The foreign ministers of Japan, China, and South Korea have met in Tokyo on Saturday. Japan's Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi told his counterparts it is very important to build future-oriented cooperative ties among the three countries.
Iwaya welcomed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Taeil. The ministers confirmed that their countries will promote personnel exchanges and boost economic relations. They also agreed to strengthen disaster prevention cooperation, and to collaborate on shared challenges such as aging and shrinking populations. The ministers exchanged views on regional situations.
Iwaya expressed concern over North Korea's development of nuclear missiles and its growing military ties with Russia. Iwaya called for cooperation for resolving the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese citizens immediately.
We exchanged candid opinions from a broad perspective. We confirmed that we will promote future-oriented cooperation.
This year is an important year to look back on history, reflect on it, and draw beneficial lessons from there. The three countries should continue to face up to history and promote the healthy development of cooperationwith a future-oriented spirit.
The ministers also agreed to lay the groundwork for a trilateral summit in Japan in the near future.
Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigede has vowed to steadily strengthen the country's defense capabilities to protect it from security threats by China and North Korea. Ishiba addressed the graduation ceremony of the National Defense Academy in Yokosuka, near Tokyo, on Saturday.
The security environment surrounding Japan has changed dramatically. China is continuing and strengthening its efforts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas.
North Korea has been launching ballistic missiles repeatedly and building up its capabilities rapidly.
Ishiba stressed the need to boost deterrence to ensure that Japan is not endangered by any threat. He said it is clear from what the Ukrainians are going through that people's lives will be turned upside down if an armed incursion occurred. Ishiba also emphasized that human resources are the foundation of defense capabilities. He pledged to continue to lead efforts to improve working conditions of Japan's Self-Defense Forces personnel.
A US senator has met with a high-ranking Chinese official in Beijing amid escalating trade friction between the two countries. China's Foreign Ministry says Steve Daines exchanged views with Vice Foreign Minister Ma Chaozi on China-US relations and issues of mutual concern on Friday. The US Embassy in Beijing had earlier said the two sides would discuss the flow of drugs into the US and fair trade, among other issues. The Associated Press says Daines previously worked as an executive in China and served as a go-between during US President Donald Trump's first term in office. Daines wrote on social media last week that he had met Trump and discussed his upcoming trip to China. The Trump administration imposed additional tariffs on imports from China in February, and earlier this month. Beijing hit back with its own additional duties.
The former head of Japan's Self-Defense Forces has joined Taiwan's cabinet as an advisor. China is pushing back against the move. Informed sources say Iwasaki Shigere was appointed this month as a consultant to Taiwan's executive Yuan. In this role, Iwasaki is expected to offer advice on Taiwan's development. Foreigners are rarely appointed to this position, which is part-time and unpaid. He is the second Japanese to assume the post.
Iwasaki became the chief of the SDF's Joint Staff in 2012 after serving as the chief of staff of the Air Self-Defense Force. The administration of Taiwanese president, Li Hsing-te, apparently aims to enhance Taiwan's ties with Japan in the field of security through this appointment.
Now, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry told reporters on Friday Japan should act with extra prudence over the question of Taiwan, she added. Beijing has lodged protests with the Japanese side over the matter.
Israel's defense minister has threatened to annex parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas releases the remaining hostages.
The warning by Israel Katz comes as the ceasefire agreement between the two sides that took effect in January appears at risk of collapse.
In a statement, Katz said that he has instructed the Israeli military to seize additional territories and expand the security zones around Gaza if Hamas continues to refuse to release the hostages. In response, a Hamas statement on Friday said the Islamic group is still engaged in negotiations on a US proposal and other suggested ideas to end the war.
Now, meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office has announced a decision to dismiss the head of the Israeli Security Agency. Ronan Barr has been involved in ceasefire negotiations.
Israeli media says Barr's relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu worsened after the intelligence agency launched a probe into an alleged corruption case involving a top aide to the Prime Minister. Israel's Supreme Court has issued an injunction temporarily freezing the dismissal of Barr. Criticism is mounting even in Israel over Netanyahu's forceful decision. There are concerns he will take an increasingly hard-line stance while placing priority on maintaining his administration, which could impact future ceasefire negotiations.
And a project to cast a new bell for an atomic bombed cathedral in the Japanese city of Nagasaki is underway in the US The plan is being funded by Catholics in the country.
Urakami Cathedral originally had two bells, each hanging in a separate tower, but one of them was destroyed by the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki City. The cathedral was rebuilt and currently has the other bell, which was found in rubble.
The new bronze bell is being made in St. Louis in Missouri. It is the same kind as the destroyed bell. It measures 81 centimeters in height and weighs about 220 kilograms.
It's going to be a beautiful sound swinging through the cathedral and the city. It's really neat being selected out of all the foundries in the world to be a part of this.
The Bell Project was initiated by a US college professor whose grandfather was involved in the development of atomic bombs. The Bell is scheduled to be shipped to Japan as early as April and later hung in the cathedral.
And over 20 million foreign passengers took international flights to and from Narita Airport near Tokyo for the first time in 2024.
The airport's operator says 21.7 million of the 32.2 million people aboard international flights last year were foreign nationals.
That's up 36% from 2023 and 20% higher than 2019, the year before the coronavirus pandemic. There were 7.9 million Japanese travelers aboard international flights. That's up from 2023, but about half the 2019 figure. The operator says the weak yen is responsible for the influx of foreign visitors. And the drop in Japanese traveling abroad. Now the operator's president, Tamura Akihiko said last year was a year of transition from the pandemic to renewed growth. He said he expects the trend to continue this year and that the airport hopes to meet the demand.
And those were the top stories for this hour.
♫～
And that's a wrap for this edition of NHK News Line. I'm Ramin Mellegard. Thank you very much for joining us.
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