Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/japan-preparing-120-billion-stimulus-package-as-recession-risks-grow-265859">$120 billion in stimulus measures</a> on Thursday, to help the world's third-largest economy overcome the aftermath of the nation's recent natural disasters.

The package is also aimed at helping the nation alleviate the impact of last month's tax hike and survive a potential economic slowdown after an Olympic boom.

"We will introduce a daring fiscal policy worth 13 trillion yen ($120 billion)," Abe told ministers and party leaders at the prime minister's office.

"We have crafted a powerful policy package," Abe added.

The package, expected to be endorsed at a cabinet meeting later in the day, totals some 26 trillion yen if spending by the private sector is counted, according to public broadcaster NHK and other local media.

Under the plan, the government will spend some six trillion yen on a public investment after a series of natural disasters,&nbsp;including killer Typhoon Hagibis,&nbsp;caused huge damage to the country's infrastructure, local media said.

Japan's economy has so far expanded this year, partially because of strong demand related to preparations for the Olympics, which will start in July next year. Some analysts warned the country may suffer a post-Olympic slump.

The package is also aimed at easing the impact of the consumption tax increase to 10 per cent from eight per cent on October 1 and helping Japanese firms prepare for a global economic slowdown due to the US-China trade dispute.

The Tokyo market welcomed the package.

"In particular, stimulus-related shares such as construction companies benefited from the announcement," Toshikazu Horiuchi, a broker at IwaiCosmo Securities, told AFP.

But Yusuke Shimoda, an economist at Japan Research Institute, warned the impact of the package could be "limited."

"The package is likely to boost infrastructure-related businesses, but is unlikely to help reform the nation's slow-growth economy fundamentally," Shimoda said.

The package will also include government measures to help expand exports of farm products as a bilateral trade accord between Tokyo and Washington is set to take effect next year, Kyodo News said.

Among other steps, the government will help people in their 30s and 40s, who have been struggling to find work due to past economic slowdowns, to land new jobs, it said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled $120 billion in stimulus measures on Thursday, to help the world's third-largest economy overcome the aftermath of the nation's recent natural disasters.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled $120 billion in stimulus measures on Thursday, to help the world's third-largest economy overcome the aftermath of the nation's recent natural disasters. The package is also aimed at helping the nation alleviate the impact of last month's tax hike and survive a potential economic slowdown after an Olympic boom. "We will introduce a daring fiscal policy worth 13 trillion yen ($120 billion)," Abe told ministers and party leaders at the prime minister's office. "We have crafted a powerful policy package," Abe added. The package, expected to be endorsed at a cabinet meeting later in the day, totals some 26 trillion yen if spending by the private sector is counted, according to public broadcaster NHK and other local media. Under the plan, the government will spend some six trillion yen on a public investment after a series of natural disasters, including killer Typhoon Hagibis, caused huge damage to the country's infrastructure, local media said. Japan's economy has so far expanded this year, partially because of strong demand related to preparations for the Olympics, which will start in July next year. Some analysts warned the country may suffer a post-Olympic slump. The package is also aimed at easing the impact of the consumption tax increase to 10 per cent from eight per cent on October 1 and helping Japanese firms prepare for a global economic slowdown due to the US-China trade dispute. The Tokyo market welcomed the package. "In particular, stimulus-related shares such as construction companies benefited from the announcement," Toshikazu Horiuchi, a broker at IwaiCosmo Securities, told AFP. But Yusuke Shimoda, an economist at Japan Research Institute, warned the impact of the package could be "limited." "The package is likely to boost infrastructure-related businesses, but is unlikely to help reform the nation's slow-growth economy fundamentally," Shimoda said. The package will also include government measures to help expand exports of farm products as a bilateral trade accord between Tokyo and Washington is set to take effect next year, Kyodo News said. Among other steps, the government will help people in their 30s and 40s, who have been struggling to find work due to past economic slowdowns, to land new jobs, it said.

Japan unveils $120 billion stimulus package

How Indian Navy is calibrating its Indo-Pacific strategy

By Mallika Singh

Japanse physician and aid worker, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/five-afghans-killed-in-jalalabad-attack-japanese-doctor-wounded-266121">Tetsu Nakamura</a>, was shot dead along with five Afghans including his bodyguards, driver and another passenger in an attack in Afghanistan on Wednesday.&nbsp;

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The Japanese aid agency was shot on the right side of his chest when gunmen open fired on his car in Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, said Afghan officials.&nbsp;

The doctor underwent surgery at a local hospital and was in the process of being transferred to Bagram near Kabul when he passed away at the Jalalabad airport.&nbsp;

“Sadly, Dr Nakamura has passed away from the wounds he received in the armed attack this morning,” said a spokesman for Nangarhar’s governor.

The attack on the aid worker comes a week after a grenade attack on a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ready-for-talks-if-united-states-lifts-sanctions-iran-266151">United Nations</a> vehicle in Kabul increasing fears of the humanitarian workers in the conflict-ridden region.&nbsp;

Nakamura, the head of Peace Japan Medical services - known as Peshawar-kai in Japanese - devoted 35 years of his life to healing the wounded in Afghanistan of which he became an honorary citizen last year in October.&nbsp;

The doctor had opened a clinic in a remote village in Afghanistan in 1991, before which he treated leprosy in Pakistanis and sick Afghan refugees. The native Fukuoka had been heading the Nangarhar aid group since 2008.&nbsp;

Nakamura, last year claimed last year that his posting was meant to be for “five or six years” in an interview with national broadcaster NHK. “The plan was to come home when I was done.”

“We didn’t have proper facilities (for surgery and rehabilitation) but I couldn't just run away and abandon these people," he said.

There was no immediate claim for the responsibility of the attack for which the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-should-accept-us-proposal-for-ceasefire-afghanistan-government-265605">Taliban</a> has denied responsibility claiming to have “good relations” with organisations that “contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.”

Japan Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-blasts-japans-shinzo-abe-warns-of-real-ballistic-missile-265425">Shinzo Abe</a> said he was “shocked” at the aid worker’s death who risked his life to do “various work” for which the people of Afghanistan were thankful.&nbsp;

"I am shocked that he had to die in this way," Abe told reporters in a news conference in Tokyo.

"He risked his life in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/eight-including-newborn-killed-in-airstrike-in-afghanistans-khost-province-265602">dangerous environment</a> to do various work, and the people of Afghanistan were very grateful to him," he added.

The police have launched a search operation to arrest the gunmen who fled the scene said officials who claimed to believe that the doctor was targeted for his work.&nbsp;

"Dr Nakamura has been doing great work in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, especially in irrigation and agriculture," the official said.

"The Afghan government strongly condemns the heinous and cowardly attack on Afghans' greatest friend, Dr Nakamura," said a spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

"He has dedicated all his life to change the lives of Afghans."

(With inputs from agencies)

By Mallika Singh Japanse physician and aid worker, Tetsu Nakamura, was shot dead along with five Afghans including his bodyguards, driver and another passenger in an attack in Afghanistan on Wednesday.

By Mallika Singh Japanse physician and aid worker, Tetsu Nakamura, was shot dead along with five Afghans including his bodyguards, driver and another passenger in an attack in Afghanistan on Wednesday. The Japanese aid agency was shot on the right side of his chest when gunmen open fired on his car in Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, said Afghan officials. The doctor underwent surgery at a local hospital and was in the process of being transferred to Bagram near Kabul when he passed away at the Jalalabad airport. “Sadly, Dr Nakamura has passed away from the wounds he received in the armed attack this morning,” said a spokesman for Nangarhar’s governor. The attack on the aid worker comes a week after a grenade attack on a United Nations vehicle in Kabul increasing fears of the humanitarian workers in the conflict-ridden region. Nakamura, the head of Peace Japan Medical services - known as Peshawar-kai in Japanese - devoted 35 years of his life to healing the wounded in Afghanistan of which he became an honorary citizen last year in October. The doctor had opened a clinic in a remote village in Afghanistan in 1991, before which he treated leprosy in Pakistanis and sick Afghan refugees. The native Fukuoka had been heading the Nangarhar aid group since 2008. Nakamura, last year claimed last year that his posting was meant to be for “five or six years” in an interview with national broadcaster NHK. “The plan was to come home when I was done.” “We didn’t have proper facilities (for surgery and rehabilitation) but I couldn't just run away and abandon these people," he said. There was no immediate claim for the responsibility of the attack for which the Taliban has denied responsibility claiming to have “good relations” with organisations that “contribute to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.” Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he was “shocked” at the aid worker’s death who risked his life to do “various work” for which the people of Afghanistan were thankful. "I am shocked that he had to die in this way," Abe told reporters in a news conference in Tokyo. "He risked his life in a dangerous environment to do various work, and the people of Afghanistan were very grateful to him," he added. The police have launched a search operation to arrest the gunmen who fled the scene said officials who claimed to believe that the doctor was targeted for his work. "Dr Nakamura has been doing great work in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, especially in irrigation and agriculture," the official said. "The Afghan government strongly condemns the heinous and cowardly attack on Afghans' greatest friend, Dr Nakamura," said a spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. "He has dedicated all his life to change the lives of Afghans." (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese doctor and aid worker Tetsu Nakamura shot dead in Afghanistan

Japan is working on a plan to send about 270 seamen to the Middle East to guard ships supplying Japan under a law that allows military deployments for research and intelligence gathering, the Nikkei business daily said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering a January visit to the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the paper added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/five-afghans-killed-in-jalalabad-attack-japanese-doctor-wounded-266121">Japan</a> maintains friendly ties with both the United States and Iran, and has said it would not join any US&nbsp;coalition to protect merchant vessels in the region.

The Nikkei said the government would propose deploying one escort ship and a patrol aircraft from the Maritime Self-Defense Force on a one-year mission that could be renewed annually. It plans to finalise the plan by year-end, the Nikkei said.

Global commodity trading has been rocked this year by attacks on international merchant vessels that Japan's Western allies have blamed on Iran. Tehran denies involvement.

Tensions have heightened between Tehran and Washington since last year, when President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on the country, crippling its economy.

Japan, which has stopped buying oil from Iran because of US&nbsp;sanctions, is eager to see stability in the Middle East, where it gets the bulk of its oil imports.

Abe has tried unsuccessfully to ease tensions between the two countries. Iran has criticised US&nbsp;efforts to build an alliance to protect shipping in the Gulf, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japanese public broadcaster NHK this week after meeting with Abe that Tehran was opposed to any foreign forces in the region.

Iran has also proposed a visit to Japan by President Hassan Rouhani try to resolve Iran's nuclear impasse with Washington, Kyodo news reported.

Japan's pacifist constitution bans a standing military but allows self-defence forces. The prospect of deploying navy personnel to the region has sparked calls for caution from liberal media and other critics.

Japan is working on a plan to send about 270 seamen to the Middle East to guard ships supplying Japan under a law that allows military deployments for research and intelligence gathering, the Nikkei business daily said.

Japan is working on a plan to send about 270 seamen to the Middle East to guard ships supplying Japan under a law that allows military deployments for research and intelligence gathering, the Nikkei business daily said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering a January visit to the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the paper added. Japan maintains friendly ties with both the United States and Iran, and has said it would not join any US coalition to protect merchant vessels in the region. The Nikkei said the government would propose deploying one escort ship and a patrol aircraft from the Maritime Self-Defense Force on a one-year mission that could be renewed annually. It plans to finalise the plan by year-end, the Nikkei said. Global commodity trading has been rocked this year by attacks on international merchant vessels that Japan's Western allies have blamed on Iran. Tehran denies involvement. Tensions have heightened between Tehran and Washington since last year, when President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with six nations and re-imposed sanctions on the country, crippling its economy. Japan, which has stopped buying oil from Iran because of US sanctions, is eager to see stability in the Middle East, where it gets the bulk of its oil imports. Abe has tried unsuccessfully to ease tensions between the two countries. Iran has criticised US efforts to build an alliance to protect shipping in the Gulf, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Japanese public broadcaster NHK this week after meeting with Abe that Tehran was opposed to any foreign forces in the region. Iran has also proposed a visit to Japan by President Hassan Rouhani try to resolve Iran's nuclear impasse with Washington, Kyodo news reported. Japan's pacifist constitution bans a standing military but allows self-defence forces. The prospect of deploying navy personnel to the region has sparked calls for caution from liberal media and other critics.

Japan plans to send 270 sailors to Middle East to guard ships

Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers said Thursday the triathlon and equestrian cross-country would start earlier, the latest rescheduling due to concerns over the Japanese capital's stifling summer heat.

Doctors have warned the 2020 Games could see deadly medical emergencies as athletes, volunteers and spectators face the sweltering Tokyo summer where the mercury can easily reach 40 degrees Celsius.

The men's and women's individual triathlon will start one hour earlier at 6:30 am (2130 GMT), while the mixed team relay start time will move up to 7:30 am from 8:30 am, organisers said.

They also said the start time for the cross-country part of the equestrian competition was rescheduled from 8:30 am to between 7:30 am and 8:00 am.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-2020-marathon-race-walk-events-rescheduled-after-sapporo-move-266201">moved the marathon</a> and race-walking to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido over heat concerns.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike had repeatedly expressed her opposition but offered her reluctant support last month, saying the city would not stand in the way.

Tokyo 2020 organisers have won widespread praise for their preparations but extreme summer heat and poor water quality have given them a headache at test events.

In August, a French triathlete was taken to hospital with suspected heatstroke after an Olympic test event, despite organisers cutting the run to 5km due to the hot weather.

