at 20:00 (JST), November 01 AS

Japan's Prime Minister has again stressed that his government will respond resolutely to a South Korean top court ruling on wartime compensation.

Japan's Foreign Minister says Tokyo will support efforts to conclude a new treaty if the US withdraws from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia.

Japan has started its own version of a global positioning system using 4 Michibiki satellites.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181101200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : prime minister again stressed
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181101_29/

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stressed again that his government will resolutely respond to a South Korean top court ruling on wartime compensation. He urged the South Korean government to positively deal with the issue.

Abe was responding to a question in the Lower House Budget Committee as the panel started deliberations in the extraordinary Diet session on Thursday.

The policy chief of the main ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Fumio Kishida, questioned Abe about Tuesday's ruling by South Korea's Supreme Court. The ruling ordered a Japanese firm to pay compensation to 4 Korean men who said they were forced to work during World War Two.

Japan claims that the issue of wartime compensation was settled when the countries normalized ties in 1965.

Kishida said the ruling could upset the very legal foundations for bilateral friendship. He said a series of unfavorable incidents have occurred in the relations recently, and asked Abe how he would manage the ties.

Abe said in response that the 2 sides have repeatedly confirmed cooperation toward "future-oriented" bilateral relations. He said it was very regrettable that moves apparently going against such relations have emerged one after another.

The prime minister said the issue of wartime workers from the Korean Peninsula was settled completely and finally with a 1965 bilateral agreement. He said the ruling would be impossible in light of international law.

Abe said the government will respond resolutely to the issue, with all possible options, including an international trial, in view.

He added that efforts not just of Japan but also South Korea are indispensable to cope with the tough challenges between the 2 countries. He said he strongly hopes Seoul will positively deal with the issue.

On the consumption tax hike scheduled for October next year, Abe stressed the need to raise it to sufficiently invest in children and child-rearing generations while improving the country's fiscal health.

Abe said he will go ahead with the tax increase from 8 to 10 percent unless some incident similar in gravity to the 2008 financial crisis caused by the collapse of the US investment bank Lehman Brothers should occur.

Key words : moon stressed his
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181101_30/

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has stressed his desire to build permanent peace on the Peninsula, saying it will act as an economic engine for his country.

At the National Assembly on Thursday, Moon called on lawmakers to work together during his 30-minute speech.

Moon said, "The 2 Koreas and the US will accomplish complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula through mutual trust. This is a miraculous opportunity. We must not lose this chance."

Moon also said he will promote inter-Korean economic cooperation, including connecting railways and resuming inter-Korean family reunions.

But he added that strong security is also important and next year's defense budget would increase by 8.2 percent.

Moon said the national budget is set to increase by 10 percent. Forecasts of slow economic growth have caused his support rate to decline. Critics say his policies are to blame for the grim outlook.

Key words : north and
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181101_36/

North and South Korea have started to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula by implementing a bilateral military agreement.

In September, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to halt any hostile military acts that could increase tensions and lead to accidental clashes.

On Thursday, North and South Korea began the suspension of artillery drills within 5 kilometers of the military demarcation line that divides them.

The 2 Koreas also set up buffer zones in waters to the east and west of the peninsula and put covers on artillery deployed on the coastlines.

No-fly zones have been established in an area up to 40 kilometers from the demarcation line.

Moon told the National Assembly on Thursday that the 2 Koreas have completely removed any potential for military clashes on the Korean Peninsula.

But South Korean critics say the implementation of the agreement restricts the operation of reconnaissance planes and the training of military personnel, and this will only reduce the nation's defense capability.

Key words : foreign minister support new treaty
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181101_27/

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono says Japan will support efforts to conclude a new treaty if the United States withdraws from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty with Russia.

Kono spoke in the Lower House budget committee on Thursday about US President Donald Trump's plan to pull out of the INF.

Kono said the treaty has played a huge role in nuclear disarmament and nuclear arms control. But he added that he does not want to see the INF being seriously violated by Russia, as the US has claimed.

He said if the US withdraws from the treaty, the US and Russia should make efforts to conclude a new one. He added that China should also participate in a new agreement.

