Japan's Prime Minister says he will keep seeking an apology and retraction of a remark by the speaker of South Korea's National Assembly on the issue of those referred to as comfort women.
Senior US military officials are welcoming the second US-North Korea summit scheduled for later this month, but say Pyongyang is unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons.
A lawyer for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn has resigned.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190213200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : prime seeking an apology
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_30/
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he will keep seeking an apology and retraction of a remark by the speaker of South Korea's National Assembly on the issue of those referred to as comfort women.
Moon Hee-sang suggested last week that the issue would be resolved if the Emperor apologized before abdicating. He also suggested Abe could apologize.
Abe said in the Diet on Wednesday that the issue has been resolved completely and irreversibly by an agreement between Japan and South Korea. He called the deal a promise endorsed by the two countries.
Abe said that if such an agreement were overturned due to a change of government, establishing bilateral relations would be impossible.
He added that he believes the remark shocked and angered many people in Japan. He also said Moon's repetition of the highly inappropriate comment after it was reported is extremely regrettable.
Abe stressed that Japan has lodged a firm protest with South Korea through diplomatic channels.
The speaker has refused to apologize for the remark.
A spokesperson for the National Assembly said the speaker, who is in the United States, told reporters he cannot understand why his comment has become such a big problem and that even Abe has joined the fray.
The speaker reportedly added that the remark is not something to apologize for, saying he gave his view and still believes he suggested the basic solution.
Key words : US lawmaker reaffirm
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_31/
A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has submitted resolutions to reaffirm trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan and South Korea.
The seven lawmakers include Senator Cory Gardner and Representative Brad Sherman.
Their resolutions were submitted to both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
They say Japan and South Korea share values with the US such as freedom and democracy, and describe them as key partners in tackling North Korea's nuclear program and other international issues.
The resolutions underscore congressional support for constructive and positive relations between Japan and South Korea, and for a stronger three-way partnership.
During Tuesday's Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, lawmakers expressed concern that souring relations between Japan and South Korea could have a negative impact on security in East Asia.
Representative Sherman issued a statement saying he hopes the resolutions send a strong message to friends in Japan and South Korea that they cannot let history prevent them from working together to meet shared security challenges.
Key words : senior US military
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_10/
Senior US military officials are welcoming the second US-North Korea summit scheduled for later this month, but say Pyongyang is unlikely to give up all of its nuclear weapons.
General Robert Abrams, commander of US Forces Korea, spoke before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.
He said there has been a clear reduction of tentions on the Korean Peninsula following the first summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The meeting took place in June of last year. Abrams also said the second summit is a positive sign of continued dialogue.
But Abrams added that US forces have not observed activity that's consistent with a "full-court press" on denuclearization. He voiced concern that there has been little to no verifiable change in North Korea's military capabilities.
Admiral Philip Davidson, the head of Indo-Pacific Command, also attended the committee meeting.
In a written statement, he welcomed the upcoming summit, but expressed doubts about Pyongyang's intentions to fully denuclearize.
The statement also said that Indo-Pacific Command believes North Korea seeks to negotiate partial denuclearization in exchange for "US and international concessions."
Senators at the hearing expressed concerns that Trump may decide to withdraw US troops from South Korea in return for the North's denuclearization.
Abrams stressed the importance of stationing US forces in South Korea, pointing out that it serves not only to defend South Korea but also prevents the expansion of China's military.
Key words : US defense unveiled
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_19/
The US Defense Department has unveiled a new strategy which focuses on harnessing artificial intelligence to ensure it maintains a military advantage over China and Russia.
The US military released a summary of its 2018 Department of Defense AI strategy on Tuesday.
The report says China and Russia are making significant investments in AI for military purposes.
It says those investments threaten to erode US technological advantages and destabilize the free and open international order.
It stresses that the United States must adopt AI in order to prevail on future battlefields, and safeguard the world order.
The report calls for strengthening the authority of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center created within the Defense Department last year, and for stepping up cooperation with industry, academia and US allies.
The US military has introduced AI in areas such as the processing of data from surveillance aircraft, and is apparently aiming to speed up AI development and use to counter China and Russia.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for the maintenance of US leadership in AI, not only for military purposes, but in areas such as automated vehicles and industrial robots.
Key words : intelligence report
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_26/
A new US Defense Department intelligence report warns of a threat by weapons development and militarization of space by China and Russia.
The department's Defense Intelligence Agency released the report on Monday.
Titled "Challenges to Security in Space," the report says "China and Russia are developing a variety of means to exploit perceived US reliance on space-based systems and challenge the US position in space." It says such means include missiles and laser weapons that can destroy satellites.
