at 18:30 (JST), November 21

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/20221121183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : state-run video daughter
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221119_18/

North Korea's state-run TV has released video of the country's test-firing on Friday of a new Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile.

Korean Central TV broadcast the footage from 3 p.m. on Saturday, showing the missile's launch from an international airport near North Korea's capital, Pyongyang.

The video shows the country's largest ballistic missile being carried out of a hangar on board a 22-wheeled mobile launch pad.

The footage covers the launch from various angles. It includes the missile ascending, spewing flames through its four nozzles and then appearing only as a small bright dot.

A camera attached to the missile captured images of Earth's surface fading in the distance.

State-run TV also aired photos of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter walking hand-in-hand to observe the launch onsite.

It is the first time North Korea has released photos of one of Kim's children.

Key words : emergency meeting condemned strongest term
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221121_05/

The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations have strongly condemned North Korea for the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile last week.

The G7 foreign ministers issued a statement on Sunday, saying that they condemn in the strongest terms the brazen launch of another ICBM by North Korea. They said that this reckless act further destabilizes the region.

The ministers stressed that the country's actions demand a united and robust response by the international community, including the need for further significant measures to be taken by the UN Security Council.

The Security Council plans to hold an emergency meeting on Monday following the North's latest missile launch.

North Korea fired a new type of ICBM, Hwasong-17, last Friday from near Pyongyang toward the Sea of Japan.

The missile is believed to have reached the maximum altitude of about 6,000 kilometers and fallen into waters within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Key words : Kishida 50 ballistic
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221118_31/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has urged the leaders of other Asia-Pacific nations to denounce North Korea in the strongest possible terms for its repeated ballistic missile launches.

Kishida and leaders from the United States, South Korea, Canada, Australia and New Zealand held an emergency meeting on Friday after North Korea fired a ballistic missile earlier in the day. The leaders are in Thailand to attend the APEC summit.

Kishida said the missile is believed to have fallen into the waters off Hokkaido, inside Japan's exclusive economic zone. He also said North Korea has fired more than 50 ballistic missiles this year alone. He noted Pyongyang has been launching missiles at a pace that has never been seen before.

Pointing out the possibility of more missile launches or a nuclear test, Kishida called for international unity, so that North Korea's complete denuclearization can be brought about, in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

US Vice President Kamala Harris condemned North Korea's actions and urged the country to refrain from engaging in further unlawful, destabilizing acts.

Harris said, "On behalf of the United States, I reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our Indo-Pacific alliances."

She also said, "Together the countries represented here will continue to urge North Korea to commit to serious and sustained diplomacy."

Key words : malaysia voters downturn
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221120_14/

Malaysia's opposition coalition won the most seats in Saturday's general election.

According to the country's electoral commission, the Pakatan Harapan alliance won 82 seats, while the Perikatan Nasional, a ruling grouping, won 73.

Both are working to form a coalition government after falling short of the 112 seats needed to control the parliament.

Ninety-seven-year-old two-time Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who started a new opposition coalition, lost his seat.

Local media said the loss marks the end of an era.

In the general election four years ago, Malaysia had its first change of power since the country achieved independence in 1957. The prime minister was replaced twice amid the turmoil following the 2018 election.

Malaysian voters are believed to have expressed their dissatisfaction with the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, accelerating inflation and a series of corruption scandals within the administration.

Some observers say political instability may continue in the country.

Key words : former prime lost
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221120_08/

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has lost his seat in the general election that was held on Saturday, likely ending his political career.

The 97-year-old Mahathir ran in the race as an opposition party candidate in a constituency with a total of five candidates. But Malaysia's electoral commission said the two-time prime minister failed to secure enough votes, coming in fourth.

This was Mahathir's first defeat in a parliamentary election since 1969. It is believed he will end his political career following the loss. Local media are reporting that it marks the end of an era.

When the election was announced earlier this month, Mahathir said it would be his last election.

Mahathir first served as prime minister for 22 years from 1981 to 2003. After retiring from politics, he was voted in again as prime minister in 2018. After stepping down in 2020, he formed a new coalition and ran in the latest election.

Vote counting is still underway. The ruling bloc and the opposition wing are in a close contest. As no single party might be able to secure a majority, attention is now focused on how parties would form a post-election alliance to come to power.

Key words : harris xi repeat
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221120_01/

The White House says Vice President Kamala Harris had a brief conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday at the venue hosting the APEC leaders' meeting in the Thai capital, Bangkok.

It said Harris repeated the remarks that President Joe Biden made at the US-China summit on Monday. Biden said he is committed to keeping lines of communication open between Washington and Beijing to prevent competition from becoming conflict.

China's state-run Central Television network broadcast a report about Xi's meeting with Harris. It said the Chinese president described the US-China summit as strategic and constructive. Xi also reportedly said that it carries important significance, as it will guide China-US relations going forward.

Xi is also said to have expressed hope that the two sides will further increase mutual understanding, reduce misperceptions and miscalculations, and work together to bring bilateral relations back on track. He reportedly added that he hopes Harris will play a positive role in that regard.

Key words : Kishida dismissed lost
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221121_09/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has dismissed another Cabinet minister. Internal affairs minister Terada Minoru has been under fire over a series of allegations of inaccurate political funding reports. Kishida has now lost three ministers in just one month.

"A number of Cabinet ministers have resigned during the Diet session. I sincerely apologize and deeply feel my responsibility for appointing them," Kishida said.

The prime minister summoned Terada to the prime minister's office on Sunday evening and dismissed him.

Terada had come under scrutiny after a group related to his political funding was found to have listed a dead person as his accountant.

Opposition parties had been calling on Kishida to replace Terada, saying he was unfit to lead the internal affairs ministry, which oversees the political funds control law.

Terada is a member of a faction led by Kishida. He was appointed a minister for the first time in the Cabinet reshuffle this summer.

The prime minister is expected to appoint former Foreign Minister Matsumoto Takeaki as Terada's successor.

Key words : china more russian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221121_14/

China continued to import more Russian energy in October compared to the same month last year, with oil and gas shipments both up for a seventh straight month.

Chinese customs authorities have announced that they imported more than 7.7 million tons of crude oil from their neighbor. That's up 16 percent from a year earlier.

Liquefied natural gas imports were higher by a bigger margin of 55 percent, coming in at 750,000 tons.

The energy shipments contributed to 49.9 percent rise in the value of China's imports from Russia in dollar terms for the January-to-October period.

Analysts say the oil and gas exports have been propping up the Russian economy since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
The invasion prompted Western countries to impose economic sanctions against Moscow. Beijing opposes the measures.

Key words : ntt
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221121_18/

A Japanese tech firm has developed new headphones that it says solve two common problems with the devices. The product allows users to hear what's going on around them while also keeping sound from leaking out to people nearby.

The headphones are made by NTT Sonority, a subsidiary of communications giant NTT. They use carefully designed speakers that project sound without blocking the ear. The company says this allows people to stay aware of their surroundings and engage in conversation while listening.
The headphones also emit acoustic waves to prevent sound leakage from disturbing others.

Sakai Hiroshi, CEO of NTT Sonority, says, "The headphones create a personalized sound space while letting users communicate with people around them. We plan to show how this benefits people in daily life."

Sony has also released wireless earbuds with an opening so wearers won't miss the sound around them.
They are also equipped with microphones that can recognize when the wearer is talking to make conversations easier.