at 20:00 (JST), August 27

Japan's Prime Minister says he and other G7 leaders have agreed to support a process being undertaken by the US and North Korea.

French President is touting a one-page document issued at the end of the G7 summit as a positive achievement and a reflection of unity among the leaders.

A representative of Japan and number of African countries have held a preparatory meeting the draft of a declaration to be adopted at a Tokyo-led conference on African development.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20190827200000_english_1.mp3


Key words : he and other
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190827_07/

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he and other G7 leaders have agreed to support a process being undertaken by the United States and North Korea.

Abe was speaking to reporters on Monday after attending the G7 summit in the French resort town of Biarritz.

Abe said that, on the issue of North Korea, the leaders have agreed to support the US-North Korea process and keep working to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

Abe also said he has won the understanding and support of all the leaders on the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korea.

On the economic front, Abe said the leaders have agreed on the need for prompt and thorough measures to deal with downside risks to the global economy.

Abe stressed that his country will promote free trade.

He also revealed a plan to reshuffle his cabinet and governing party executives next month.

Abe said he needs to take on difficult challenges with a fresh mind, while attaching importance to political continuity and stability.

Abe said he will put together what he called a powerful lineup for that purpose.

Abe said Japan's strained relations with South Korea were not discussed during his sideline talks with US President Donald Trump.

Abe called on South Korea to make good on promises it made to Japan.

Abe said South Korea is still violating a 1965 agreement that settled the right to seek compensation for wartime labor. He also touched on South Korea's recent withdrawal from a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.

Abe said those actions damage a relationship of trust between the countries.

Key words : prime British counterpart
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190827_03/

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called on his British counterpart Boris Johnson to try to ensure an orderly Brexit to minimize its impact on the global economy.

Abe and Johnson met on Monday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.

Abe told Johnson that he hopes Britain will stay attractive to Japanese companies eager to invest in its economy.

Johnson responded that his government will strive for a smooth exit from the European Union and will make the interests of Japanese businesses a top priority.

The two leaders agreed that their countries will work to create post-Brexit bilateral trade rules.

The two also discussed some issues concerning North Korea.

They confirmed that their countries are on the same page about the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North.

They also reaffirmed continued cooperation to prevent North Korea from conducting illegal ship-to-ship transfers.

Abe and Johnson agreed on a plan for their foreign and defense ministers to meet in Japan.

Key words : French president document
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190827_09/

French President Emmanuel Macron is touting a one-page document issued at the end of the G7 summit as a positive achievement and a reflection of unity among the leaders.

Macron spoke to reporters after the G7 leaders wrapped up their talks in the French resort town of Biarritz on Monday without releasing a joint communique.

Instead, Macron released the one-page document summing up five areas that the leaders agreed on, including trade, Iran and Hong Kong.

Macron acknowledged that he produced the document himself.

He stressed that the leaders had frank discussions and presented some important courses of action.

Prior to the summit, Macron indicated that the event would end without a leaders' communique, as they were deeply divided on key issues.

Macron had said he would encourage the leaders to exchange views freely.

The document released on Monday made no mention of global warming, which Macron regarded as a key issue for France, the host country.

Key words : Trump says meet Iranian
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190827_15/

US President Donald Trump says he would meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani under the "correct" circumstances.

Trump made the remark during a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, following the Group of Seven summit in Biarritz, southwestern France.

Macron said he hopes to realize a summit between Trump and Rouhani "within weeks." He said Rouhani is willing to meet.

The French president said progress was made on the sidelines of the G7 summit in separate talks with Trump and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Tensions between the US and Iran remain high since Trump pulled out of the international nuclear agreement last year and re-imposed sanctions.

Macron is believed to have asked Trump to ease the sanctions, including an oil embargo that Iran wants lifted.
Trump has not shown his hand since his meeting with Macron.

Key words : Iranian president stressed lifted
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190827_32/

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has stressed that his country won't talk to the United States until all sanctions against Tehran are lifted.

