at 18:30 (JST), February 24

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/20230224183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : north conducted four
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230224_16/

Japan's government spokesperson says there have not been any reports of damage in the country from North Korea's claimed cruise missile drill on Thursday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu spoke to reporters on Friday, after the North's ruling party newspaper reported that the country's military had conducted a strategic cruise missile launch drill on Thursday.

The report said the military fired four missiles from the country's northeast, which it said hit the "preset target" on the Sea of Japan.

Matsuno said his government has not confirmed that the missiles flew over Japan's exclusive economic zone or its territory.

He quoted North Korea as claiming that the missiles traveled 2,000 kilometers. He said if that is true, such launches threaten regional peace and security.

Matsuno said his government will keep working closely with the United States and South Korea. He says Japan will stay vigilant while collecting and analyzing information.

Key words : more than 60 percent
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230222_28/

As Moscow's invasion of Ukraine drags on, more than 60 percent of Japanese firms in Russia have either suspended their operations or withdrawn from the country completely.

That is the finding from the responses of 99 companies to a survey conducted last month by the Japan External Trade Organization.

Four percent said they had either already withdrawn from Russia or decided to leave. Another 17.2 percent said they had completely suspended operations, while 43.4 percent said they had partially suspended business activity. Only 35.4 percent said it was business as usual.

There was an 11-point increase in firms that had fully or partially suspended operations compared to a similar survey conducted last August.

Looking ahead, 10 percent of companies said they expect to pull out of Russia over the next six to 12 months, while 37 percent expected to continue operating.

A JETRO official said more firms will have to decide whether to withdraw from Russia, but some are concerned they will lose market share to countries such as China if they leave.

Key words : toyota electric vehicle
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230224_13/

Japanese automaker Toyota is expected to start producing electric vehicles in the United States as early as 2025, in response to the expansion of the EV market.

Sources say Toyota will begin EV production in earnest at its plant in the US state of Kentucky. The company is investing 460 million dollars in updating the plant.

Toyota plans to make its own batteries to keep the manufacturing process efficient and is building a separate plant for that purpose in North Carolina, also to start production in 2025.

The company's incoming president Sato Koji has presented his roadmap to accelerate EV development under the new management. His focus is on establishing efficient local systems.

Sato has also indicated his intention to maintain the strategy of marketing various types of vehicles, such as hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles, based on factors in each region.
Attention is on whether Toyota can turn its past success into competitiveness in the crowded EV market.

Key words : Friday marks one year
#N/A