Politics
Kishida marks 78th anniversary of World War II end without mentioning Japan's wartime aggression
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida renewed his peace pledge Tuesday as Japan observed the 78th anniversary of its World War II defeat, but he did not mention the country’s wartime aggression in Asia, while three of his former and serving ministers visited a controversial shrine seen by neighboring countries as… Read
Kishida sends offering to Yasukuni shrine on WWII anniversary
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, seen by some as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, as the nation marked the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II, a ruling lawmaker said. Economic security minister Sanae Takaichi,… Read
U.S., Korea, Japan set to launch new steps on defense at Camp David
The United States, Japan and South Korea will launch a series of joint initiatives on technology and defense when the countries' leaders gather at Camp David this Friday, according to senior U.S. administration officials, amid mounting shared concerns about China. While the summit is unlikely to produce a formal security… Read
No plan to expand Quad despite interest from Seoul: U.S. official
A U.S. State Department senior official said Monday that the United States, Japan, Australia and India have no immediate plan to expand their Quad grouping despite South Korea showing interest in the four-way framework. "There is no plan in the near term to expand the official membership of the Quad,"… Read
North Korean leader Kim orders more missiles made
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for an increase in missile production to help secure "overwhelming military power" and be ready for war, state media KCNA said on Monday, as South Korea and the United States gear up for annual military drills. Kim gave the order as he… Read
Blinken to meet Japan, S Korea foreign ministers virtually
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will hold a virtual meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin later Monday, the U.S. State Department said. Leaders of the three nations are due to meet on Aug 18 at the U.S. presidential retreat at Camp… Read
China tells Japan blanket seafood testing meant to protect consumers
China has told Japan its blanket radiation testing on seafood imports from the neighboring country introduced last month is "a necessary measure" to protect its consumers, according to sources familiar with the bilateral relationship. The testing is believed to have been adopted to pressure Tokyo over its plan to begin… Read
U.S., Japan to develop hypersonic missile interceptor: report
Japan and the U.S. will agree this week to jointly develop an interceptor missile to counter hypersonic warheads being developed by China, Russia and North Korea, Japan's Yomiuri newspaper said on Sunday. The agreement on interceptors to target weapons designed to evade existing ballistic missile defenses is expected when President… Read
S Koreans rally against Japanese plans to release treated nuclear wastewater into sea
Anxious about Japan’s impending release of treated nuclear wastewater from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, hundreds of South Koreans marched in their capital on Saturday. Protesters called for Tokyo to abandon the plans, and expressed anger toward Seoul for endorsing the discharge despite alleged food safety risks. Saturday’s rally was the… Read
Japan, China quietly mark friendship pact 45th anniversary amid tensions
Japan and China on Saturday quietly marked the 45th anniversary of the signing of a bilateral treaty of peace and friendship, with no official celebratory events amid tensions over Tokyo's plan to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. Bilateral relations have been strained… Read
