at 20:00 (JST), February 28 (Autoscroll 1pix/0.1s)

North Korea's ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament says his country will respond if the United States ignores efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and chooses provocation and confrontation.

The mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have been announced.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180228200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : north conference disarmament
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180228_08/

North Korea's ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament says his country will certainly respond if the United States ignores efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and chooses provocation and confrontation.

Han Tae Song made the remarks at a meeting of the conference in Geneva on Tuesday. He was responding to comments made by South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha.

Kang had stressed the need for continued pressure on the North to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. She warned against losing sight of reality despite the inter-Korean dialogue brought on by the PyeongChang Olympics.

In response, Han said South Korea mistakenly continues to believe that such pressure is effective. He said the North's nuclear and missile programs are self-defense measures against hostile US policies toward Pyongyang.

US Ambassador Robert Wood emphasized that Washington will continue to put maximum pressure on the North until it agrees to denuclearization talks. He pointed out that it was North Korea that abruptly canceled an opportunity for talks with Vice President Mike Pence at the PyeongChang Olympics.

Key words : north charge promoted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180228_25/

North Korea's official in charge of negotiations with the United States has been promoted to vice minister of foreign affairs.

A source with close knowledge of the situation on the Korean Peninsula told NHK about the promotion of the director of the North American Affairs Department, Choe Son Hui .

Choe is a veteran of negotiations with the US. She has also served as North Korea's deputy representative to six-party talks on its nuclear program.

Talks between the US and the North have been suspended since February 2012. But Choe has continued to exchange views with former US government officials at international meetings.

She reportedly contacted US special representative Joseph Yun in Norway last May to discuss the release of an American student who was being held in Pyongyang.

Choe was promoted from vice director to department director in 2016. The fate of her predecessor as vice minister, Han Song Ryol, remains unknown.

It's unclear whether the foreign ministry shuffle is linked to a recent remark by the vice chairman of the country's ruling Korean Workers' Party, Kim Yong Chol.

Kim, who visited South Korea for the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics, told the country's President Moon Jae-in that the North is ready to reopen dialogue with the US.

Key words : news agency north
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180228_23/

The Reuters news agency says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his late father, Kim Jong Il, obtained fake Brazilian passports under false names in the 1990s.

The agency reported this on Tuesday, quoting 5 Western European security sources.

The purported photocopies of the passports carry a stamp saying "Embassy of Brazil in Prague" with an issue date of February 26, 1996. The passports' holders are both described as having been born in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The report says 4 of the security sources confirmed that the passports were used to apply for 4 visas in at least 2 Western countries. It says the passports may also have been used to travel to Brazil, Japan and Hong Kong.

Some are skeptical about the report, since Kim Jong Il became North Korea's de facto leader in 1994 upon the death of his father, Kim Il Sung, and he may not have needed fake passports in 1996, the issue year of the reported fake passport.

The younger Kim is known to have made multiple secret visits to Japan around 1991, when he was a child, using a fake passport. He is also known to have traveled to Japan using a fake Brazilian passport in May of 1991.

Key words : Japan patrol
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180227_27/

Japan's government says one of the country's patrol planes has again spotted an apparent transfer of goods from a foreign vessel to a North Korean tanker in the East China Sea.

The Defense Ministry says the Maritime Self-Defense Force P3C aircraft spotted the Maldivian-registered tanker alongside the North Korean ship in open waters late at night on Saturday.

A photo taken by the aircraft shows the two tankers of almost the same size approaching each other with lights on.

Ministry officials say they determined that one of the ships with no name on its hull is North Korean because of its shape.
This is the fourth time that a Self-Defense Force aircraft has spotted a suspected violation of UN Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang.

Japan reported the latest incident to the UN.

The US government said on Friday it is imposing new sanctions against North Korea. They target more than 50 companies and ships based in China, Taiwan and elsewhere for alleged involvement in ship-to-ship transfers of goods.

Key words : Insight juvenile act
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Key words : mascot
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180228_24/

The mascots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have been announced.

School children from about 16,000 elementary schools across Japan and overseas voted from among 3 sets of mascots shortlisted by a panel of experts.

The results were unveiled by the organizers of the 2020 Games at an elementary school in Tokyo on Wednesday, drawing cheers from the 550 students packing the venue.

The winning mascots are a pair of humanoid characters clad in the checkered pattern that is featured on the Games' official emblems.

The Olympic mascot features a white body with an indigo blue checkered pattern. The Paralympic character sports a pink checkered pattern.

The mascots do not have names yet. The committee plans to announce their names this summer.

Key words : train operator
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180228_31/

A Japanese train operator says a crack found in the undercarriage of a Shinkansen bullet train last December may have been caused by a lack of structural durability, as its steel material had been shaved thinner than designed.

The undercarriage was manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in 2007. West Japan Railway Company, or JR West, says the steel materials used in 100 other undercarriages on Shinkansen trains it owns were also shaved.

Japan's Transport Safety Board has designated the discovery of the 14-centimeter crack as a "grave incident" -- a first for a Shinkansen.

JR West explained in a news conference on Wednesday that the steel material used for the undercarriage was supposed to be 7 millimeters thick, but that it was as thin as 4.7 millimeters at some points.

It said a lack of strength in the material could have caused the crack to expand.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries reportedly told JR West that the steel material should not have been shaved when assembled with other parts.

JR West says ultrasonic screenings found 6 undercarriages with cracks in places welded to other parts and that it has already replaced or scrapped 18 of them. It says the remaining 82 have so far revealed no strength problems, but that the company plans to replace them all within a year.

Key words : official output
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180228_19/

Officials of Japan's economy ministry say the country's industrial output dropped in January for the first time in 4 months.

The figure fell 6.6 percent from December. The officials say major reasons include a sharp drop in production of passenger cars and auto parts led by a decline in exports to North America.

Production of construction machinery also fell, as heavy snow disrupted transportation of construction machinery parts.

Analysts at the ministry also forecast major manufacturer production activity.

They predict it will mark a month-on-month increase of 9 percent in February but drop 2.7 percent in March.

They downgraded their assessment of industrial production for the first time in 2 years and 5 months. They now say production is "picking up slowly."

Ministry officials say industrial output slowed quickly after reaching a high level last December.

They say production for companies' capital investment, which has been robust, is losing steam.

at 20:00 (JST), February 27 (Autoscroll)

US President Donald Trump says the United States will talk with North Korea only "under the right conditions."

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Public prosecutors in South Korea are seeking a 30-year prison term for former President Park Geun-hye, who is standing trial on corruption charges.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180227200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : Trump talk with under the right
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180227_08/

US President Donald Trump says the United States will talk with North Korea only "under the right conditions."

Trump's remark at the White House on Monday was in response to a message received from the North, indicating that the country is willing to engage in talks.

Trump said that North Korea wants to speak with the US, and that the US wants to talk also, but only under the right conditions. He said otherwise there will be no discussions.

The US President criticized the ways in which his predecessors handled the North Korean threat.

Trump said that his administration will see what happens before it determines whether Pyongyang really intends to abandon its nuclear and missile development programs.

His comments came after a high-level North Korean delegation to South Korea said in a meeting with President Moon Jae-in that the North is ready to talk with the United States.

Last week, the US government announced that it is imposing the largest ever set of sanctions against Pyongyang.

In the same speech, Trump praised China for its efforts to increase pressure on the North. He also criticized Russia for sending North Korea "a lot of stuff."

Key words : representative stepping down
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180227_20/

The US State Department's special representative for North Korea policy is stepping down.

Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement on Monday that Joseph Yun has decided to retire for personal reasons. She added that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has reluctantly accepted Yun's decision.