Also in August, organisers were forced to cancel the swimming section of a para-triathlon test event for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-to-use-radiation-detectors-food-from-home-at-tokyo-game-266181">Tokyo 2020</a> due to high levels of bacteria in the water.

Games officials have unveiled various measures such as mist sprays and cooling agents to beat the heat during next summer's Olympics.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers said Thursday the triathlon and equestrian cross-country would start earlier, the latest rescheduling due to concerns over the Japanese capital's stifling summer heat.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics organisers said Thursday the triathlon and equestrian cross-country would start earlier, the latest rescheduling due to concerns over the Japanese capital's stifling summer heat. Doctors have warned the 2020 Games could see deadly medical emergencies as athletes, volunteers and spectators face the sweltering Tokyo summer where the mercury can easily reach 40 degrees Celsius. The men's and women's individual triathlon will start one hour earlier at 6:30 am (2130 GMT), while the mixed team relay start time will move up to 7:30 am from 8:30 am, organisers said. They also said the start time for the cross-country part of the equestrian competition was rescheduled from 8:30 am to between 7:30 am and 8:00 am. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has already moved the marathon and race-walking to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido over heat concerns. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike had repeatedly expressed her opposition but offered her reluctant support last month, saying the city would not stand in the way. Tokyo 2020 organisers have won widespread praise for their preparations but extreme summer heat and poor water quality have given them a headache at test events. In August, a French triathlete was taken to hospital with suspected heatstroke after an Olympic test event, despite organisers cutting the run to 5km due to the hot weather. Also in August, organisers were forced to cancel the swimming section of a para-triathlon test event for Tokyo 2020 due to high levels of bacteria in the water. Games officials have unveiled various measures such as mist sprays and cooling agents to beat the heat during next summer's Olympics.

More Tokyo Olympic events rescheduled due to heat concern

South&nbsp;Korea's Olympic committee plans to buy&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;detectors&nbsp;and ship&nbsp;homegrown ingredients to Japan for its athletes at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/with-eight-months-from-tokyo-2020-venue-preparations-enter-final-stretch-263688">Tokyo&nbsp;Games</a> because&nbsp;of worries local&nbsp;food&nbsp;may be contaminated by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Japan has posted data to show the country is safe&nbsp;from&nbsp;Fukushima&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;and many countries have lifted Fukushima-related&nbsp;food&nbsp;restrictions.

The&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;Sports &amp; Olympic Committee (KSOC) plans to ship red pepper paste, a key ingredient in&nbsp;Korean dishes, and other&nbsp;foods, and check for&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;in meat and vegetables that can only be sourced locally due to stringent quarantine rules, a KSOC meals plan report shows.

"Apparently, ingredients and&nbsp;food&nbsp;will be transported&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/873-million-fine-against-us-chip-gaint-qualcomm-south-korea-266064">South&nbsp;Korea</a>&nbsp;as much as possible, possibly including canned&nbsp;food," Shin Dong-keun, a ruling Democratic Party member of the parliamentary sports committee who was recently briefed by KSOC, told Reuters in an interview.

"For this Olympic&nbsp;games,&nbsp;food&nbsp;is our team's main focus so they can provide safe meals for the athletes to erase&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;worries, as opposed to in the past,&nbsp;food&nbsp;was meant to play the supplementary role of helping with their morale."

KSOC plans to arrange local&nbsp;Korean restaurants to prepare meals for baseball and softball players competing in Fukushima, as shipping boxed lunches&nbsp;from&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;is not feasible, it said in the "2020&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;Summer Olympics Meals Support Centre Plan".

"These&nbsp;Korean restaurants should only handle&nbsp;food&nbsp;confirmed as&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;free,"

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station, located about 220 km (130 miles) northeast of&nbsp;Tokyo, was rocked by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011, sparking three reactor meltdowns.

More than 160,000 residents fled nearby towns in the aftermath as&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;from&nbsp;the reactors contaminated water,&nbsp;food&nbsp;and air.

Greenpeace said on Wednesday that&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;hot spots have been found at the J-Village sports facility in Fukushima where the&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;2020 Olympic torch relay will begin.

South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has stepped up demands for a Japanese response to concerns&nbsp;food&nbsp;produced in the Fukushima area and nearby sea could be contaminated by&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;from&nbsp;the Fukushima plant.

Japan is having trouble removing more than 1 million tonnes of contaminated water&nbsp;from&nbsp;the crippled plant.

When it finalises menus around April, the KSOC will consider asking&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;to ease its stringent quarantine ban on&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean produce, an official at the committee said.

The official said&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;was preparing a separate meals plan due to concerns&nbsp;from&nbsp;the public and politicians over&nbsp;food&nbsp;safety, unlike the United States and Australia whose athletes will mainly eat&nbsp;food&nbsp;provided by the host country, Japan.

The official requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

South&nbsp;Korea's concerns about possible contamination&nbsp;from&nbsp;the nuclear disaster has become a thorn in already contentious ties with Japan.

Seoul has banned imports of seafood&nbsp;from&nbsp;Japan's Fukushima region since the nuclear disaster, prompting&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;to launch a World Trade Organisation complaint. Japan has said many nations such as the United States and Australia had lifted or eased Fukushima-related restrictions.

Japanese officials&nbsp;use&nbsp;international events to promote the recovery of areas hit by the 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster to show produce&nbsp;from&nbsp;Fukushima prefecture is safe.

Mineral water&nbsp;from&nbsp;Fukushima was served on tables at the last month's G20 foreign ministers meeting it hosted in Nagoya.

The&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean Olympic committee plan to purchase&nbsp;radiation&nbsp;detecting equipment by February and station an inspector at its own cafeteria in&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;during the&nbsp;games to check contamination levels, according to the KSOC report.

The budget for the&nbsp;Tokyo&nbsp;Olympics meals service is earmarked at 1.7 billion won, which includes twice the amount of money for buying and shipping ingredients than previous&nbsp;games, according to the committee.

South Korea's Olympic committee plans to buy radiation detectors and ship homegrown ingredients to Japan for its athletes at the Tokyo Games because of worries local food may be contaminated by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

South Korea's Olympic committee plans to buy radiation detectors and ship homegrown ingredients to Japan for its athletes at the Tokyo Games because of worries local food may be contaminated by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Japan has posted data to show the country is safe from Fukushima radiation and many countries have lifted Fukushima-related food restrictions. The Korea Sports & Olympic Committee (KSOC) plans to ship red pepper paste, a key ingredient in Korean dishes, and other foods, and check for radiation in meat and vegetables that can only be sourced locally due to stringent quarantine rules, a KSOC meals plan report shows. "Apparently, ingredients and food will be transported from South Korea as much as possible, possibly including canned food," Shin Dong-keun, a ruling Democratic Party member of the parliamentary sports committee who was recently briefed by KSOC, told Reuters in an interview. "For this Olympic games, food is our team's main focus so they can provide safe meals for the athletes to erase radiation worries, as opposed to in the past, food was meant to play the supplementary role of helping with their morale." KSOC plans to arrange local Korean restaurants to prepare meals for baseball and softball players competing in Fukushima, as shipping boxed lunches from Tokyo is not feasible, it said in the "2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics Meals Support Centre Plan". "These Korean restaurants should only handle food confirmed as radiation free," The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station, located about 220 km (130 miles) northeast of Tokyo, was rocked by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011, sparking three reactor meltdowns. More than 160,000 residents fled nearby towns in the aftermath as radiation from the reactors contaminated water, food and air. Greenpeace said on Wednesday that radiation hot spots have been found at the J-Village sports facility in Fukushima where the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay will begin. South Korea has stepped up demands for a Japanese response to concerns food produced in the Fukushima area and nearby sea could be contaminated by radiation from the Fukushima plant. Japan is having trouble removing more than 1 million tonnes of contaminated water from the crippled plant. When it finalises menus around April, the KSOC will consider asking Tokyo to ease its stringent quarantine ban on South Korean produce, an official at the committee said. The official said South Korea was preparing a separate meals plan due to concerns from the public and politicians over food safety, unlike the United States and Australia whose athletes will mainly eat food provided by the host country, Japan. The official requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. South Korea's concerns about possible contamination from the nuclear disaster has become a thorn in already contentious ties with Japan. Seoul has banned imports of seafood from Japan's Fukushima region since the nuclear disaster, prompting Tokyo to launch a World Trade Organisation complaint. Japan has said many nations such as the United States and Australia had lifted or eased Fukushima-related restrictions. Japanese officials use international events to promote the recovery of areas hit by the 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster to show produce from Fukushima prefecture is safe. Mineral water from Fukushima was served on tables at the last month's G20 foreign ministers meeting it hosted in Nagoya. The South Korean Olympic committee plan to purchase radiation detecting equipment by February and station an inspector at its own cafeteria in Tokyo during the games to check contamination levels, according to the KSOC report. The budget for the Tokyo Olympics meals service is earmarked at 1.7 billion won, which includes twice the amount of money for buying and shipping ingredients than previous games, according to the committee.

South Korea to use radiation detectors, food from home at Tokyo Olympics 2020

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-ex-pm-nakasone-who-boosted-ties-with-us-dies-at-101-265192">Japan</a>&nbsp;is&nbsp;preparing&nbsp;an economic&nbsp;stimulus&nbsp;package&nbsp;worth $120&nbsp;billion&nbsp;to support fragile economic&nbsp;growth, two government officials with direct knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday, complicating government efforts to fix public finances.

The spending would be earmarked in a supplementary budget for this fiscal year to next March and an annual budget for the coming fiscal year from April. Both budgets will be compiled later this month, the sources told Reuters, declining to be identified because the&nbsp;package&nbsp;has not been finalised.

While the&nbsp;package&nbsp;would come to around 13 trillion yen (93.5&nbsp;billion&nbsp;pounds), that would rise to 25 trillion yen ($230&nbsp;billion) when private-sector and other spending are included.

However, the spending could strain the industrial world's heaviest public debt burden, which tops more than twice the size of&nbsp;Japan's $5 trillion economy.

And despite the headline size of the&nbsp;stimulus, actual spending would be smaller in the current fiscal year, and economists are not expecting much of a boost.

"We expect this fiscal year's extra budget to total around 3-4 trillion yen. We should not expect it to substantially push up the GDP&nbsp;growth rate," said Takuya Hoshino, senior economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

The 13 trillion yen includes more than 3 trillion yen from fiscal investment and loan programmes, as the heavily indebted government seeks to take advantage of low borrowing costs under the Bank of&nbsp;Japan's negative interest rate policy.

Direct government spending is expected to reach around 7-8 trillion yen, they said.

Sources of funding the big-spending remain unclear. A final decision on the&nbsp;package&nbsp;could be made as early as Thursday.

Japan is preparing an economic stimulus package worth $120 billion to support fragile economic growth, two government officials with direct knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday, complicating government efforts to fix public finances.

Japan is preparing an economic stimulus package worth $120 billion to support fragile economic growth, two government officials with direct knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday, complicating government efforts to fix public finances. The spending would be earmarked in a supplementary budget for this fiscal year to next March and an annual budget for the coming fiscal year from April. Both budgets will be compiled later this month, the sources told Reuters, declining to be identified because the package has not been finalised. While the package would come to around 13 trillion yen (93.5 billion pounds), that would rise to 25 trillion yen ($230 billion) when private-sector and other spending are included. However, the spending could strain the industrial world's heaviest public debt burden, which tops more than twice the size of Japan's $5 trillion economy. And despite the headline size of the stimulus, actual spending would be smaller in the current fiscal year, and economists are not expecting much of a boost. "We expect this fiscal year's extra budget to total around 3-4 trillion yen. We should not expect it to substantially push up the GDP growth rate," said Takuya Hoshino, senior economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute. The 13 trillion yen includes more than 3 trillion yen from fiscal investment and loan programmes, as the heavily indebted government seeks to take advantage of low borrowing costs under the Bank of Japan's negative interest rate policy. Direct government spending is expected to reach around 7-8 trillion yen, they said. Sources of funding the big-spending remain unclear. A final decision on the package could be made as early as Thursday.

Japan preparing $120 billion stimulus package as recession risks grow

Days after the maiden India Japan 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has backed India's presence at the mega trade pact—Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).&nbsp;

The 2+2 meeting saw the participation of Japanese defence and foreign ministers and Indian counterparts—Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External affairs minister S Jaishankar.

&nbsp;Speaking at the 1st Tokyo Global Dialogue earlier today, Toshimitsu said, "Japan is making diplomatic efforts to realize the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with the participation of all 16 countries, including India."

&nbsp;Though he explained, "whether we can keep India in the RCEP we cannot yet tell for certain at this moment", he added, "what is driving our efforts in Japan’s firm conviction that the framework of the RCEP can truly boost the region’s economic potential only with the participation of India" which is the "world’s most populous democratic country and a major strategic player connecting the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean."

&nbsp;While RCEP was discussed during the Japanese ministers' meetings in Delhi, including with PM Modi, New Delhi reiterated its position for not joining the pact.&nbsp;

&nbsp;India had withdrawn from the pact during the RCEP meet in Thailand in November saying its outcome is not balanced and provides inadequate protection against import surge among other things.

