Focus on Headline Arirang Radio Podcasts

1. President Yoon Suk Yeol and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev agreed Tuesday to collaborate on the supply chain for critical minerals, from exploration and development to commercialization.

2. The Korea Meteorological Administration said Wednesday a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck near the southwestern county of Buan at 8:26 a.m. It was the strongest quake to hit the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding waters so far this year. Fifteen aftershocks were reported as of 2 p.m.

3. South Korea's foreign ministry on Wednesday dismissed Japan's renewed protest over Seoul's routine maritime survey near the East Sea islets of Dokdo, emphasizing a firm stance against "unjust claims."

1. The leaders of South Korea and Turkmenistan on Monday held a summit in Turkmenistan's capital city of Ashgabat and adopted a joint statement outlining their cooperation for Seoul's "K-Silk Road Cooperation" initiative

2. The main opposition Democratic Party and minor parties on Monday voted to unilaterally select 11 parliamentary committee chiefs with the ruling People Power Party boycotting a plenary meeting over the voting.

3. The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution proposed by the U.S. for a permanent ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza. Hamas said it welcomed the resolution and is ready to engage with mediators in negotiations.

1. President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday embarked on a weeklong Central Asia trip that will take him to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on a mission to expand cooperation in critical minerals and other key sectors.

2. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Monday, North Korea has sent around 310 trash-carrying balloons across the border overnight. The North's latest balloon campaign came hours after South Korea resumed loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts in the border area.

3. Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong said Monday the government ordered community doctors to keep providing medical treatment and report to authorities when they close their businesses, after the doctors voted to stage a strike in protest of the government's medical reform.

1. Vitor Abreu, owner of the U.S. geoscience research company Act-Geo, said Friday that a potential discovery of oil and gas reserves off South Korea's East Sea is "highly prospective," citing the presence of hydrocarbons in the offshore fields. The project has a presumed 20 percent success rate.

2. According to the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs on Thursday, an advisory body of UNESCO reportedly deferred the nomination of controversial Japanese mines on the island of Sado as a World Heritage site, asking for additional documents.

3. The European Central Bank on Thursday lowered its deposit rate by 0.25 percentage points to 3.75% from a record high of 4%, for the first time in almost five years, citing a sustained fall in inflation.

1. During his Memorial Day speech, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday South Korea will not sit idle against North Korea's "despicable" provocations and vowed to protect people through robust military readiness and a strong alliance with the United States.

2. A North Korean defectors' group said Thursday it has sent about 10 large plastic balloons carrying 200-thousand flyers criticizing the North Korean regime, dollar bills, and USB sticks loaded with K-pop and trot music, across the border.

3. During a meeting with leading international news agencies, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he highly appreciates South Korea's position not to directly supply weapons to Ukraine, and that Moscow is ready to restore relations with Seoul.

1.Five-term main opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Won-shik was elected as the Parliamentary Speaker for the first half of the 22nd National Assembly on Wednesday. Woo was elected with 189 votes in favor out of 192 present with ruling PPP boycotting the vote.

2.According to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea on Wednesday, South Korea's real gross domestic product increased 1.3 percent on-quarter in the January-March period, matching an earlier estimate, as recovery in exports continued and private spending remained firm.

3.President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday that South Korea will establish a critical mineral partnership with major African nations to develop resources on the continent in a "mutually beneficial" way. President Yoon made the remark during a business summit held on the second day of the Korea-Africa Summit.