at 20:00 (JST), September 17 AS

The inter-Korean summit starts Tuesday in Pyongyang. The leaders of two Koreas expected to announce the meeting's outcome on Wednesday.

Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine has traveled to southern Vietnam for the first time, in an apparent show of resistance against China.

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https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20180917200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : inter-korean summit outcome
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180917_13/

The inter-Korean summit starts Tuesday in Pyongyang. South Korean officials expect President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to announce the meeting's outcome on Wednesday.

South Korean Chief Presidential Secretary, Im Jong-seok said, "If the talks go smoothly, we can expect the joint press conference after the meeting to reveal the agreement."

The South Korean government has revealed the itinerary of President Moon's visit to Pyongyang. The main topic is denuclearization, and Im has called on both sides to work together toward this goal.

The Chief Presidential Secretary added, "We will work so that the US and the North can resume talks toward a new relationship. We hope the North will make progress on denuclearization while the US takes corresponding actions."

Im says an agreement might include steps to ease tensions between the North and the South. But it's unclear if Moon can get concessions from Kim on denuclearization to break its stalemate with the US.

Key words : expert on north
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180917_01/

An expert on North Korean politics says he is focusing on the amount of time the leaders of the 2 Koreas will spend in one-on-one discussions at the upcoming inter-Korean summit.

Associate Professor Atsuhito Isozaki of Keio University spoke to NHK by phone. He says that will demonstrate how much the North's leader trusts his South Korean counterpart.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will begin their third summit meeting this year on Tuesday.

Isozaki noted the distrust that has accumulated over the years between the North and the United States. He said that is behind the stalemate in their denuclearization talks.

He said he thinks North Korea wants to establish trust with the Moon administration so that it will be able to convey its demands to the US via the South.

Isozaki said the North apparently hopes the inter-Korean summit will pave the way for a second summit with the US to discuss sanctions and a security guarantee.

He said North Korea will certainly give Moon a warm reception, and that the summit will present a chance for the North to highlight the easing of tensions between the 2 Koreas.

Isozaki said the main focus of the summit is on whether the Moon administration will be able to play bridge-building roles between the North and the US.

He said attention is also on the depth of discussions between Kim and Moon, especially on the North's declaration of its nuclear capabilities that the US is demanding.

Key words : maritime self-defense first time
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180917_14/

A submarine from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has traveled to southern Vietnam for the first time, in an apparent show of resistance against China.

The submarine Kuroshio docked at Vietnam's strategically important port of Cam Ranh Bay on Monday.

The bay has a major port facility and is located near islands in the South China Sea over which the country has territorial disputes with China.

Two MSDF destroyers made a port call there last year to take part in US-led joint drills.

China has built an island in the Spratly Islands' Johnson South Reef. It is believed to have begun operating facilities that include what appears to be a building equipped with antiaircraft artillery, and a radar.

Japan's Defense Ministry has stepped up surveillance near Japanese waters by increasing the number of submarines it operates in the region. It is a response to increased activity by the Chinese Navy.

The port call of Kuroshio to Cam Ranh Bay is likely aimed at keeping China in check by showcasing Japan's strengthened ties with the Vietnamese Navy, as well as showcasing the capabilities of Japanese submarines.

Key words : submarine took part
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180917_15/

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force says one of its submarines took part in a drill in the South China Sea.

The MSDF rarely carries out exercises in the sea.

The force said on Monday that the anti-submarine warfare drill held last Thursday involved its submersible Kuroshio and three other vessels, including the destroyer Kaga.

It says the Kuroshio joined the Kaga on the high seas. The destroyer is currently navigating between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean on a 2-month mission.

The drill involved tracking the Kuroshio without being noticed. Photos released by the MSDF show a helicopter that flew from the destroyer dropping equipment for searching for submarines into the water.

Anti-sub activities are seen as among the most crucial for the MSDF. Related drills of the force have mainly taken place in waters surrounding Japan.

The MSDF has made the unusual move making the drill known. The operation is likely aimed at keeping China's increasing maritime activities in check.

Japan's Self Defense Forces have been engaged in activities in a wider range of areas, citing ongoing changes to the security environment.

Key words : powerful typhoon landfall tropical depression
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Key words : power station
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180917_12/

The operator of a major power station in quake-hit Hokkaido is working to put a unit at the plant back online on Tuesday at earliest.

The powerful earthquake on September 6th caused damage to the Tomatoh-Atsuma thermal power plant, triggering a massive blackout.

Hokkaido Electric Power Company originally estimated it would be able to restart the plant's Unit One at the end of this month or later and the other 2 in mid-October and November at earliest.

But it reports that an in-house inspection has revealed the Number One unit's boiler had sustained less damage than initially thought. Repair work to fix it has proceeded smoothly.

Since the end of last week, the utility has been able to supply up to 3.56 million kilowatts, and raise that figure to 4.26 million kilowatts in case of emergency.

The Number One unit's output is 350,000 kilowatts.

Hokkaido Electric plans to continue its call for households and businesses to save energy. But it says it will not set numerical targets for the period starting on Tuesday.

Key words : amuro music event to see her f
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20180917_06/

Thousands of fans of Japanese pop star Namie Amuro flocked to the southern prefecture of Okinawa to see her final performance.

It was Amuro's last live music event of her career on the eve of her retirement. The show was staged on Saturday in Ginowan City in her home prefecture.

Local bands and singers also took part the event, which drew an audience of about 3,500 people.

Amuro sang 8 songs, including duets with Ken Hirai and Tomohisa Yamashita. She chose as her last number the song, "How do you feel now?", from her greatest-hits album released last year.

The J-pop icon thanked the audience for their support before putting her microphone down on the stage.

On Sunday in Okinawa City, some 3,000 fans visited the final day of an exhibition of Amuro's clothes and other items.

Some of them were tearful as they viewed about 40 displays, including her costumes and microphones, as well as videos of her live performance.

In the evening near the concert venue, 12,000 fireworks were launched in sync with Amuro's songs.

Event organizers say that Amuro, wearing casual kimono, enjoyed the firework display unnoticed by other onlookers.

Key words : Naomi powerful
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Key words : holiday
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Key words : population
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Key words : group of trainee
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