The move comes at a time when Pyongyang has shown willingness to talk with Washington.

Yun assumed his post in 2016 when President Barack Obama was in office. He has coordinated North Korea policy with Japan and South Korea.

Yun has also contacted North Korea through its UN mission. He traveled to Pyongyang last June to seek the release of American student Otto Warmbier, who died shortly after being flown home in a coma from North Korea, where he was jailed for more than a year.

The Washington Post reports that Yun's departure reflects widespread frustration within the State Department over diplomats' relative lack of power in the Trump administration.

Last month, the White House cancelled plans to appoint Victor Cha, a North Korea expert, as the next ambassador to South Korea reportedly due to policy differences.

Key words : Japan top guarded
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180227_15/

Japan's top government spokesperson has given a guarded response to North Korea's show of willingness to talk to the United States.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters on Tuesday that the North continues to steadily proceed with its nuclear and missile development. He said others should not be swayed by Pyongyang's charm offensive.

Suga said Japan will continue to closely cooperate with the US, South Korea and other relevant countries. He said it will gather and analyze intelligence, and ensure monitoring and surveillance to protect people's safety.

Key words : okinawa health reason
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Key words : public prosecutor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180227_22/

Public prosecutors in South Korea are seeking a 30-year prison term for former President Park Geun-hye, who is standing trial on corruption charges.

Park is accused of receiving about 40-million dollars in bribes from the Samsung Group, the country's largest conglomerate, among other charges. She denies any wrongdoing.

Earlier this month, a court judged her longtime confidante, Choi Soon-sil, guilty of conspiring with the former president. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Key words : ceasefire began
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180227_23/

A 5-hour daily truce has begun in Syria's eastern Ghouta area, where an offensive by government forces has resulted in many civilian casualties.

The ceasefire called by Russia began on Tuesday. The move is aimed at stopping fighting every day between 9 AM and 2 PM.

Anti-government forces say they will not halt their offensive, but no major fighting has been reported so far.

More than 500 civilians have reportedly been killed in attacks over the past week.

Key words : Insight defense cooperation France
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Key words : crowd fan honor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180227_14/

A crowd of more than 1,000 fans gathered in Tokyo on Tuesday to honor Japanese medalists as well as other athletes who competed in the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Team Japan returned home on Monday with a record haul of 13 medals.

The Japanese Olympic Committee held the fan event after a ceremony to disband its delegation to South Korea.

500-meter speed skating gold medalist Nao Kodaira was the captain of the athletes' delegation. She said the high medal count is the result of everyone's hard work and strong competitiveness. She added that the team is grateful for the warm encouragement they received from many people.

The athletes and coaches then took the podium separately in each sport.

Yuzuru Hanyu, who won gold in figure skating for the 2nd straight Olympic Games, said he is very happy. He said his medal is the result of staking not just his skating life, but his future on a win. He thanked the people who have been cheering him on.

The women's curling team won bronze, bringing Japan its first medal in the sport. Skip Satsuki Fujisawa and other team members reproduced for fans their unique calls during matches.

Key words : Japan satellite
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180227_16/

Japan has successfully sent a new government information-gathering satellite into orbit.

It was launched aboard an H2A rocket, which lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in the southern prefecture of Kagoshima at 1:34 PM on Tuesday.

The rocket sent the satellite into orbit about 20 minutes later. The optical satellite will use high-performance cameras to take pictures during daylight.

For security reasons, the Cabinet Satellite Intelligence Center and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which was in charge of the launch, did not disclose the exact time or altitude of the satellite release.

Information-gathering satellites are designed to capture images of the Earth's surface from several hundred kilometers above, and help protect Japan's security.

Japan operates both optical and radar satellites. Radar satellites are used at night and in bad weather.

Japan now has 7 information-gathering satellites in operation, covering every part of Earth at least once a day.

The government uses the satellites to monitor such things as North Korea's missile launching facilities and disaster areas. It plans to increase their number to 10.

Key words : labor union
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180227_19/

Labor unions at Japan's two major banks have decided to back off on demanding hikes in base pay at this year's wage negotiations.

Officials at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho Financial Group say the business climate will likely remain difficult, as long as interest rates remain excessively low.

This is the 3rd straight year the unions at Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho will forgo seeking a base pay raise.

Union officials at Sumitomo-Mitsui Banking Corporation are also considering refraining from making such a request.

The Bank of Japan's aggressive money-easing program has pushed down interest rates to historically low levels.

That's squeezing earnings at major financial groups, prompting them to slash payrolls and streamline operations.

Management is considering raises in other areas, including seniority-linked compensation.

This comes as the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, is calling on companies to offer 3 percent pay hikes, in response to the government's urging.

Key words : Hitachi
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at 20:00 (JST), February 26 (Autoscroll)

The head of a high-level North Korean delegation visiting South Korea has reiterated that the door for a dialogue with the United States is open.

The Japanese Olympic team returned home from Pyeongchang on Monday. Japan's athletes won 13 medals in all. That's the most any Japanese team has ever won at a Winter Games.

An information security firm in Japan says a cyberattack that targeted the PyeongChang Winter Olympics had been in the works since late last year.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180226200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : north door
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180226_26/

The head of a high-level North Korean delegation visiting South Korea has reiterated that the door for a dialogue with the United States is open.

Kim Yong Chol and other delegates had lunch on Monday with their South Korean counterparts -- National Security Director Chung Eui-yong and Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung.

Kim reportedly told them that his country has repeatedly expressed its readiness to hold talks with the US.

The delegation is on the 2nd day of its 3-day visit to the South to coincide with the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympic Games.

On the previous day, Kim met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and said Pyongyang is fully ready to talk with Washington.

He added that inter-Korean ties and North Korean-US relations should develop in tandem.

Also on Monday, Moon held talks with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong.

Moon said the US should lower its bar for dialogue, and that the North needs to show its willingness to denuclearize.

Key words : white house response
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180226_12/

The White House has given a lukewarm response to Pyongyang's message that it is willing to hold talks.

It issued a statement after a high-level North Korean delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics told South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday that the country is fully ready to talk with the United States.

The statement said that the administration of President Donald Trump has been trying to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula permanently and verifiably and that it will wait and see if the message represents the first step toward denuclearization.

It also stressed the need to continue to impose maximum pressure on Pyongyang until it abandons its nuclear program.

The statement said that "there is a brighter path available for North Korea if it chooses denuclearization."

The Trump administration has been in contact with North Korean officials via the North's UN representative in New York and other diplomatic channels.

But the country has not shown readiness to enter talks on denuclearization.

Key words : olympic team
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180226_23/

The Japanese Olympic team returned home from Pyeongchang on Monday. Japan's athletes won 13 medals in all. That's the most any Japanese team has ever won at a Winter Games.

A crowd of supporters was on hand at Narita Airport east of Tokyo to greet the athletes and officials.

The fans cheered and applauded when the team members, including speed skater Nao Kodaira and figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, appeared in the lobby wearing their medals.

Team leader Yasuo Saito, Kodaira, Hanyu and other medalists were handed bouquets on behalf of the group.

Hanyu is the first male figure skater in 66 years to win gold at 2 consecutive Olympics.

Kodaira took gold in the women's 500 meters and silver in the 1,000-meter race.

Speed skater Nana Takagi was the women's mass start champion and a member of the gold medal pursuit team.

In all, Japan collected 4 golds, 5 silvers and 4 bronzes. That's 3 more medals than the previous Japanese record, set at the 1998 Nagano Winter Games.

