at 18:30 (JST), March 16

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/20230316183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : north launched what
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230316_07/

Japanese Defense Ministry officials say North Korea launched what appears to be a ballistic missile on Thursday morning.

Key words : lofted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230316_10/

Japan's Defense Ministry says a missile that North Korea launched on Thursday appears to have fallen into waters outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone and it was likely an intercontinental ballistic missile.

The ministry says the missile was launched from North Korea's west coast at 7:09 a.m., local time.

It estimates that the missile apparently flew about 70 minutes and landed in the sea west of Oshima-oshima Island in Hokkaido Prefecture.

Japanese defense officials say there is a high possibility that the North fired what's known as a lofted missile.

South Korea's military says it was a long-range ballistic missile.

Pyongyang has repeatedly launched missiles since last year. Thursday's launch was the country's sixth so far this year.

South Korea's military says the North fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan off its east coast on Tuesday morning. This happened one day after US and South Korean forces began joint military drills.

Pyongyang said on Sunday the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission had adopted steps to make more effective, powerful and offensive use of its war deterrent.

Key words : youtuber-turned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230316_31/

Tokyo police have obtained an arrest warrant for GaaSyy. He's a YouTuber-turned-absentee Japanese lawmaker who was stripped of his Diet member status Wednesday. He's facing allegations of repeatedly threatening celebrities.

GaaSyy, whose real name is Higashitani Yoshikazu, gained fame for running a gossip channel. A number of prominent figures have filed criminal complaints against him, saying they were slandered or intimidated.

He was elected to the Upper House as a member of an opposition party last year. But he was expelled for failing to appear at any Diet session. He's said to have been staying in the United Arab Emirates to avoid prosecution in Japan.

Sources have told NHK that Tokyo police decided to seek an arrest warrant after GaaSyy failed to respond to their requests for voluntary questioning. Investigators are also looking to arrest an acquaintance who was allegedly involved in video production.

The foreign ministry is expected to order GaaSyy to return his Japanese passport now that the warrant has been issued. It's believed he'll be arrested as soon as he returns to Japan.

Key words : 1951
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230315_09/

Japan's Upper House has stripped a member of the chamber of his status as a lawmaker for failing to attend a single Diet session.

On Wednesday, the Upper House plenary session voted 235 to one to expel opposition Seijikajoshi48 Party member GaaSyy. He will no longer be a lawmaker.

Upper House President Otsuji Hidehisa declared that the Diet Law is being used to remove GaaSyy's status.

GaaSyy, whose real name is Higashitani Yoshikazu, has not attended any parliamentary sessions since he was elected in July 2022. GaaSyy, who resides overseas, became known for his YouTube content.

Last week, GaaSyy failed to show up at an Upper House plenary session and deliver an apology. The apology had been demanded by the chamber as punishment.

On Tuesday, the Upper House disciplinary committee voted unanimously to expel GaaSyy from the chamber.

At Wednesday's Upper House plenary session, disciplinary committee chief Suzuki Muneo outlined the screening process that had led to the expulsion.

Hamada Satoshi, an Upper House member of the same party as GaaSyy, said an expulsion from the chamber because of absences is illegal. He said the move to exclude minority groups is unacceptable.

An expulsion is the most serious of four punishments that can be handed down to Diet lawmakers. The last time it happened was in 1951.

GaaSyy is the third lawmaker to be removed under Japan's post-war constitution, but he is the first to be removed for failing to attend sessions.

Key words : honda ohio
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230315_32/

Honda Motor says it will establish its North American electric vehicle hub in Ohio by retooling three existing plants in the state. Honda first announced a plan for the new hub last October. North America accounts for about 30 percent of the company's global sales.

Honda will consolidate two assembly lines at one factory from January next year, introducing new equipment for EVs.

The plant will produce models fitted with a new EV platform. The company aims to start selling them in North America in 2026.

Honda also needs space to make EV parts. It will secure this by transferring some production processes at its other plant in the state to its factory in Alabama.
Honda has said it will spend 700 million dollars for the overall project.

It also plans to build an EV battery plant in Ohio with the South Korean firm, LG Energy Solution.

Honda aims to make all of its models either electric or hydrogen-powered by 2040.

Key words : uganda
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230315_30/

A district court in Osaka, western Japan, has ordered the central government to grant refugee status to a Ugandan woman who says she fled to Japan as she was persecuted for being homosexual.