Kono said that Japan hopes to spearhead the process of creating an environment that would allow all the nuclear powers to fulfill their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Key words : Trump stressed constitutionality
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181101_24/

US President Donald Trump has stressed the constitutionality of his plan to sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship for US-born babies of non-American citizens.

The US Constitution guarantees citizenship for all children born in the United States.

But Trump has questioned this guarantee, including the children of non-American citizens.

He has unveiled a plan to end the system with an executive order and says it does not need a constitutional amendment.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that it's much less complex than people think.

He said he would rather do it through Congress but he can do it through an executive order.

He said it's ridiculous that a person can come into the country and have a baby and the baby is a United States citizen, leading to a chain of immigration.

Key words : Japanese and pushing back
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181101_33/

Japanese and US business chiefs are pushing back against a threat by the Trump administration. They say higher US tariffs on foreign cars would be counterproductive for everyone involved.

The executives released a statement to wrap up the Japan-US Business Conference in Tokyo on Thursday.

It says higher taxes on Japanese and other car imports would hurt consumers and businesses, and undermine both economies.

Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco Systems, said, "Clearly the automotive industry is important for both Japan as well as the US. We believe we should have a free, open and fair trade on a global basis."

The statement also takes aim at the Trump administration over its focus on trade deficits. It says economic relations can't be judged on this measure alone.

Key words : Japan started own version
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181101_04/

Japan has started its own version of a global positioning system. The new system uses 4 Michibiki satellites in orbit around the earth. The final one was launched in October of last year. They complement American GPS satellites. At least one of the satellites is always above Japan.

Signals from that satellite come from an angle that tends to prevent tall buildings getting in the way. Smartphones and car-navigation systems that can receive those signals will be able to show their positions more accurately and stably.

The satellites also emit a special tracking signal that can reduce the margin of error from about 10 meters to several centimeters.

That function is expected to find a use in self-driving vehicles and fully automated agriculture machinery, such as tractors and rice-harvesting machines.

It will also likely be used for delivery services involving drones, and other new services.

Electronics firms are hoping for increased demand for Michibiki signal receivers. Cell phone makers plan to put more models that can use the new system in their product lineups.

Key words : news key word for today Mitibiki satellite
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Key words : Okinawa defense
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181101_18/

The Okinawa Defense Bureau has resumed reclamation work in the coastal area of Henoko in Nago City for an airfield to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.

The government of Okinawa Prefecture revoked the landfill permit for Henoko in August. But on Tuesday, the land minister issued an injunction on Okinawa's decision and enabled the work to restart.

The bureau notified the prefecture on Thursday it will resume offshore work. Workers then began installing floats to mark the no-entry zone where rocks and soil are to be dumped.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki, who is opposed to the relocation, is seeking a solution through dialogue.

But the central government's latest move is likely to set them further apart.

Okinawa Vice Governor Kiichiro Jahana said it is terrible that the central government has absolutely no compassion for the people of Okinawa.

He said the prefecture will ask the prime minister's office for talks.

Key words : 50 people gathered
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181101_28/

About 50 people have gathered in front of a US base at Henoko, Nago City, to protest the resumption of refill work to build a new airfield in Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa.

The central government is building the airfield to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station situated in a densely populated area also in Okinawa.

Protesters raised their voices outside the US base located adjacent to the planned reclamation site as the offshore work resumed on Thursday.

A woman in her 50s says she is shocked, angry and upset to see the work resumed so soon after the election of a governor opposed to the base relocation.
With tears in her eyes, she said she wants to join hands with others to stop the work in any way possible. She says Okinawa does not need any more bases.

A man in his 70s said he is extremely angry at the central government. He says he cannot allow them to ignore local opinion and forcibly push ahead with the reclamation.

A woman in her 70s said she cannot forgive the central government for abusing the law to resume work. She was referring to the decision by the land minister to temporarily suspend Okinawa Prefecture's revocation of a landfill permit for the relocation work.

Some people also protested at sea in their boats and canoes, trying to approach the area where offshore work is underway. Coast guard boats are holding them back.

Key words : preparation for winter
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