Key words : cyberattack target
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180226_17/

An information security firm in Japan says a cyberattack that targeted the PyeongChang Winter Olympics had been in the works since late last year.

The attack hit during the Games' opening ceremony on February 9th, causing internet disruptions.

A computer virus that was likely used in the attack has been found. The "Olympic Destroyer" virus was programmed to target one of the computer servers of the Olympic organizing committee.

Experts at Japan's Mitsui Bussan Secure Directions have analyzed the virus in detail. They found that it could steal IDs and passwords stored in infected terminals, and use them to look for new targets.

They also found the virus was created in late December last year, and began to spread at least one month before the Games opened.

An official of the firm, Takashi Yoshikawa, has called for measures to be put in place against possible cyberattacks at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. He says preparations for any such attack will likely get underway well ahead of the Games.

Key words : labor ministry additional
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180226_25/

Japan's labor ministry says additional irregularities have been found in the employee work-hour data used for Diet debate on working system reform.

Labor minister Katsunobu Kato disclosed the finding at a Lower House committee meeting on Monday. The committee is now discussing working system reform, which includes expanding a discretionary system that sets fixed wages regardless of hours put in.

Ministry officials had explained that they confirmed 117 suspected errors in survey data on the number of work hours put in by employees under both the discretionary system and those in general.

Kato said that after closely looking into the ministry data, 233 more cases of irregularities were found.

The cases mention weekly and monthly overtime records of employees in general, while showing that their daily overtime was zero.

Kato called the data irrational, saying it is impossible to mention weekly and monthly overtime without daily records.

The minister also referred to a survey on work hours of officials involved in company management under a discretionary work system. He said there were 42 cases in which less than 2 daily work hours were performed.

He indicated that his ministry would further investigate the cases and report to the Diet, saying the cases give a feeling of incongruity.

Key words : cambodia
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180226_07/

Cambodia's ruling party has swept all seats in Sunday's Upper House election after thousands of opposition lawmakers and local council leaders were stripped of their right to vote.

Senators are elected by lower house lawmakers and members of local council assemblies.

Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party, the CPP, has taken all 58 seats. The nation's king and the lower house will appoint another two members each.

The outcome was much anticipated as the largest opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, the CNRP, was dissolved by the nation's top court last November.

The party's leader had been arrested and charged with treason for an alleged attempt to overthrow the government.

The court's decision came after the CNRP had won nearly a majority in a local assembly election last year, in a campaign that called for a change of government.

As a result, the ruling CPP has since occupied most seats in local assemblies.

Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power for more than 3 decades, is tightening his grip ahead of a Lower House election in July.

The United States and other countries are criticizing Hun Sen, saying an election without the largest opposition party is not legitimate or fair.

Key words : Insight cambodia election
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Key words : export
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180226_21/

Robust exports on the back of a strong global economy generated high growth performance in 2017 for many countries in Southeast Asia.

All but one of the region's 6 major economies posted higher growth than in the previous year.

Gross domestic product in Indonesia, the region's largest economy, grew 5 percent last year.

Thailand grew 3.9 percent and Malaysia 5.9 percent.

Vietnam's economy expanded by 6.8 percent, the highest figure in a decade.

But the pace of growth in the Philippines slowed slightly, compared with the previous year.

Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore saw higher exports of manufactured products. They benefitted from the strong economies of the US and China.

Indonesia reported increased exports of farm and fisheries products.

Analysts say Southeast Asia is expected to maintain strong economic conditions this year as well.

But they warn investors might start pulling their money out of the region if the US quickens its pace of interest-rate hikes.

Such investment has been supporting the growth. They say an outflow of funds could trigger instability.

Key words : mitsubishi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180226_29/

Mitsubishi Motors is looking to grab a share of Indonesia's automobile market through efforts to help alleviate the nation's air pollution problem.

The Japanese carmaker is supplying the government there with a fleet of new electric vehicles. They'll be part of a project looking at how to encourage drivers to go electric.

Mitsubishi handed over the keys to 10 cars including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs.

The project team will spend a year studying the best ways to set up charging stations and other infrastructure elements essential to the spread of electric vehicles.

Jakarta's notorious air pollution has led the government to search for cleaner ways of getting around.

Indonesia is a Mitsubishi production hub for the massive Southeast Asian market. The automaker hopes the joint research can build a foothold to expand EV sales in the country.

at 20:00 (JST), February 25 (Autoscroll)

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https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180225200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : reportedly ceasefire Syria
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Key words : olympic Russia anthem
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Key words : Takagi dozen
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180225_18/

People in Japan are still buzzing over the success of their athletes on the final day of the PyeongChang Olympics after they racked up two more medals in women's speed skating and curling on Saturday.

Here are the Day 16 and 17 highlights.

Japan's Nana Takagi took gold in the women's speed skating mass start. This is a new event where about a dozen skaters start all at once and complete 16 laps, unlike in other races.

Takagi was in second entering the final lap. She raced away from the pack in the final straightaway, taking the gold.

Takagi finished in 1st place, making her the first Olympic gold medalist in the event. It's also her second gold at PyeongChang.

South Korea's Kim Bo-Reum took the silver. Kim was criticized earlier in the Games when she blamed a teammate for a poor finish in the team pursuit event. Kim bowed to the crowd after Saturday's race. She fell to her knees and placed her head on the ice in apology.

Irene Schouten from the Netherlands took the bronze.

And in women's curling, Japan faced Britain in the bronze medal match after losing in the semifinals to South Korea on Friday.

Japan went into the final end with a 4-3 lead.
It looked as if Britain would sew up a comeback victory with its final shot, but a mistake allowed Japan to steal a 5-3 win. It's the country's first ever medal in the sport.

Sweden grabbed the gold, beating South Korea 8-3. It is the third time in four Olympics that they've taken gold in the event.

And South Korea's silver medal is the highest finish by an Asian country in the sport.

In men's Ice Hockey, Olympic athletes from Russia beat Germany 4-3 in an incredible gold medal game. The teams entered the third period tied at 1 each.

OAR went ahead, but Germany equalized 10 seconds later. They then took a 3-2 lead with 3 minutes left. And victory looked certain after an OAR player was sent to the penalty box with just over two minutes left.

But OAR scored an improbable equalizer with less than a minute left on the clock. And in the sudden-death overtime, they scored a power play goal to take home the gold.

The closing ceremony will be held at the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium on Sunday night.

Key words : China proposal era
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Key words : north condemn
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180225_12/

North Korea's state media has condemned a shooting incident in Tokyo that targeted the headquarters of a pro-North Korea organization.

Two men fired several shots into the gate of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan on Friday morning. No one was injured. They were arrested on the spot.

North Korea's media reported the incident for the first time on Saturday night.

The media called it an unforgivable act against North Korea and its people in Japan, saying it was a planned terrorist act by a right-wing group.

It added the group took advantage of the general atmosphere in Japan under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who, it calls, maintains hardline policies against the North, and oppresses the pro-North organization.

Key words : Tokyo marathon
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180224_18/

About a thousand people have braved sub-zero temperatures to race on the frozen sea ice in the Russian Far East city of Vladivostok.

The Vladivostok Ice Run is held annually at this time of year, when temperatures drop below minus 10 degrees Celsius and the sea is covered with one-meter-thick ice.

The runners from 11 countries, including Russia, Japan and China, competed on Saturday in 4 categories. They wore spiked shoes to avoid slipping.

A man from Tokyo, who managed to finish the 5-kilometer race, said he enjoyed running and skidding on the ice. He said he has never had such an experience in Japan.

A Russian from a local running club won the half marathon category in a time of 1 hour, 15 minutes and 17 seconds.