The woman in her 30s, who currently lives in the Kansai region, says she was arrested and beaten in Uganda for being a lesbian and suffered serious injuries. She fled to Japan three years ago.

Upon entering Japan, she was not recognized as a refugee and was ordered to leave the country. She filed a lawsuit seeking refugee status from the government.

The government argued that reports of homosexuals being detained or punished in Uganda lack credibility.

It also said the woman was not likely to be penalized for being homosexual, so she could not be recognized as a refugee.

In Wednesday's ruling, the Osaka District Court said that as long as Uganda has criminal law that effectively punishes homosexuals, it is natural to assume that she could be criminalized or physically restrained.

The court ordered the government to grant the woman refugee status as she could be persecuted for being homosexual if she returns to Uganda.

In a news conference, the plaintiff said she is grateful for being allowed to live in Japan. She said she had been in a tough situation but hopes everything will go well from now on. The woman added that she wants to tell people in similar circumstances not to lose hope.

Her lawyer said that as far as she knows, it's the first time for a court to order the government to grant refugee status due to one's homosexuality. She said the ruling will be a guiding light to people in similar situations.

The Immigration Services Agency says it will closely consider the ruling and take appropriate action.

Key words : defense hotline
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230315_18/

Japan has opened a defense hotline linking the country with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

Japanese State Minister of Defense Ino Toshiro announced the move at a meeting with his ASEAN counterparts on Wednesday.

It was Japan's first face-to-face vice-ministerial meeting with ASEAN members in four years.

Ino said Japan wants to boost defense cooperation with ASEAN nations.

Japan is the first non-ASEAN nation to launch a hotline with the 10-member group.

Japan's defense ministry says the measure will facilitate communication between Japan and ASEAN member countries.

The ministry hopes to use the hotline to strengthen ties with ASEAN countries as China moves to assert its influence in the region.

Key words : maritime indian ocean
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230315_25/

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force says it took part in a multinational maritime exercise in the Indian Ocean.

Eight countries took part in the exercise hosted by the French Navy on Monday and Tuesday. They included the United States, Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India.

Japan's MSDF sent a destroyer to the exercise. The participants conducted shooting drills and practiced sailing in formation.

The exercise has been held in the Indo-Pacific region since 2019. Japan has been participating from the start. This year saw the most participants so far, with eight countries.

The MSDF said the exercise strengthened cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Observers say the exercise was apparently aimed at highlighting multilateral cooperation, in view of China's growing influence in the region.

Key words : pakistan former
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230315_36/

There has been a second day of clashes in Pakistan between supporters of the country's former prime minister, Imran Khan, and police who are trying to arrest him.

A Pakistani court issued an arrest warrant for Khan after he failed to show up for questioning in connection with corruption charges during his tenure as prime minister.

On Tuesday, police went to Khan's home in the eastern city of Lahore to take him into custody. But they were met by a crowd of his supporters who had blocked the road. The police moved in using tear gas and water cannons, while the supporters fought back by throwing rocks and bricks.

Local media report at least 65 police officers and 8 civilians were taken to hospitals with injured.

Khan released a video message on Wednesday, saying he'll appear in court on Saturday, March 18, the date when protective bail, granted to him by the High Court, ends.

Khan was ousted as leader in a parliamentary no-confidence vote last April. He has since repeatedly called for early elections.
The former prime minister is accused of selling state gifts unlawfully while he was in power from 2018 to 2022. Khan denies any wrongdoing.

Key words : toshimaen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230315_35/

The Japanese arm of Warner Bros. Entertainment has announced that a new Harry Potter themed immersive park in Tokyo is set to open on June 16.

The park has been constructed at a plot in Nerima Ward where the former Toshimaen amusement park was located. Toshimaen, which was one of Tokyo's oldest parks, closed in 2020.

The area of the new park is about 30,000 square meters. That is one of the largest indoor facilities for a Harry Potter themed park.

Visitors can explore sets recreating famous scenes from the movie series. They can also take a video, appearing as if they are flying through the air on a broomstick.

Warner Bros. Studio Japan Vice President Matsuo Toshihiro says that it is very meaningful for Tokyo to be able to offer a new entertainment facility to tourists from overseas.

He also said that he hopes residents in the surrounding area will be proud to be living nearby, as they were of Toshimaen.