N. Korea briefly reports on Trump's inauguration

North Korea's state media on Wednesday briefly carried reports on the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, marking its first news reports since he was elected last year. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper catering to domestic readers, and the Korean Central Broadcasting Station, a state-run radio network, reported that Trump was sworn in as the US president earlier this week. "In the United States, Donald Trump has taken office as president. He was elected the 47th president of

Jan. 22, 2025

S. Korea says Trump's mention of N. Korea as 'nuclear power' less different from his past policy

The Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that US President Donald Trump's reference to North Korea as a "nuclear power" aligns with his previous approach on the recalcitrant regime, suggesting that it should not be seen as his administration recognizing it as a nuclear-armed state. In a press availability shortly after the swearing-in ceremony Monday, Trump called the North a "nuclear power" and said that he "got along very well" with its leader Kim Jong-un, apparently referring to their direct engagem

Jan. 21, 2025

CIO investigators arrive at detention center to bring Yoon in for further questioning

The state anti-corruption agency was again attempting to forcibly bring in President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning Tuesday on criminal charges stemming from his failed attempt to impose martial law last month. Yoon has refused to appear for questioning four consecutive times since he was taken into custody for investigation on charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power. His only prior participation occurred on the first day of his arrest, during which he remained silent. The Corruptio

Jan. 21, 2025

Trump's trade memorandum sparks questions about Korea-US trade agreement

Following his inauguration on Monday, US President Donald Trump ordered a review of his country's existing trade deals, prompting speculation about a potential revision of the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, also known as KORUS FTA. Trump signed a trade memorandum instructing federal agencies to identify unfair trade practices and review all trade agreements, including the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement from his first term, for possible improvements. He also directed an investigation into the causes

Jan. 21, 2025

Man sentenced for vigilante actions against foreign nationals

A South Korean court sentenced the head of a civic group opposed to illegal migration to one year and two months in prison for conducting unauthorized searches and detentions of foreign nationals his group suspected of being in the country illegally. The head of Citizen's Protection Solidarity, also a former candidate for a political party in the 2024 general election, was found guilty of investigating and arresting several people from Southeast Asia. Eight other members of the group received su

Jan. 21, 2025

PSS' second-in-command spread far-right content to bodyguards to defend Yoon

Kim Seong-hoon, the deputy chief of the Presidential Security Service under investigation for obstructing the execution of a court-issued warrant to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol, shared content from far-right YouTubers to his subordinates and frequently tried to justify Yoon's martial law declaration, a local media outlet reported Tuesday. According to Korean-language newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, PSS officials said that Kim had sent 50 high-ranking officials of the agency a link with a far-right Y

Jan. 21, 2025

Tension in Seoul as arrested Yoon attends impeachment trial at Constitutional Court

​​Security was tightened across Seoul on Tuesday as arrested President Yoon Suk Yeol made an outing from a detention facility outside the city to attend his impeachment trial. The highly divisive leader's first public appearance since his failed Dec. 3 martial law bid heightened tensions for police, particularly as it came just two days after a shocking attack on a court by his supporters. Approximately 4,000 police officers from 64 riot squads have been stationed near the Constitutional Court i

Jan. 21, 2025

Parties stress alliance solidarity as Trump takes office

As US President Donald Trump took office, the People Power Party called for joint efforts with the US to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, while the Democratic Party of Korea urged initiatives for peace on the Korean Peninsula. The ruling People Power Party said in a statement Tuesday that it is “imperative that the international community, led by the South Korea-US alliance, work together to ensure that North Korea scraps its nuclear weapons and missiles, to improve human ri

Jan. 21, 2025

How political YouTubers are cashing in on Yoon’s arrest, fueling division

Experts warn YouTube’s polarizing environment escalates online hatred As South Korea continues to grapple with the political upheaval following suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 last year, YouTube channels have emerged as a means for individuals and small groups to spread their political beliefs ― as well as a lucrative business opportunity. Far-right YouTubers, along with some channels on the left, have heightened existing political divisions, leve

Jan. 21, 2025

Yoon denies issuing order to drag lawmakers out of parliament

Sitting president appears in public for 1st time in 48 days, since Dec. 3 martial law attempt President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared before the Constitutional Court of Korea on Tuesday for his impeachment trial and denied that he had issued the order# to drag out lawmakers from the parliament on the night he declared martial law on Dec. 3. Defending himself against a National Assembly-approved bill seeking his removal over the martial law declaration, Yoon refuted that he intended to obstruct the parl

Jan. 21, 2025

South Korea, UK hold talks on defense exports

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense hosted a defense cooperation meeting with the United Kingdom’s defense export agency, in line with the countries' joint efforts to develop opportunities in defense exports to a third country. According to the ministry on Tuesday, Lee Young-bin, director of the ministry’s planning and coordination office, met with Oliver Harry, the director of UK defense and security exports under the UK’s Department for Business and Trade who is tasked with supporting B

Jan. 21, 2025

CIO’s forced summons raises controversy

GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- Controversy ensued Tuesday over the anti-corruption agency's attempt to force President Yoon Suk Yeol to comply with interrogation on Monday. The president, arrested Sunday, has refused to appear for further questioning. Rep. Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of Yoon’s ruling People Power Party, on Tuesday denounced the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the lead agency of the joint team investigating the president, saying the agency was crossi

Jan. 21, 2025

Trump calls Kim Jong-un ‘nuclear power,’ touts rapport

People Power Party deems Trump's remarks 'very regrettable,' but says too soonn to discern true intent behind them US President Donald Trump on Monday labeled North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a “nuclear power,” while boasting of their friendship immediately after his inauguration. In response to a question about threats to country, Trump answered, “I think we have a lot of them right now. Right now I think we have a lot. I think North Korea turned out to be good. I was very friendly with him (

Jan. 21, 2025

[Breaking] President Yoon Suk Yeol attends his impeachment trial

Suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the third hearing of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, where it was anticipated that he would try to explain his controversial declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. It marked the first time in South Korea for an impeached president to appear in person at a Constitutional Court trial. Yoon, who, along with being on trial for impeachment, is under criminal investigation on charges of leading an insurrection and committing abuse

Jan. 21, 2025

Acting president vetoes 3 contentious bills

Cabinet likely to hold special meeting next week to return special probe bill to parliament Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok on Tuesday vetoed three bills that the opposition-led National Assembly had passed. The bills vetoed at a Cabinet meeting, presided over by Choi at the Government Complex Seoul, included a revision of the Broadcasting Act. It aimed to reverse the government's move to charge separately for electricity and television licenses from public broadcasters

Jan. 21, 2025