Key words : football
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180225_02/

Japan's professional football league is moving to attract new fans in Thailand. The J.League has held an event in Bangkok that saw two Thai football stars play on opposing sides in a match.

Nearly 300 people gathered to watch a top league game between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.

The fans cheered every time midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin went for the ball. He is often compared with Argentine footballer Lionel Messi for his fast dribbling skills and ball control.

He became the first Thai to play in the top league last year when he joined Consadole on loan.

But the loudest cheers were for Teerasil Dangda making his J-League debut, especially when he put the ball in the back of the net in the first half. His goal gave Sanfrecce their first win of the season.

The J.League has been strengthening collaboration with overseas leagues such as the ones in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, with the goal of expanding the market and raising the level of Asian football.

at 20:00 (JST), February 24

US President Donald Trump has warned of a "phase two" in the US approach to North Korea if new sanctions are unable to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions.

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Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet have agreed to work closely to bring the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement into effect as soon as possible.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180224200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : Trump warned phase
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180224_13/

President Donald Trump has warned of a "phase two" in the US approach to North Korea if new sanctions are unable to convince Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions.
Trump spoke to reporters at the White House on Friday after announcing a fresh set of punitive measures against the North.
The sanctions target one individual, 27 entities and 28 vessels located, registered, or flagged in North Korea, China, Taiwan and other countries.
The US government said the targets have been supporting North Korea's efforts to smuggle oil and coal, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
At Friday's news conference, Trump described the new measures as "the heaviest sanctions ever imposed on a country" by the United States.
He said if the sanctions don't work, his administration will "have to go to phase two." In a reference to potential military action, he said such a move "may be a very rough thing, may be very, very unfortunate for the world."
Trump said the US has "tremendous support all around the world" and that he hopes the sanctions will achieve their goal of convincing the North to denuclearize.

Key words : US presidential advisor watched
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180224_15/

US presidential advisor Ivanka Trump has watched a snowboarding event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics with South Korea's foreign minister.
President Donald Trump's daughter is in South Korea at the head of a US delegation that will attend the closing ceremony of the Games on Sunday.
Ms. Trump watched the men's snowboarding Big Air event on Saturday morning with South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and the wife of President Moon Jae-in.
She chatted with the minister from time to time, and cheered on US snowboarders.
North Korea's high-level delegation headed by the vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party, Kim Yong Chol, is also expected to attend the closing ceremony.
He is suspected of involvement in masterminding the deadly sinking of a South Korean naval vessel in 2010.
At a banquet hosted by President Moon on Friday, Ms. Trump reaffirmed that the US government will continue to apply maximum pressure on the North.
US officials have denied the possibility that its delegation might meet with North Korean officials.
Our reporter says attention in South Korea is focused on whether the US and North Korean delegates will exchange words at Sunday's ceremony.

Key words : south protested decision
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Key words : Abe have agreed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180224_02/

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting Chilean President Michelle Bachelet have agreed to work closely to bring the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement into effect as soon as possible.
In a meeting on Friday, Abe referred to the signing ceremony for the pact, which is scheduled to take place in Chile on March 9th.
He expressed his respect to Chile for leading free trade efforts.
Bachelet responded that free trade is extremely important.
The TPP can go into effect after 6 of the 11 participating nations complete domestic procedures.
The 2 leaders also confirmed that they would aim to train about 4,000 people based in Chile in the field of disaster preparedness by 2020. This is to spread know-how in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

Key words : Trump possibility TPP
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180224_12/

US President Donald Trump has indicated his country may rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement if Washington is offered what he called a "much better deal".
Trump revived the possibility of returning to the TPP during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull following their meeting on Friday.
Trump said the original TPP was a "very bad deal" for the US. He said the agreement would have cost a tremendous number of jobs.
He said, "There is a possibility we would go in, but they would be offering us a much better deal." But he did not expand on his remarks.
Trump also spoke about US trade with China.
He stressed what he called his "extraordinary" personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But he criticized China's trade policies as unfair on US workers.
Trump has been weighing harsh measures against China for its steel overproduction and violations of intellectual property.
China has indicated it may retaliate against any penalties.

Key words : Syrian invasion
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180224_11/

The Syrian government reportedly is planning a ground invasion of eastern Ghouta, an opposition stronghold in the suburbs of the capital, Damascus.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says Russia, which backs the administration of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has informed negotiators for the opposition forces of the planned attack.
The human rights group says 462 civilians, including 103 children, have died over the past 6 days.
Russia reportedly has warned of the need to evacuate residents.
Syrian and Russian forces continue intense shelling and air raids in eastern Ghouta.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the situation for civilians as hell on earth and is calling for an immediate halt of all hostilities.
About 400,000 people remain in eastern Ghouta. International demands for an evacuation are expected to increase before a full-scale ground offensive leads to more fatalities.

Key words : Onodera instructed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180224_16/

Japan's defense minister has instructed Air Self-Defense Force personnel to take steps to strengthen the country's defense.
Itsunori Onodera spoke on Saturday at an event at the ASDF's Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, to mark the deployment of an F-35 stealth fighter at the base.
The aircraft is the first of 42 F-35s that are to be introduced in Japan as its next-generation mainstay fighter.
Onodera said China and Russia have increased their military activities around Japan. He said the deployment of the F-35s has great significance as Japan is facing its most severe security environment since World War Two.
Onodera also touched on Japan's plan to equip the aircraft with long-range Joint Strike Missiles, which can travel 500 kilometers.
The minister said the F-35's stealth capability and the long-range missiles will allow the Self-Defense Forces to counter aggression outside the range of enemy defense systems, while securing the safety of SDF crews.
He later told reporters that it is important for Japan to strengthen its air defense. He said the government will take that into account when reviewing the National Defense Program Outline.

Key words : Takeuchi
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at 20:00 (JST), February 23

South Korea's Unification Ministry has defended the upcoming visit by a senior North Korean official suspected of involvement in a deadly attack in 2010.


North Korea's ruling party newspaper says the country's military is pushing forward with its deployment of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles.

In the women's figure skating singles at the PyeongChang Winter games, Olympic atheletes from Russia have won the gold and silver. Japan's Satoko Miyahara finished fourth.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180223200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : south defended
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180223_21/

South Korea's Unification Ministry has defended the upcoming visit by a senior North Korean official suspected of involvement in masterminding a deadly naval attack in 2010.
North Korea is sending a high-level delegation headed by Kim Yong Chol for the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics on Sunday. Kim is the vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party.
Unification Ministry spokesperson Baik Tae-hyun told reporters on Friday that Kim Yong Chol is in charge of inter-Korean relations, and is in a position to discuss denuclearization and the improvement of ties. He added that it's difficult to pinpoint who was responsible for the 2010 sinking of a South Korean naval vessel. 46 sailors were killed in the attack.
Opposition lawmakers held a rally in front of South Korea's presidential palace on Friday to protest the upcoming visit.

Key words : vice tyrannical
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180223_15/

US Vice President Mike Pence has called Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korea's leader, "a central pillar of the most tyrannical and oppressive regime on the planet."
In a speech in Maryland on Thursday, Pence said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's family "brutalizes, subjugates, starves and imprisons its people."
He stressed that the United States will "keep standing strong until North Korea stops threatening our country, our allies, or until they abandon their nuclear and ballistic missiles once and for all."
Pence and Kim Yo Jong attended the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics earlier this month.
The US says North Korea abruptly cancelled a planned meeting between Pence and a high-level delegation that included Kim Yo Jong.
State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said that Pence intended to lay out and make clear the requirements of the US and the world for the denuclearization of North Korea during the meeting. She said the North apparently did not like that and chose to cancel.
Nauert added that a lot of people would have been happy if the meeting took place and the message had been delivered face-to-face in a strong way.

