at 18:30 (JST), January 31

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/20220131183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : north capable
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220131_05/

North Korea has confirmed the test-firing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday.

The ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said on Monday that the Hwasong-12 type missile was launched from the country's northwestern region toward the sea on a lofted trajectory, which is a steeper angle than usual, to reach a higher altitude.

The paper also said that the test confirmed the accuracy, security and effectiveness of the Hwasong-12 type weapon system's operation. It said the missile is being produced and deployed.

The range of the Hwasong-12 is estimated at up to 5,000 kilometers, capable of covering the distance to the US territory of Guam.

Sunday's test-firing was the first launch of the Hwasong-12 missile since September 2017, when it flew near Cape Erimo in the northern Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido.

South Korea's military said on Sunday that the North fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile from the northern Jagang province toward the sea earlier that morning.

The military also said the missile reached an altitude of about 2,000 kilometers. It was the North's seventh launch this year.

Key words : security experts warned
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220130_15/

Security experts are warning of security flaws in a smartphone app that is mandatory for participants in the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Athletes, officials and reporters are required to use the app to keep track of their health conditions as part of coronavirus prevention measures.

But researchers at the University of Toronto say it has a vulnerability that allows third parties to extract data. They also say it is unclear how Chinese authorities plan to use the data collected by the app.

The Reuters news agency says US Olympic officials have warned athletes heading to Beijing that their communications could be monitored or leaked.

The Olympic committees of the US, Canada and the Netherlands have urged their athletes and officials to rent mobile phones and leave their main devices at home.

China's foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters on January 18 that those countries are making unfounded accusations against an innocent party.

The Chinese embassy in Canada released a statement on the same day saying that the report is distorted and unfounded, and the concern about cybersecurity is unnecessary.

The embassy said, "China has been firmly opposing and cracking down on all forms of cyber attack and cyber theft all along."

The International Olympic Committee says an independent organization checked the app and found no serious vulnerabilities.

Key words : taiwan not take part
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220129_02/

Taiwan's delegation for the Beijing Winter Olympics will not take part in the opening or closing ceremonies.

Officials said on Friday that the 15-member delegation, which includes four athletes, will be arriving in the Chinese capital in groups from Taiwan, the United States and Switzerland.

They said not all members will be able to arrive by the opening ceremony on February 4 because flights have been adjusted or delayed due to China's pandemic and entry policies.

The officials also said most members will go home after their events are over, and that they will not be in Beijing on the day of the closing ceremony.

Under an agreement with the International Olympic Committee, Taiwan competes with the name "Chinese Taipei" in English. Chinese character notation to that effect was used at the 2008 Beijing Games.

At a news conference on Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian referred to the delegation using Chinese characters suggesting "Taipei, China."

Some people in Taiwan reacted sharply, saying that Zhu was indicating that Taiwan is part of China's territory.

Key words : cambodia meeting of
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220130_05/

Cambodia says the postponed meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has been rescheduled for February 16 and 17.

The country's foreign ministry made the announcement on Saturday.

Cambodia, ASEAN's rotating chair this year, initially planned to host the two-day meeting in Siem Reap, northern Cambodia, from January 18. But it announced the postponement several days before the gathering.

ASEAN members are expected to exchange opinions on how to deal with Myanmar. The agenda is likely to include sending a special envoy to mediate dialogue between the military and pro-democracy forces.

Since the coup in Myanmar, ASEAN member countries have refused to invite Myanmar's military leader to the group's summits. They cite the junta's continued crackdown on pro-democracy groups.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen seeks to bring Myanmar back to ASEAN summits. He visited Myanmar in early January to hold talks with the country's military leader.

Some other ASEAN members reacted sharply to the move. It is believed that differences among member nations may have been behind the delay of the foreign ministers' meeting.

Key words : taliban better environment
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220130_03/

The Taliban say they are continuing to make efforts to create a better environment for women's education.

In Friday's video message released on Twitter, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Afghanistan's future depends on education.

He stressed that efforts are ongoing to implement plans for women's education under the interpretation of Islamic teachings. He said education issues will be resolved.

Officials from Western countries and Taliban representatives held talks in Norway earlier this month. The Western side called on the Taliban to provide access to education for secondary school girls.

A Taliban spokesperson for the education ministry told NHK on Saturday that secondary schools for girls are expected to resume in March when the new term begins.

But no specific details were provided.

Key words : ban foreign arrival
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220129_09/

Demonstrators in several countries have called on the Japanese government to ease its coronavirus entry restrictions.

Participants gathered on Friday in front of Japanese embassies and other places in eight countries, including Germany, Spain and Bangladesh. Those who took part were people trying to come to Japan for study and other purposes.

Japan has barred new foreign arrivals through the end of February as part of its border controls against the Omicron variant.

The demonstrators held up pieces of paper with messages such as "Stop Japan's Ban" and "Waiting for two years."

Jade Barry launched a group that called for the demonstrations. She said members want a specific roadmap and date to plan for entry. She said she loves Japan and its people.

Japan's Immigration Services Agency says that as of October 1, about 147,800 foreigners who wanted to study in Japan were unable to enter the country.

In late January, the government started allowing 87 foreign students with Japanese government scholarships to enter the country. Officials say these people are special cases who have to take in-person classes to meet imminent deadlines for graduation or the completion of their academic work.

The government says it will be flexible in its consideration of whether to grant more exemptions to the entry ban, based on humanitarian grounds, national interests and other special circumstances.

Key words : chinatown
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220130_13/

The organizers of events to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Yokohama's Chinatown near Tokyo plan to dramatically scale things down this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A group of store and restaurant owners made the decision because quasi-emergency measures are in place in Kanagawa Prefecture. Yokohama is the prefectural capital.

The events were originally scheduled from February 1 to 15 and would be the first in two years.

But the group says it will cancel the popular lion dance scheduled for February 1, the day the Chinese New Year begins. The event symbolizes hopes for good business and is filled with the sounds of firecrackers and drums.

A parade scheduled for February 5 will be postponed.

But the group says the countdown event from January 31 to February 1 will go ahead, with spectator stands to be cut to one-fourth the size of a usual year.

The head of the Yokohama Chinatown Development Association, Takahashi Nobumasa, says the decision was made with a heavy heart to cancel traditional festivities.

He says that rather than giving up all events, the association hopes to carry out ones that can be held with thorough measures to reduce infection risks, in line with the rules of the central and local governments.