The report also says China may already have "limited capability to employ laser systems against satellite sensors."
It adds that the country "likely will field a ground-based laser weapon that can counter low-orbit space-based sensors by 2020." It says that by the mid-to-late 2020s, China "may field higher power systems that extend the threat to the structures of non-optical satellites."
The report says Russia began delivering a laser weapon system to its Aerospace Forces before last July, and that the system is likely intended for an anti-satellite weapon mission.
Citing the significant roles of satellites in the military, commercial and civil sectors, the report stresses that China and Russia pose a threat as they improve their space capabilities.
US President Donald Trump says he aims to establish a new branch of the US military in space by 2020. In December, the Trump administration announced the creation of the US Space Command, which is to have unified control of military operations in space.
Key words : lawyer
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_36/
A lawyer working for former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn has resigned.
Motonari Otsuru filed his resignation at the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday. Contacted by NHK, he declined to say why he resigned, saying only he had no comment to make.
The lawyer began serving Ghosn in November after he was arrested on his first charge for underreporting his compensation. Ghosn has been indicted with multiple charges since then, including aggravating breach of trust.
People familiar with the matter say lawyer Junichiro Hironaka will work for Ghosn from now on. Hironaka is known for winning the acquittal of a former senior welfare ministry official, who was arrested for fraud in 2009.
Otsuru has consistently denied Ghosn's charges. He told reporters in January that the defense team believes there is no evidence of crime.
Otsuru requested bail for Ghosn twice, but the court rejected them.
Key words : swimming super process
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_22/
Japanese swimming superstar Rikako Ikee, who has announced that she has been diagnosed with leukemia, will start full treatment for the disease. Sources close to the Japan Swimming Federation say the process may take more than six months.
Ikee holds national records in multiple events, including the women's 100-meter butterfly.
She posted a message on Twitter on Tuesday revealing the diagnosis.
Ikee had been training in Australia since last month, but returned to Japan in early February after complaining of poor health. She is now in a hospital.
Methods of treatment may vary, as there are different types of leukemia.
Sources close to the swimming federation say it will take at least two or three weeks for Ikee to receive a detailed diagnosis and start the full treatment.
The 18-year-old Ikee commented that she will rest and concentrate on her treatment so that she can come back even stronger.
Key words : donor program
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_37/
The Japan Marrow Donor Program has been flooded with inquiries since swimming superstar Rikako Ikee revealed she has been diagnosed with leukemia.
The program's office in Tokyo has been receiving calls from people eager to do something to help Ikee. Some people are expressing hope she will be able to compete again.
The program's website usually receives about five requests a day for brochures, but on Tuesday it received about 270.
The program says about 494,000 people had registered as donors as of the end of January.
But it says the more the better, because the probability of a T-cell match is low: one in four among siblings, and about one in several hundred to one in tens of thousands among people of different lineages.
People between 18 to 54 are eligible to register. People in their teens and 20s account for only about 16 percent of the total registry.
The program's public relations official Hidehiko Okubo says leukemia can happen to anyone at any time. He says about 1,500 patients in Japan are now waiting for bone marrow transplants. A matching donor, he says, gives the patients hope for survival.
It is not yet known what type of leukemia Ikee has. A bone marrow transplant usually becomes an option when anti-cancer treatments fail.
Key words : two major financial
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_15/
A Japanese trading house and two major financial institutions believe there's encouraging prospects for eco-friendly energy. The three are teaming up to boost investment in offshore wind power.
Trading firm Sumitomo Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and the government-affiliated Development Bank of Japan will establish a new fund by the end of the month.
Sources say that it plans to funnel 30 billion yen or about 270 million dollars into offshore wind energy projects.
And the first one may be a wind farm off the coast of Britain. The country is already home to massive wind energy developments.
The Japanese tie-up is looking to increase its investment destinations in the future, mainly in Europe. After accumulating knowhow overseas they hope to eventually carry out projects in Japan.
Key words : researcher Mitsubishi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190213_28/
Researchers at Mitsubishi Electric have developed technology that recognizes up to 10 languages at the same time. They say the system could be useful in tourism and other fields.
It relies on AI to recognize multiple languages simultaneously -- based on the voice characteristics and vocabulary of each user.
Mitsubishi aims to further improve the system's accuracy before launching it for practical use.
"If the system is adopted in public places, such as information centers, many different people could use it," says Takaaki Hori of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories. "They would not have to wait so long and could get information anytime they need it."
Hori says he's studying other uses for the system. He says these could include multilingual car navigation devices for rental vehicles. Drivers would not have to set their language in advance.
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