yt:channel:zznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw zznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2009-06-22T06:12:43+00:00 yt:video:Mq7-s72U4iE Mq7-s72U4iE UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T13:41:49+00:00 2025-11-04T13:49:13+00:00 Lee puts forth record-high 2026 budget with focus on AI Lee puts forth record-high 2026 budget with focus on AI #SouthKorea #President #LeeJaeMyung #Budget #Speech #AI #대한민국 #대통령 #이재명 #예산안 #시정연설 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04 (KST) yt:video:m5_Fdd20qyY m5_Fdd20qyY UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T13:24:36+00:00 2025-11-04T13:31:03+00:00 [Politics & Diplomacy] Budget battle begins over 728 trillion won spending plan 728조 예산 심사 돌입… 확장재정 두고 여야 격돌 예고 The government has submitted next year's budget proposal, and with the National Assembly beginning its deliberations this week, fierce debate is expected over the government’s expansionary fiscal stance and the President’s key policy programs. For more, we’re joined by our political correspondent, Moon Hye-ryeon. Welcome, Hye-ryeon. Good evening, Dami. Hye-ryeon, President Lee Jae Myung delivered a speech today about next year’s budget. Could you walk us through the key agenda and the overall review schedule? That’s right, President Lee Jae Myung outlined the government’s first full-year budget plan in his policy speech this morning — and with this, parliament will kick off its budget review. On Wednesday, the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts will hold a public hearing on the proposal, where experts and committee members debate the core contents of the budget bill. This will then be followed up by general policy inquiries on Thursday and Friday this week. The committee will then summon officials from various ministries to thoroughly examine the budget bill, and it does this by dividing the ministries into economic and non-economic ministries. So the likes of the Ministry of Economy and Finance would be categorized into the former, while those such as the Ministry of Education will be sorted into the latter. Economic ministries will be reviewed on the 10th and 11th, and non-economic ministries on the 12th and 13th. During this process, the members of the National Assembly will ask questions about major items for increase or reduction, policy priorities, and the feasibility of budget execution. Then, from November 17th, a budget adjustment subcommittee begins the detailed review process — adjusting spending before the deadline of December 2nd. So this is the first budget under the Lee administration — what are the major highlights of the proposal? The 728 trillion won budget for 2026 is aimed at both recovery and growth through bold fiscal spending. It’s the largest budget in South Korea’s history, and the government says it’s focusing on “performance-based” fiscal management — cutting inefficient projects while investing heavily in key growth engines. 27 trillion won — just under 19 billion U.S. dollars — was cut to restructure inefficient projects and administrative costs. Aside from the focus on AI and research and development as outlined by President Lee in his policy speech, other notable allocations include support for industries affected by U.S. tariffs, and direct cash payments for rural residents as part of new pilot programs. With the South Korea-U.S. summit during the APEC Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju still fresh in people's minds and the local elections coming up next year, it's no surprise that the budget reflects these priorities. Another big aspect of government spending plans for next year includes social safety nets and housing, which reflect ongoing efforts to address Korea’s demographic shifts. But this record budget also comes with controversy. How are the ruling and opposition parties responding? The main opposition People Power Party boycotted President Lee Jae Myung’s policy speech at the National Assembly, protesting what it calls “political oppression” by the government. Wearing black masks and ribbons reading “Mourning for Liberal Democracy,” opposition lawmakers staged a silent protest on the steps of the main hall, condemning the recent arrest warrant request for former floor leader Choo Kyung-ho in relation to the failed martial law order last December. The speaker of the National Assembly, Woo Won-shik, opened the session by welcoming the president’s visit, noting that while political discord remains, cooperation is vital. "Since this is a very crucial time, I believe it’s especially important for the National Assembly and the government to work closely together and take a step forward in