at 18:30 (JST), November 07

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/20221107183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : more than 30 derailed seoul
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221107_05/

A train has derailed in Seoul, injuring more than 30 people, including one Japanese.

The train was traveling toward Yeongdeungpo Station in the South Korean capital shortly before 9 p.m. on Sunday when it derailed.

Yonhap news agency reports that 34 out of 279 passengers on board were slightly injured.
They include five foreigners -- three Indians, one Japanese and one Nepali.

The country's public broadcaster KBS reports that six cars of the train went off the rails as the train was about to arrive at the station.

Police and the Korean Railroad Corporation are investigating the cause.

Key words : north in response newspaper
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221107_11/

The North Korean military has revealed details of missile operations it conducted from Wednesday through Saturday.

The ruling Workers' Party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, on Monday quoted the General Staff of the Korean People's Army as saying it conducted the military operations in response to joint air drills being carried out by the United States and South Korea.

The General Staff said its forces fired four tactical ballistic missiles on Wednesday to simulate a strike on an enemy air force base.

It also said its forces fired two strategic cruise missiles at the open sea around 80 kilometers off the coast of Ulsan City, South Korea, later that day.

South Korea's military said one of the missiles crossed the de facto inter-Korean maritime border for the first time.

The North's General Staff also noted its military units conducted test-firings of ballistic missiles on Thursday to "verify the movement reliability" of a warhead. It said its forces fired "super-large multiple launch missiles and tactical ballistic missiles."

The South Korean military reported that a missile that the North launched on that day may have been a Hwasong-17, a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile.

The North Korean military stressed it will continue to respond to all enemy war drills with "overwhelming practical military measures."

Key words : mourner childcare
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221106_04/

The government of Thailand faces the challenge of strengthening its gun control measures, following last month's deadly rampage at a childcare facility.

Sunday marks one month since a former police officer armed with a gun and a knife attacked a childcare center in northeastern Thailand on October 6. He killed 36 people, including 24 children.

Mourners continue to visit the site of the incident to leave sweets and other items in memory of their loved ones.

Local people remain worried that similar incidents may happen again, and victims' families are still struggling to come to terms with their loss.

One man lost his 3-year-old grandson in the attack. The boy lived with his grandparents as his parents worked at a factory outside their hometown.

The grandfather said he was a cheerful boy who loved singing and dancing, and that he still couldn't believe what had happened.

He added he misses him, and he had looked forward to seeing his grandson growing up.

The Thai government is stepping up efforts to tighten gun control measures.

People seeking gun licenses are now required to take psychological tests. The government also plans to have them undergo other mental evaluations after obtaining the licenses.

But the challenge is whether effective measures can be taken, as an enormous number of guns are already in circulation in the country.

A Swiss research institute says that Thailand had more than 10 million privately-owned guns as of 2017. In the capital Bangkok, there is a district lined with shops selling guns.

People aged 20 or older can legally buy guns if they prove they have a stable income with no criminal records. Lower priced guns sell for 30,000 baht, or about 800 dollars.

An illegal gun trade is also said to be rampant in the country.

When searching for "illegal guns" on social media, one can find many posts that list prices. One post offers a gun priced at around 95 dollars.

Key words : maritime msdf 70th
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221106_12/

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has held an international fleet review for the first time in 20 years, to mark the 70th anniversary of its founding.

Twenty MSDF destroyers and submarines as well as 18 vessels from the United States, South Korea and 10 other countries took part in the review on Sunday in Sagami Bay, south of Tokyo.

This was the second time the international fleet review was held in Japan.

Japan did not invite Russia to the event, while China did not take part despite being invited by Japan.

Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio observed MSDF vessels and those from other countries sailing in formation from the deck of the MSDF destroyer Izumo.

Kishida strongly criticized Russia and North Korea in a speech. He also reiterated his government's policy of aiming to drastically strengthen Japan's defense capabilities.

The prime minister said that in order to protect the public and ensure peace and stability in the region, it is fundamental to seek the building of a stable international order through dialogue.

But he noted that it is also necessary to prepare for a situation where peace and security is violated by military force, adding that he will give realistic consideration to the issue without ruling out any options.

Kishida and Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu later visited the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, and inspected the deck lined with fighter jets.

Key words : china unveiled drone
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221107_02/

China has unveiled a domestically made military drone with an estimated range of over 10,000 kilometers.

The Wing Loong-3 was shown to domestic and overseas media for the first time on Sunday, two days before the opening of China's largest air show in the southern province of Guangdong.

Chinese online media outlets report that the Wing Loong-3 can be used for both reconnaissance and combat and is capable of carrying more than two tons of missiles.

They say significant improvements from its earlier models now put it on par with world-leading US drones.

Observers say China aims to demonstrate its expanded scope of military operation to the United States amid ongoing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

They say Beijing also wants to use this occasion to expand exports of its military drones. The country is already selling military drones to more than 10 countries, including some in the Middle East and Asia.

A Chinese journalist told NHK that wonderful weapons make China's homeland security solid. He says their technology will catch up with the US in five to six years.

Key words : south miner
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221105_17/

Two South Korean miners trapped inside a collapsed zinc mine in the country's southeast have been rescued after nine days.

The two miners had been stuck in a vertical shaft about 190 meters underground since the mine, in Bonghwa County, collapsed on October 26.

South Korean media describe the miners' survival as miraculous, bringing to an end a rescue operation that had been carried out around the clock.

The reports say the miners survived by consuming instant coffee powder and drinking water that dripped from the ceiling, and that they made a tent using plastic.

The two men were transported to hospital where they were found to be in good health. Local media quoted one of them as saying he wants to sit back and enjoy a glass of Korean distilled spirit called soju.

Key words : firework 20,000 fireworks
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221106_08/

A fireworks competition returned to the city of Tsuchiura, north of Tokyo, for the first time in three years, with 20,000 fireworks lighting up the sky.

The event took place on the banks of the Sakuragawa River in Ibaraki Prefecture on Saturday, with measures in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections.

Fifty-five pyrotechnic firms from various parts of Japan competed in three divisions, showing off the beauty of their fireworks and their skills.

A blue and yellow display depicting Ukraine's national flag expressed the hope that the Russian invasion of the country would end soon.

A 30-year-old man who came with his family to see the event said the fireworks were powerful and very beautiful when seen up-close.