Key words : north military pushing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180223_18/

North Korea's ruling party newspaper says the country's military is pushing forward with its deployment of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles.
The Rodong Sinmun made the comment in an editorial on Friday.
The article says the country possesses intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and hydrogen bombs. It insists that it has made all preparations for a possible nuclear attack on the United States.
The editorial also says that wishing for the denuclearization of North Korea is more foolish than waiting for the ocean to dry up.
North Korea has been fostering a reconciliatory mood with South Korea during the ongoing PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
But the North staged a military parade on February 8th, the eve of the Games' opening ceremony, displaying the new ICBM-class missile known as the Hwasong-15.

Key words : figure skatin Miyahara
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180223_29/

At the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, 15-year-old Alina Zagitova has won gold in the women's figure skating event.
Her rival Evgenia Medvedeva, also from Russia, took silver after a flawless performance.
They were taking part in the games under the neutral status of Olympic Athletes from Russia.
Zagitova finished her short program in 1st place on Wednesday with a world record.
She performed to the ballet music of "Don Quixote" in her free skating portion. She earned a high score by successfully performing all her jumps which were packed into the latter half of the program and required stamina.
Zagitova's compatriot, two time world champion Medvedeva placed second on Wednesday.
She performed to the music "Anna Karenina" in her free skating. She broke into tears at the end of her spirited performance, but failed to beat Zagitova by only 1.31 points.
Kaetlyn Osmond of Canada took bronze.
Japan's top skater Satoko Miyahara renewed her personal best score with a fourth place finish.
Kaori Sakamoto, also of Japan, came in 6th place.

Key words : Watabe Iwabuchi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180223_25/

Here's a look back at Thursday's results from the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.
Germany made a big push in the Nordic combined team event, and took home another gold medal. Teams in the event consist of 4 members who compete in ski jumping and cross-country skiing.
In the ski jumping portion, Germany finished second behind Austria.
But the Germans took the lead in the early stage of cross-country skiing, showing overwhelming strength.
They went on to win gold, for a clean sweep of the Nordic combined events at the games.
Meanwhile, Japan's ace Nordic combined skier Akito Watabe, who won a silver medal in the individual normal hill event, pulled off a huge jump. That helped Japan place third.
But the Japanese athletes were passed by the Norwegians and Austrians in the cross-country section.
Japan finished fourth.
Watabe said, "I have been training for the gold since before the Sochi Games and now all I can think about is that it remains out of reach."
After the event, the team's head coach Takanori Kono said Watabe was competing with a fractured left rib.
He suffered the injury during practice on February 2nd, one day before a World Cup event in Nagano, Japan. Kono praised Watabe's spirited performance.
Kono said, "He couldn't put much power into cross-country skiing. But he still took the silver medal. He's a great athlete."
Norway took silver and Austria the bronze.
In the women's snowboarding big air event, Japan's Reira Iwabuchi came in fourth. It was the16-year-old's Olympic debut.
Her first jump was successful, but in her final attempt she failed to pull off one of the most difficult tricks.
Austria's Anna Gasser won the first-ever Olympic gold medal in the event by completing a clean trick with two flips and three full rotations.
American Jamie Anderson took silver and Zoi Sadowski of New Zealand won the bronze.

Key words : Japan unveil
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180223_30/

Japan's government has unveiled designs for 5 commemorative coins for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
The coins are the first of about 30 to be issued in 4 installments in the run-up to the Games.
The 10,000-yen gold coin features an image depicting traditional horseback archery. It is accompanied by Chinese characters that mean strength of mind, technique and body.
The two 1,000-yen silver coins depict swimmers and judoists, respectively. The other two, for 100 yen, show fencing and the Paralympic sport of Boccia.
The gold coin will sell for more than 1,120 dollars. The silver coins will cost about 89 dollars each.
The Japan Mint will start accepting applications to buy the gold and silver coins in July. The 100 yen coins will be available at financial institutions from around November.

Key words : Insight Indonesia project
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Key words : south appeal import restriction
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180223_23/

The South Korean government says it will appeal a World Trade Organization ruling against the country's import restrictions on Japanese seafood.
A WTO dispute-settlement panel on Thursday largely upheld Japan's complaint against the restrictions that were imposed after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. The panel says South Korea's measures are more restrictive than necessary, and that corrective action should be taken.
South Korean officials said on Friday that the ruling is a problem in view of the issues surrounding Japan's nuclear power plants. They cite concerns over what they call "radioactive contaminated food," and say they will do their best to prevent it from entering the country.
The officials plan to file an appeal within 60 days of the panel's decision.
South Korea's position means that its 2013 ban on seafood imports from 8 Japanese prefectures will remain in place until a final WTO ruling is delivered.
Japan's fisheries minister, Ken Saito, expressed regret over South Korea's plan to appeal.
Saito said Japan will deal with the issue properly so that the WTO appellate body will once again uphold Japan's claim.
He said Japan will continue to call on South Korea to sincerely and quickly correct any measures that go against the WTO agreement.

Key words : major india
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180223_24/

Major trade firm Sumitomo Corporation is to become the first Japanese company to join a big condominium development project in India, amid increasing demand by the country's middle class.
Sumitomo and a local business group plan to build 5,000 condos about 30 kilometers from central New Delhi. Many IT businesses and foreign firms are based in the area. The plan was released at a press conference on Thursday.
The project is estimated to cost about 1.9 billion dollars. Two 35-story residential buildings are to be constructed in the first phase of the project, whose completion date is set for 2021.
Masahiro Narikiyo, the president and CEO of Sumitomo Corporation India, says providing high-quality living space that meets demand by urban middle-class people makes business sense.
India's procedure for buying real estate is so complicated that many Japanese firms have been hesitant to enter the condo development business there.
Sumitomo officials say they hope to enter India's housing market by stressing Japan's knowhow about high-quality condos.

Key words : survey premium
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180223_22/

A survey of Japan's year-old "Premium Friday" labor initiative to encourage people to leave work early on the last Friday of each month shows that the campaign has failed to take root.
The survey of public- and private-sector officials shows that an average of 11 percent of workers left early on the designated days.
A goal of the campaign was to raise consumption. Officials hoped workers would spend more on dining and shopping during their extra free time.
But the survey shows that less than a quarter of restaurants and other businesses that launched promotions for the campaign reported higher sales.
But the officials plan to continue the initiative by encouraging employers to be more flexible on implementation.
Analysts say spending will not rise if disposable earnings do not as well.

at 20:00 (JST), February 22

North Korea is to send a high-level delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Sunday.

エラー 2042

US President Donald Trump has met with survivors from the Florida school shooting, and pledged to consider tightening gun control.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180222200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : north high-level notified
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180222_31/

North Korea is to send a high-level delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Sunday.
South Korea's Unification Ministry said North Korea notified it on Thursday that the 8-member delegation will arrive in the South by land on Sunday for a 3-day visit.
The delegation will be led by the vice chairman of the Korean Workers' Party, Kim Yong Chol. He heads the party's United Front Department, which handles inter-Korean relations.
It will include Ri Son Gwon, head of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea. He was part of a North Korean high-level delegation sent to the opening ceremony.
South Korean government officials said vice chairman Kim is on US and South Korean sanctions lists but that he would be allowed to visit this time.
The officials said Kim is due to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in during his stay.
The North's delegation to the Games' opening included Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong. During a meeting with President Moon, she proposed an inter-Korean summit. The last summit - the second - was held in October, 2007.

