at 18:30 (JST), April 26

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/20220426183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : kim speech hypersonic
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_27/

North Korea held a highly-expected military parade on Monday. That's according to the country's state media. It marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of its military.

The last time the country held a parade involving its regular army was in January last year. The Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday that the latest parade took place at a square in central Pyongyang. It says the country's leader Kim Jong Un stressed in his speech measures to quickly further strengthen and develop nuclear weapons.

And the parade showed off what Pyongyang describes as its newest intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-17.

South Korean media report the parade may have been the largest ever, with about 20-thousand military personnel taking part. They say more than 250 heavy weapons and equipment are believed to have been displayed. The Hwasong-8 missile, which Pyongyang claims is hypersonic, is also believed to have been seen.

Kim Jong Un's grandfather, Kim Il Sung, founded the Korean People's Revolutionary Army on April 25th, 1932. It was the predecessor of today's Korean People's Army.

Observers say Pyongyang was expected to show off its latest weapon systems to send a message to the United States and South Korea.

Key words : rescue continuing
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_10/

The Japan Coast Guard continued its rescue mission on Tuesday, after a tour boat disappeared off the coast of the northern island Hokkaido at the weekend.

The boat, called Kazu One, was carrying 26 passengers and crew members on Saturday when it went missing in rough waters around the Shiretoko Peninsula in northeastern Hokkaido.

Eleven people were confirmed dead on Sunday, after being found in waters where the boat was thought to have disappeared.

The Coast Guard has publicly identified three of the victims, including a three-year-old girl.

The search and rescue mission for the remaining 15 people who are still missing is now continuing into the fourth day.

The Coast Guard plans to extend its search area, as the tour boat may have been drifted far from the coast.

Key words : credit downgrade
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_04/

S&P Global Ratings on Monday has downgraded Sri Lanka's foreign currency sovereign credit rating to "selective default."

The rating agency cited the Sri Lankan government's missed interest payments on international bonds that came due on April 18.

Earlier this month, the government said it would suspend payments on external debt, amid the deepening economic crisis.

The pandemic hurt the country's tourism-dependent economy, as the number of foreign tourists plunged. Its foreign exchange reserves dwindled, making it difficult for the country to pay for energy imports.

The nation's central bank said its outstanding external debt was 50.7 billion dollars as of the end of last year.

Sri Lanka is in talks with the International Monetary Fund. But the rating agency said the discussions are still at an early stage, and that the restructuring of the nation's debt would take time.

Key words : shanghai record number
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220425_26/

Shanghai authorities have reported a record number of coronavirus deaths amid a strict lockdown.

Officials say they confirmed on Sunday 19,455 new cases and the most-ever deaths, at 51.

The virus has also begun spreading in the capital Beijing. Authorities confirmed 47 infections between Friday and Sunday.

The largest number of new cases has been confirmed in the Chaoyang District of the capital. District authorities restricted outings in some areas, and asked residents to work from home in principle, starting Monday.

The district also started large-scale PCR testing on Monday, involving more than 3.4 million residents as well as those who commute to the district. They are required to undergo three tests.

Beijing residents are rushing to stock up on food supplies in fear of a city-wide lockdown like in Shanghai.

Local media are calling on residents to shop calmly, reporting that supermarkets in the city have sufficient stockpiles.

Key words : Kishida met diplomat
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_28/

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has emphasized to a visiting South Korean delegation that now is the time to improve bilateral ties and resolve outstanding issues.

Kishida met with the delegation sent by South Korea's President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol in Tokyo on Tuesday. The group is headed by South Korea's National Assembly Deputy Speaker Chung Jin-suk.

Apparently referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's nuclear and missile development, Kishida said global order based on rules is now under threat. He pointed out that there has never been a time when strategic cooperation between their two countries, and between them and the United States, has been more necessary. He stressed that there is no time to waste in improving bilateral ties.
Kishida said bilateral ties should be developed based on the friendly and cooperative relations that have been built since their two countries normalized diplomatic relations in 1965.

He said wartime labor and other pending problems must be resolved.

The delegation members responded that they place importance on bilateral relations and hope to cooperate to improve ties.

Government sources said the delegation handed Kishida a letter from Yoon.

The group then met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu. Matsuno said bilateral ties are severely strained and expressed hope that they would improve under Yoon's leadership.

The two sides confirmed that they would work closely together to respond to North Korea.

The delegation members indicated that they would cooperate in quickly resolving North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals.

Key words : japanese companies suspend
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220426_02/

A survey shows that an increasing number of Japanese companies are suspending business in Russia, as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine drags on.

The study by research firm Teikoku Databank found that as of April 11, 60 of the 168 listed Japanese firms doing business in Russia, or 36 percent, had decided to pull out or cease operations in the country. The number surged from 37 in the previous survey, released in mid-March.

Of the 60 firms in the latest poll, 31 said they would suspend shipments to Russia, 11 said they would halt production at local factories, and nine said they would shut down outlets or other operations.

Three companies said they would withdraw from Russia. There were no companies that planned to do so in the mid-March survey.

Teikoku Databank cites disruptions to supply chains caused by economic sanctions on Russia. Japanese firms are under mounting pressure to pull out, as the war in Ukraine shows no signs of ending.

The research firm said the exodus of Japanese businesses from Russia will likely continue.

Key words : batteries
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220425_29/

Japan's industry ministry has set a goal of regaining a 20-percent share of global production of power-storage batteries by 2030. The country has been losing out to China and South Korea as they become more competitive.

The industry ministry unveiled its first-ever target for battery output at a panel of public and private-sector representatives on Friday. Officials plan to boost funding to domestic manufacturers and support the training of engineers.

Demand for batteries is expected to surge due to the popularity of electric vehicles and to store renewable energy.

Japanese battery makers have seen their global market share drop from 40 percent in 2015 to just 15 percent in 2020.

Industry minister Hagiuda Koichi said Chinese and South Korean firms are making tremendous strides in battery production, with active investment backed up by their governments.

Hagiuda said Japanese companies also need solid support with the government at the forefront. He added that this could be the last chance for the country to catch up.