Japan's Foreign Minister has visited Jerusalem and the West Bank to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
South Korea's Foreign Minister has commented on an agreement reach between Japan and her country on those referred to as comfort women.
Japan's unemployment rate fell to 2.7 percent in November -- It's lowest level in 24 years.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20171226200000_english_1.mp3 Key words : foreign visited west bank
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171226_08/
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono has visited Jerusalem and the West Bank to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Kono is the first cabinet member of a major industrialized nation to visit Jerusalem after US President Donald Trump announced Washington will recognize the city as the capital of Israel.
In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Kono said relations between Japan and Israel have been expanding, and that Japan hopes to improve them further.
Netanyahu replied that cooperation between the 2 countries will lead to peace and prosperity.
Kono later met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.
He reiterated Japan's position that issues such as the final status of Jerusalem should be resolved through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Abbas said that he sees Kono's visit to Palestinian territory as a vote of confidence from Japan.
Kono told reporters after the meetings that he was able to hear frank opinions from both sides amid rising tensions over Jerusalem.
He said that the 2 sides are apparently willing to negotiate peace, and that Japan wants to facilitate such talks.
Kono is the first cabinet member of a major industrialized nation to visit Jerusalem after US President Donald Trump announced Washington will recognize the city as the capital of Israel.
In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Kono said relations between Japan and Israel have been expanding, and that Japan hopes to improve them further.
Netanyahu replied that cooperation between the 2 countries will lead to peace and prosperity.
Kono later met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.
He reiterated Japan's position that issues such as the final status of Jerusalem should be resolved through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
Abbas said that he sees Kono's visit to Palestinian territory as a vote of confidence from Japan.
Kono told reporters after the meetings that he was able to hear frank opinions from both sides amid rising tensions over Jerusalem.
He said that the 2 sides are apparently willing to negotiate peace, and that Japan wants to facilitate such talks.
Key words : issued christmas address
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171226_01/
Pope Francis issued a call for peace in Jerusalem during his traditional Christmas Day address.
The pontiff spoke to crowds of followers at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Monday.
His appeal came as tensions between Israelis and Palestinians continue to run high, following US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
The Pope said: "Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties."
He also expressed hope that: "a negotiated solution can finally be reached, one that would allow the peaceful co-existence of 2 states within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders."
The Roman Catholic leader also touched on his recent visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh. During the trip, he met with a group of Rohingya Muslims who had fled from the violence in Myanmar.
The Pope said he hopes that "the dignity of the minority groups present in the region is adequately protected."
The pontiff also stated that he hopes the tensions surrounding North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs will be resolved peacefully.
He said: "Let us pray that the confrontation may be overcome on the Korean Peninsula, and that mutual trust may increase in the interest of the world as a whole."
The pontiff spoke to crowds of followers at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Monday.
His appeal came as tensions between Israelis and Palestinians continue to run high, following US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
The Pope said: "Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties."
He also expressed hope that: "a negotiated solution can finally be reached, one that would allow the peaceful co-existence of 2 states within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders."
The Roman Catholic leader also touched on his recent visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh. During the trip, he met with a group of Rohingya Muslims who had fled from the violence in Myanmar.
The Pope said he hopes that "the dignity of the minority groups present in the region is adequately protected."
The pontiff also stated that he hopes the tensions surrounding North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs will be resolved peacefully.
He said: "Let us pray that the confrontation may be overcome on the Korean Peninsula, and that mutual trust may increase in the interest of the world as a whole."
Key words : south comfort agreement
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171226_11/
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha says the government and those referred to as wartime comfort women did not communicate with each other well before South Korea and Japan reached an agreement on the issue in 2015.
Kang disclosed the overall content of the government's report reviewing the process of the agreement on Tuesday, on the eve of the report's release.
The 2015 agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and then-South Korean President Park Geun-hye says the comfort women issue was resolved "finally and irreversibly."
But Park's successor, Moon Jae-in, set up a Foreign Ministry task force earlier this year to verify the negotiation process that led to the agreement.
He noted that many South Koreans are still dissatisfied with the deal.
Kang said the report's conclusion is that communication between the government and former comfort women before signing the deal was quite poor.
Kang said she believes that 70 percent of South Koreans do not approve of the agreement. She added that the government should take into consideration all possible options in formulating its stance, and communicate with the former comfort women and their supporters.
The government plans to use the report to formulate its future policy on the agreement.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga referred to the agreement as a deal pledged by the leaders of the 2 countries in front of the international community, adding that it has been given high marks.
He noted that it is important that both sides steadily implement the agreement based on mutual trust.
Kang disclosed the overall content of the government's report reviewing the process of the agreement on Tuesday, on the eve of the report's release.
