at 18:30 (JST), November 03

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20221103183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : north believe failed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221103_26/

A South Korean media report says one of the missiles launched by North Korea on Thursday was believed to be a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile or ICBM, and seems to have failed in flight.

The South Korean military said the North launched three ballistic missiles that flew toward the east on Thursday morning.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the suspected ICBM was fired from the Sunan area near the capital Pyongyang at around 7:40 a.m.

It traveled about 760 kilometers and reached an altitude of about 1,920 kilometers at a top speed of about Mach 15, or 15 times the speed of sound.

South Korea's public broadcaster KBS said the country's military believes the missile was the Hwasong-17.

North Korea announced its first successful test-firing of the Hwasong-17 in March. It said the missile was launched on a lofted trajectory and reached a record altitude of over 6,000 kilometers.

The South Korean military said the other two projectiles were believed to be short-range ballistic missiles. They were fired at around 8:39 a.m. from near Kaechon in South Phyongan Province in the western part of North Korea.

The military said the projectiles flew about 330 kilometers and reached an altitude of about 70 kilometers. It said their top speed was Mach 5.

Key words : Kishida unacceptable tolerate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221103_23/

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio told reporters that North Korea's continuous launches over the past few days are unacceptable.

Kishida said, "North Korea has conducted repeated ballistic missile launches in recent days. This is an outrage and should never be tolerated. I have already instructed the relevant bodies to check whether there was any damage, to provide appropriate information to the public, and to analyze all that information."

In a video taken in Niigata Prefecture immediately after one of the missile launches, an announcement tells people to take shelter inside buildings or underground while a siren sounds.

The East Japan Railway Company says the Tohoku, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen Lines were all partially suspended. Service was resumed after 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Japan's nuclear regulation authority says it has been informed by nuclear facilities across the country that no abnormalities have been detected.

Japan's transport ministry says that no damage was reported to aircraft flying in airspace around the country.
The ministry had previously issued a warning to airline crews and told them to be on the alert.

Key words : defense ministry chinese naval
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221102_10/

The Japanese Defense Ministry says a Chinese naval vessel sailed inside Japan's territorial waters off the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima for around three hours on Wednesday.

The ministry says the Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted a Chinese Navy survey ship heading northeast in the contiguous zone west of Gajajima Island at around 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday.

The ship then entered Japan's territorial waters southwest of Kuchinoerabujima Island at around 0:10 a.m. on Wednesday. It left Japan's territorial waters south of Yakushima Island about three hours later and headed southeast.

This is the fourth time this year that a Chinese naval survey ship has sailed inside Japan's territorial waters.

The Japanese government used diplomatic channels to convey its concerns to China.

Chinese naval vessels have entered Japanese territorial waters a total of eight times.

The Defense Ministry says it is closely monitoring the activities of Chinese vessels and analyzing the reasons for their intrusions.

Key words : and the united states astronauts
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221103_07/

NHK has learned that Japan and the United States are making final arrangements to include at least one Japanese astronaut in activities at a space station orbiting the moon.

The US has been pressing ahead with the Artemis project to explore the moon. Japan, European and other countries are taking part.

Under the plan, construction of the space station, called Gateway, will begin around 2024. It will serve as an outpost to send astronauts to the lunar surface.

Sources familiar with the matter said astronauts from Europe and Canada will also be sent to Gateway. The sources added that Japan and the US will likely have talks about having more Japanese aboard the station.

The International Space Station orbits about 400 kilometers above Earth's surface, while Gateway will orbit the moon, some 380,000 kilometers from Earth. Stays at the planned space station will be limited to around 10 to 30 days a year.

Key words : special investigation
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221102_35/

South Korea's special investigation team has raided the offices of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. It's part of a probe into last weekend's crowd crush -- one of the country's deadliest disasters.

The search comes a day after police admitted several people called them with concerns about the crowd in the hours before the chaos. South Korean news outlets report eight locations were raided by national police Wednesday. They include the Yongsan Ward Office and the local fire department.

Tens of thousands partied in the Itaewon District Saturday night. As people surged forward, many were crushed leaving 156 dead and more than 150 others injured.

People are raising concerns about street design in the area. News outlets are reporting an illegally constructed terrace part of a restaurant may be one of the factors that contributed to the crush. Some experts say it made the street even narrower.

Authorities reportedly urged the restaurant last year to fix the structure but it did not happen. They say several other illegal structures in the neighborhood may have narrowed roads leading up to the site of the crush, hindering rescue operations.

Key words : train service resume
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221103_02/

Freight train services between North Korea and Russia have resumed after being suspended since 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Russian media on Wednesday reported the resumption of operations.

The reports say the first train transported 30 horses from Russia's Far East to North Korea's northeast, and that medicines will be sent in the next service.

North Korea restarted cross-border freight train operations with China in September. They had also been halted due to COVID-19 concerns.

Observers say the North wants to procure goods from the countries as its economy has been damaged.

North Korea and Russia have been deepening ties since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

In July, the North recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, controlled by pro-Russian forces, in eastern Ukraine as independent nations.

In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin told North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, in a message that the countries would expand their "comprehensive and constructive" ties.

Key words : honda
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221102_36/

Honda Motor says it is developing an AI self-driving system that uses cameras to help the vehicle better recognize its surroundings. This is the company's latest step toward putting autonomous driving technology into commercial use.

Honda will start testing the system in Japan this month. It says the technology analyzes footage taken by the vehicle's cameras to help it build an understanding of its surroundings, including other cars and pedestrians.

The company says this will lead to lower manufacturing costs, as the system will not require sensors or high-precision maps.

Honda also plans to develop the system's AI so it can understand human words and gestures, making it easier for passengers to give the vehicle instructions.

Honda R&D Executive Chief Engineer Yasui Yuji said the company is working on the system because it believes there is a need for mobility technology that allows people to travel short distances easily and safely.

Honda says it aims to put the technology into practical use by 2030.

Key words : taiwan panda
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221102_32/

Taiwanese authorities have given swift permission to experts from China to visit Taiwan to help treat a seriously ill giant panda. The rare move comes amid tensions between the two sides.

The 18-year-old male panda, Tuan Tuan, is one of a pair gifted by Beijing in 2008. Officials at Taipei's municipal zoo say Tuan Tuan became unwell in August, and was later found to have a suspected brain tumor.

Since a panda conservation and research center in China's Sichuan Province expressed willingness to send experts, Taipei City applied for permission to accept the offer on Thursday, last week. Taiwanese authorities approved it the following day, and two Chinese experts arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday.

Zoo officials say the two will stay until next Monday and provide advice on Tuan Tuan's care.

Taipei Zoo spokesperson Eric Tsao told reporters on Wednesday that he hopes experts on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will work together and do their best to treat and take care of Tuan Tuan.

The unusually quick approval by the authorities for those they regard as China's administrative officials has drawn much attention in Taiwan. A newspaper there called it a sliver of light amid strained relations.