at 18:30 (JST), December 08

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/20231208183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : death penalty disorder
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231207_23/

Prosecutors have demanded the death sentence for a man charged with setting fire to a Kyoto Animation studio four years ago, killing 36 employees.

Aoba Shinji is charged with murder and arson after dousing the studio with gasoline and starting a fire in July 2019. The attack at the studio in the city of Kyoto left 32 others injured.

The trial focused on whether the defendant could be deemed mentally competent in order to take responsibility for the crime.

Prosecutors on Thursday described the attack as an act of revenge stemming from a misdirected grudge. They said it stands out in Japan's criminal history in terms of the number of victims.

They said the defendant planned the attack with a firm intention to kill, and was fully aware of the dangers of setting fire to gasoline.

The prosecutors said as the victims tried to flee they were chased by rapidly-moving smoke and flames, and that their hellish terror and regret was beyond imagination.

They argued that the delusion that Kyoto Animation stole Aoba's work was a motive, but only partly, and does not exempt him from the death penalty.

The prosecutors noted that the suffering and sadness of bereaved families and survivors are far too deep, and they have a fierce desire for the defendant to be punished.

They said the defendant can be held fully accountable for what he did, and demanded that he be sentenced to death.

The defense lawyers argued that Aoba suffered from a serious delusional disorder at the time of the attack, and lacked the mental capability to distinguish between right and wrong. They pleaded not guilty.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 25.

Key words : myanmar foreign minister
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231207_36/

Myanmar's military-appointed foreign minister Than Swe has met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss the situation in Myanmar.

Myanmar's state-run media reports they have agreed to closely work together on safeguarding border security.

During the talks on Wednesday, Wang reportedly reconfirmed Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as China's stance of not interfering in Myanmar's internal affairs.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Wang conveyed his country's hopes that Myanmar achieves national reconciliation as soon as possible and continues its political transformation process under its constitutional framework.

The meeting came as Myanmar's military is in the midst of increased fighting with three armed ethnic groups. The rebels launched a joint offensive in the eastern Shan State, which borders China, in late October.

In the border town of Muse, over 100 trucks bringing daily commodities from China also caught fire last month. These events have raised concerns in Beijing.

Key words : north spy satellite celebrate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231207_28/

North Korea says it has created a set of six posters to celebrate the successful launch of its first military spy satellite, Malligyong-1, on November 21.

The country's ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, unveiled the propaganda posters on Thursday.

They feature a rocket rising into space carrying the satellite. The Chollima-1 bears the letters NATA, the logo of North Korea's National Aerospace Technology Administration, as well as the motif of a mythical horse that the rocket is named after.

Some of the posters also feature the intercontinental Hwasong-18 and other missiles, with a statement that they are "eyes" overlooking a vast distance, and strong "fists" capable of beating a vast distance.

The posters show the spy satellite taking images of the US mainland, Hawaii, and Japan, to reinforce North Korea's claim that the country has now acquired the ability to constantly monitor every move its enemies make and to attack them.

North Korea has said that its spy satellite officially started its reconnaissance mission on December first. The North also said that it would decide on a plan in late December for launching more spy satellites next year.

Japan, the United States, and South Korea have been carefully analyzing the capabilities of the North Korean satellite.

Key words : taiwan presidential election failed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/radio/asianview/interviews/202312041519/

TAIWAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION A 3-WAY RACE

Nov. 24 was the deadline for the registration of candidates in Taiwan’s presidential election, which is being held on Jan.13. Despite some last-minute maneuvering, the opposition failed to agree on a unified ticket. We spoke about the election with Hirakawa Sachiko, a guest professor at Japan’s Waseda University and the Editor-in-Chief of “Waseda Asia Review.” She specializes in East Asian relations.