cooperation." He praised the administration’s diplomatic gains at the recent APEC Leaders' Meeting, saying they restored market confidence and national pride. Democratic Party lawmakers applauded repeatedly throughout the president’s 22-minute speech, particularly as he highlighted the government’s efforts to stabilize the economy and improve citizens’ livelihoods. We’ll be watching closely as the political battle over next year’s budget unfolds at the National Assembly. Hye-ryeon, thank you for your report. Thank you for having me. #People_Power_Party #Democratic_Party #Budget #Spending_plan #국민의힘 #민주당 #예산심사 #확장재정 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 20:00 (KST) yt:video:v6hgjfrsPSY v6hgjfrsPSY UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T13:17:10+00:00 2025-11-04T13:30:33+00:00 Korea could launch its own nuclear-powered submarines in mid-to-late 2030s: defense official 軍 "원자력추진잠수함 2030년대 중후반 진수 가능" South Korea should be able to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine using its own technology in the mid-to-late 2030s, following the recent agreement with the U.S. on nuclear fuel supplies. That's according to a defense ministry official, Won Chong-dae, during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, where he added that Korea may begin construction in the late 2020s if it secures fuel from the U.S. through consultation. For that, a pan-governmental task force will be set up. During the Korea-U.S. summit last week, President Lee Jae Myung asked his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, to allow Korea to secure nuclear fuel supplies for submarines. Trump later approved that such submarines could be built at a Philadelphia shipyard, owned by South Korea's Hanwha Ocean. #SouthKorea #Nuclear_powered_submarines #Defense #대한민국 #국방부 #핵추진잠수함 #진수 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 20:00 (KST) yt:video:ooXV-tsezjQ ooXV-tsezjQ UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T13:16:09+00:00 2025-11-04T13:30:01+00:00 Lee says regaining wartime OPCON would strengthen S. Korea-U.S. alliance 李대통령, 美 헤그세스에 "전작권 회복, 한미동맹 심화 계기 될 것" President Lee Jae Myung told U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth that South Korea's plans to regain wartime operational control from Washington within his five-year term will further strengthen Seoul and Washington's alliance. According to Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, during their meeting at the Yongsan Presidential Office on Tuesday, the President said the move would help ease America's defense burden in the Indo-Pacific region. Lee also expressed appreciation to U.S. President Donald Trump for supporting South Korea's building of nuclear-powered submarines. Secretary Hegseth responded that Washington will actively support Seoul's efforts to bolster its self-defense capabilities, citing increased defense spending and developing such subs. #SouthKorea #UnitedStates #Defense_Secretary #PeteHegseth #President #LeeJaeMyung #대한민국 #미국 #국방장관 #피트헤그세스 #대통령 #이재명 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 20:00 (KST) yt:video:yBtbiWcTNOE yBtbiWcTNOE UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T13:15:52+00:00 2025-11-04T13:29:30+00:00 S. Korea and U.S. defense chiefs hold press conference after 57th SCM on Tuesday 한미 국방장관 오늘 SCM 개최… "한국은 모범 동맹국, 한국 핵잠 긴밀 협조할 것" Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held their annual security talks on Tuesday. A joint communique was not released, but they did tap into ways to boost defense ties. Our defense correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung tells us more. The South Korean and U.S. defense chiefs reaffirmed the steadfastness of the ROK-U.S. alliance, during their annual security talks the 57th Security Consultative Meeting on Tuesday. A joint communique was not released, waiting for a joint factsheet for the two countries to come out first. Still, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did share some parts of the discussion they had during the meeting. Regarding the nuclear-powered submarines which Trump recently gave approval to, the Pentagon vowed support across its departments. "We're going to work closely with the Department of State and the Department of Energy to fulfill President Trump's commitment in a deliberate manner, and I think it's a reflection of something. I said that the President wants allies to be strong。” Noting that South Korea is a "model" ally, Hegseth said he was encouraged by South Korea's commitment to increase defense spending and make greater investments in ROK military capabilities. To modernize the alliance and boost ties, the two allies agreed on some