Key words : olympic speed skater Dutch
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Key words : short program smashed Miyahara
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180222_25/

Women's figure skaters took to the ice for their short program on Wednesday at the PyeongChang Olympics -- on a day of record-breaking performances.
15-year-old Alina Zagitova is in first place at the halfway mark. She smashed a world record set just minutes earlier by fellow Olympic Athlete from Russia Evgenia Medvedeva.
Two Japanese skaters gave personal best performances to put themselves in medal contention.
Satoko Miyahara was Japan's top finisher, coming in fourth. Teammate Kaori Sakamoto is one place below her.
They'll take to the ice again Friday for the free program.
Japan's women's curling team made it through to the semifinals -- but they did it the hard way.
They lost their final qualifying match to Switzerland -- and needed Sweden to beat the USA. The Swedes came through.
Japan joins them, along with Great Britain and South Korea, in the knockout round.
That action kicks off on Friday.

Key words : Insight mascot Tokyo Olympic
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Key words : Takeshima day attended Suga
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Key words : south annual ceremony attitude
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180222_32/

South Korea has protested Japan's annual ceremony for the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan.
South Korea controls the islands. Japan claims them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says South Korea is illegally occupying them.
Japanese Cabinet Office Parliamentary Vice-Minister Yuhei Yamashita was among the participants in the ceremony in the western Japanese city of Matsue on Thursday.
South Korean foreign ministry spokesperson Noh Kyu-duk read out a statement in a news conference in the day.
The statement expressed strong protest over the Japanese government's "unjustified claim" to the islands. It urged Japan not to hold such an annual event.
The statement said the islands are South Korea's inherent territory from a historic and geographical perspective.
It said Japan should show the attitude of a responsible country by looking squarely at history in a humble way.

Key words : Trump met
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180222_21/

US President Donald Trump has met with survivors from the Florida school shooting, and pledged to take action to make US schools safe.
In the White House on Wednesday, Trump exchanged views with a group that included some students who survived last week's shooting rampage, bereaved family members, and other guests.
One of the students made an emotional plea for tougher gun control. He sobbed as he told the president that he could not understand why it is still possible for someone to go into a store and buy a "weapon of war."
A father whose daughter was among the 17 people killed in the incident asked how many children have to get shot before the problem will be fixed. He urged the president to prevent such an event from happening again.
Trump vowed to address the situation. He said he will consider making background checks tougher for gun buyers, and raising the age at which certain guns can be bought.
He also suggested that teachers and school staff members should be armed. He said if teachers were able to use firearms, they would be able to stop an attack very quickly.
Trump enjoys the support of the National Rifle Association, a major lobbying group in the United States. He has been reluctant to support efforts to tighten gun control laws.
But in the face of rising calls for tougher regulations, Trump is showing signs that he is willing to confront the problem.

Key words : Trump step
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180222_29/

Amnesty International has warned that US President Donald Trump's backward steps on human rights are setting a dangerous precedent for other governments.
The annual report of the human rights group, released on Thursday, said Trump's executive order to suspend travel to the United States from Muslim-majority countries threatened the human rights of many people.
The group's USA Executive Director Margaret Huang told NHK that the Trump policies are not only worsening the human rights situation in the United States but setting examples to leaders of other countries.
The report also expresses strong concern over human rights violations against the minority Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and civilians in Syria.
It criticizes Myanmar's government for the situation surrounding the Rohingya. It says the Rohingya continue to live under a system amounting to apartheid, with their nationality denied and freedom of movement restricted.
Concerning Syria, it says that while Islamic State militants are losing ground, the human rights of civilians are being violated in air raids conducted by Syrian government forces, including on hospitals.

Key words : Trump released claim
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180222_22/

US President Donald Trump released his first economic report on Wednesday.
Trump claims international trade is increasingly tense due to certain countries, like China, that allegedly distort the free market.
He also expresses his dissatisfaction with Japan's auto market.
Trump says Japan imposes a variety of barriers on auto imports, limiting sales of US vehicles and parts.
Japan says tariffs on imported cars are non-existent, and the country's safety standards have been seen as a trade barrier but they are in line with international ones.
Trump is continuing to put pressure on China and other countries over trade imbalances ahead of the US mid-term elections in November.

at 20:00 (JST), February 21

The US government says North Korea abruptly called off a potential meeting between its high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and US Vice President.

The chief of the United Nations' humanitarian affairs hopes that Japan will make a bigger financial contribution to global humanitarian challenges.

Fishermen in northern Japan are planning to demand compensation for a fishing ban imposed after a US fighter jet dumped fuel tanks into a lake.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180221200000_english_1.mp3 

Key words : government potential
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180221_17/

The US government says North Korea abruptly called off a potential meeting between its high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and US Vice President Mike Pence.
Pence attended the Olympic opening ceremony on February 9th, leaving open the possibility of establishing contact with North Korean officials who were also in South Korea.
He said that if he had any contact, his message would be that North Korea needs to once and for all abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile ambitions.
US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said on Tuesday that Pence had been ready to take the opportunity, but that North Korea decided at the last minute not to go ahead with the meeting.
A senior White House official says North Korea withdrew from the proposed talks to rebuff the United States' staunch policy of demanding that Pyongyang abandon its nuclear and missile programs.
Pence emphasized North Korea's threat and inhumanity during his trip to South Korea. He met with defectors from North Korea and visited a memorial which is a tribute to sailors of a South Korean navy vessel that was sunk by a North Korean torpedo.

Key words : chief of humanitarian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180221_27/

The chief of the United Nations' humanitarian affairs hopes that Japan will make a bigger financial contribution to global humanitarian challenges.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, said he wishes for Japan to play a bigger role during an interview with NHK in Tokyo on Tuesday.
He said he hopes Japan will act as a responsible nation and support other countries in their time of need.
Lowcock added that he would like to find ways for the country to take a stronger position and offer more financial assistance to meet humanitarian challenges.
The context of the remarks is that the government of US President Donald Trump has suspended its dues payments to some UN organizations.
Observers fear that the move by the UN's top contributor may adversely affect UN humanitarian activities.
Japan contributed humanitarian aid worth 8.7 million dollars in 2016, the 8th most in the world.
As for North Korea, he stressed that if there is the need for humanitarian aid, it should be extended separately from the country's missile and nuclear development.
He said it may be appropriate for him to visit the country to see the humanitarian situation and see if things need to be done to save children's lives.

Key words : fishing ban
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180221_01/

Fishermen in northern Japan are planning to demand compensation for a fishing ban imposed after a US fighter jet dumped fuel tanks into a lake.
The F16 jet that took off from the US Misawa Airbase offloaded 2 fuel tanks into the nearby Ogawara Lake after developing an engine fire on Tuesday. No-one was injured.
The local fishery association has banned fishing in the lake until the safety of the water can be confirmed.
The association plans to demand compensation for the losses caused by the ban. It also wants the fuel tanks to be removed from the lake as soon as possible.
The association estimates the fishermen are losing about 28-thousand dollars a day. The lake is known as a rich fishing ground. Freshwater clams, smelt, and whitebait are usually caught at this time of the year.
The head of the association, Masataka Hamada, said the situation is very regrettable, and the fishermen will seek compensation while discussing the matter with local authorities.