Days after the maiden India Japan 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has backed India's presence at the mega trade pact—Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Days after the maiden India Japan 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has backed India's presence at the mega trade pact—Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The 2+2 meeting saw the participation of Japanese defence and foreign ministers and Indian counterparts—Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External affairs minister S Jaishankar. Speaking at the 1st Tokyo Global Dialogue earlier today, Toshimitsu said, "Japan is making diplomatic efforts to realize the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with the participation of all 16 countries, including India." Though he explained, "whether we can keep India in the RCEP we cannot yet tell for certain at this moment", he added, "what is driving our efforts in Japan’s firm conviction that the framework of the RCEP can truly boost the region’s economic potential only with the participation of India" which is the "world’s most populous democratic country and a major strategic player connecting the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean." While RCEP was discussed during the Japanese ministers' meetings in Delhi, including with PM Modi, New Delhi reiterated its position for not joining the pact. India had withdrawn from the pact during the RCEP meet in Thailand in November saying its outcome is not balanced and provides inadequate protection against import surge among other things.

Japan backs India's presence at RCEP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono to further cement strategic relations between the two countries. 
 
Another meeting of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-japan-to-hold-22-ministerial-dialogue-in-new-delhi-today-265339">India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2)</a> will be held in the evening and the two sides are expected to discuss defence and security, amongst other issues of mutual interest. 
 
The Indian delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Japan's Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Taro Kono will lead the Japanese side. 
 
The meeting is being held in pursuance of the decision taken by Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018, with an aim to institute a Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue for further deepening bilateral security and defence cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. 
 
"The 2+2 meeting would provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the status of and exchange further views on strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and Japan so as to provide greater depth to the 'India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership'," the statement added. 
 
The two sides will also exchange views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and their respective efforts under India's 'Act East Policy' and Japan's 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision' for achieving their shared objective of peace, prosperity and progress to realise a better future for the people of the two countries and the region. 
 
The dialogue has come ahead of the summit-level meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe later in the year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono to further cement strategic relations between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Japanese Defence Minister Taro Kono to further cement strategic relations between the two countries. Another meeting of India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) will be held in the evening and the two sides are expected to discuss defence and security, amongst other issues of mutual interest. The Indian delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Japan's Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Taro Kono will lead the Japanese side. The meeting is being held in pursuance of the decision taken by Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018, with an aim to institute a Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue for further deepening bilateral security and defence cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. "The 2+2 meeting would provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the status of and exchange further views on strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and Japan so as to provide greater depth to the 'India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership'," the statement added. The two sides will also exchange views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and their respective efforts under India's 'Act East Policy' and Japan's 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision' for achieving their shared objective of peace, prosperity and progress to realise a better future for the people of the two countries and the region. The dialogue has come ahead of the summit-level meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe later in the year.

PM Modi holds talks with Japanese ministers on improving strategic ties

In a strong message, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/ties-with-japan-key-component-of-indias-vision-for-stability-in-indo-pacific-pm-modi-265476">India and Japan</a> have called Pakistan to act against terror groups operating out of territory under its control and comply with the commitments it has made to the anti-terror financing body Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The joint statement issued after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/22-dialogue-reflects-synergy-between-indias-act-east-policy-and-japans-vision-for-free-open-indo-pacific-jaishankar-265460">India, Japan maiden 2+2 Defence and Foreign Ministers meeting</a> said, "The Ministers underlined the need for all countries to ensure that all territory under their control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries in any manner."

"They noted in this context the threat posed to regional security by terrorist networks operating out of Pakistan and called upon it to take resolute and irreversible action against them and fully comply with international commitments including to FATF," the statement added. &nbsp;

Pakistan had given commitments to the FATF but has failed to live up to them and has received a rap from the Paris-based body. Islamabad faces a probable blacklisting and has time till February when the plenary meets next.&nbsp;

Other than Pakistan, North Korea and the South China Sea was also discussed during the meet at Delhi's Hyderabad house.&nbsp;

Both sides urged a call on North Korea for "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction" and urged Pyongyang to "resolve the abductions issue at the earliest date". North Korea is known to have abducted many Japanese citizens, Tokyo has nudged the country to release them soon.

On the South China Sea, both the sides called on the 'Code of Conduct' to be negotiated and not to "prejudice the rights and interests of the stakeholders using the South China Sea and freedoms of all states under international law". The nations also reiterated the need for a "free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region in which the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity are ensured".

Both sides made "significant progress" on Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) negotiations and expressed a "desire for an early conclusion". ACSA is a logistics agreement. Its negotiations started last year, expected to be signed during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India in December.&nbsp;

The Japanese side will be sending a liaison officer at the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) - in Gurgaon and both the countries have agreed for the first India-Japan joint fighter aircraft exercise to take place in Japan. 
&nbsp;

In a strong message, India and Japan have called Pakistan to act against terror groups operating out of territory under its control and comply with the commitments it has made to the anti-terror financing body Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

In a strong message, India and Japan have called Pakistan to act against terror groups operating out of territory under its control and comply with the commitments it has made to the anti-terror financing body Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The joint statement issued after India, Japan maiden 2+2 Defence and Foreign Ministers meeting said, "The Ministers underlined the need for all countries to ensure that all territory under their control is not used to launch terrorist attacks on other countries in any manner." "They noted in this context the threat posed to regional security by terrorist networks operating out of Pakistan and called upon it to take resolute and irreversible action against them and fully comply with international commitments including to FATF," the statement added. Pakistan had given commitments to the FATF but has failed to live up to them and has received a rap from the Paris-based body. Islamabad faces a probable blacklisting and has time till February when the plenary meets next. Other than Pakistan, North Korea and the South China Sea was also discussed during the meet at Delhi's Hyderabad house. Both sides urged a call on North Korea for "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction" and urged Pyongyang to "resolve the abductions issue at the earliest date". North Korea is known to have abducted many Japanese citizens, Tokyo has nudged the country to release them soon. On the South China Sea, both the sides called on the 'Code of Conduct' to be negotiated and not to "prejudice the rights and interests of the stakeholders using the South China Sea and freedoms of all states under international law". The nations also reiterated the need for a "free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region in which the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity are ensured". Both sides made "significant progress" on Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) negotiations and expressed a "desire for an early conclusion". ACSA is a logistics agreement. Its negotiations started last year, expected to be signed during Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India in December. The Japanese side will be sending a liaison officer at the Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) - in Gurgaon and both the countries have agreed for the first India-Japan joint fighter aircraft exercise to take place in Japan.

India, Japan ask Pakistan to take irreversible action on terror; fulfil FATF commitments

First-ever 2+2 dialogue of India & Japan held in New Delhi today. Both sides raise the issue of national securities from terror in the world. Both sides agreed that Pakistan based terror network is a threat to the region. Watch this video to find out more in details.

First-ever 2+2 dialogue of India & Japan held in New Delhi today

India's relationship with Japan is a key component of its vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2).

The Prime Minister made the remarks during his meeting with Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Taro Kono, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The two Japanese ministers are on a day-long visit to India and are leading a delegation to the 2+2 ministerial dialogue.

The Indian delegation is being led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The Prime Minister welcomed the visiting ministers and expressed his satisfaction at the two sides accomplishing 2+2 dialogue which was proposed during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018.

"Prime Minister added that India's relationship with Japan was a key component of our vision for Indo-Pacific for peace, stability and prosperity of the region, as well as a cornerstone of India's Act East Policy," the statement read.

He stressed the importance of all-round development in India-Japan relations for the benefit of the people of two nations, as well as the region and the world.

He mentioned that regular high-level exchanges between the two countries was a testimony to the depth and strength of the relationship.

Modi said that both he and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attach great importance to strengthening the bilateral partnership between the two countries, and conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming Abe to India for India-Japan Annual Summit next month.&nbsp;

India's relationship with Japan is a key component of its vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2).

India's relationship with Japan is a key component of its vision for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, ahead of the inaugural meeting of the India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2). The Prime Minister made the remarks during his meeting with Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Taro Kono, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The two Japanese ministers are on a day-long visit to India and are leading a delegation to the 2+2 ministerial dialogue. The Indian delegation is being led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The Prime Minister welcomed the visiting ministers and expressed his satisfaction at the two sides accomplishing 2+2 dialogue which was proposed during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018. "Prime Minister added that India's relationship with Japan was a key component of our vision for Indo-Pacific for peace, stability and prosperity of the region, as well as a cornerstone of India's Act East Policy," the statement read. He stressed the importance of all-round development in India-Japan relations for the benefit of the people of two nations, as well as the region and the world. He mentioned that regular high-level exchanges between the two countries was a testimony to the depth and strength of the relationship. Modi said that both he and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attach great importance to strengthening the bilateral partnership between the two countries, and conveyed that he looked forward to welcoming Abe to India for India-Japan Annual Summit next month.

Ties with Japan key component of India's vision for stability in Indo-Pacific: PM Modi

The inaugural meeting of India-Japan Foreign and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-japan-to-hold-maiden-22-dialogue-on-november-30-262908">Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2)</a> will be held today. Both the countries are expected to discuss defence and security, among other mutual issues.

The meeting is being held in pursuance of the decision taken by Prime Minister Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018, with an aim to institute a Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue for further deepening bilateral security and defence cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be leading the Indian delegation while the Japanese delegation will be led by Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Taro Kono. 
 
"The 2+2 meeting would provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the status of and exchange further views on strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and Japan so as to provide greater depth to the 'India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership'," the MEA statement added.

The Japanese delegation will also meet PM Modi.

India and Japan will also trade views on the contemporary situation in the Indo-Pacific region and the respective efforts made by both sides under India's ''Act East Policy'' and Japan's ''Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision'' to achieve the shared goal of peace, prosperity, and progress.

The inaugural meeting of India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) will be held today. Both the countries are expected to discuss defence and security, among other mutual issues.

The inaugural meeting of India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) will be held today. Both the countries are expected to discuss defence and security, among other mutual issues. The meeting is being held in pursuance of the decision taken by Prime Minister Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018, with an aim to institute a Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue for further deepening bilateral security and defence cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be leading the Indian delegation while the Japanese delegation will be led by Foreign Affairs Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Taro Kono. "The 2+2 meeting would provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the status of and exchange further views on strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and Japan so as to provide greater depth to the 'India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership'," the MEA statement added. The Japanese delegation will also meet PM Modi. India and Japan will also trade views on the contemporary situation in the Indo-Pacific region and the respective efforts made by both sides under India's ''Act East Policy'' and Japan's ''Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision'' to achieve the shared goal of peace, prosperity, and progress.

India-Japan to hold 2+2 ministerial dialogue in New Delhi today

The 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and Japan symbolises the deep level of mutual trust and understanding between the two countries and reflects the synergy between New Delhi's Act East Policy and Japan's vision for free and open Indo-Pacific, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.

Jaishankar made these remarks at the inaugural meeting of the India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) being held in New Delhi.

The meeting saw the participation of the Japanese Delegation led by country Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Taro Kono.

Jaishankar said that the fact that Japan is the only country with which India has an annual summit mechanism and a 2+2 ministerial dialogue underscores the importance New Delhi attaches to its relationship with Tokyo.

Speaking in turn, Motegi said that the 2+2 ministerial dialogue between the two countries is symbolic of India's increasing importance in the Indo-Pacific and such meetings will contribute to Indo-Pacific's increasing safety and stability.

The meeting is being held in pursuance of the decision taken by Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018, with an aim to institute a Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue for further deepening bilateral security and defence cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The 2+2 meeting would provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the status of and exchange further views on strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and Japan so as to provide greater depth to the 'India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership'.

The two sides will also exchange views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and their respective efforts under India's 'Act East Policy'&nbsp;and Japan's 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision'&nbsp;for achieving their shared objective of peace, prosperity and progress to realise a better future for the people of the two countries and the region.

The dialogue has come ahead of the summit-level meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe later in the year.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and Japan symbolises the deep level of mutual trust and understanding between the two countries and reflects the synergy between New Delhi's Act East Policy and Japan's vision for free and open Indo-Pacific, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.

The 2+2 ministerial dialogue between India and Japan symbolises the deep level of mutual trust and understanding between the two countries and reflects the synergy between New Delhi's Act East Policy and Japan's vision for free and open Indo-Pacific, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. Jaishankar made these remarks at the inaugural meeting of the India-Japan Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2) being held in New Delhi. The meeting saw the participation of the Japanese Delegation led by country Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Taro Kono. Jaishankar said that the fact that Japan is the only country with which India has an annual summit mechanism and a 2+2 ministerial dialogue underscores the importance New Delhi attaches to its relationship with Tokyo. Speaking in turn, Motegi said that the 2+2 ministerial dialogue between the two countries is symbolic of India's increasing importance in the Indo-Pacific and such meetings will contribute to Indo-Pacific's increasing safety and stability. The meeting is being held in pursuance of the decision taken by Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan in October 2018, with an aim to institute a Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue for further deepening bilateral security and defence cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The 2+2 meeting would provide an opportunity for the two sides to review the status of and exchange further views on strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and Japan so as to provide greater depth to the 'India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership'. The two sides will also exchange views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and their respective efforts under India's 'Act East Policy' and Japan's 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision' for achieving their shared objective of peace, prosperity and progress to realise a better future for the people of the two countries and the region. The dialogue has come ahead of the summit-level meeting between Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe later in the year.

2+2 dialogue reflects synergy between India's Act East Policy and Japan's vision for free, open Indo-Pacific: Jaishankar

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-test-fires-rockets-in-thanksgiving-reminder-of-year-end-deadline-for-us-265157">North Korea </a>on Saturday warned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he could soon see a "real ballistic missile" while excoriating him as the "most stupid man ever known in history".