practical steps, including having U.S. warships be repaired in South Korea, to ensure their most lethal capability remains ready to respond to any crisis. As to whether the U.S. Forces Korea could be used against China in the Taiwan Strait, U.S. defense chief underlined the importance of flexibility, but said the USFK is oriented to protect South Korea from the North. "There's no doubt you know flexibility for regional contingencies is something we would take a look at, but we are focused on standing by our allies here and ensuring the threat of the DPRK is not a threat to the Republic of Korea, and certainly continue to extend nuclear deterrence as we have before." The comment resonates with the two defense chiefs' earlier visit to the Joint Security Area within the Demilitarized Zone on Monday, for the first time in eight years. Meanwhile, when asked about whether South Korea hopes to pursue nuclear weapons development, Minister Ahn clearly said this was not possible. "South Korea is part of the NPT, so it’s not allowed to have nuclear weapons. Therefore, developing nuclear weapons in South Korea would not be possible." He further added that because South Korea cannot possess nuclear weapons, the Combined Nuclear and Conventional Integration system, integrating U.S. nuclear capabilities with South Korea’s conventional weapons, has been established. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News. #SouthKorea #UnitedStates #Defense_Minister #AhnGyuback #Defense_Secretary #PeteHegseth #SCM #대한민국 #미국 #국방장관 #피트헤그세스 #안규백 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 20:00 (KST) yt:video:wezevG17IHM wezevG17IHM UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T13:10:31+00:00 2025-11-04T13:28:44+00:00 N. Korea has reportedly been preparing for talks with Washington: NIS 국정원 "김정은 對美 대화 의지 있어… 북미회동 대비 동향 확인" Though the much-anticipated meeting between the leaders of Pyongyang and Washington did not take place on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting last week, signs indicate that North Korea had been preparing for the possibility. That's according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service on Tuesday, during a National Assembly inspection of the agency. The NIS reportedly stated that there have been indications that Pyongyang has been getting ready for possible talks with the U.S., such as analyzing policy tendencies of working-level officials within the U.S. administration. It also added that if the right conditions are met, the North is likely to seek contact with Washington. #UnitedStates #NorthKorea #DonaldTrump #KimJongun #Summit #미국 #북한 #도널드트럼프 #김정은 #북미회담 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 20:00 (KST) yt:video:zEHK5rtfS2c zEHK5rtfS2c UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T13:06:45+00:00 2025-11-04T13:28:20+00:00 U.S. flight delays surge due to prolonged gov't shutdown 미국 셧다운 장기화에 공항 마비 우려… "전 공항 닫을 수도" Over in the U.S. As the government shutdown there nears its second month, flight delays are piling up due to staffing shortages. The country's Transportation Secretary says airspace will be closed if it becomes too risky to travel. Cha Yun-kyung reports. Millions of air passengers in the U.S. have been hit by delays or canceled flights due to a spike in staffing shortages amid a lack of pay,.. as the government shutdown enters its second month. "Last night was really bad It was thousands of people around here, all over, all the way outside for really long lines." "We're going to be here probably for about five hours now because we thought we had to check in early because of what's going on, so slightly disappointing, but yeah." Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy says the Trump administration would close all U.S. airspace if it thought an ongoing government shutdown made it too risky to travel. During an interview with CNBC on Monday local time, he said it is not currently at that point; rather, there are just "significant delays." Duffy also added that any absent air traffic controllers are not going to be fired, but issued a plea for them to go to work. As the shutdown has forced 13-thousand air traffic controllers and 50-thousand Transportation Security Administration officers to work without pay, Airlines, such as Delta, United, Southwest, and American Airlines, all called on Congress to quickly pass a stopgap funding bill, citing aviation safety risks. Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, told Reuters that he is "seriously concerned about disruptions to flight bookings and operations, with the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of November, when travel demand peaks." Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News. #UnitedStates #Government #President #DonaldTrump #Shutdown #Flights #미국 #대통령 #도널드트럼프 #정부 #셧다운 #공항 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 20:00 (KST) yt:video:JIvAzdyzS5E JIvAzdyzS5E UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T13:03:12+00:00 2025-11-04T14:16:38+00:00 [Weather] Back to the average temperatures but with temperature gaps [날씨] 오늘 오후부터 평년 기온, 큰 일교차 지속 Typical autumn temperatures returned in the afternoon. It was fine to take off your warm coat and change into something thinner thanks to milder weather. In the middle of the day, Seoul rose to 16 degrees Celsius, which is very similar to the average temperature at this time of year. However, since there are huge temperature gaps between the morning and daytime, please take good care of your health. As we go into the second half of the week, the daytime temperatures will rise further tomorrow. There'll be warm autumn weather in Seoul at around 19 degrees both tomorrow and Thursday. Seoul and Gyeongju will start off at 6 degrees tomorrow morning, with Chuncheon at 3 degrees. Daily highs will rise to 18 to 22 degrees all over the country. On Friday, rain is forecast in the eastern parts of Gangwon-do Province and in the south and on Jeju Island over the weekend. That's all for Korea. Here are the weather conditions around the world. #Temperature #Average #Temperature_gaps #Autumn #날씨 #평년_기온 #일교차 #11월 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 20:00 (KST) yt:video:xvvFN_rMlTs xvvFN_rMlTs UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T13:01:59+00:00 2025-11-04T13:01:59+00:00 [FULL] AI HEADLINE NEWS 22:00 ▪ Lee vows to build AI highway in 2026 budget speech ▪ S. Korea and U.S. defense chiefs hold press conference after holding 57th SCM on Friday ▪ China extends visa-free policy for 45 countries including South Korea ▪ Lee calls super week of diplomacy a "success," but just the beginning ▪ N. Korea's former head of state, veteran diplomat dies at age 97 yt:video:orOO39z_PlE orOO39z_PlE UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T12:50:25+00:00 2025-11-04T13:01:58+00:00 1104 NEWS IN PICTURES 1. LED DANCE OPENS KOREA UNIV. QS ASIA PACIFIC SUMMIT 2025 SEOUL, S. KOREA NOVEMBER 4, 2025 2. EARLY-MORNING CATCH JEJU, S. KOREA NOVEMBER 4, 2025 3. HOPE BOXES FOR THE VULERABLE SEOUL, S. KOREA NOVEMBER 4, 2025 yt:video:AoLcfsamr8c AoLcfsamr8c UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T12:39:53+00:00 2025-11-04T13:46:00+00:00 [FULL] NEWSCENTER (2025-11-04) ▪ Lee puts forth record-high 2026 budget with focus on AI ▪ [Politics & Diplomacy] Budget battle begins over 728 trillion won spending plan ▪ Korea could launch its own nuclear-powered submarines in mid-to-late 2030s: defense official ▪ Lee says regaining wartime OPCON would strengthen S. Korea-U.S. alliance ▪ S. Korea and U.S. defense chiefs hold press conference after 57th SCM on Tuesday ▪ N. Korea has reportedly been preparing for talks with Washington: NIS ▪ U.S. calls for sanctions on seven ships for illegally exporting North Korean coal ▪ China extends visa-free policy for 45 countries including South Korea ▪ Consumer prices rise 2.4% in October, largest rise in 15 months ▪ U.S. flight delays surge due to prolonged gov't shutdown ▪ [Weather] Back to the average temperatures but with temperature gaps yt:video:8uyiiEuKGhQ 8uyiiEuKGhQ UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T12:28:09+00:00 2025-11-04T12:49:29+00:00 From tariffs to submarines: Unpacking S. Korea’s ‘Super week’ of summits ‘외교 슈퍼위크’ 이후… 한국 외교, 어디로 가나 Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon. South Korea wrapped up a packed week of diplomacy, hosting APEC in Gyeongju and holding consecutive summits with the U.S., China and Japan. From resolving the tariff dispute with Washington to opening dialogue with Beijing and restarting shuttle diplomacy with Tokyo, President Lee Jae Myung focused on practical, interest-driven engagement. With both U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi visiting Korea, the country drew attention as a possible diplomatic bridge. And with COP30 and the G20 coming up, the question now is how this momentum might shape Seoul’s next moves on the global stage. For a deeper discussion on this, we connect to Lim Eunjung, professor of International Studies at Kongju National University. Welcome. Also joining us from Busan is Robert Kelly, Professor of International Relations at Pusan National University. Good to see you. (KELLY) 1. To start off, how did you personally assess South Korea’s overall diplomacy during the APEC Leaders Meeting in Gyeongju? Were there particular moments or outcomes that stood out