Rouhani said in a speech in Tehran on Tuesday that the US should act first "by lifting all illegal, unjust and unfair sanctions imposed on Iran."

He said a meeting with US President Donald Trump would otherwise be just a photo opportunity, and "that is not possible." He also said Washington "has the key for positive change."

On Monday, Rouhani said he would meet a person if doing so could help his country's development and resolve people's problems, apparently referring to Trump.
The comment raised speculation that Rouhani had eased his stance against the US.

Key words : Suga will not
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190827_27/

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says the government will not change its export control policy with South Korea, despite the country's call to maintain its preferential trade status.

On Monday, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said that if Tokyo keeps his country on a list of nations entitled to simplified export procedures, South Korea may not abandon an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.

Suga told reporters on Tuesday that South Korea's decision to terminate the General Security of Military Information Agreement with Japan misjudges the current regional security environment and is extremely regrettable.

He said South Korea shouldn't link intelligence-sharing and export controls because the two are separate issues.

The top government spokesperson said South Korea's negative and illogical moves have soured bilateral relations. Suga said Japan sincerely hopes the country will act wisely.

The removal of South Korea from Japan's list of preferred trading partners takes effect on Wednesday.

Suga said the step is in reaction to South Korea's inadequate export control system, and is designed to make sure Japan's exports are properly handled.

Key words : south prosecutor
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190827_36/

South Korean prosecutors are probing a series of scandals involving President Moon Jae-in's pick to become the next justice minister.

On Tuesday, officials raided several universities, a medical center and the offices of a private equity fund to collect evidence. The focus of the investigation into Cho Kuk is wide ranging. There is speculation that he committed academic fraud to get his daughter accepted into one of the country's most prestigious universities.
Cho also faces allegations of tax evasion and mismanaging his family's private equity fund.
Cho told reporters that he hopes the prosecutors will clarify all the allegations.

The country's main opposition party says it doubts the probe will yield satisfying results and is calling for a special counsel to investigate.
Despite the scandal, Cho's confirmation is moving forward. A parliamentary confirmation hearing is scheduled for next week.

Key words : preparatory kick
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190827_08/

Japan and African countries are to prepare the draft of a declaration to be adopted at a Tokyo-led conference on African development.

The 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD, will kick off on Wednesday in Yokohama, near Tokyo.

The leaders of Japan and more than 50 African nations will attend the triennial meeting to discuss development assistance and economic ties.

Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono will chair a ministerial-level preparatory meeting on Tuesday to make final adjustments to the wording of the draft Yokohama Declaration.

It is expected to call for support in training young engineers in Africa, as well as for creating an environment that would make it easier for Japanese businesses to invest in Africa.

It will also likely include a pledge to support efforts to reduce plastic waste, one of the major causes of ocean pollution.

The draft declaration is expected to highlight the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and rule of law in waters around Africa in light of China's growing maritime presence.

It will also likely call for transparency in China's infrastructure assistance to other countries, some of which may be trapped in debt.

Key words : today's news keywords segment some of the challenges associated with investment in Africa
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Key words : joining
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190827_12/

A senior US defense official says the United States is joining forces with Australia to reduce its heavy dependence on rare earth metals from China.

Ellen Lord, the Undersecretary of Defense For Acquisition and Sustainment, spoke to reporters on Monday.

The Pentagon is trying to diversify its sources of rare earth elements, which are an important component in manufacturing military equipment including F-35 stealth fighter jets and Aegis destroyers.

Lord said the challenge lies in processing rare earth metals and having the facilities to carry this out. She said that quite often, China mines them elsewhere and brings them back to the country to process them.

She said the US is looking at a variety of mechanisms to launch processing facilities. She added that during a visit to Australia this summer, she discussed whether the allies could jointly build a facility to take care of military needs.

Lord did not go into details. But an Australian company said in May that it plans to build such a plant in the southern US state of Texas.

China has hinted at limiting rare earths exports amid an escalating trade dispute with Washington. The US is working to develop technology to extract the materials from coal, as it tries to wean itself off Chinese supplies.