The colourful condemnation comes two days after the isolated state tested what it called a "super-large multiple launch rocket system", with South Korea reporting that two projectiles came down in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.&nbsp;

In the wake of the launch, which was supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Abe termed the fired weapons "ballistic missiles" that violated UN resolutions.&nbsp;

"It can be said that Abe is the only one idiot in the world and the most stupid man ever known in history as he fails to distinguish a missile from multiple launch rocket system while seeing the photo-accompanied report," a foreign ministry official said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA.&nbsp;

"Abe may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future and under his nose... &nbsp;Abe is none other than a perfect imbecile," it added.

It was best for the North to avoid dealing with Abe, the official went on, adding that doing so with a "political dwarf" would bring "disgrace".&nbsp;

The Saturday criticism of the Japanese leader is the second of its kind by Pyongyang this month.&nbsp;

The North had slammed him as an "idiot and villain" and warned he will never set foot in Pyongyang after he condemned the North's weapons test days earlier.&nbsp;

Pyongyang is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, which it says it needs to defend against a possible US invasion.

Nuclear negotiations between the US and the North have been at a standstill since the Hanoi summit between President Donald Trump and leader Kim Jong Un broke up in February, and Pyongyang has since demanded Washington change its approach by the end of the year.&nbsp;

North Korea has issued a series of increasingly assertive comments in recent weeks as time runs down on its end-of-year deadline.

Trump hinted at the prospect of a fourth meeting with Kim in a tweet earlier this month, only to be rebuffed by the North, which said it had no interest in summits "that bring nothing to us". 
&nbsp;

North Korea on Saturday warned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he could soon see a "real ballistic missile" while excoriating him as the "most stupid man ever known in history".

North Korea on Saturday warned Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he could soon see a "real ballistic missile" while excoriating him as the "most stupid man ever known in history". The colourful condemnation comes two days after the isolated state tested what it called a "super-large multiple launch rocket system", with South Korea reporting that two projectiles came down in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea. In the wake of the launch, which was supervised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Abe termed the fired weapons "ballistic missiles" that violated UN resolutions. "It can be said that Abe is the only one idiot in the world and the most stupid man ever known in history as he fails to distinguish a missile from multiple launch rocket system while seeing the photo-accompanied report," a foreign ministry official said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. "Abe may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future and under his nose... Abe is none other than a perfect imbecile," it added. It was best for the North to avoid dealing with Abe, the official went on, adding that doing so with a "political dwarf" would bring "disgrace". The Saturday criticism of the Japanese leader is the second of its kind by Pyongyang this month. The North had slammed him as an "idiot and villain" and warned he will never set foot in Pyongyang after he condemned the North's weapons test days earlier. Pyongyang is under multiple sets of international sanctions over its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programmes, which it says it needs to defend against a possible US invasion. Nuclear negotiations between the US and the North have been at a standstill since the Hanoi summit between President Donald Trump and leader Kim Jong Un broke up in February, and Pyongyang has since demanded Washington change its approach by the end of the year. North Korea has issued a series of increasingly assertive comments in recent weeks as time runs down on its end-of-year deadline. Trump hinted at the prospect of a fourth meeting with Kim in a tweet earlier this month, only to be rebuffed by the North, which said it had no interest in summits "that bring nothing to us".

North Korea blasts Japan's Shinzo Abe, warns of 'real ballistic missile'

Japanese Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-prime-minister-abes-approval-rating-sags-due-to-accusations-of-violating-laws-for-political-spending-262813">Shinzo Abe </a>is expected to arrive in north-eastern city Imphal as part of his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/japanese-pm-shinzo-abe-to-visit-india-in-december-247703">three-day visit to India </a>in December, as per sources. Imphal was once a battlefield between Japan and Allied forces during World War II.&nbsp;

If Abe visited&nbsp;Imphal, he would become the first Japanese PM to arrive in the north-eastern city.&nbsp;The sources added that the Japanese prime minister will also pay a visit to Imphal Peace Museum (IPM), which was opened in June to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal. The museum, which is 20 km southwest of Imphal and spread on 10 acres of land at the foothill of Red Hill, exhibits war artefacts and personal belongings of Japanese troops.&nbsp;

The Battle of Imphal is considered as one of the bloodiest battles fought during the second world war, where more than 30,000 Japanese troops were killed.&nbsp;

The Japanese PM will also hold talks with his Indian counterpart PM Modi regarding the acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA, which seeks to enable both the nations to share defence capabilities and supplies. Meanwhile, India and Japan are also expected to hold their first 2+2 ministerial meeting later this week regarding the signing of ACSA.&nbsp;

India and Japan have deepened their bilateral ties in recent years and both Modi and Abe have made reciprocal visits.&nbsp;

Abe is scheduled to arrive in India on December 15, however, the Indian government is yet to confirm the date and places of Abe's visit. The Japanese PM is also likely to visit China late in December for a meeting with Japanese, Chinese and South Korean leaders.

(with inputs from agencies)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to arrive in north-eastern city Imphal as part of his three-day visit to India in December, as per sources. Imphal was once a battlefield between Japan and Allied forces during World War II.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to arrive in north-eastern city Imphal as part of his three-day visit to India in December, as per sources. Imphal was once a battlefield between Japan and Allied forces during World War II. If Abe visited Imphal, he would become the first Japanese PM to arrive in the north-eastern city. The sources added that the Japanese prime minister will also pay a visit to Imphal Peace Museum (IPM), which was opened in June to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal. The museum, which is 20 km southwest of Imphal and spread on 10 acres of land at the foothill of Red Hill, exhibits war artefacts and personal belongings of Japanese troops. The Battle of Imphal is considered as one of the bloodiest battles fought during the second world war, where more than 30,000 Japanese troops were killed. The Japanese PM will also hold talks with his Indian counterpart PM Modi regarding the acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA, which seeks to enable both the nations to share defence capabilities and supplies. Meanwhile, India and Japan are also expected to hold their first 2+2 ministerial meeting later this week regarding the signing of ACSA. India and Japan have deepened their bilateral ties in recent years and both Modi and Abe have made reciprocal visits. Abe is scheduled to arrive in India on December 15, however, the Indian government is yet to confirm the date and places of Abe's visit. The Japanese PM is also likely to visit China late in December for a meeting with Japanese, Chinese and South Korean leaders. (with inputs from agencies)

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe likely to visit India's Imphal in December

Russia's Olympic Committee will do all it can to ensure Russian athletes take part in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/with-eight-months-from-tokyo-2020-venue-preparations-enter-final-stretch-263688">2020 Games</a>, its chief said Thursday, as the country faces a four-year doping ban.

"We will do everything in our power to ensure our team is in Tokyo under the Russian flag," news agency RIA Novosti quoted Stanislav Pozdnyakov as saying.

He said there were no "objective obstacles" to the "vast majority" of Russian athletes fully participating in the Olympics.&nbsp;

The compliance review committee at the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wada-seeks-russia-ban-over-doping-data-manipulation-264626">World Anti-Doping Agency</a> (WADA) on Monday recommended a four-year sporting ban over falsified lab data it received from Russia.

If WADA chiefs adopt the committee's recommendations at a meeting in Paris on December 9, Russia faces exclusion from key sporting events including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The scandal has tainted Russia's sporting reputation since the revelation of large-scale state-sponsored doping aimed at improving Russia's medal performance at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Russian track and field athletes were barred from competing at the Rio Olympics in 2016 although Russians competing in other events were allowed to take part.

The ban was widened to include all events at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, though Russian competitors who could prove they were above suspicion were able to compete as neutrals under the Olympic flag.

Monday's call from the WADA review panel came after Russian authorities were accused of falsifying laboratory data related to the country's doping scandal, which were handed over to investigators in January.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it backs "the toughest sanctions against all those responsible for this manipulation," while cautioning against blanket sanctions that would punish the innocent.

If <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kremlin-says-russia-remains-open-to-cooperation-on-doping-264918">Russia challenges</a> an eventual suspension by WADA the case will go to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, whose decision will be binding on sports bodies including the International Olympic Committee

Russia's Olympic Committee will do all it can to ensure Russian athletes take part in the 2020 Games, its chief said Thursday, as the country faces a four-year doping ban.

Russia's Olympic Committee will do all it can to ensure Russian athletes take part in the 2020 Games, its chief said Thursday, as the country faces a four-year doping ban. "We will do everything in our power to ensure our team is in Tokyo under the Russian flag," news agency RIA Novosti quoted Stanislav Pozdnyakov as saying. He said there were no "objective obstacles" to the "vast majority" of Russian athletes fully participating in the Olympics. The compliance review committee at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Monday recommended a four-year sporting ban over falsified lab data it received from Russia. If WADA chiefs adopt the committee's recommendations at a meeting in Paris on December 9, Russia faces exclusion from key sporting events including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The scandal has tainted Russia's sporting reputation since the revelation of large-scale state-sponsored doping aimed at improving Russia's medal performance at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Russian track and field athletes were barred from competing at the Rio Olympics in 2016 although Russians competing in other events were allowed to take part. The ban was widened to include all events at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, though Russian competitors who could prove they were above suspicion were able to compete as neutrals under the Olympic flag. Monday's call from the WADA review panel came after Russian authorities were accused of falsifying laboratory data related to the country's doping scandal, which were handed over to investigators in January. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it backs "the toughest sanctions against all those responsible for this manipulation," while cautioning against blanket sanctions that would punish the innocent. If Russia challenges an eventual suspension by WADA the case will go to the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, whose decision will be binding on sports bodies including the International Olympic Committee

Olympic chief says will 'do everything' to ensure Russia at 2020 Games

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-japan-in-fresh-spat-over-intelligence-deal-264297">South Korea and Japan</a> are setting aside historical grievances to redraw responsibilities for air traffic control over the East China Sea following recent near misses.

Responsibility in the "AKARA corridor" through South Korean airspace is currently split, with South Korean controllers shepherding north-south flights, and Japan's directing east-west flights, many of them in and out of Shanghai.

But South Korean and Japanese air traffic controllers operate on different radio frequencies, making communications more difficult for pilots who may be dealing with emergency in-flight situations, or needing to change altitude to avoid turbulence or bad weather.

An agreement in principle has been reached for South Korea to take over Japan's role, the United Nations aviation agency said on Wednesday night.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-overtakes-united-states-in-number-of-diplomatic-missions-264784">China</a> was included in the agreement, as its air traffic controllers currently hand over to Japanese controllers in the corridor, and will in future hand over to South Korean controllers.

"The proposal we have put forward has been accepted by the three states," International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said in an interview with Reuters. “The glory actually goes to the states who were able to work together to find a solution.”

Aliu said he expects the agreement to be formalised in January or February 2020 and would take effect in April.

The compromise comes despite decades of strained relations between Seoul and Tokyo over their wartime past, exacerbated in recent months by a simmering trade dispute. South Korean airlines have cut flights to Japan due to a plunge in passenger demand.

Aliu declined comment on relations between the two countries.

Airline trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a statement that it knows the deal "will have a positive impact on safety and efficiency."

The dangers were laid bare by two recent near misses between planes that were blamed on conflicting air traffic control rights. Earlier this year, two commercial aircraft flew too close, and in 2018 a FedEx plane nearly collided with two Korean low-cost carrier jets.

"The risk posed by the current configuration is known, and generally well mitigated," said one source familiar with the ICAO-led talks and the region. "However, mistakes can happen, and two errors, one in 2018 and another in 2019, highlighted this concern."

The present arrangements were drawn up in 1983, when South Korea had no diplomatic relations with China and there were only around 10 flights a day in the corridor.

Since then, the corridor has become one of the busiest portions of airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, with 800 flights daily. Montreal-based ICAO recognised the urgent need to streamline traffic control, with the corridor expected to become even busier next year as Japan prepares to receive more traffic ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

“I personally got concerned about the situation," said Aliu, who was directly involved in the talks. "Because as you know, we will have the Tokyo Olympics coming and that will also mean many more flights.”

Under the new deal, Japan will benefit from an additional air route, Aliu said.

A deal could lead to further additional routes, with an airway between China and Korea to be discussed after the Olympics.

Andrew Herdman, director-general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, said the prospective changes would help capacity and operational efficiency.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China could not be reached for comment. An official at South Korea's Transport Ministry said earlier on Wednesday it had raised the air traffic control issue with ICAO and remained in negotiations with Japan.

An official at Japan's Transport Ministry said his country was discussing the AKARA corridor with other countries in accordance with ICAO principles.

South Korea and Japan are setting aside historical grievances to redraw responsibilities for air traffic control over the East China Sea following recent near misses.