The 2015 agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and then-South Korean President Park Geun-hye says the comfort women issue was resolved "finally and irreversibly."
But Park's successor, Moon Jae-in, set up a Foreign Ministry task force earlier this year to verify the negotiation process that led to the agreement.
He noted that many South Koreans are still dissatisfied with the deal.
Kang said the report's conclusion is that communication between the government and former comfort women before signing the deal was quite poor.
Kang said she believes that 70 percent of South Koreans do not approve of the agreement. She added that the government should take into consideration all possible options in formulating its stance, and communicate with the former comfort women and their supporters.
The government plans to use the report to formulate its future policy on the agreement.
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga referred to the agreement as a deal pledged by the leaders of the 2 countries in front of the international community, adding that it has been given high marks.
He noted that it is important that both sides steadily implement the agreement based on mutual trust.
Key words : south korean official
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171226_15/
South Korean officials say North Korea will likely explore the possibility of negotiations with the US next year while seeking recognition as a nuclear-weapons state.
The Unification Ministry said in a report on Tuesday that Pyongyang may also try to improve ties with Seoul.
The report says the country accelerated its nuclear and missile development in 2017, noting that the North launched a total of 20 ballistic missiles on 15 occasions.
It says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also solidified his power base by appointing close aides to senior posts, and by heightening the prestige of his ruling party.
The report adds that North Korea unsuccessfully pursued dialogue with the US, and that it kept its distance from China.
It also notes that North Korea has felt the impact of international sanctions. The country's trade value has dropped, and it has fewer laborers working abroad. The migrant workers are thought to be a source of funds for the regime.
The Unification Ministry said in a report on Tuesday that Pyongyang may also try to improve ties with Seoul.
The report says the country accelerated its nuclear and missile development in 2017, noting that the North launched a total of 20 ballistic missiles on 15 occasions.
It says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also solidified his power base by appointing close aides to senior posts, and by heightening the prestige of his ruling party.
The report adds that North Korea unsuccessfully pursued dialogue with the US, and that it kept its distance from China.
It also notes that North Korea has felt the impact of international sanctions. The country's trade value has dropped, and it has fewer laborers working abroad. The migrant workers are thought to be a source of funds for the regime.
Key words : Japan unemployment
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171226_10/
Japan's unemployment rate fell to 2.7 percent in November -- the lowest in 24 years.
The internal affairs ministry says more than 65.5 million people had jobs in November, up by 750,000 from a year earlier. This was the 59th straight monthly increase.
The number of unemployed fell by 190,000 to about 1.8 million, extending the downward streak to 90 months in a row.
The seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 2.7 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from October.
Ministry officials say the job market in Japan is steadily improving. They say people are able to find work in a broad range of industries, but this has caused labor shortages.
The labor ministry says the ratio of job offers to applicants rose to 1.56 in November, up 0.01 point from the previous month.
That means there were 156 job openings for every 100 people looking for work.
The figure was the second to the highest, which was marked in January of 1974.
The internal affairs ministry says more than 65.5 million people had jobs in November, up by 750,000 from a year earlier. This was the 59th straight monthly increase.
The number of unemployed fell by 190,000 to about 1.8 million, extending the downward streak to 90 months in a row.
The seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 2.7 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from October.
Ministry officials say the job market in Japan is steadily improving. They say people are able to find work in a broad range of industries, but this has caused labor shortages.
The labor ministry says the ratio of job offers to applicants rose to 1.56 in November, up 0.01 point from the previous month.
That means there were 156 job openings for every 100 people looking for work.
The figure was the second to the highest, which was marked in January of 1974.
Key words : Russian challenging
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171226_06/
Russia's opposition leader has been barred from challenging Vladimir Putin in the presidential election next March.
The Central Electoral Commission on Monday ruled Alexei Navalny ineligible for running in the election because of a conviction on embezzlement charges in February. Navalny has dismissed the charges as fabrications.
In an online video message, Navalny says the election will feature only Putin and candidates the president has personally selected. Navalny urges his supporters to boycott the vote.
Navalny is a leading critic of Putin and anti-corruption activist. He is popular among younger Russians.
He called for demonstrations this March to protest alleged corruption in Putin's administration. More than 10,000 people took part in the rallies.
Putin criticized Navalny earlier this month, saying that the opposition leader is trying to destabilize the country.
The Central Electoral Commission on Monday ruled Alexei Navalny ineligible for running in the election because of a conviction on embezzlement charges in February. Navalny has dismissed the charges as fabrications.
In an online video message, Navalny says the election will feature only Putin and candidates the president has personally selected. Navalny urges his supporters to boycott the vote.
Navalny is a leading critic of Putin and anti-corruption activist. He is popular among younger Russians.
He called for demonstrations this March to protest alleged corruption in Putin's administration. More than 10,000 people took part in the rallies.
