at 18:30 (JST), October 20

Asian View

"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20211020183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : envoys met in Washington
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211020_N01/

Envoys from the US, Japan, and South Korea met in Washington on Tuesday to discuss a series of missile launches by North Korea. They exchanged views on Pyongyang's weapons program and how to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said the envoys shared their analyses of recent developments. The Japanese Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs, Funakoshi Takehiro, said the launches are a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

The US Special Representative, Sung Kim, called on North Korean leaders to refrain from further provocations. He said US diplomats are willing to meet, without any preconditions..

North and South Korea have never officially ended the Korean War. Kim and Seoul's envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, have been exploring that and other issues.

Key words : security council emergency meeting
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211020_09/

The United Nations Security Council has decided to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss North Korea's most recent missile launch.

This comes after North Korea announced that it successfully test-launched a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile on Tuesday.

UN diplomatic sources say the meeting will be held at the request of the United States, Britain, and France.

The Security Council held an emergency meeting following the North's previous missile launches on September 15 and 28. The council failed to issue an agreement statement because of differences of opinion between Western nations and China and Russia.

Key words : torrential rain india at other time
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211020_36/

Floods and landslides caused by torrential rain have left more than 100 people dead across India and Nepal.

Officials in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand say rescue operations are underway to free people stranded by the flooding. Muddy water has inundated large swathes of land after several days of heavy rain.

The military and disaster-management authorities have deployed boats and helicopters but at least 46 people are confirmed dead, with many others still missing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to send his condolences. He also said he's praying for everyone's safety and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, in the southern state of Kerala, a series of landslides have killed at least 27 people. And weather officials are warning of more rain to come.

There have also been dozens of victims in neighboring Nepal. Nepal's ministry of home affairs says at least 31 people have been killed, with over 40 listed as missing.

India and Nepal suffer frequent similar disasters during the monsoon season between June and September, but recent years have seen downpours at other times as well.

Key words : michiko 87
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211020_01/

Japan's Empress Emerita Michiko turned 87 years old on Wednesday.

She and her husband, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, have been living at a temporary residence in Tokyo since March last year. They have refrained from going out or accepting guests amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Imperial Household Agency says the couple is thinking of people in areas affected by natural disasters, including the city of Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture, which was hit by fatal mudslides in July.

The couple is reportedly relieved to hear about progress in the recovery of the 2011 disaster in northeastern Japan.

One of the pleasant reports was from Futaba Town, which co-hosts the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. They heard good news about its first rice planting on an experimental basis since the nuclear accident 10 years ago.

The agency says the Empress Emerita often talked with her husband about this summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. They reportedly appeared to be pleased with the remarkable development of sports for people with disabilities, for which they had provided continuous support.

Since May last year, the Empress Emerita has had a number of health problems, but in spite of the difficulties she has recently become able to play the piano little by little.

The couple adores Princess Mako, one of their granddaughters who is expected to leave the Imperial family when she gets married on October 26. The Empress Emerita reportedly appears to be sad to part from the Princess.

All ceremonial events for the Empress Emerita's birthday have been cancelled amid the pandemic.

Key words : national security law book fair
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