Tokyo, 4 November, /AJMEDIA/
Japan, U.S, South Korea condemn North Korea after launch of suspected ICBM
TOKYO – Japan, the United States and South Korea have condemned North Korea after Pyongyang test-launched six missiles, including a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the continental United States, on Thursday.
North Korea, which has been test-firing missiles at an unprecedented pace this year, launched three ballistic missiles, including an apparent ICBM believed to be a Hwasong-17, in the early morning, followed by three more at night. The five others were short-range ballistic missiles.
———-
Japan, U.S., South Korea eye summit talks in mid-Nov. over North Korea
TOKYO – The leaders of Japan, the United States and South Korea are planning to meet in mid-November in response to rising tensions over North Korea, government sources said Friday.
The leaders are expected to meet on the sidelines of ASEAN-related gatherings in Cambodia or the summit of the Group of 20 major economies in Indonesia. It would be their first trilateral meeting since they met in June in Spain.
———-
Ferry service between Japan, South Korea resumes after halt due to COVID
FUKUOKA – A ferry service connecting Fukuoka in southwest Japan with South Korea’s Busan resumed Friday, becoming the first regular international sea route Japan has restarted since suspending ship passenger arrivals due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ferry operator said.
JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Inc.’s newly built high-speed ship the Queen Beetle, which can carry up to 502 passengers, left Hakata port in Fukuoka on Friday morning with about 130 people on board.
———-
G-7 foreign ministers call for peaceful resolution of Taiwan issue
MUNSTER, Germany – The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized nations on Thursday called for a peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue amid heightened tensions over the self-ruled democratic island, according to the Japanese government.
On the first day of their two-day meeting in the western German city of Munster, the top G-7 diplomats “reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,” demanding that cross-strait issues be resolved by peaceful means, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.
———-
Japan, Germany to deepen security ties amid China, N. Korea concerns
MUNSTER, Germany – Japan and Germany agreed Thursday to enhance their defense cooperation, including starting negotiations for a military pact for exchanges of supplies and logistical support, Japanese officials said, in the face of increasing military activities by China and North Korea.
The foreign and defense ministers from Japan and Germany also confirmed that they strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo by force in the East and South China seas, the officials said, as China has been criticized for its maritime assertiveness in the waters.
———-
Ex-Pakistan PM Khan slightly wounded in gun attack during rally
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan was slightly wounded Thursday in a gun attack as he led his party’s protest march toward Islamabad demanding snap elections in the country.
“An unidentified man wearing a black coat fired at the (vehicle) on which Khan was traveling along with other leaders of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, and a bullet hit his right leg,” a journalist familiar with the attack told Kyodo News over the phone.
———-
Canadian wins piano section at Geneva music competition, Japanese 3rd
GENEVA – Kevin Chen of Canada on Thursday won top prize in the piano division of an international competition for young musicians in Switzerland, with Japanese Kaoruko Igarashi coming third.
The 17-year-old Canadian was awarded 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,000) for winning first prize at the Geneva International Music Competition. Sergey Belyavsky of Russia came second, while Igarashi and Zijian Wei of China shared third place.
———-
Soccer: Injured Japan defender Nakayama to miss World Cup
LONDON – Japan defender Yuta Nakayama will miss the World Cup soccer finals in Qatar after being ruled out for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury, his English club Huddersfield said Thursday.
Nakayama, who was named in Japan’s 26-man squad Tuesday for the tournament beginning Nov. 20, damaged his Achilles tendon at the end of the first half in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at home to Sunderland in the second-tier Championship. The 25-year-old will undergo surgery.