Putin criticized Navalny earlier this month, saying that the opposition leader is trying to destabilize the country.
Key words : north crew wooden boat
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171226_13/
The North Korean crew of a wooden boat that washed ashore in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Akita have taken a flight to return to the North.
The 8 men were found on November 23rd on the shore of Yurihonjo City. A police investigation determined that the crew lost control of their boat while fishing.
The men were placed in protective custody at an immigration facility in Nagasaki Prefecture in southwestern Japan while authorities prepared for their return.
Shortly before noon on Tuesday, the crew was transported by a Japan Coast Guard plane to Kansai Airport in western Japan.
They left Japan on a private-sector aircraft shortly after 3:40 PM. They will return to North Korea via China.
Japan has recently seen a rise in the number of wooden boats that have washed ashore on the country's Sea of Japan coast. Some have also been found drifting in coastal waters. The boats are believed to have come from the Korean Peninsula.
There have been 99 incidents this year as of Monday, which is the highest level in the past 5 years.
In one case, a North Korean boat docked at an uninhabited island in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on November 28th.
Three of its crewmembers were arrested on suspicion of stealing a power generator from a hut on the island. Procedures are underway to deport the boat's 7 other crewmembers.
The 8 men were found on November 23rd on the shore of Yurihonjo City. A police investigation determined that the crew lost control of their boat while fishing.
The men were placed in protective custody at an immigration facility in Nagasaki Prefecture in southwestern Japan while authorities prepared for their return.
Shortly before noon on Tuesday, the crew was transported by a Japan Coast Guard plane to Kansai Airport in western Japan.
They left Japan on a private-sector aircraft shortly after 3:40 PM. They will return to North Korea via China.
Japan has recently seen a rise in the number of wooden boats that have washed ashore on the country's Sea of Japan coast. Some have also been found drifting in coastal waters. The boats are believed to have come from the Korean Peninsula.
There have been 99 incidents this year as of Monday, which is the highest level in the past 5 years.
In one case, a North Korean boat docked at an uninhabited island in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on November 28th.
Three of its crewmembers were arrested on suspicion of stealing a power generator from a hut on the island. Procedures are underway to deport the boat's 7 other crewmembers.
Key words : researcher drug
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Key words : nobel peace
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171226_16/
The chief of the organization that won this year's Nobel Peace Prize will visit Japan next month. She is seeking a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Beatrice Fihn, the executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, also known as ICAN, will visit Japan for 7 days from January 12th.
She plans to give lectures in the atomic bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
ICAN is now requesting the Japanese government to allow the meeting. The group is also calling for a debate session with officials from political parties.
The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted this year, and ICAN played a key role.
Japan objects to the treaty, arguing it is not effective for nuclear disarmament because the world's nuclear powers did not join it.
Fihn plans to offer Abe and others various ways to study the positive and negative effects of Japan joining the treaty.
Akira Kawasaki, a key Japanese member of ICAN, said they are calling for concrete discussions with non-participating nations. He said the countries may be arguing against the treaty because they are guaranteed protection by a country with nuclear weapons.
Beatrice Fihn, the executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, also known as ICAN, will visit Japan for 7 days from January 12th.
She plans to give lectures in the atomic bombed cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
ICAN is now requesting the Japanese government to allow the meeting. The group is also calling for a debate session with officials from political parties.
The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted this year, and ICAN played a key role.
Japan objects to the treaty, arguing it is not effective for nuclear disarmament because the world's nuclear powers did not join it.
Fihn plans to offer Abe and others various ways to study the positive and negative effects of Japan joining the treaty.
Akira Kawasaki, a key Japanese member of ICAN, said they are calling for concrete discussions with non-participating nations. He said the countries may be arguing against the treaty because they are guaranteed protection by a country with nuclear weapons.
Key words : hit northern
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20171226_14/
A snowstorm has hit northern Japan, disrupting traffic.
The Meteorological Agency says the rough weather is due to a low pressure system over the Sea of Okhotsk.
Poor visibility caused traffic to back up on a road in the city of Nayoro in Hokkaido on Tuesday morning. About 100 vehicles were affected.
Police say at least 2 people were taken to hospital as the result of collisions. They say the situation is now returning to normal.
The agency is warning of more snowfalls, avalanches, high waves and disruptions to traffic.
The Meteorological Agency says the rough weather is due to a low pressure system over the Sea of Okhotsk.
Poor visibility caused traffic to back up on a road in the city of Nayoro in Hokkaido on Tuesday morning. About 100 vehicles were affected.
Police say at least 2 people were taken to hospital as the result of collisions. They say the situation is now returning to normal.
The agency is warning of more snowfalls, avalanches, high waves and disruptions to traffic.
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