Society

Japan concludes N.Korea carried out nuclear test

Sep 03 (NHK) - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono says the government has confirmed that North Korea conducted a nuclear test on Sunday.

After attending the National Security Council, Kono told reporters that based on the analysis of information gathered by the Meteorological Agency and others the government concludes that the earthquake was caused by a nuclear test in North Korea.

He added that the Japanese government condemned the North in the strongest terms through its embassy in Beijing, saying that if the country had in fact conducted a nuclear test, it is unforgivable and violates the UN Security Council resolution.

Kono said he called for coordination with the United States and South Korea to request the United Nations to hold an emergency Security Council meeting.

He added, given that North Korea apparently has no intention to engage in dialogue, Japan will coordinate with other countries to adopt a new Security Council resolution.

Kono said the content of the new sanction will be discussed with all options on the table.

Osaka Police End 14-Hour Siege

Police in Osaka arrested a 48-year-old man on October 22nd after a tense 14-hour standoff in which he allegedly held a woman at knifepoint inside an apartment. A special tactical unit forced entry into the residence late at night, ending the standoff without injuries.

Imperial Family Pays Tribute to War Victims

The Emperor, Empress, and their daughter Princess Aiko visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall in Sumida Ward on Thursday afternoon, marking their first visit to the site as Japan observes the 80th year since the end of World War II. They were greeted upon arrival by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and other officials.

First Snow Caps Mount Fuji, 15 Days Earlier Than Last Year

The Kofu Local Meteorological Observatory announced on October 23rd that the season’s first snow had been observed on Mount Fuji, which stands 3,776 meters tall. Around 6 a.m., an official visually confirmed that snow had clearly accumulated near the summit.

Tokyo’s Aging Expressway Reborn After Major Overhaul

After nearly a decade of construction, the newly rebuilt Haneda Line of the Metropolitan Expressway, one of Tokyo’s key arteries linking the city center with Haneda Airport, has been unveiled to the media ahead of its official switch to a new road on October 29th.

New Cabinet Takes On 'Takaichi Color'

The newly launched Takaichi Cabinet moved into full operation on October 22nd, with early personnel decisions revealing a clear conservative tone. Satsuki Katayama was appointed as finance minister and Kimi Onoda as minister in charge of foreign resident policy, underscoring what observers are calling the emergence of a distinct “Takaichi color.”

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Mako Komuro Appears in Six-Page Town & Country Feature

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Two Foreign Men Stabbed, One Dead in Ibaraki Town

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