Key words : Miyahara Sakamoto
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Key words : south mixed reaction medal
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180221_22/

South Korean media have shown mixed reactions to the joint Korean women's ice hockey team in the PyeongChang Olympics, praising the attempt overall but criticizing the squad's lack of time for preparation.
The team lost its final game on Tuesday, finishing in last place.
Public broadcaster KBS said that while the team's results were poor, its fighting spirit and determination deserve an Olympic medal. It added that although the team lacked time for preparation and faced the problem of fairness, it became historic.
The Korea Joongang Daily carried on the front page of its Wednesday edition a picture of the team's players from both the North and South encouraging each other.
It quoted an expert as saying camaraderie can be nurtured through training together, and that this type of power helped the joint team form ties and the mindset that they have identical ethnicity.
The Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that the team began practicing only half a month before its first game, and had to start by sorting out different terminologies. It went on to say that while the players saw the joint team as a good idea, they all complained that they should not have played after just a few weeks of practice.

Key words : private research
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Key words : Insight condominium market
#N/A


Key words : worker Fukushima
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180221_19/

Workers at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have finished installing a new roof covering for the No.3 reactor building.
The work started last August to set up a dome-shaped cover. It is part of preparations for removing nuclear fuel from the reactor's storage pool. A total of 566 spent and unused fuel units remain in the storage pool of the No. 3 reactor.
On Wednesday, workers installed the last part of the cover, which is 17 meters high and 22 meters wide, and weighs 55 tons.
The cover will prevent radioactive materials from spreading, and shield the building from winds.
Reactors at the Fukushima plant suffered meltdowns after a quake-triggered tsunami hit the plant on March 11th, 2011. The fuel units left in storage pools need to be removed as part of decommission work at the plant.
The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, will clear the pool of rubble and provide workers with training on remotely handling devices for the fuel removal.
Then, it plans to start removing nuclear fuel units from the No.3 reactor's storage pool in autumn this year, ahead of those of other damaged reactors.

Key words : Toyota
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180221_20/

Toyota has announced it has developed a new magnet for electric motors.
The leading Japanese automaker said on Tuesday that it has significantly reduced the use of a rare earth metal called neodymium, which holds the key to maintaining high levels of magnetization and heat resistance.
Those qualities are essential for high-output motors used in hybrid and electric cars.
But neodymium is expensive and is likely to be in short supply as electric vehicles become more popular.
That is why Toyota's success in cutting its use by as much as 50 percent is considered a major breakthrough.
The new technique allows Toyota to mix in cheaper rare earths without compromising the magnet's qualities.
The company says it is aiming for commercialization within the next 10 years.

at 20:00 (JST), February 20

A US military commander has apologized to local leaders after an American fighter jet dumped 2 fuel tanks into a lake in northern Japan.


The Japanese government says Emperor Akihito's abdication ceremony will be held next year on April 30th as a state event.

A proposed bill is calling on local governments across Japan to draw up plans to help communities adapt to global warming.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180220200000_english_1.mp3

Key words : US military commander return
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180220_25/

In northern Japan, a US military commander has apologized to local leaders after an American fighter jet dumped 2 fuel tanks into a lake.
Japan's defense ministry says the jet's engine caught on fire shortly after takeoff from the US Misawa Air Base.
It's believed the tanks were jettisoned for safety reasons. The aircraft has since returned to base and there are no reports of injuries. In a statement, the US base commander said the military will investigate what happened, adding that the safety of soldiers and local residents is a top priority during flights.
The lake is a popular winter fishing destination. The local fishery association says there were 5 or 6 boats on the water at the time of the incident.
A 52-year-old local fisherman said, "A spray of water went up about 15 meters. It's ridiculous. There were other ships 100 to 200 meters away."
Japan's Defense Minister said he would speak with the American military.
Itsunori Onodera said, "We have some reports of oil and parts floating on the surface of the lake.
We'll ask the US military about the cause of the accident and demand measures to prevent recurrences."
US military aircraft safety issues are a hot button topic in Japan. There have been a number of incidents and accidents in recent years that have caused safety concerns.

Key words : Akihito ceremony
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180220_19/

The Japanese government says Emperor Akihito's abdication ceremony will be held next year on April 30th, the day he steps down, as a state event.
The panel headed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga is making arrangements for the Emperor's abdication on April 30th, 2019, and Crown Prince Naruhito's ascension on the following day.
Panel members approved a basic outline for the abdication ceremony at a meeting on Tuesday, after being briefed on the recommendations of experts, including former Supreme Court justice Itsuo Sonobe.
The plan says the ceremony will be conducted to widely inform people about the abdication. It will be the Emperor's last occasion before stepping down to meet the representative of the people, the prime minister.
In the ceremony, the prime minister will express words of appreciation to the Emperor on behalf of the people, and the Emperor will deliver a message to the nation.
Japanese law currently has no provisions for an abdication ceremony. The panel agreed to prepare the necessary legislation.
The plan also includes a celebration of the emperor's 30-year reign to be held at the National Theater in Tokyo next year in February, about 2 months before he steps down.
The panel says another state ceremony will be held in 2020 to commemorate the promotion of the Emperor's younger son, Prince Akishino, to the first in line to the throne.

Key words : syrian boost
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180220_17/

Syrian government forces are boosting air strikes against militants near the capital Damascus.
The air raids on Monday are targeting eastern Ghouta, one of the few remaining strongholds of the anti-government forces.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 77 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and more than 100 injured.
The group says Syria has brought in reinforcements near the area, possibly in preparation for a ground offensive.
The UN's regional coordinator for the Syria crisis, Panos Moumtzis, said on Monday that the humanitarian situation of civilians in East Ghouta is spiraling out of control.
He said it is "imperative to end this senseless human suffering" and that the targeting of innocent civilians and infrastructure must stop now.

Key words : Insight nuclear waste disposal site
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Key words : proposed bill
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180220_13/

A proposed bill is calling on local governments across Japan to draw up plans to help communities adapt to global warming.
The draft bill was endorsed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, with the aim of enacting it during the current Diet session.
Japan's measures against global warming have so far focused on how to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the new bill focuses on boosting the ways in which communities can adapt to the worsening effects of climate change.
Experts recognize that global warming is causing a growing number of natural disasters as well as impacting human health and agricultural production.
The new bill proposes that local governments across Japan draw up individual plans on how to adapt to climate change. They will also be able to share and analyze regional information.
Environment Minister Masaharu Nakagawa says the proposed bill will help Japan develop more viable counter-measures based on scientific findings.

Key words : Seko
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180220_15/

The Japanese economy minister says the country's steel and aluminum exports to the United States have no impact on American national security. The Trump Administration is thinking about imposing high tariffs on these goods on national security grounds.
Last week, the US Commerce Department recommended that the president impose high tariffs.
One option is to place a tariff of at least 53 percent on steel from China and from 11 other countries. Another is to introduce a tariff of at least 24 percent on steel from all trading partners, including Japan.
Seko said on Tuesday that the US government has not reached a final decision. He said Japan is a US ally, and he believes that steel and aluminum imports from Japan do not have an impact on US national security.
The Trump administration believes that purchasing huge volumes of steel and aluminum from China and other countries, to produce American fighter jets, could threaten national security.

Key words : Olympic Japan lost
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Key words : Japan ice hockey
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Key words : smoke free
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180220_01/

Participants at an international conference in Tokyo have debated how to make the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics smoke-free.
About 150 people related to healthcare from Japan and abroad attended the forum on Sunday. It was organized by the Tokyo Medical Association.
Chairman of the Association Haruo Ozaki said that the International Olympic Committee and the World Health Organization agreed in 2010 to hold all subsequent Games only in smoke-free cities.
He said that since then, the host cities have been working to implement a total smoking ban on all places, including restaurants.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said her government will work on a draft ordinance to make Tokyo a suitable host city.
Hygiene experts from the US and Britain also addressed the conference.
One of them said that a campaign promoting public health is part of the legacy of the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

Key words : department store
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180220_02/

A department store in Tokyo is testing a small electronic translator in a bid to provide foreign tourists with better service.
The store in Shinjuku Ward started the trial on Monday, amid an influx of Chinese visitors during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.
The device, developed by Japanese electronics maker NEC, handles Chinese, English, Korean and Japanese.
It displays translations on a screen and can also provide audio.
The test, which runs through Sunday, aims to confirm how effective it is in serving foreign customers.
A store official said some Chinese shoppers don't like waiting for human translators to arrive.
He said he hopes the device will make communication smoother.

