Korea 24 - 2021.03.26

Korea24 &ndash; 2021.03.26. (Friday)<br /> <br /> News Briefing: North Korea confirmed that the missile it tested on Thursday was indeed ballistic, prompting the U.S. to join Japan in declaring that the latest provocation violates UN sanctions. South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on cooler heads to prevail, urging a swift resumption of talks to resolve the standoff. (Koo Heejin)<br /> <br /> In-Depth News Analysis (Weekly Economy Review): Professor Yang Jun-suk from the Catholic University of Korea discusses the International Monetary Fund&rsquo;s(IMF) latest growth forecast for South Korea which went up 0.5% point from its January estimate, the extra budget bill that was passed at the National Assembly which would cover the fourth round of COVID-19 relief payments, and how South Korea&rsquo;s private sector debt is now more than double the nation&rsquo;s gross domestic product(GDP).<br /> <br /> Korea Trending with Alex Sigrist: Police bust a bar that heavily broke current social distancing regulations(한밤에 강남 술집 버젓이 영업&hellip;문 따보니 135명 북적), night-flying wildfire helicopters stay grounded due to complicated rules(밤에 출동 못하는 &lsquo;야간 산불 진화 헬기&rsquo;&hellip;이유는?), and four Korean names pop up when MLB predicts rosters for Opening Day(&quot;코리안 메이저리거 전원 개막 로스터에 합류&quot; MLB.com 예상).<br /> <br /> Movie Spotlight: Film critic Jason Bechervaise reviews &ldquo;Godzilla Vs. Kong(고질라 vs. 콩),&rdquo; an epic clash of titans-type blockbuster that boasts strong visuals without going overboard. Jason also discusses how he sees other films being released into the market amid the ongoing pandemic.<br /> <br /> Next Week from Seoul: Mark Wilson-Choi brings us stories and events to look out for the following week, including South Korea&rsquo;s top security advisor Suh Hoon heading over to Washington D.C. to meet with his American and Japanese counterparts.