News On Japan

N.Korea fires over 20 missiles on Wednesday

Nov 03 (NHK) - North Korea fired at least 23 missiles on Wednesday. It is extremely rare for the country to launch more than 20 missiles in a single day.

The South Korean military said the North fired at least 17 short-range ballistic and other missiles from several sites in the morning. It added that the North also launched six surface-to-air and other missiles in the afternoon. The military said those missiles flew toward the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea.

The military said one of the three short-range ballistic missiles launched in or around Wonsan in the east between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. crossed a maritime boundary called the Northern Limit Line or NLL, which was set by UN forces. It added the missile fell in international waters 167 kilometers northwest of Ulleungdo Island.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff denounced North Korea, saying it is the first time that a North Korean missile has crossed the NLL and fallen near the country's territorial waters since the division of the two Koreas.

An air raid alert was issued for the island. South Korean media report that it is the first such alert in the country in six years and nine months. ...continue reading

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

A Ferrari seized from a tax delinquent was auctioned by the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau, fetching over 170 million yen, the highest bid ever recorded for such an auction.

Zao’s iconic snow monsters, the frost-covered trees known as 'juhyo,' face an existential threat. These towering, snow-laden trees have long been a winter highlight in the region, famously resembling monstrous figures covered in snow. However, their survival is now under severe threat.

EF Education First, a global education organization, published this year’s English Proficiency Index on Wednesday, ranking nations worldwide. Japan’s ranking stood at 92nd among 116 countries and regions, continuing a 14-year trend of record lows.

Ginzan Hot Springs in Yamagata, known for its Taisho-era charm, is now at peak season for autumn foliage. While this secluded onsen town is a well-known destination in the Tohoku region, an influx of foreign tourists has led local officials to implement restrictions on day visitors starting next month.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has announced plans to allow the sale of over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores without on-site pharmacists.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Politics NEWS

The Ishiba Cabinet announced its appointments for vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries on November 13th, selecting Akiko Ikuina and Eriko Imai, both former idols and current members of the House of Councillors.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) recently showcased training exercises involving state-of-the-art stealth fighter takeoffs and landings on its largest escort vessel, the Kaga, which is being modified for aircraft carrier capability.

Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has apologized to lawmakers of his Liberal Democratic Party for its poor results in last month's Lower House elections and called on them to unite. (NHK)

The junior party of Japan's ruling coalition, Komeito, is set to appoint land minister Saito Tetsuo as the new chief representative this week. (NHK)

Speculation about Trump's new administration, set to take office in January, has already begun. Among the potential appointees is Senator Bill Hagerty, a former U.S. ambassador to Japan, who is being considered for Secretary of State.

Japan's Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru says he respects the democratic choice of the American people. Ishiba said: "I hope to further bolster the Japan-US alliance to a higher level while closely coordinating with the next president. I want to make efforts to contact Trump as soon as possible." (NHK)

The snap election for Japan’s Lower House on 27 October 2024 produced a hung parliament with no political party or coalition receiving a majority, throwing Japanese politics into uncertainty and potential political instability. (East Asia Forum)

North Korea's state-run media has announced it launched an intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday morning. Japan and the United States have strongly condemned it. (NHK)