Key words : student Nagasaki
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at 20:00 (JST), February 19

Japan's Defense Minister has discussed North Korea with a top US military officer. They pledged continued pressure on the North.


A Japanese midwife says women of the minority Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar have been subjected to high levels of sexual violence by Myanmar soldiers.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei index closed above 22,000 for the first time in 2 weeks on Monday.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180219200000_english_1.mp3 

Key words : defense discussed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180219_15/

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera has discussed North Korea with a top US military officer. They pledged continued pressure on the North while the 2 Koreas are in a mood of reconciliation.
Onodera met with visiting Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley in Tokyo on Monday.
Onodera brought up so called the charm offensive North Korea has been working on during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
He said North Korea has not changed its stance at all on its nuclear and missile development. He said it is important that Japan, the United States, and South Korea boost their cooperation and continue putting pressure on the North.
Milley expressed his wish for a peaceful resolution to the issue. He pointed to the need for the US Army to be prepared so that they, as military officers, can quickly respond to contingencies.
Milley expressed the hope to send a message to the world that Japan, the US, and South Korea will work together to deal with the North Korean issue.
Onodera later mentioned to reporters the US-South Korea joint military drills, which have been rescheduled for April after the PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics.
Onodera said he has not heard about further schedule changes. He said he thinks the drills will take place as currently planned.

Key words : Kodaira first breaking
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180219_17/

Nao Kodaira has become the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic gold for speed skating, and she did it in record-breaking time.
Kodaira got off to a rocketing start in the 500 meters on Sunday and the curve didn't slow her down. She was clocked in 36.94 seconds, beating the Olympic record set 4 years ago by South Korea's Lee Sang-Hwa. The home favorite was hoping to win her third straight Olympic gold, but she had to settle for silver.
Afterward, the 2 skaters put on a display of sportsmanship, gliding around the oval together.
Lee Sang-Hwa said, "Kodaira is a special skater to me. We're standing here because we had each other as rivals. It's also why we keep improving our personal best."
Nao Kodaira said, "Lee was under big pressure racing in her home country. But she prepared well and we had a good race. I'm glad now we can praise each other."
There was jubilation in Kodaira's hometown in Nagano Prefecture.
The bronze went to Karolina Erbanova of the Czech Republic.
Kodaira's gold was Japan's second of Pyeongchang 2018, putting the country in 10th spot in the medal count.
Norway and Germany are joint leaders with 9 golds.
The Netherlands is next with 6.

Key words : Israeli Iranian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180219_02/

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have traded barbs over a recent cross-border airstrike by Israel.
They both addressed an international security conference in Munich, Germany on Sunday.
Netanyahu criticized Iran, holding up what he said was a piece of an Iranian drone that was shot down for violating Israeli airspace this month.
The drone prompted Israel to mount an air raid against a military facility in neighboring Syria. An Israeli F-16 fighter jet was downed by Syria.
Netanyahu said Israel will act, if necessary, not just against Iran's proxies but against Iran itself.
In response, Zarif accused Israel of using aggression as a policy against its neighbors. He added that blaming Iran will resolve nothing.
Israel is increasingly wary that Iran, as a regional power, is gaining ground in Syria through its involvement in the civil war.
Concerns are growing that the situation may escalate into a direct clash between Israel and Iran.

Key words : Iranian passenger plane
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180219_07/

All people aboard the Iranian passenger plane that crashed on Sunday morning are presumed to be dead.
Iranian state-run television said the Aseman Airlines ATR72 propjet was found in a mountainous area about 20 kilometers from the southwestern city of Yasuj.
The aircraft disappeared from radar at about 8 AM Sunday local time as it headed for Yasuj from Tehran.
It was carrying 59 passengers and 6 crewmembers.
An airline official said that none are expected to have survived the crash, although this has not yet been confirmed.
The crash site is the area of around 4,000 meter-high mountains, which makes a search and rescue operation difficult.
Residents of the nearby area told a television reporter that they heard a loud crash.
Iran has not been able to renew its fleet of commercial aircraft under pro-longed international sanctions.
The propjet in the accident is reported to have been in service for 25 years.

Key words : Japanese Rohingya
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180219_20/

A Japanese midwife says women of the minority Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar have been subjected to high levels of sexual violence.
Marina Kojima held a news conference on Monday in Tokyo. She had worked to aid the refugee women as a member of the international organization, Doctors Without Borders.
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled from fighting in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine to neighboring Bangladesh.
Human rights groups say many Rohingya girls and women are victims of sexual violence carried out by members of Myanmar's security forces.
Kojima says Rohingya women who become pregnant before getting married are considered to bring shame to the family. She says even pregnancy as a result of rape is considered the fault of the victim.
Kojima points out many sexual abuse victims have no one to consult with and cannot come to a hospital for fear of being noticed.
The midwife added that some women have died after attempting to terminate their pregnancy without medical assistance.
Kojima called for the expansion of psychological support for women who have suffered sexual violence repeatedly, or who have undergone brutal and traumatizing experiences, such as having their families killed.

Key words : Insight Electric power supply
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Key words : labor apologized diet debate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180219_21/

Japan's labor minister has apologized for having provided inaccurate figures to the prime minister in Diet debate on working system reform.
But he rejected the opposition camp's demand to again review the labor reform plan.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration is aiming for working system reform, including expanding a discretionary system on fixed wages regardless of work hours.
But he was forced to retract a remark he made on the issue last month in the Lower House Budget Committee due to a lack of accuracy.
Abe had said some data showed that average workers under the discretionary system put in fewer hours than average employees in general.
Labor Minister Katsunobu Kato told the committee on Monday that the ministry was wrong to make the comparison using two sets of data, compiled using different methods.
Opposition parties demanded that Kato launch debate by its expert panel from scratch on bills related to working system reform.
But Kato said the controversial data have not been submitted to the panel. He said the panelists have given a thumbs-up to the bills after discussing their content from a variety of angles.

Key words : Tokyo stock
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180219_22/

The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei index closed above 22,000 for the first time in 2 weeks on Monday.
It finished at 22,149, up 428 points from Friday.
The broader TOPIX index ended at 1,775, up 37 points.
Market observers point out that the surge in Tokyo follows 6 straight up days for the Dow Jones Industrial Average in New York. They say this signals at least a temporary end to the global sell-off.
They cite the yen's recent slight decline against the dollar as another factor driving up share prices.

Key words : trade balance
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180219_19/

Japan's trade balance for January went into the red for the first time in 8 months.
The Finance Ministry says January's trade deficit was about 8.9 billion dollars. Officials say higher energy-related costs were the main reason for the deficit.
Export values increased to about 57 billion dollars.
That's up more than 12% from a year earlier in yen terms. Growing exports of hybrid cars and semiconductor-making equipment to China were the biggest factors.
Import values also rose to more than 66 billion dollars, up nearly 8%. Rising prices of crude oil as well as growing imports of high-end medical products from Europe pushed the trade figures into a deficit.
Meanwhile, Japan's trade surplus with the United States in January shrank more than 12% to about 3.3 billion dollars.