to you? (LIM) 2. What about you? From the APEC meetings to back-to-back bilateral talks with the U.S., China and Japan, what kind of diplomatic direction or signaling do you think emerged from this “super week” of diplomacy? (LIM) 3. Let’s drill into the U.S. summit first. The long-debated tariff issue was settled just ahead of the APEC week. What do you think are the most tangible gains for South Korea from that deal? (KELLY) 4. Another noteworthy issue was President Trump’s approval of nuclear-powered submarines, and the discussion around revising the nuclear cooperation agreement. From a diplomatic standpoint, what does this breakthrough represent for South Korea’s strategic posture? (KELLY) 5. Let’s turn to the summit with President Xi. Despite closer military coordination with the U.S., President Lee pushed for economic and cultural cooperation with China, including movement on lifting informal sanctions like the “Korean Wave ban.” How do you evaluate the balance Seoul is trying to strike here, and do you see concrete room for progress? (LIM) 6. Balancing strong ties with Washington and stable ties with Beijing is always tricky. Do you think Seoul's dual-track approach to diplomacy is still viable, especially in a climate of intensifying U.S.-China rivalry? (KELLY) 7. On the Japan front, President Lee’s summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaiichi emphasized reviving shuttle diplomacy. What kind of long-term impact could this approach have on the future of Korea-Japan relations? (LIM) 8. Zooming out, the fact that both Trump and Xi came to Korea during APEC positioned Seoul as something of a diplomatic platform. Do you think this shows potential for South Korea to serve a wider bridging role in global geopolitics? (LIM) 9. Looking ahead, with COP30 and the G20 around the corner, where do you see South Korea’s diplomatic agenda heading next? What issues or arenas might become more prominent? (KELLY) 10. And finally, President Lee’s pragmatic diplomacy seems off to a strong start. But to keep it going, what political or institutional factors will be key to ensuring this momentum doesn’t stall? Thank you for your insights Prof kelly, Prof lim , we appreciate it. #APEC #APEC_2025_Summit #SouthKorea #Summit #Diplomacy #LimEunjung #RobertKelly #APEC_정상회의 #대한민국 #정상회담 #외교 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 20:30 (KST) yt:video:AjZlsy_jj9s AjZlsy_jj9s UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T11:57:56+00:00 2025-11-04T13:25:52+00:00 [LIVE] NEWSCENTER (2025-11-04) ▪ Lee puts forth record-high 2026 budget with focus on AI ▪ [Politics & Diplomacy] Budget battle begins over 728 trillion won spending plan ▪ Korea could launch its own nuclear-powered submarines in mid-to-late 2030s: defense official ▪ Lee says regaining wartime OPCON would strengthen S. Korea-U.S. alliance ▪ S. Korea and U.S. defense chiefs hold press conference after 57th SCM on Tuesday ▪ N. Korea has reportedly been preparing for talks with Washington: NIS ▪ U.S. calls for sanctions on seven ships for illegally exporting North Korean coal ▪ China extends visa-free policy for 45 countries including South Korea ▪ Consumer prices rise 2.4% in October, largest rise in 15 months ▪ U.S. flight delays surge due to prolonged gov't shutdown ▪ [Weather] Back to the average temperatures but with temperature gaps ▪ (1104 Within The Frame) From tariffs to submarines: Unpacking S. Korea’s ‘Super week’ of summits yt:video:QbZOqtA0-ow QbZOqtA0-ow UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T10:18:34+00:00 2025-11-04T10:21:06+00:00 PPP boycotts President Lee's budget policy address citing "political oppression" ahead of... PPP boycotts President Lee's budget policy address citing "political oppression" ahead of budget review 李대통령 시정연설 보이콧 국힘의원들 '침묵시위', 예결위 5일부터 본격 가동 As mentioned in that report the main opposition People Power Party chose to opt out of the president's budget speech at the parliament in protest of what the party calls "political oppression". Our National Assembly Correspondent Moon Hye-ryeon has details. South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party boycotted President Lee Jae Myung’s policy speech at the National Assembly on Tuesday, protesting what it calls “political oppression” by the government. The president’s address, which urged lawmakers to swiftly pass next year’s budget, went ahead without the conservative bloc — leaving what some described as a “half-empty” chamber. Wearing black masks and ribbons reading “Mourning for Liberal Democracy,” opposition lawmakers staged a silent protest on the steps of the main hall, condemning the recent arrest warrant request for former floor leader