South Korea and Japan are setting aside historical grievances to redraw responsibilities for air traffic control over the East China Sea following recent near misses. Responsibility in the "AKARA corridor" through South Korean airspace is currently split, with South Korean controllers shepherding north-south flights, and Japan's directing east-west flights, many of them in and out of Shanghai. But South Korean and Japanese air traffic controllers operate on different radio frequencies, making communications more difficult for pilots who may be dealing with emergency in-flight situations, or needing to change altitude to avoid turbulence or bad weather. An agreement in principle has been reached for South Korea to take over Japan's role, the United Nations aviation agency said on Wednesday night. China was included in the agreement, as its air traffic controllers currently hand over to Japanese controllers in the corridor, and will in future hand over to South Korean controllers. "The proposal we have put forward has been accepted by the three states," International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said in an interview with Reuters. “The glory actually goes to the states who were able to work together to find a solution.” Aliu said he expects the agreement to be formalised in January or February 2020 and would take effect in April. The compromise comes despite decades of strained relations between Seoul and Tokyo over their wartime past, exacerbated in recent months by a simmering trade dispute. South Korean airlines have cut flights to Japan due to a plunge in passenger demand. Aliu declined comment on relations between the two countries. Airline trade group International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a statement that it knows the deal "will have a positive impact on safety and efficiency." The dangers were laid bare by two recent near misses between planes that were blamed on conflicting air traffic control rights. Earlier this year, two commercial aircraft flew too close, and in 2018 a FedEx plane nearly collided with two Korean low-cost carrier jets. "The risk posed by the current configuration is known, and generally well mitigated," said one source familiar with the ICAO-led talks and the region. "However, mistakes can happen, and two errors, one in 2018 and another in 2019, highlighted this concern." The present arrangements were drawn up in 1983, when South Korea had no diplomatic relations with China and there were only around 10 flights a day in the corridor. Since then, the corridor has become one of the busiest portions of airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, with 800 flights daily. Montreal-based ICAO recognised the urgent need to streamline traffic control, with the corridor expected to become even busier next year as Japan prepares to receive more traffic ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. “I personally got concerned about the situation," said Aliu, who was directly involved in the talks. "Because as you know, we will have the Tokyo Olympics coming and that will also mean many more flights.” Under the new deal, Japan will benefit from an additional air route, Aliu said. A deal could lead to further additional routes, with an airway between China and Korea to be discussed after the Olympics. Andrew Herdman, director-general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, said the prospective changes would help capacity and operational efficiency. The Civil Aviation Administration of China could not be reached for comment. An official at South Korea's Transport Ministry said earlier on Wednesday it had raised the air traffic control issue with ICAO and remained in negotiations with Japan. An official at Japan's Transport Ministry said his country was discussing the AKARA corridor with other countries in accordance with ICAO principles.

South Korea, Japan set to back air traffic deal over East China Sea

Gravitas: Japan: When lawmakers wore foldable helmets

Japan's Tohoku Electric Power said on Wednesday it has won initial regulatory approval to restart a reactor at its Onagawa power plant, more than eight&nbsp;years after it was damaged in the earthquake and tsunami that caused the Fukushima disaster.

Tohoku Electric said in a statement it has received a first green light from Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority to restart the No&nbsp;2 reactor at Onagawa, subject to a public consultation period.

Onagawa was the closest among Japan's nuclear stations to the epicentre of the magnitude-9 quake in March 2011, which triggered a tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 people, as well as causing the worst atomic disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

The station was swamped by the tsunami, but survived with its cooling system intact, saving its reactors from the threat of meltdowns similar to those that occurred at Tokyo Electric Power's Fukushima Daiichi station to the south.

Further approvals will be required before the restart, along with the consent of local authorities, which is not guaranteed.

The reactor is a boiling water reactor (BWR) with the same basic design as those that melted down in the Fukushima crisis.

The Fukushima disaster led to the eventual shutdown of the country's then-54 operational reactors, which once provided nearly a third of Japan's electricity. All had to be relicensed under new standards after the disaster highlighted operational and regulatory failings.

While the approval will be a boost for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-leaves-japan-after-trip-centred-on-anti-nuclear-message-264572">Japan's resurgent nuclear industry</a>, the sector will still miss a government target of providing at least a fifth of the country's electricity by 2030, an analysis by Reuters showed last year.

Nine reactors have been restarted, all of them pressurized water reactors located far from Tokyo, while the stigma of Fukushima still hangs over use of the older BWR technology.

The issue of nuclear safety in Japan was highlighted again earlier this week when Pope Francis - who met victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster while in Japan over the weekend - said nuclear energy should not be used until there are ironclad guarantees that it is safe for people and the environment.

Japan's Tohoku Electric Power said on Wednesday it has won initial regulatory approval to restart a reactor at its Onagawa power plant, more than eight years after it was damaged in the earthquake and tsunami that caused the Fukushima disaster.

Japan's Tohoku Electric Power said on Wednesday it has won initial regulatory approval to restart a reactor at its Onagawa power plant, more than eight years after it was damaged in the earthquake and tsunami that caused the Fukushima disaster. Tohoku Electric said in a statement it has received a first green light from Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority to restart the No 2 reactor at Onagawa, subject to a public consultation period. Onagawa was the closest among Japan's nuclear stations to the epicentre of the magnitude-9 quake in March 2011, which triggered a tsunami that killed nearly 20,000 people, as well as causing the worst atomic disaster since Chernobyl in 1986. The station was swamped by the tsunami, but survived with its cooling system intact, saving its reactors from the threat of meltdowns similar to those that occurred at Tokyo Electric Power's Fukushima Daiichi station to the south. Further approvals will be required before the restart, along with the consent of local authorities, which is not guaranteed. The reactor is a boiling water reactor (BWR) with the same basic design as those that melted down in the Fukushima crisis. The Fukushima disaster led to the eventual shutdown of the country's then-54 operational reactors, which once provided nearly a third of Japan's electricity. All had to be relicensed under new standards after the disaster highlighted operational and regulatory failings. While the approval will be a boost for Japan's resurgent nuclear industry, the sector will still miss a government target of providing at least a fifth of the country's electricity by 2030, an analysis by Reuters showed last year. Nine reactors have been restarted, all of them pressurized water reactors located far from Tokyo, while the stigma of Fukushima still hangs over use of the older BWR technology. The issue of nuclear safety in Japan was highlighted again earlier this week when Pope Francis - who met victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster while in Japan over the weekend - said nuclear energy should not be used until there are ironclad guarantees that it is safe for people and the environment.

Japan approves restarting nuclear reactor closest to epicentre of 2011 quake

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-voices-concern-over-future-energy-as-he-comforts-victims-of-fukushima-disaster-264290">Pope&nbsp;Francis</a>&nbsp;departed from&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;after&nbsp;a four-day visit highlighted by pleas to world leaders to abandon&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;weapons that were given extra weight because they were delivered from the only two cities to have suffered atomic bombings.

Francis&nbsp;also met with survivors of the 2011 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-court-acquits-energy-bosses-over-fukushima-disaster-250636">Fukushima&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;accident</a>, comforting one teenager who had to flee his home due to high radiation, and said two Masses packed with faithful who lined up before dawn for the chance to take part.

It was the first visit to&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;by a&nbsp;pope&nbsp;in 38 years and only the second in history,&nbsp;after<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/from-brigitte-bardot-to-princess-diana-iconic-paris-match-photos-to-get-auctioned-263777">&nbsp;John Paul II</a>.

Pope Francis departed from Japan on Tuesday after a four-day visit highlighted by pleas to world leaders to abandon nuclear weapons that were given extra weight because they were delivered from the only two cities to have suffered atomic bombings.

Pope Francis departed from Japan on Tuesday after a four-day visit highlighted by pleas to world leaders to abandon nuclear weapons that were given extra weight because they were delivered from the only two cities to have suffered atomic bombings. Francis also met with survivors of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, comforting one teenager who had to flee his home due to high radiation, and said two Masses packed with faithful who lined up before dawn for the chance to take part. It was the first visit to Japan by a pope in 38 years and only the second in history, after John Paul II.

Pope Francis leaves Japan after trip centred around anti-nuclear message

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-bid-to-repair-ties-japan-and-south-korea-agree-to-summit-next-month-264060">South Korea and Japan</a> traded fresh barbs on Monday, just days after agreeing to salvage an important intelligence-sharing pact, highlighting the fragile ties between the former wartime foes and allies of the United States.

Officials from each side criticised or contradicted comments made by the other and in media about whether Tokyo had apologised over what Seoul said was an inaccurate weekend statement about the agreement.

Under pressure from Washington, South Korea made a last-minute decision on Friday to conditionally <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-salvages-military-pact-with-japan-at-11th-hour-263924">maintain the pact</a>, known as GSOMIA, a dramatic about-face amid a months-long feud over history and trade.

GSOMIA, or the General Security of Military Information Agreement, is a key symbol of security cooperation between the two old foes and a trilateral partnership with the United States.

Tokyo, for its part, said Seoul made a strategic choice and it hoped to hold trade talks, though it would not immediately restore South Korea's fast-track exporter status.

Officials at Seoul's presidential Blue House said on Sunday they had lodged a protest and received an apology over the Japanese trade ministry's announcement that it will continue enhanced screening on the exports of three core materials used in semiconductors, which they said was "completely different" to what was agreed.

On Monday, the Blue House singled out a report of Japan's Yomiuri newspaper quoting a Japanese foreign ministry official as saying it was "not true" that Tokyo has apologised.

"To clarify once again, we have complained and Japan apologised," senior press secretary Yoon Do-han said in a statement. "Japanese and Korean media are creating a truth game, but we know the truth."

Less than two hours later, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga contradicted Yoon's remarks, saying the export curbs were "completely unrelated to GSOMIA".

"It is not productive to comment on every remark by South Korea, but it is not true that the Japanese government apologised," Suga told a press briefing.

The feud is rooted in a disagreement over compensation for South Koreans forced to work at Japanese companies during the 1910-45 occupation. After South Korea's Supreme Court ordered compensation last year, some former labourers are seeking to seize local assets of Japanese firms, and Tokyo imposed export controls.

South Korean and Japanese trade authorities are expected to meet as early as this week to discuss the issue.

The two countries' foreign ministers agreed on Saturday to work to arrange a summit next month between South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-prime-minister-abes-approval-rating-sags-due-to-accusations-of-violating-laws-for-political-spending-262813">Shinzo Abe</a> on the sidelines of a trilateral meeting with China.

Moon and Abe have not had formal talks for more than a year, though they had an 11-minute chat at an international conference in Thailand early this month.

A senior Blue House official said on Sunday it was "extremely disappointing" to see a report by Japan's Asahi newspaper, which quoted Abe as saying that Tokyo has "not conceded anything" and South Korea "simply caved to very strong US&nbsp;pressure".

"I cannot help but question whether that was something the leader of the Japanese government would say with conscience," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

South Korea and Japan traded fresh barbs on Monday, just days after agreeing to salvage an important intelligence-sharing pact, highlighting the fragile ties between the former wartime foes and allies of the United States.

South Korea and Japan traded fresh barbs on Monday, just days after agreeing to salvage an important intelligence-sharing pact, highlighting the fragile ties between the former wartime foes and allies of the United States. Officials from each side criticised or contradicted comments made by the other and in media about whether Tokyo had apologised over what Seoul said was an inaccurate weekend statement about the agreement. Under pressure from Washington, South Korea made a last-minute decision on Friday to conditionally maintain the pact, known as GSOMIA, a dramatic about-face amid a months-long feud over history and trade. GSOMIA, or the General Security of Military Information Agreement, is a key symbol of security cooperation between the two old foes and a trilateral partnership with the United States. Tokyo, for its part, said Seoul made a strategic choice and it hoped to hold trade talks, though it would not immediately restore South Korea's fast-track exporter status. Officials at Seoul's presidential Blue House said on Sunday they had lodged a protest and received an apology over the Japanese trade ministry's announcement that it will continue enhanced screening on the exports of three core materials used in semiconductors, which they said was "completely different" to what was agreed. On Monday, the Blue House singled out a report of Japan's Yomiuri newspaper quoting a Japanese foreign ministry official as saying it was "not true" that Tokyo has apologised. "To clarify once again, we have complained and Japan apologised," senior press secretary Yoon Do-han said in a statement. "Japanese and Korean media are creating a truth game, but we know the truth." Less than two hours later, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga contradicted Yoon's remarks, saying the export curbs were "completely unrelated to GSOMIA". "It is not productive to comment on every remark by South Korea, but it is not true that the Japanese government apologised," Suga told a press briefing. The feud is rooted in a disagreement over compensation for South Koreans forced to work at Japanese companies during the 1910-45 occupation. After South Korea's Supreme Court ordered compensation last year, some former labourers are seeking to seize local assets of Japanese firms, and Tokyo imposed export controls. South Korean and Japanese trade authorities are expected to meet as early as this week to discuss the issue. The two countries' foreign ministers agreed on Saturday to work to arrange a summit next month between South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of a trilateral meeting with China. Moon and Abe have not had formal talks for more than a year, though they had an 11-minute chat at an international conference in Thailand early this month. A senior Blue House official said on Sunday it was "extremely disappointing" to see a report by Japan's Asahi newspaper, which quoted Abe as saying that Tokyo has "not conceded anything" and South Korea "simply caved to very strong US pressure". "I cannot help but question whether that was something the leader of the Japanese government would say with conscience," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

South Korea, Japan in fresh spat over intelligence-sharing pact

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-arrives-in-japan-to-preach-anti-nuclear-message-264057">Pope Francis</a> expressed concern about future energy sources as he comforted victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster on Monday, noting a call by Japan's Catholic bishops to abolish nuclear power outright.

Around 18,000 people died or were classified as missing after the so-called triple disaster when a massive earthquake set off a tsunami - in some places 30 meters high - destroying a wide swath of Japan's northeastern coast and triggering a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant.

Radiation from the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl forced hundreds of thousands to flee the area and thousands will never return.

"Important decisions will have to be made about the use of natural resources, and future energy sources in particular," the Pope said in an address to survivors in downtown Tokyo.

"Until social bonds in local communities are re-established, and people can once more enjoy safe and stable lives, the Fukushima accident will not be fully resolved," Francis said.

"This involves, as my brother bishops in Japan have emphasized, concern about the continuing use of nuclear power; for this reason, they have called for the abolition of nuclear power plants," he said.

In a statement released following the Fukushima disaster, Japan's Catholic Bishops Conference said the cessation of all nuclear power generation in the country was "imperative" given the country was disaster prone.

