at 18:30 (JST), April 13

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/20230413183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : north global space
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230412_20/

North Korea says it has unwavering willingness to turn itself into a global space powerhouse.

The Wednesday edition of the ruling Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun carried an article related to space development, as April 12 is designated as the International Day of Human Space Flight.

The newspaper reported that North Korea's space development projects are actively making progress in line with the global trend. It added that every sovereign state has the right to use outer space peacefully.

Earlier, Pyongyang said it would complete preparations by April for putting its first military reconnaissance satellite into orbit.

The South Korean intelligence organization suggested that the North will very likely launch the spy satellite soon.

Relevant countries are on alert for the possible launch, as Pyongyang will celebrate the birthday of the country's founding father Kim Il Sung on Saturday and a military memorial day on April 25.

Defying UN Security Council resolutions, North Korea has repeatedly launched apparent long-range ballistic missiles that it said were satellites.

Key words : xi inspected
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230413_07/

China's President Xi Jinping has inspected the arm of the Chinese navy that operates in the South China Sea. He urged its forces to enhance the level of their training and combat readiness.

State-run China Central Television reported that Xi visited the naval forces of the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command in the southern province of Guangdong on Wednesday.

During the inspection, Xi said the navy should enhance its ability to respond swiftly and properly to complex situations.

He stressed the need to resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, as well as maintain stability in surrounding areas.

Xi also said the navy should further study warfare and military operations while strengthening military training under combat conditions.

China claims most of the South China Sea and has been increasing its military presence in the area. Beijing has been at odds with Manila over disputed territory there.

Xi's remarks come as the Philippines and the United States began their largest-ever joint military drills on Tuesday.

Observers say he is showing his determination not to back down on China's territorial claims amid the rising tensions.

Key words : taiwan transportation ministry
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230412_34/

Taiwan's transportation ministry says it was notified by China that Beijing will impose a no-fly zone north of Taiwan next week.

The ministry says China gave the notification on Tuesday of the planned closure of the airspace, which is within Taiwan's northern flight information region.

China said the duration would be from April 16 through April 18 for five hours per day. It was reduced to about half an hour on only April 16, following the complaint lodged by the ministry.

Beijing says it will conduct aerospace activities in the area.

Flight information regions are set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, or ICAO, which sets rules for civil aircraft for the provision of information necessary for smooth and safe air traffic flow.

The regions include airspace over high seas and territorial airspace of each country.

In its complaint against China, the transportation ministry warned that the closure was inappropriate and would pose huge and unnecessary safety risks.

Taiwan's defense ministry says China plans to close airspace over the high seas north of Taiwan.

The ministry adds that Beijing's aerospace activities can include a possible satellite launch, and defense officials will closely watch whether the activity will have any impact on Taiwan.

Key words : foundation south relatives
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230413_03/

A foundation affiliated with the South Korean government has made payments to some plaintiffs over wartime labor issues in place of Japanese firms that were ordered to pay compensation.

Sources familiar with the matter said the payments were made this month.

The plaintiffs say they or their relatives were forced to work for the firms during World War Two. In 2018, South Korea's Supreme Court ordered the Japanese firms to pay them compensation.

In March, the South Korean government announced a plan to have a foundation under it pay damages to the plaintiffs in lieu of the firms.

The sources said the payments are the first under the program. They did not disclose the amount.

Some of the plaintiffs told NHK that they intend to accept payments from the foundation and are following the procedure required for them to do so.

But some others are opposed to the program, saying they want an apology and compensation from the Japanese firms.

The South Korean government will continue calling on such plaintiffs to accept the proposed solution.

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

Key words : monetary fund economic growth
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230412_05/

The International Monetary Fund has revised downward its projection for Japan's economic growth this year to 1.3 percent, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous forecast in January.

In its latest economic outlook by country or region, the IMF said private investment fell in Japan from October to December due to a sharp depreciation of the yen against the dollar, and that the impact will continue this year.

It said that although prices are rising in Japan, they are at very low levels in global terms, and that continued monetary easing will be needed.

The IMF upgraded the growth projection for the United States by 0.2 points to 1.6 percent. It revised upward the forecast for the euro area by 0.1 point to 0.8 percent.

The IMF projects growth in 90 percent of advanced nations will slow this year, and that unemployment rates in these economies will rise by 0.5 points on average in the three years through 2024.

The projection for China's growth remains unchanged at 5.2 percent, as the country is rapidly resuming economic activities after ending its zero-COVID policy.

India is anticipated to maintain a high growth rate of 5.9 percent in fiscal 2023.

Key words : proposal casino
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230412_21/

Japan's government may soon sign off on a proposal to build the country's first resort to feature a casino. Sources say the facility still has to pass additional screening before it can go into business as a casino but the plan is for it to open toward the end of 2029.

The Osaka city and prefectural governments jointly submitted the plan last April. The so-called "integrated resort" would also include hotels and a space for hosting international-scale conferences.

The sources say the Tourism Agency has concluded the proposal meets the requirements for approval. A panel of experts reviewed various aspects of the plan, including measures to combat gambling addiction and the financial stability of the businesses involved.

The sources say they expect the proposal to get the official greenlight soon.

Osaka will make an initial investment of more than 1 trillion yen, or over 7.5 billion dollars. That will go to building the casino and conference space on an artificial island in Osaka Bay.

But the proposal still faces another round of screening. The facility can only operate as a casino if it gets approval from the government's casino oversight committee.

Key words : tokyo population urban area
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230412_25/

Japan's population has shrunk for the 12th year in a row. But, Tokyo's population has increased for the first time in two years.

The internal affairs ministry says the total population, which includes foreign residents, stood at 124,947,000 as of October 1, 2022.

That is a decline of 556,000, or 0.44 percent, from a year earlier.

The number of people aged 65 or older stood at about 36.2 million. They accounted for 29 percent of the country's total population. That is the highest percentage ever.

The number of people below the age of 15 was about 14.5 million. They accounted for 11.6 percent of the total population. That is a record low.

Among the country's 47 prefectures, Tokyo was the only one that saw an uptick in its population. It had more than 14 million residents.

In 2022, about 440,000 people moved to Tokyo. Fewer people moved there in 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The internal affairs ministry says people are returning to urban areas now that the pandemic is subsiding. But, it says there is no end in sight to Japan's population decline.