Key words : kim unification speech
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240209_11/
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says his country will occupy and annex South Korean territory in the event of war, stressing he would not hesitate to use force.
The North's state-run media reported on Friday that Kim visited the defense ministry with his daughter the day before. Thursday is the founding anniversary of the North's military.
Kim has been saying that his country now defines South Korea as the "most harmful primary foe" and "invariable principal enemy" rather than a potential counterpart for peaceful reunification. Kim reportedly said this policy change relieves his country from the constraints of having to hold dialogue and cooperating with the South.
The media outlet reported that Kim said the policy change was extremely appropriate for future peace.
Last month, Kim called for the country's Constitution to be revised to clearly define its territory that its sovereignty covers. In Thursday's speech, Kim referred to the demarcation line separating the two Koreas as a national border.
North Korea has conducted test launches of cruise missiles four times in 10 days through February 2.
Pyongyang reiterated its confrontational stance on the founding anniversary of its military.
Key words : justice concluded
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240209_08/
A special counsel has decided not to bring criminal charges against US President Joe Biden over his mishandling of classified documents when he was vice president.
Classified documents on military and foreign policy in Afghanistan were discovered in 2022 and 2023 at Biden's home and private office. The papers date from the time when he was vice president.
Special Counsel Robert Hur released a report on Thursday. It said, "Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen."
Hur added, "We concluded that no criminal charges are warranted in this matter."
The report said, "Mr Biden's memory was significantly limited" and "it would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him" of a felony that requires a mental state of willfulness.
Biden welcomed the decision in a speech in the state of Virginia on Thursday. He said he is pleased with the conclusion, and he believes no charges would be brought against him.
Former President Donald Trump said on social media that "This has now proven to be a two-tiered system of justice." He said what Biden did was a crime. Trump has been indicted over the illegal possession of classified documents.
US media say the decision not to seek criminal charges against Biden is good news for him. But they say the report cited Biden's poor memory as one of the reasons for the decision, and this could hurt his reelection campaign.
Key words : hamas delegation arrive
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240209_05/
A media report says more time is required for Israel and the Islamic group Hamas to reach an agreement that would lead to a pause in fighting in the Gaza Strip.
A report by Qatar-based Al Jazeera, citing Egyptian sources, estimates new negotiations would take at least 10 days before a truce begins as part of the first phase of the deal.
This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday rejected a truce proposal by Hamas. The three-stage plan proposes a complete truce in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held by the group.
Hamas said on Thursday that its delegation had arrived in Cairo to continue talks with Qatar and Egypt, the mediators of the negotiations.
The Israeli military announced on Thursday it is intensifying its offensive in the western part of Khan Younis in Gaza's south. Israel says Hamas has its key outpost in the city. Israel is also poised to expand its ground operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have taken shelter.
Health authorities in Gaza said on Thursday that 130 people had died over the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 27,840.
Key words : kirby
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240209_13/
The United States says it would not support Israel's plan to expand operations in the Gaza Strip's southernmost city of Rafah, if protection of civilian life is not factored in.
Israeli forces are poised to conduct major ground operations in Rafah, where they say the last remaining Hamas stronghold is located. More than one million Gaza residents are taking refuge there.
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby spoke on the issue at a news conference on Thursday.
He said the US has not seen any convincing plans indicating that Israeli forces are imminently going to conduct any kind of major operations in Rafah.
Kirby said, "The Israeli military has a special obligation as they conduct operations there or anywhere else to make sure that they are factoring in protection for innocent civilian life."
He added that given that more than a million Palestinians are seeking refuge in Rafah, any operation right now would be a disaster for them.
He said that the US would not support any operation that would not take their safety and protection into account.
Key words : evacuee started moving five location
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240209_17/
Evacuees in Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, have started moving into temporary housing after many homes were severely damaged in the Noto Peninsula earthquake that struck central Japan on New Year's Day.
