatures will get much cooler.

'King' of Italian fashion Giorgio Armani dies at 91

2025/09/05 13:39

Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani passed away at the age of 91 on Thursday, with reports saying he died peacefully at his home in Milan, following a long illness. Dubbed the "King of the Blazer," he was known for his modern Italian style, characterized by elegance and simplicity, having pioneered the concept of soft power dressing, which features more fluid, longer-cut suit jackets and loosely pleated trousers. Tributes poured in from across the fashion world and beyond, including Donatella Versace, who called him a "giant," and others lauded his legacy. Armani remained actively involved in his brand and design work until his final days. An area for the public to express condolences will be set up over the weekend in Milan.

Ebola outbreak kills 15 in DR Congo

2025/09/05 13:38

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new Ebola outbreak has been confirmed in central Kasai province, where 15 people have died and 28 suspected cases have emerged, according to the country's health ministry on Thursday. The latest case involved a 34-year-old pregnant woman, admitted to the hospital in August, who subsequently showed symptoms of the illness. This marks the country's sixteenth Ebola outbreak since the disease was first identified in 1976. Officials said the Zaire strain, which is rare but highly fatal, was identified. The World Health Organization said it was "acting with determination to halt the spread of the virus and protect communities rapidly."

US gives Ecuador nearly $20 million in new funding, drones to fight drug gangs

2025/09/05 13:38

The United States has promised to support Ecuador's fight against drug cartels, announcing nearly 20 million U.S. dollars in new funding. The announcement was made during Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Quito, Ecuador, on Thursday, where he unveiled 13.5 million dollars in security assistance for general anti-cartel operations and an additional 6 million dollars to equip the Ecuadorian Navy with surveillance drones. Rubio also designated Ecuador's most notorious gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as foreign terrorist organizations, referring to them as "vicious animals." The designation grants the U.S. broader authority to freeze assets, target operations, and enhance intelligence-sharing capabilities. Ecuador's President, Daniel Noboa, expressed support for tighter cooperation with the U.S., including the possibility of reinstating a U.S. military base in the country. This decision comes in response to a surge in violence and drug trafficking driven by cartels in Ecuador.

Macron says 26 countries ready to send troops for Ukraine ceasefire

2025/09/05 13:38

Starting in Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron said 26 nations pledged to deploy a "reassurance force" to Ukraine, immediately after a ceasefire agreement is reached. According to Macron, following the "Coalition of the Willing" meeting in Paris on Thursday, 26 countries have committed to providing security guarantees for Ukraine. These forces are intended to deter future Russian aggression, not engage in combat, and will be deployed the day after a ceasefire or peace deal takes effect. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, alongside U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, participated in the summit. While continued American support was discussed, the U.S. has not yet pledged ground troops. Macron also said U.S. support for Ukraine's security guarantees will be finalized in the coming days, following a call with President Donald Trump. Though some EU countries, including Italy, have ruled out sending troops, others, such as Germany, are weighing participation and may support Ukraine through training and equipment.

[On-point] N. Korea reaffirms ties with China, as S. Korea's Lee prepares U.S. visit

2025/09/05 13:37

North Korea's Kim Jong-un met China's Xi Jinping in Beijing for the first time in six years, and their rare one-on-one meeting was largely focused on reaffirming friendship. As for South Korea, President Lee Jae Myung will be traveling to New York later this month where he could meet his American counterpart Donald Trump for the second time in around a month. For more on this, we're joined by Professor Kim Dong-soo, Professor at the Division of international and area studies, at Pukyong National University. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sat down for talks with China's Xi and Russia's Putin in Beijing. What's your assessment of North Korea moving closer to Beijing and Moscow? It was a dramatic image: Kim, Xi, and Putin appearing together in public. Will the United States try to further strengthen trilateral ties with South Korea and Japan in response? President Lee Jae Myung is set to attend the UN General Assembly later this month and chair a meeting there. He will be the first South Korean leader to preside over a UN Security Council meeting as South Korea assumes the rotating presidency this month, right? What makes this so significant? Will President Lee's visit to New York provide an opportunity for him to meet President Donald Trump again? Could there also be a trilateral summit that includes Japan? Alright. Thank you so much for your insight today. We appreciate it.

Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping, Putin signal complications for South Korea, U.S diplomacy with N. Korea: Experts

2025/09/05 13:36

At China's Victory Day parade this week, active diplomacy between North Korea, Russia and China sent a strong signal to the world. Our Oh Soo-young explains what it means for peace and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. A new phase of bloc politics could complicate the equation for peace on the Korean Peninsula. That's according to analysts in Seoul, after Kim Jong-un joined Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at China's Victory Day celebration in Beijing. On Wednesday, the leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia put on a united front throughout China's major military parade, hardening the fault lines against South Korea's strengthened trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan. "China and Russia have openly declared that they intend to advance a so-called multipolar international order, which would revolve around the Global South, BRICS, and Eurasian states. Their gathering reflected that push. Second, it signaled a counter-message to the US and the West, considering the recent South Korea–U.S. summit and their solidarity with Japan, reinforcing bloc confrontation in the region. For Kim Jong-un, it also underscored his push for recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power. While South Korea and the United States say they remain committed to reviving dialogue with Pyongyang, both allies maintain their push for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. But for now, Pyongyang has little incentive to talk, as it benefits from Russia's war in Ukraine with troop deployments and arms supplies exchanged for economic and diplomatic returns. At the same time, the potential end of the Ukraine war could means Kim must keep his options open, shoring up ties with China, and pressing for deeper economic cooperation. "From Kim Jong-un's perspective, it would be the North Korean-style division of labor: the economy from China, security from Russia, reaping benefits from both. Still, if talks to end the Ukraine war do take place and move forward, US North Korea dialogue could open up. In that dialogue, North Korea would seek to leverage China's backing to pressure the U.S. This reflects a calculated diplomatic strategy." For South Korea and the U.S., China adds another layer of complexity. "China's decision to invite Kim underscores its role as a key player in Korean Peninsula and regional affairs, displaying Beijing's firm influence on Pyongyang. The message is that Seoul and Washington must maintain amicable ties with China if they want to improve relations with the North." It's a leverage Xi Jinping clearly flaunted as he elevated Kim Jong-un's treatment with special protocol in Tiananmen Square. The diplomatic calendar further raises the stakes. South Korea will host the APEC leaders' meeting this October, and has hoped to see the leaders of the U.S., China, and even North Korea show up. Attending the Victory Day parade instead of President Lee Jae Myung, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has invited Xi Jinping to APEC once again. It remains unclear whether the Chinese leader will accept. "China initially had high hopes at the start of the Lee Administration. But despite stressing "pragmatic, national interest–based diplomacy," Lee prioritized a summit with Japan and reaffirmed its alliance with Washington. That likely displeased Beijing." Looking forward, Seoul says it will continue strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance, while aiming to develop "mature relations" with China in a way that mutually benefits their citizens,.. also requesting Beijing play a constructive role in Korean Peninsula affairs. Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.

Two S. Koreans among 16 dead in Lisbon funicular crash

2025/09/05 13:35

Over in Europe. The tragic crash of the historic Gloria funicular in Lisbon has left 16 victims dead, of which two have been identified as South Korean nationals. A mass was held at the site of the accident Thursday night, and an investigation has been launched by the local authorities, with all of Lisbon's funiculars shut down for technical inspections. Lee Eun-jin has the details. In the tragic crash of the historic Gloria funicular, 16 people were killed, and more than 20 others injured. On Wednesday, around 6:15 PM local time, Lisbon's 140-year-old funicular train, which is popular with tourists, derailed and crashed into a building. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro visited the site of the funicular accident on Thursday evening for a mass in honor of the 16 victims of the crash. Prime Minister Montenegro called the crash "one of the biggest human tragedies" in the country's recent history, and President Rebelo de Sousa told journalists that it was a time to mourn the deceased and to console their family members. "Today is a national day of mourning, it's mourning for Lisbon but also for Portugal. In this hour of mourning, we are waiting for a time when, first and foremost, we must mourn the dead, respect the dead. Believers pray for the dead, non-believers think of the dead. The yellow funicular that carried many tourists up and down a steep hillside in Lisbon was left overturned on the cobblestone street. Of the 16 victims the coroner has so far identified the bodies of five Portuguese, two South Koreans and one Swiss national. "Five Portuguese citizens have been fully identified through scientific methods. Two South Korean citizens we have had close collaboration with the South Korean embassy from the outset and one identified Swiss victim identified through Interpol." Among those not yet officially identified may be two Canadians, one Ukrainian and one German. It is not known how many passengers were on board when the crash happened. An investigation has now been launched by Lisbon prosecutors, police and the transport accident investigation department. Carris, the company that operates Lisbon's buses, trams, and funiculars, said all of its funiculars and its vertical lifts in the capital had been shut down for technical inspections, which would take place "in the coming days." Lee Eunjin, Arirang News.