Resource-poor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-bid-to-repair-ties-japan-and-south-korea-agree-to-summit-next-month-264060">Japan </a>has long pushed nuclear power as a solution despite being one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations. All nuclear power plants were shut after 2011 but several have since been re-opened.

Francis listened intently as Toshiko Kato, the head of a Catholic kindergarten in Miyako City, told him: "Along with the rest of the town, my home was swept away by the tsunami."

Several Japanese Catholic officials at the meeting said Francis had repeatedly expressed a desire to go to see the disaster zone first-hand, but scheduling would not permit the trip so they brought some survivors to Tokyo to meet the pontiff.

Teenager Matsuki Kamoshita, who was eight years old at the time of the accident, said radiation was still being emitted and demanded the truth from adults about the long-term effects of radiation.

"It will take many times longer than my lifetime to restore the contaminated land and forests. So, for us who live there, adults have a responsibility to explain without concealing anything about radioactive contamination, exposure, and possible damage in the future. I don’t want them to die before us, having lied or not admitting the truth," he said.

Despite the sombre nature of the meeting, held in a convention centre in downtown Tokyo, a chamber orchestra played a tango in honour of the Argentinian-born pope to greet him as he walked in and he later thanked them for it.

Francis, who is making the first trip by a pontiff to Japan since 1981, used visits over the weekend to the only cities ever hit by atomic bombs - Hiroshima and Nagasaki - to underscore his campaign to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-urges-abolition-of-nuclear-weapons-at-nagasaki-ground-zero-264149">abolish nuclear weapons</a>. He reiterated his belief that their possession is indefensibly perverse and immoral and their use a crime against mankind and nature.

After meeting with the Fukushima survivors, Francis met with Emperor Naruhito. He is also scheduled to talk with Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-prime-minister-abes-approval-rating-sags-due-to-accusations-of-violating-laws-for-political-spending-262813">Shinzo Abe</a> later in the day.

Pope Francis expressed concern about future energy sources as he comforted victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster on Monday, noting a call by Japan's Catholic bishops to abolish nuclear power outright.

Pope Francis expressed concern about future energy sources as he comforted victims of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster on Monday, noting a call by Japan's Catholic bishops to abolish nuclear power outright. Around 18,000 people died or were classified as missing after the so-called triple disaster when a massive earthquake set off a tsunami - in some places 30 meters high - destroying a wide swath of Japan's northeastern coast and triggering a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant. Radiation from the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl forced hundreds of thousands to flee the area and thousands will never return. "Important decisions will have to be made about the use of natural resources, and future energy sources in particular," the Pope said in an address to survivors in downtown Tokyo. "Until social bonds in local communities are re-established, and people can once more enjoy safe and stable lives, the Fukushima accident will not be fully resolved," Francis said. "This involves, as my brother bishops in Japan have emphasized, concern about the continuing use of nuclear power; for this reason, they have called for the abolition of nuclear power plants," he said. In a statement released following the Fukushima disaster, Japan's Catholic Bishops Conference said the cessation of all nuclear power generation in the country was "imperative" given the country was disaster prone. Resource-poor Japan has long pushed nuclear power as a solution despite being one of the world’s most earthquake-prone nations. All nuclear power plants were shut after 2011 but several have since been re-opened. Francis listened intently as Toshiko Kato, the head of a Catholic kindergarten in Miyako City, told him: "Along with the rest of the town, my home was swept away by the tsunami." Several Japanese Catholic officials at the meeting said Francis had repeatedly expressed a desire to go to see the disaster zone first-hand, but scheduling would not permit the trip so they brought some survivors to Tokyo to meet the pontiff. Teenager Matsuki Kamoshita, who was eight years old at the time of the accident, said radiation was still being emitted and demanded the truth from adults about the long-term effects of radiation. "It will take many times longer than my lifetime to restore the contaminated land and forests. So, for us who live there, adults have a responsibility to explain without concealing anything about radioactive contamination, exposure, and possible damage in the future. I don’t want them to die before us, having lied or not admitting the truth," he said. Despite the sombre nature of the meeting, held in a convention centre in downtown Tokyo, a chamber orchestra played a tango in honour of the Argentinian-born pope to greet him as he walked in and he later thanked them for it. Francis, who is making the first trip by a pontiff to Japan since 1981, used visits over the weekend to the only cities ever hit by atomic bombs - Hiroshima and Nagasaki - to underscore his campaign to abolish nuclear weapons. He reiterated his belief that their possession is indefensibly perverse and immoral and their use a crime against mankind and nature. After meeting with the Fukushima survivors, Francis met with Emperor Naruhito. He is also scheduled to talk with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later in the day.

Until social bonds in local communities is re-established, Fukushima accident will not be fully resolved: Pope Francis

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-to-terminate-intelligence-pact-with-japan-in-defiance-of-united-states-263779">Japan and South Korea </a>agreed on Saturday to hold formal talks next month, taking a step towards improving relations strained by decades of acrimony over their wartime past and exacerbated by a simmering trade dispute.

The decision to return to the table was announced at a Group of 20 (G20) meeting and came a day after Seoul made a last-minute decision to stick to a critical intelligence-sharing deal with Japan. The dramatic reversal - after months of worsening relations - was later hailed as a "breakthrough" by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-salvages-military-pact-with-japan-at-11th-hour-263924">South Korea</a>.

The dispute has its roots in a decades-old disagreement over compensation for South Korean labourers forced to work at Japanese firms during World War Two. It has deepened this year, and upended trade after Japan curbed exports of materials critical to making the semiconductors that are a pillar of the South Korean economy.

"We bought time for intense discussions, but there's not much time left for us," South Korea's foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha, told reporters after meeting with her Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, at a gathering of G20 foreign ministers in the central Japanese city of Nagoya.

Motegi had earlier said that he wanted to discuss the issue frankly.

"I aim to hold a candid exchange of views on the matter of labourers from the Korean peninsula, which is the core problem, and other bilateral issues," Motegi told reporters in Nagoya.

South Korea made a last-minute decision on Friday to stick with its General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) intelligence-sharing pact with Japan. The agreement was set to expire at midnight on Friday and South Korea had earlier indicated it would let it lapse.

The decision was welcomed by Washington. The United States has pressured its two allies to set aside their feud and maintain the pact, seen as linchpin of trilateral security cooperation.

Japan and South Korea agreed on Saturday to hold formal talks next month, taking a step towards improving relations strained by decades of acrimony over their wartime past and exacerbated by a simmering trade dispute.

Japan and South Korea agreed on Saturday to hold formal talks next month, taking a step towards improving relations strained by decades of acrimony over their wartime past and exacerbated by a simmering trade dispute. The decision to return to the table was announced at a Group of 20 (G20) meeting and came a day after Seoul made a last-minute decision to stick to a critical intelligence-sharing deal with Japan. The dramatic reversal - after months of worsening relations - was later hailed as a "breakthrough" by South Korea. The dispute has its roots in a decades-old disagreement over compensation for South Korean labourers forced to work at Japanese firms during World War Two. It has deepened this year, and upended trade after Japan curbed exports of materials critical to making the semiconductors that are a pillar of the South Korean economy. "We bought time for intense discussions, but there's not much time left for us," South Korea's foreign minister, Kang Kyung-wha, told reporters after meeting with her Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, at a gathering of G20 foreign ministers in the central Japanese city of Nagoya. Motegi had earlier said that he wanted to discuss the issue frankly. "I aim to hold a candid exchange of views on the matter of labourers from the Korean peninsula, which is the core problem, and other bilateral issues," Motegi told reporters in Nagoya. South Korea made a last-minute decision on Friday to stick with its General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) intelligence-sharing pact with Japan. The agreement was set to expire at midnight on Friday and South Korea had earlier indicated it would let it lapse. The decision was welcomed by Washington. The United States has pressured its two allies to set aside their feud and maintain the pact, seen as linchpin of trilateral security cooperation.

In bid to repair ties, Japan and South Korea agree to summit next month

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-departs-thailand-for-japan-bringing-anti-nuclear-message-263984">Pope Francis</a> arrived in Japan on Saturday, where he is expected to deliver a robust anti-nuclear message of peace in the only country to have suffered an atomic bomb attack.

The 82-year-old Argentine is fulfilling a long-cherished ambition to preach in Japan, where years ago he hoped to be a missionary.

He arrived in Tokyo in heavy rain and high winds, the white cape of his papal outfit blowing up around his face as he stepped gingerly down the staircase from the Thai Airways plane that carried him from the first stop of his tour in Thailand.

His four-day trip will begin with visits to Nagasaki and Hiroshima, cities forever associated with the nuclear bombs dropped on them at the end of World War II, killing at least 74,000 people and 140,000 people respectively.

In a video message to the Japanese people before he left the Vatican, Francis railed against the "immoral" use of nuclear weapons.

"Together with you, I pray that the destructive power of nuclear weapons will never be unleashed again in human history," said the head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics.

Francis <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-urges-respect-for-prostitutes-at-crowded-bangkok-mass-263707">arrives from Thailand</a>, where he preached a message of religious tolerance and peace.

He is expected to do the same in Japan, a country with only approximately 440,000 Catholics out of a population of 126 million.

The majority of Japanese practise a mixture of Shinto and Buddhism, two closely intertwined faiths based on the worship of nature and spirits, but many in Japan also observe Christian festivals such as Christmas.

Christians endured centuries of bloody repression in Japan after the religion was introduced to the country by a Spanish Jesuit priest in 1549.

In the 17th century, Japan was closed to the outside world and Christians were persecuted, tortured, crucified and drowned as they were forced to recant their faith.

When Japan reopened to the world in the mid-19th century and the missionaries returned, they were astonished to find an estimated 60,000 who had secretly kept the faith alive and followed a unique version of Catholicism blended with Japanese culture and religious rites.

Francis is expected to pay tribute to these so-called "hidden Christians", or "kakure kirishitan" in Japanese,&nbsp;during his trip on Sunday to Nagasaki, where they were discovered.

Francis will also visit Hiroshima and deliver remarks at the world-famous peace memorial that marks the day on August 6, 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped.

Father Yoshio Kajiyama, director of the Jesuit social centre in Tokyo, was born in Hiroshima shortly after the war and is eagerly awaiting the pope's anti-nuclear speech.

"My grandfather died the day of the bomb in Hiroshima, I never knew him. Four days later my aunt died when she was 15 years old," said the 64-year-old.

"If you grow up in Hiroshima, you can't forget the bomb."

In Tokyo on Monday, Francis will met victims of the "triple disaster", the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in 2011 that devastated large swathes of north-eastern Japan.

His trip will also include meetings with the new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/symbolic-night-with-goddess-to-wrap-up-japan-emperors-accession-rites-261259">Emperor Naruhito</a> and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as delivering a mass in a Tokyo baseball stadium.

On the first leg of his latest Asian tour, Francis spent three nights in Buddhist-majority Thailand, another country where just a sliver of the population is Catholic.

Also watch:&nbsp;Pope Francis on Asian tour

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He met with Thai King Vajiralongkorn and also sat down with the Buddhist Supreme Patriarch,&nbsp;the head of Thailand's Buddhists,&nbsp;readily taking off his shoes during the visit to adhere to local customs.

His cousin Sister Ana Rosa, who has worked as a missionary in Thailand since 1966, was a near constant presence by his side during the visit, serving as his interpreter.

In his final public address in Bangkok, the pontiff expressed gratitude to the small Catholic community for the warm welcome he received.&nbsp;

"I am leaving you with a task: do not forget to pray for me!"

Pope Francis arrived in Japan on Saturday, where he is expected to deliver a robust anti-nuclear message of peace in the only country to have suffered an atomic bomb attack.

Pope Francis arrived in Japan on Saturday, where he is expected to deliver a robust anti-nuclear message of peace in the only country to have suffered an atomic bomb attack. The 82-year-old Argentine is fulfilling a long-cherished ambition to preach in Japan, where years ago he hoped to be a missionary. He arrived in Tokyo in heavy rain and high winds, the white cape of his papal outfit blowing up around his face as he stepped gingerly down the staircase from the Thai Airways plane that carried him from the first stop of his tour in Thailand. His four-day trip will begin with visits to Nagasaki and Hiroshima, cities forever associated with the nuclear bombs dropped on them at the end of World War II, killing at least 74,000 people and 140,000 people respectively. In a video message to the Japanese people before he left the Vatican, Francis railed against the "immoral" use of nuclear weapons. "Together with you, I pray that the destructive power of nuclear weapons will never be unleashed again in human history," said the head of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics. Francis arrives from Thailand, where he preached a message of religious tolerance and peace. He is expected to do the same in Japan, a country with only approximately 440,000 Catholics out of a population of 126 million. The majority of Japanese practise a mixture of Shinto and Buddhism, two closely intertwined faiths based on the worship of nature and spirits, but many in Japan also observe Christian festivals such as Christmas. Christians endured centuries of bloody repression in Japan after the religion was introduced to the country by a Spanish Jesuit priest in 1549. In the 17th century, Japan was closed to the outside world and Christians were persecuted, tortured, crucified and drowned as they were forced to recant their faith. When Japan reopened to the world in the mid-19th century and the missionaries returned, they were astonished to find an estimated 60,000 who had secretly kept the faith alive and followed a unique version of Catholicism blended with Japanese culture and religious rites. Francis is expected to pay tribute to these so-called "hidden Christians", or "kakure kirishitan" in Japanese, during his trip on Sunday to Nagasaki, where they were discovered. Francis will also visit Hiroshima and deliver remarks at the world-famous peace memorial that marks the day on August 6, 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped. Father Yoshio Kajiyama, director of the Jesuit social centre in Tokyo, was born in Hiroshima shortly after the war and is eagerly awaiting the pope's anti-nuclear speech. "My grandfather died the day of the bomb in Hiroshima, I never knew him. Four days later my aunt died when she was 15 years old," said the 64-year-old. "If you grow up in Hiroshima, you can't forget the bomb." In Tokyo on Monday, Francis will met victims of the "triple disaster", the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown in 2011 that devastated large swathes of north-eastern Japan. His trip will also include meetings with the new Emperor Naruhito and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as well as delivering a mass in a Tokyo baseball stadium. On the first leg of his latest Asian tour, Francis spent three nights in Buddhist-majority Thailand, another country where just a sliver of the population is Catholic. Also watch: Pope Francis on Asian tour × He met with Thai King Vajiralongkorn and also sat down with the Buddhist Supreme Patriarch, the head of Thailand's Buddhists, readily taking off his shoes during the visit to adhere to local customs. His cousin Sister Ana Rosa, who has worked as a missionary in Thailand since 1966, was a near constant presence by his side during the visit, serving as his interpreter. In his final public address in Bangkok, the pontiff expressed gratitude to the small Catholic community for the warm welcome he received. "I am leaving you with a task: do not forget to pray for me!"