Choo Kyung-ho in relation to the failed martial law order last December. Inside the chamber, the president began his remarks by acknowledging the empty seats, but expressed hope that all parties ultimately share the same goal — serving the people. The speaker of the National Assembly, Woo Won-shik, opened the session by welcoming the president’s visit, noting that while political discord remains, cooperation is vital. "Since this is a very crucial time, I believe it’s especially important for the National Assembly and the government to work closely together and take a step forward in cooperation." He praised the administration’s diplomatic gains at the recent APEC Leaders' Meeting, saying they restored market confidence and national pride. Democratic Party lawmakers applauded repeatedly throughout the president’s 22-minute speech, particularly as he highlighted the government’s efforts to stabilize the economy and improve citizens’ livelihoods. Meanwhile, the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts is set to begin its review of the 2026 spending plan this week — starting with a public hearing on Wednesday, followed by policy questioning sessions and detailed ministry-by-ministry deliberations through mid-November. A final vote is scheduled before the legal deadline of December 2nd, though sharp partisan divisions could delay passage. Moon Hye-ryeon, Arirang News. #People_Power_Party #Democratic_Party #Boycott #Budget #Speech #국민의힘 #민주당 #시정연설 #보이콧 #예결위 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 17:00 (KST) yt:video:9wLkFHa9150 9wLkFHa9150 UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw Arirang News https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzznO4xSV8BKnUBPyswtCUw 2025-11-04T10:15:39+00:00 2025-11-04T10:23:48+00:00 S. Korea and U.S. defense chiefs hold press conference after holding 57th SCM on Friday 한미 국방장관 오늘 SCM 개최… "한국은 모범 동맹국, 한국 핵잠 긴밀 협조할 것" On the security front. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth held their annual talks here in Seoul earlier on this Tuesday. Our correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung has the latest. The South Korean and U.S. defense chiefs reaffirmed the steadfastness of the ROK-U.S. alliance, during their annual security talks the 57th Security Consultative Meeting on Tuesday. A joint communique was not released, waiting for a joint factsheet for the two countries to come out first. Still, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did share some parts of the discussion they had during the meeting. "We've had many meetings and discussions to find ways to strengthen defense cooperation based on mutual trust and teamwork, so we can respond to the rapidly changing security situation and build a future-oriented and friendly alliance." While underlining the need to boost defense ties grounded in realism, the U.S. defense chief again stated that Trump wants allies to be strong. Noting that South Korea is a "model" ally, Hegseth said he was encouraged by South Korea's commitment to increase defense spending and make greater investments in ROK military capabilities. To modernize the alliance and boost ties, the two allies agreed on some practical steps, including having U.S. warships be repaired in South Korea, with more to come. "Maintaining warships in theater will also ensure our most lethal capability to remain ready to respond to any crisis. Soon we also plan to expand our cooperation to maintaining ground equipment in Korea as well " When it comes to nuclear-powered submarines, the Pentagon is going to work closely with other departments to fulfill President Trump's commitment, Hegseth added. As to whether the U.S. Forces Korea could be used against China in the Taiwan Strait, he underlined the importance of flexibility, but said the USFK is oriented to protect South Korea from the North. "There's no doubt you know flexibility for regional contingencies is something we would take a look at, but we are focused on standing by our allies here and ensuring the threat of the DPRK is not a threat to the Republic of Korea, and certainly continue to extend nuclear deterrence as we have before." The comment resonates with the two defense chiefs' earlier visit to the Joint Security Area within the Demilitarized Zone on Monday, for the first time in eight years. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News. #SouthKorea #UnitedStates #Defense_Minister #AhnGyuback #Defense_Secretary #PeteHegseth #SCM #대한민국 #미국 #국방장관 #피트헤그세스 #안규백 #Arirang_News #아리랑뉴스 📣 Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Twitter : https://twitter.com/arirangtvnews 📣 Homepage : https://v2.arirang.com/ 2025-11-04, 17:00 (KST)