US President Donald Trump has claimed that South Korea's average tariff is four times higher than the United States' although America has helped the Asian ally militarily and in "so many other ways."

Trump made the remarks in his first address to a joint session of Congress since he took office in January, as his administration is set to impose "reciprocal" tariffs on U.S. imports that are to be pegged to trading partners' tariffs and non-tariff barriers.

"Countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them. It's very unfair. India charges us auto tariffs higher than 100 percent. China's average tariff on our products is twice, but we charge them," the president said, reports news agency.

"South Korea's average tariff is four times higher. Think of that four times higher, and we give so much help militarily and so many other ways to South Korea. But that's what happens. This is happening by friend and foe," he added.

A Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives who disrupted President Donald Trump's address was escorted out of the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms staff while a small group staged a walkout.

Some of his party colleagues wore T-shirts with "Resist" emblazoned on them during the President's speech on Tuesday.

They turned their backs on Trump and walked out.

Al Green, an African American who represents a constituency in red Texas, shouted and waved his walking stick, defying Speaker Mike Johnson, who threatened to oust disrupters during the speech on Tuesday.

Israeli forces killed a local Hamas leader in Jenin, northern West Bank, on Tuesday, according to the Israeli military.

A military spokesperson said in a statement that Border Police officers, army troops, and Shin Bet security agents raided Jenin overnight as part of Israel's ongoing military campaign in the West Bank.

The spokesperson announced that "following an exchange of fire, the soldiers eliminated Isser Saadi," who was identified as the head of the Hamas network in Jenin.

Another militant, along with Saadi, was killed, and three others were apprehended, according to the statement, news agency reported.

In a separate statement, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces "will continue to combat terrorism and thwart it everywhere."

Nine railway officials have been arrested and booked along with unknown candidates by the CBI over a Departmental Examination Paper Leak Scam under the East Central Railway at Mughal Sarai on the eve of the exam scheduled for Tuesday, an official said.

Overall, 26 Railway officials have been arrested in this case so far, he said, adding that investigators also seized Rs 1.17 crore reportedly collected from the candidates for leaking the question papers.

East Central Railway had scheduled a Departmental Examination on Tuesday for the posts of Chief Loco Inspectors.

During checks conducted by the CBI at three spots past midnight on March 3 at Mughal Sarai, a total of 17 candidates were found with photocopies of hand-written question papers, the official said.

Israel demands a demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and an end to Hamas' rule in order to move on to the next phase of the ceasefire deal that took effect in January, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said on Tuesday.

"We don't have an agreement on phase two," Sa'ar said during a press briefing. "We demand total demilitarization of Gaza, (and) Hamas and Islamic Jihad out and give us our hostages."

He added that if Hamas agreed to these demands, "we can implement (the deal) tomorrow."

Referring to Israel's move to block humanitarian aid to Gaza since early Sunday, Sa'ar claimed Hamas was exploiting the aid for its own purposes. He said humanitarian supplies have become the "number one budget income" for Hamas and a means of rebuilding the group's military capabilities.

Ukraine has enough reserves to withstand the conflict with Russia for about six months without US support, the RBC-Ukraine online reported Tuesday, citing a senior parliament official.

"Our military-industrial complex has significantly expanded over the past three years, and it is capable of offsetting threats and risks," said Fedir Venislavsky, a Member of the Parliament's defence committee.

However, he acknowledged that Ukraine relies on the United States for certain weapons, including air defence systems and long-range multiple-launch rocket systems.

Venislavsky said that efforts are underway to secure alternative sources of supply for critically important weapons, news agency reported.

Afghan police have discovered a huge quantity of illicit drugs and apprehended two alleged drug smugglers in north Afghanistan's Takhar province Monday night, a local official said on Tuesday.

"Police have uncovered a total of 6,299 kg of illicit opium concealed by smugglers inside a gas tanker in Khatayan area of Taluqan city, the capital of the province," said Mohammad Akbar Haqqani, provincial police spokesperson.

The vehicle was en route from Badakhshan, a neighbouring province of Takhar, said Haqqani, adding that two suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the case.

Ukrainian border guards are refusing to perform combat operations against Russian counterparts in the Kursk region, Russian state-owned news agency Ria Novosti reported on Tuesday citing available video recordings.

"I am not ready for the moral and psychological state, the presence of three minor children, the lack of escort, the lack of orientation on the ground, reconnaissance and additional exploration, additional positions, poor radio communication; there is no communication with adjacent units in the area of tasks. Instructions for the implementation of the task do not correspond to the realities," the report quoted a Ukrainian sergeant as saying in the video.

South Korea and the United States have agreed to launch working-level consultative bodies on promoting bilateral cooperation in shipbuilding and energy industries, as well as for discussions on Washington's new tariff scheme, Seoul's industry minister said on Tuesday.

South Korea is the first country to form working-level consultative bodies with the new US administration on tariff negotiations and bilateral cooperation, Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun said in a press briefing on his recent visit to Washington, noting the channels will begin operation as soon as possible.

The two sides plan to establish four different channels to discuss shipbuilding collaboration, energy cooperation, which includes South Korea's possible participation in the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, tariffs and non-tariff barriers, reports news agency.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday stated that his government is "open to consideration" of the country's involvement in any peacekeeping process in Ukraine.

Addressing a press conference in Sydney, PM Albanese said, "Australia stands ready to assist Ukraine. We have contributed $1.5 billion with $1.3 billion for military assistance directly. There is discussion at the moment about potential peacekeeping. And from my government's perspective, we are open to consideration of any proposals going forward."

"With regard to the United States, the US is an important ally of Australia. That remains the case since an alliance between our nations. With regard to Australia's foreign policy, Australia determines our foreign policy. We do it in Australia's national interest, and it is in Australia's national interest to stand with Ukraine. And that's what my Government is doing," he further added.