at 18:30 (JST), March 17

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/20230317183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Kishida yoon met
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230316_40/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol wrapped up a joint news conference after a summit in Tokyo. It was part of the first bilateral visit involving the two countries' leaders in more than a decade.

Kishida said, "President Yoon and I met for the talks and in a tough strategic environment, we have agreed to recognize the urgency of cooperative relations."

Yoon said, "We actually share universal values, including democracy and also in terms of security and economic alliance. We pursue the common interests we are the closest ally in this regard."

Both said they want to strengthen cooperation including on security issues.

They voiced concern over North Korea's accelerating nuclear and missile programs, and said they would work together to address it.

The leaders also said they want to return to regular visits between their two countries.

Japan's prime minister also hailed a South Korean proposal to settle an issue dating back to World War Two. A South Korean government-affiliated foundation is set to pay damages in place of Japanese companies that were accused of forcing Koreans to work for them.

The plan comes after years of strained relations between Japan and South Korea which were said to be at their lowest state since the end of the war.

The Japanese government says any right to claims was settled completely and finally in 1965, when Japan and South Korea normalized diplomatic relations.

Key words : Kishida yoon shuttle
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230316_41/

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol have agreed to resume the so-called shuttle diplomacy between the leaders of the two countries. Such mutual visits have not taken place in more than a decade.

Kishida and Yoon held a joint news conference after a summit meeting in Tokyo on Thursday.

Kishida hailed a plan that the South Korean government announced earlier this month to settle the wartime labor issue. He said his government believes the plan will help the two countries restore good relations.

Kishida thanked Yoon for his strong leadership in drawing up the settlement plan under which a South Korea foundation will pay damages in place of Japanese companies to those who say they or their relatives were forced to work for the firms during World War Two.

Kishida said he believes the foundation will not demand that the Japanese companies pay back afterward.

Kishida said he told Yoon that his government will uphold the 1998 bilateral declaration that called for a new future-oriented partnership and take over positions of former Japanese governments over historical issues.

Kishida said he expects the South Korean side to implement the plan and promote bilateral exchanges in political, economic and cultural fields.

The two leaders also agreed on an urgent need to strengthen bilateral ties based on the spirit of the 1965 normalization of relations as the security situation in the region has worsened.

Kishida and Yoon also reaffirmed the trilateral cooperation involving the United States in responding to North Korea's missile threat, following the launch of a ballistic missile by Pyongyang earlier on Thursday.

They agreed to resume a bilateral security dialogue between foreign and defense officials of the two countries for the first time in about five years.

They also agreed to set up a new framework for economic security talks in order to strengthen cooperation in an effort to ensure semiconductor supply chains and supremacy of quantum and other advanced technologies.

The two reaffirmed the importance of implementing a bilateral intelligence-sharing pact, known as GSOMIA, in a stable manner as defense cooperation between Japan and South Korea would contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Kishida hailed Yoon's visit as a major step forward in improving ties, and expressed hope that it will further develop trust and friendship between the two countries.

During the talks, Kishida reportedly asked Yoon to implement the 2015 bilateral agreement on the issue of those referred to as comfort women.

He also conveyed to the president Japan's position on the issue of the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan. South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them.

Key words : filing wto
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230316_37/

The Japanese government announced on Thursday it is set to ease controls on shipping high-tech materials to South Korea. That came after a three-day director-level meeting between the neighboring countries.

Japan tightened rules for exporting three materials used for semiconductors and organic LED displays in 2019, citing security concerns. Japanese companies are major manufacturers of these goods.

South Korea reacted to the controls by filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization in 2020.

Japan's decision to ease the controls came as it has confirmed that South Korea will drop the WTO case.

Key words : north launching drill
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230317_06/

North Korea says it conducted a "launching drill" of its Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday. The missile is believed to have enough range to strike anywhere on the US mainland.

The ruling Workers' Party's newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on Friday that the missile was launched from the Pyongyang International Airport and reached a maximum altitude of 6,045 kilometers before it landed on a preset area in the open waters.

The newspaper says the drill was conducted in response to the large-scale joint exercises that the US and South Korea are carrying out.

This is the first time that the country has described the launch of a Hwasong-17 as a "drill." Last November North Korea reported that the missile's "final test" had been a success.

Japanese Self-Defense officials said on Thursday that the North had launched an ICBM-class missile in a lofted trajectory from around Sunan on the outskirts of Pyongyang on Thursday. They added that it had fallen into the Sea of Japan outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Observers believe Rodong Sinmun's report on Friday refers to the suspected ICBM that was launched on the previous day.

Key words : yokota megumi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20230302181654556/

A new song titled "On the Way Home" tells the story of Yokota Megumi, abducted to North Korea in 1977 at the age of 13, and her mother's hope that they will be reunited.