Pope Francis arrives in Japan to preach anti-nuclear message

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-pointless-for-kim-to-attend-south-korea-asean-summit-263634">South Korea</a> is set to let lapse an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on Saturday amid a bitter feud over history and trade, defying mounting US&nbsp;pressure to maintain a key element of their trilateral security cooperation.

The expiry of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is likely to intensify discord between South Korea and the United States, which wants its two Asian allies to keep their dispute out of security cooperation.

Seoul gave Tokyo three month's notice in August for ending GSOMIA after Tokyo imposed export controls on South Korea over a dispute stemming from its 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula.

The accord will expire at Saturday midnight unless it is renewed. Both sides are refusing to budge, with Seoul urging Tokyo to lift its trade regulations first. Japan has called for GSOMIA to be maintained.

"Unless there's a change in Japan's attitude, our position is we won't reconsider," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told parliament on Thursday.

Japan's Defence Minister Taro Kono said an expiry of the agreement would not have a direct impact on Japan's security.

"But given the current situation with North Korea I have the concern that this could send a mistaken message to North Korea and other countries in the region," he said, adding he thought Seoul would make a "sensible decision".

GSOMIA was sealed in 2016 after a years-long US&nbsp;push for a better joint response to North Korea's growing military threat.

Washington has been unusually strident in its public criticism of South Korea's decision, which has not been the only source of tension in the relationship.

On Tuesday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cuts-short-meeting-with-south-korea-on-military-costs-263118">US&nbsp;negotiators broke off talks after South Korea</a> rejected demands to hike its contribution five-fold to $5 billion to maintain 28,500 US&nbsp;soldiers as a buffer against North Korean aggression.

"The unprecedented breakdown showed the current state of the alliance, where money and business dealings are wearing away shared values and trust that formed its foundation," said Kim Hong-Kyun, a former South Korean deputy foreign minister.

Watch: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defence

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-report-trump-wants-japan-and-south-korea-to-pay-more-for-defense-263015/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Deadline

Asked whether ending GSOMIA risked harming the alliance with the United States, Kang said such analysis was understandable but the decision was made "solely within the context" of Japan ties.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-wants-united-states-to-end-joint-drills-with-south-korea-to-resume-talks-263025">South Korea has pledged to continue security cooperation</a> with Japan, including via a trilateral arrangement involving the United States.

The three countries signed the Trilateral Information Sharing Arrangement (TISA) in 2014. But that is limited to information regarding Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, whereas GSOMIA covers broader intelligence.

Kim, the former diplomat, said US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, who has insisted on South Korea contributing more to defence costs, could resort to "brinkmanship" in future talks, as he did in dealing with North Korea.

Cho Han-bum, senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said Seoul made a mistake by expanding trade rows to security issues, but Trump was unlikely to withdraw troops that are key to keeping China and Russia in check.

The United States on Thursday denied a South Korean news report it was considering cutting troop numbers if the burden-sharing talks do not go as Trump wished.

South Korea is set to let lapse an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on Saturday amid a bitter feud over history and trade, defying mounting US pressure to maintain a key element of their trilateral security cooperation.

South Korea is set to let lapse an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan on Saturday amid a bitter feud over history and trade, defying mounting US pressure to maintain a key element of their trilateral security cooperation. The expiry of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) is likely to intensify discord between South Korea and the United States, which wants its two Asian allies to keep their dispute out of security cooperation. Seoul gave Tokyo three month's notice in August for ending GSOMIA after Tokyo imposed export controls on South Korea over a dispute stemming from its 1910-45 colonisation of the Korean peninsula. The accord will expire at Saturday midnight unless it is renewed. Both sides are refusing to budge, with Seoul urging Tokyo to lift its trade regulations first. Japan has called for GSOMIA to be maintained. "Unless there's a change in Japan's attitude, our position is we won't reconsider," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told parliament on Thursday. Japan's Defence Minister Taro Kono said an expiry of the agreement would not have a direct impact on Japan's security. "But given the current situation with North Korea I have the concern that this could send a mistaken message to North Korea and other countries in the region," he said, adding he thought Seoul would make a "sensible decision". GSOMIA was sealed in 2016 after a years-long US push for a better joint response to North Korea's growing military threat. Washington has been unusually strident in its public criticism of South Korea's decision, which has not been the only source of tension in the relationship. On Tuesday, US negotiators broke off talks after South Korea rejected demands to hike its contribution five-fold to $5 billion to maintain 28,500 US soldiers as a buffer against North Korean aggression. "The unprecedented breakdown showed the current state of the alliance, where money and business dealings are wearing away shared values and trust that formed its foundation," said Kim Hong-Kyun, a former South Korean deputy foreign minister. Watch: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defence Deadline Asked whether ending GSOMIA risked harming the alliance with the United States, Kang said such analysis was understandable but the decision was made "solely within the context" of Japan ties. South Korea has pledged to continue security cooperation with Japan, including via a trilateral arrangement involving the United States. The three countries signed the Trilateral Information Sharing Arrangement (TISA) in 2014. But that is limited to information regarding Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes, whereas GSOMIA covers broader intelligence. Kim, the former diplomat, said US President Donald Trump, who has insisted on South Korea contributing more to defence costs, could resort to "brinkmanship" in future talks, as he did in dealing with North Korea. Cho Han-bum, senior fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said Seoul made a mistake by expanding trade rows to security issues, but Trump was unlikely to withdraw troops that are key to keeping China and Russia in check. The United States on Thursday denied a South Korean news report it was considering cutting troop numbers if the burden-sharing talks do not go as Trump wished.

South Korea to terminate intelligence pact with Japan in defiance of United States

South Korea decided Friday against scrapping a critical military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, in a dramatic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-to-terminate-intelligence-pact-with-japan-in-defiance-of-united-states-263779">11th-hour U-turn </a>that will come as a relief to the United States.

The pact was due to expire at midnight amid a sharp deterioration in ties between the two democracies and market economies that has alarmed Washington as it seeks to curb the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea.

But after a flurry of last-ditch diplomacy, Seoul announced it would "conditionally" suspend the expiry of the agreement with just six hours left on the clock.

Kim You-geun, a national security official at Seoul's presidential Blue House, confirmed the accord, known as GSOMIA, would not be allowed to lapse at midnight.

"The Japanese government has expressed their understanding," he said.

However, he warned that the pact could still "be terminated at any time."

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said three-way co-ordination between Tokyo, Seoul and Washington was "extremely important," adding that he believed South Korea had taken their decision from a "strategic point of view."

But Defence Minister Taro Kono stressed that it was a temporary measure and urged Seoul to extend the pact "in a firm manner."

Officials are now scrambling to arrange bilateral talks between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Nagoya.

Seoul had announced the scrapping of the pact in August, as a trade row sparked by historical disputes between the pair spiralled into one of their worst diplomatic spats in years.

Seoul and Tokyo are both major US allies seen as an anchor of stability in a tinderbox region with overbearing China and wayward, nuclear-armed North Korea.

But their relationship is heavily coloured by territorial and historical disputes stemming from Japan's bitterly-resented 35-year colonial rule over the peninsula, including the use of wartime sex slaves and forced labour.

The GSOMIA pact, signed in 2016, enabled the two US allies to share military secrets, particularly over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile capacity.

'Huge setback'&nbsp;

The United States had frequently urged its two main allies in the region to bury the hatchet, with officials admitting privately that the poor relations are complicating diplomacy in the region.

Ditching the pact would have been "a huge setback for one of the pillars of East Asia's security that Japan, South Korea and the United States have established", said Kenichiro Sasae, a former top Japanese foreign minister official and ambassador to the US.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on a recent trip to Asia that the only beneficiaries from the pact being scrapped would be North Korea and China, and urged the two allies to "sit down and work through their differences".

South Korea had promised to continue sharing secrets via the United States as a third party, but this had raised concerns about efficiency in an emergency situation.

Seoul had renewed the pact every year and its sudden decision to scrap it had come as a surprise as most thought the country would maintain security cooperation with Japan despite the ongoing row.

However, ties between the pair remain in the deep freeze after a string of South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate wartime forced labour victims infuriated Japan.

Relations were further hit in July after Tokyo said Seoul was not properly handling sensitive imports and took the country off a list of nations that enjoyed streamlined export control procedures.

This enraged South Korea, which hit back with similar moves, culminating in the decision to end the military pact.

Japan says a 1965 treaty that normalised relations with a significant financial contribution effectively settled all reparation claims from its wartime atrocities.

"The biggest issue and the root problem is the issue related to former labourers from the Korean peninsula," Motegi told reporters.

"We continue to strongly demand South Korea to remedy as soon as possible the current situation that violates the international law."

On the trade issue, Japanese trade ministry official Yoichi Iida said the two countries would hold talks "as soon as possible" to resolve their row but insisted this had "nothing to do" with the military pact.

South Korea decided Friday against scrapping a critical military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, in a dramatic 11th-hour U-turn that will come as a relief to the United States.

South Korea decided Friday against scrapping a critical military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, in a dramatic 11th-hour U-turn that will come as a relief to the United States. The pact was due to expire at midnight amid a sharp deterioration in ties between the two democracies and market economies that has alarmed Washington as it seeks to curb the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea. But after a flurry of last-ditch diplomacy, Seoul announced it would "conditionally" suspend the expiry of the agreement with just six hours left on the clock. Kim You-geun, a national security official at Seoul's presidential Blue House, confirmed the accord, known as GSOMIA, would not be allowed to lapse at midnight. "The Japanese government has expressed their understanding," he said. However, he warned that the pact could still "be terminated at any time." Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said three-way co-ordination between Tokyo, Seoul and Washington was "extremely important," adding that he believed South Korea had taken their decision from a "strategic point of view." But Defence Minister Taro Kono stressed that it was a temporary measure and urged Seoul to extend the pact "in a firm manner." Officials are now scrambling to arrange bilateral talks between Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha on the sidelines of a meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Nagoya. Seoul had announced the scrapping of the pact in August, as a trade row sparked by historical disputes between the pair spiralled into one of their worst diplomatic spats in years. Seoul and Tokyo are both major US allies seen as an anchor of stability in a tinderbox region with overbearing China and wayward, nuclear-armed North Korea. But their relationship is heavily coloured by territorial and historical disputes stemming from Japan's bitterly-resented 35-year colonial rule over the peninsula, including the use of wartime sex slaves and forced labour. The GSOMIA pact, signed in 2016, enabled the two US allies to share military secrets, particularly over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile capacity. 'Huge setback' The United States had frequently urged its two main allies in the region to bury the hatchet, with officials admitting privately that the poor relations are complicating diplomacy in the region. Ditching the pact would have been "a huge setback for one of the pillars of East Asia's security that Japan, South Korea and the United States have established", said Kenichiro Sasae, a former top Japanese foreign minister official and ambassador to the US. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on a recent trip to Asia that the only beneficiaries from the pact being scrapped would be North Korea and China, and urged the two allies to "sit down and work through their differences". South Korea had promised to continue sharing secrets via the United States as a third party, but this had raised concerns about efficiency in an emergency situation. Seoul had renewed the pact every year and its sudden decision to scrap it had come as a surprise as most thought the country would maintain security cooperation with Japan despite the ongoing row. However, ties between the pair remain in the deep freeze after a string of South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate wartime forced labour victims infuriated Japan. Relations were further hit in July after Tokyo said Seoul was not properly handling sensitive imports and took the country off a list of nations that enjoyed streamlined export control procedures. This enraged South Korea, which hit back with similar moves, culminating in the decision to end the military pact. Japan says a 1965 treaty that normalised relations with a significant financial contribution effectively settled all reparation claims from its wartime atrocities. "The biggest issue and the root problem is the issue related to former labourers from the Korean peninsula," Motegi told reporters. "We continue to strongly demand South Korea to remedy as soon as possible the current situation that violates the international law." On the trade issue, Japanese trade ministry official Yoichi Iida said the two countries would hold talks "as soon as possible" to resolve their row but insisted this had "nothing to do" with the military pact.

South Korea salvages military pact with Japan at 11th hour

Japan&nbsp;is not at fault for the inability of&nbsp;parents&nbsp;to see their&nbsp;children&nbsp;after separating despite having visitation rights, a court ruled on Friday, in a case that critics say highlights the ineptitude of a judicial system that lacks enforcement powers.