In Suzu City, 456 temporary homes are being built at five locations. The first 40 were completed in the schoolyard of Shoin Elementary School.
People started arriving with their families shortly after 8 a.m. on Friday. They brought bedding and daily necessities from evacuation centers.
A woman in her 80s came to see the temporary residence with her daughter. Their house in the same district was destroyed by the quake.
They brought clothes with them and checked the electricity and water supplies.
The mother said she was glad when she was informed that she could move in. She said there was only a curtain for privacy at the evacuation center but she can now live in peace and quiet. She added that her room is more spacious and warmer than she had expected.
Her daughter said the future is still uncertain but she is grateful to have electricity and running water.
A total of 8,280 homes were destroyed or partially damaged in Suzu. The city plans to build about 2,500 temporary houses.
Key words : government financial assistance
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240209_14/
The Japanese government plans to provide more financial assistance for public housing projects in areas in central Japan that were hit by the massive earthquake on January 1.
The Noto Peninsula earthquake, which struck Ishikawa Prefecture, was designated as a "disaster of extreme severity" last month.
The designation has enabled the government to increase state subsidies aimed at restoring public facilities and farmland. It has also made it easier for small and medium size businesses to get credit.
On Friday, the government decided to provide additional assistance after it was determined that the number of completely destroyed or severely damaged homes exceeded the threshold required to take further measures.
State subsidies for municipalities to build public housing will be provided for 50 percent of the number of destroyed homes instead of the current 30 percent. The subsidy rates will be raised to cover three-quarters of the construction costs. The current subsidies cover two-thirds of the expenses.
Disaster Management Minister Matsumura Yoshifumi said he wants municipalities to use the subsidies to help the affected people secure permanent housing.
The new measures will take effect on February 15.
Key words : abolish
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240209_12/
The Japanese government has officially decided on a plan to abolish the current system for foreign technical trainees and replace it with a new on-the-job training program.
It plans to submit the relevant draft legislation to the current Diet session.
The decision was made at a meeting of relevant Cabinet ministers on Friday. The plan is based on a report submitted by an expert panel.
The new program would aim to help foreign interns to obtain a certain level of knowledge and skills in three years, in principle.
It would be applied to the same sectors that are covered by the specified skilled workers program for such fields as nursing care, construction and agriculture. The plan says discussions would be held on whether to expand the approved fields to other industries in order to secure a sufficient workforce.
The plan also says foreign interns would be allowed to change their employers in the same field. Interns have been unable to do so in principle under the current program. It adds that each industry would set a period of between one and two years for interns to stay with the initial employer.
The government expects that a growing number of trainees may be granted permanent residency, but it will consider revoking this status if the person fails to pay taxes or social insurance contributions.
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said the government will work to introduce a better program so that talented foreigners will view Japan as an ideal place to work.
Key words : copper cable
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240209_07/
A large number of copper cables attached to train tracks have been cut off in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, causing train services to be temporarily suspended.
West Japan Railway Company says its workers found the damage on the rails of the Ube and San-yo lines on Wednesday and Thursday.
The copper cables are attached to joints on the rails that allow electrical currents to flow through the track. Damaged cables have been taken away. Company sources say more than 100 such parts have been removed on the two lines.
The locations include Ajisu Station on the Ube Line, where multiple cases were found on Thursday evening. The company suspended operations between Shin-Yamaguchi and Ube stations for the rest of the day to repair the cables.
The San-yo Line in Yamaguchi Prefecture also had the same problem on Wednesday and Thursday, which caused train services to be temporarily suspended.
Police are investigating the incident after the company reported the damage.
Key words : tokyo heavy snowfall experience
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/videos/20240209152936469/
Tokyo snow closed highways, affected logistics
A snowfall that hit Tokyo this week had many pulling out their phones to take pictures of the rare winter scenes. But it also caused major logistical disruptions. NHK World's Kurabayashi Tomoko went to find out why.
Key words : world weather Jonathan Oh
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