Fourteen&nbsp;parents&nbsp;had sued the government claiming damages of 9 million yen ($82,900), arguing that having no legal framework to ensure proper&nbsp;access&nbsp;to&nbsp;children&nbsp;was unconstitutional.

Parental alienation has long been an acute problem in&nbsp;Japan, with&nbsp;children&nbsp;often losing contact with the non-custodial parent after an acrimonious split.

Unlike most developed countries,&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;has no joint-custody system after divorce, and court-ordered visitation rights are often ignored with impunity.

The World Health Organisation this year classified parental alienation as a health condition, while the United Nations stipulates&nbsp;children&nbsp;should have the right to maintain bonds with both&nbsp;parents.

In the Tokyo District Court ruling, presiding judge Tatsuro Maezawa said the UN treaty was "merely an agreement to respect" those rights but had no binding power.

Tommaso Perina, an Italian resident of Tokyo and the only non-Japanese plaintiff, said the ruling went&nbsp;against&nbsp;the Supreme Court's stance, expressed in a parliamentary committee last week, that judges must adhere to international treaties in handing out rulings.

Perina lost custody of his&nbsp;children&nbsp;after his wife decided unilaterally in late 2016 not to return to Tokyo from her hometown to the north. Perina said he has not seen his&nbsp;children, aged 6 and 4, for more than two years.

A family court rejected Perina's plea for custody and granted him two hours' visitation a month.

Court documents reviewed by Reuters show Perina's wife had claimed domestic violence but the judge ruled&nbsp;against&nbsp;her, saying her testimony lacked credibility.

"It's ridiculous – you'd spend more time with a pet turtle," Perina told Reuters. "But my wife is refusing even that. I'm worried about my&nbsp;children&nbsp;because&nbsp;Japanese courts don't seem to understand what's in the best interest of&nbsp;children."

Multiple attempts by Reuters to reach Perina's wife by telephone were unsuccessful.

Perina remains married to her, has full parental rights and has been paying alimony of 170,000 yen a month since December 2016.

Perina has sought help through diplomatic channels - Ambassador Giorgio Starace called his situation a case of "minor abduction" - while even <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/emergency-declared-in-venice-following-severe-floods-262727">Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte </a>spoke to his&nbsp;Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, to no avail.

"I've reached the peak of what I can do," Perina said.

"Because when you have the head of a state talking for your kids and they cannot help the situation... Who can ask for more than that?"

Japan is not at fault for the inability of parents to see their children after separating despite having visitation rights, a court ruled on Friday, in a case that critics say highlights the ineptitude of a judicial system that lacks enforcement powers.

Japan is not at fault for the inability of parents to see their children after separating despite having visitation rights, a court ruled on Friday, in a case that critics say highlights the ineptitude of a judicial system that lacks enforcement powers. Fourteen parents had sued the government claiming damages of 9 million yen ($82,900), arguing that having no legal framework to ensure proper access to children was unconstitutional. Parental alienation has long been an acute problem in Japan, with children often losing contact with the non-custodial parent after an acrimonious split. Unlike most developed countries, Japan has no joint-custody system after divorce, and court-ordered visitation rights are often ignored with impunity. The World Health Organisation this year classified parental alienation as a health condition, while the United Nations stipulates children should have the right to maintain bonds with both parents. In the Tokyo District Court ruling, presiding judge Tatsuro Maezawa said the UN treaty was "merely an agreement to respect" those rights but had no binding power. Tommaso Perina, an Italian resident of Tokyo and the only non-Japanese plaintiff, said the ruling went against the Supreme Court's stance, expressed in a parliamentary committee last week, that judges must adhere to international treaties in handing out rulings. Perina lost custody of his children after his wife decided unilaterally in late 2016 not to return to Tokyo from her hometown to the north. Perina said he has not seen his children, aged 6 and 4, for more than two years. A family court rejected Perina's plea for custody and granted him two hours' visitation a month. Court documents reviewed by Reuters show Perina's wife had claimed domestic violence but the judge ruled against her, saying her testimony lacked credibility. "It's ridiculous – you'd spend more time with a pet turtle," Perina told Reuters. "But my wife is refusing even that. I'm worried about my children because Japanese courts don't seem to understand what's in the best interest of children." Multiple attempts by Reuters to reach Perina's wife by telephone were unsuccessful. Perina remains married to her, has full parental rights and has been paying alimony of 170,000 yen a month since December 2016. Perina has sought help through diplomatic channels - Ambassador Giorgio Starace called his situation a case of "minor abduction" - while even Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte spoke to his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, to no avail. "I've reached the peak of what I can do," Perina said. "Because when you have the head of a state talking for your kids and they cannot help the situation... Who can ask for more than that?"

Japan rules against divorced parents seeking access to children

Pope Francis kicks off Asian tour in Thailand before heading to Japan

The 14th <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/japanese-pm-shinzo-abe-to-visit-india-in-december-247703">India-Japan Annual Summit</a> could happen in Northeastern India in mid-December. The Indian side has identified the location and forwarded it to the Japanese side. The likely dates for the summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe are December 15 to 17.

Choosing the northeastern region for the summit has strategic undertones, as Japan's engagement in that region has tremendously increased, especially in terms of infrastructural development.

The Government of Japan is slated to invest Rs 13,000 crores in India's northeast. Additionally, according to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Japan is a stakeholder in several projects like Guwahati Water Supply Project, Guwahati Sewage Project in Assam, Northeast Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project spread over Assam and Meghalaya, Northeast Network Connectivity Improvement Project in Meghalaya, Bio-diversity Conservation and Forest Management Project in Sikkim, Sustainable Forest Management Project in Tripura, Technical Cooperation Project for Sustainable Agriculture &amp; Irrigation in Mizoram, and a Forest Management Project in Nagaland.

Watch: PM Modi holds talks with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pm-modi-holds-talks-with-japanese-pm-shinzo-abe-247661/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/narendra-modi-government-20-must-focus-on-fixing-indias-economy-263158">PM Modi</a> has already met Japanese PM Shinzo Abe thrice this year, first in Osaka on the sidelines of the G20 summit, then in Biarritz, France on the sidelines of G7 summit followed by a meeting in Vladivostok, Russia on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

New Delhi and Tokyo have been increasing engagement and defined their relationship as a "special strategic and global partnership" in 2014 during PM Modi's visit to Japan. It marked Modi's first major visit outside of the region after taking charge during his first term.

India-Japan annual summits have become a platform for both sides to display the growing partnership between both the countries, as well as highlighting the special relationship shared by both the leaders. The 2015 edition of the summit took place in Varanasi while the 2017 Annual Summit took place in PM Modi's home state of Gujarat. The Varanasi summit saw both leaders attending Ganga aarti (prayer) while Ahmedabad summit witnessed a roadshow by both the leaders.&nbsp;

The 2018 summit saw PM Modi being hosted by PM Abe for a private dinner at his ancestral home in Yamanashi, the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader.

The 14th India-Japan Annual Summit could happen in Northeastern India in mid-December. The Indian side has identified the location and forwarded it to the Japanese side.

The 14th India-Japan Annual Summit could happen in Northeastern India in mid-December. The Indian side has identified the location and forwarded it to the Japanese side. The likely dates for the summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe are December 15 to 17. Choosing the northeastern region for the summit has strategic undertones, as Japan's engagement in that region has tremendously increased, especially in terms of infrastructural development. The Government of Japan is slated to invest Rs 13,000 crores in India's northeast. Additionally, according to the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Japan is a stakeholder in several projects like Guwahati Water Supply Project, Guwahati Sewage Project in Assam, Northeast Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project spread over Assam and Meghalaya, Northeast Network Connectivity Improvement Project in Meghalaya, Bio-diversity Conservation and Forest Management Project in Sikkim, Sustainable Forest Management Project in Tripura, Technical Cooperation Project for Sustainable Agriculture & Irrigation in Mizoram, and a Forest Management Project in Nagaland. Watch: PM Modi holds talks with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe PM Modi has already met Japanese PM Shinzo Abe thrice this year, first in Osaka on the sidelines of the G20 summit, then in Biarritz, France on the sidelines of G7 summit followed by a meeting in Vladivostok, Russia on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum. New Delhi and Tokyo have been increasing engagement and defined their relationship as a "special strategic and global partnership" in 2014 during PM Modi's visit to Japan. It marked Modi's first major visit outside of the region after taking charge during his first term. India-Japan annual summits have become a platform for both sides to display the growing partnership between both the countries, as well as highlighting the special relationship shared by both the leaders. The 2015 edition of the summit took place in Varanasi while the 2017 Annual Summit took place in PM Modi's home state of Gujarat. The Varanasi summit saw both leaders attending Ganga aarti (prayer) while Ahmedabad summit witnessed a roadshow by both the leaders. The 2018 summit saw PM Modi being hosted by PM Abe for a private dinner at his ancestral home in Yamanashi, the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader.

14th edition of India-Japan Annual Summit to be held in Northeastern region around mid-December

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-prime-minister-abes-approval-rating-sags-due-to-accusations-of-violating-laws-for-political-spending-262813">Japan's lower house</a> of parliament approved on Tuesday a limited trade deal Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed with the United States, clearing the way for tariff cuts next year on items including US&nbsp;farm goods and Japanese machine tools.

But there is uncertainty over how much progress Japan can make in negotiating the elimination of US&nbsp;tariffs on its cars and car parts, casting doubt on Abe's assurances the deal he signed with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump was "win-win".

Japan and the United States last month formally signed the limited trade deal to cut tariffs on US&nbsp;farm goods, Japanese machine tools and other products while staving off the threat of higher US&nbsp;car duties.

The government's proposal to ratify the trade deal will next be brought to the upper house for a vote but its passage in the powerful lower house increases the chances it will come into force in January.

The deal will give Trump a success he can trumpet to voters but Abe has said it will bring as much benefit to Japan as to the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asks-japan-to-hike-payments-for-us-troops-to-8-billion-foreign-policy-262592">Japan has estimated the initial deal</a> will boost its economy by about 0.8 per cent&nbsp;over the next 10-20 years when the benefits fully kick in. It also estimated 212.8 billion yen&nbsp;of overall tariffs on Japan's exports to the United States will be reduced.

But&nbsp;the figures were based on the assumption the United States would eliminate its tariffs on Japanese autos and auto parts,&nbsp;a major sticking point.

Without those tariff cuts, the reduction in overall US&nbsp;tariffs on Japanese goods would be a little over 10 per cent&nbsp;of the government's projection, according to an estimate by Japan's Asahi newspaper and Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting.

After the deal is ratified, Japan and the United States have four months to consult on further talks, and Trump has said he wants more trade talks with Japan after the initial deal.

But Japanese government sources familiar with the talks say the momentum to negotiate a deeper deal appears to have waned for now with Washington preoccupied with talks with Beijing.

"It's unclear whether Washington seriously wants to continue trade talks," one of the sources said.

"The question is how much time the United States can allocate for talks with Japan, even if we start negotiations. There's limited time to conclude talks before the presidential elections."

Watch: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defence

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Vague

Japan and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-respond-sceptically-to-trumps-willingness-to-testify-during-impeachment-hearings-263050">United States</a> already appear to have different interpretations of what was agreed on car tariffs.

Japan has said it has received US&nbsp;assurance that it would scrap tariffs on Japanese cars and car parts and that the only remaining issue was the timing.

But Washington has not confirmed that.

US&nbsp;Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has said cars were not included in the agreement, and that it was only Japan's ambition to discuss car tariffs in the future.

A US&nbsp;document only said customs duties on autos and auto parts "will be subject to further negotiations with respect to the elimination of customs duties".

"The deal was left vague on the issue of tariff cuts on Japanese auto and auto parts. Otherwise, we couldn't have reached the agreement," another source said.

There is also uncertainty on whether Trump will drop threats to impose steep tariffs on Japanese car imports under "Section 232" that gives him authority to do so on national security grounds.

Abe said he had got an assurance from Trump that he would not do that, though analysts say the president could always change his mind, or at least keep Japan guessing.

Opposition parties have attacked Abe for a deal they say is unfair. Critics say Trump could drag his feet on further negotiations unless he is sure he can win more concessions.

"There's a chance Trump will put pressure on Japan on trade to appeal to his voters," said Junichi Sugawara, senior research officer at Mizuho Research Institute. "There's a possibility he could renew his threat over auto tariffs."

Japan's lower house of parliament approved on Tuesday a limited trade deal Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed with the United States, clearing the way for tariff cuts next year on items including US farm goods and Japanese machine tools.

Japan's lower house of parliament approved on Tuesday a limited trade deal Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed with the United States, clearing the way for tariff cuts next year on items including US farm goods and Japanese machine tools. But there is uncertainty over how much progress Japan can make in negotiating the elimination of US tariffs on its cars and car parts, casting doubt on Abe's assurances the deal he signed with US President Donald Trump was "win-win". Japan and the United States last month formally signed the limited trade deal to cut tariffs on US farm goods, Japanese machine tools and other products while staving off the threat of higher US car duties. The government's proposal to ratify the trade deal will next be brought to the upper house for a vote but its passage in the powerful lower house increases the chances it will come into force in January. The deal will give Trump a success he can trumpet to voters but Abe has said it will bring as much benefit to Japan as to the United States. Japan has estimated the initial deal will boost its economy by about 0.8 per cent over the next 10-20 years when the benefits fully kick in. It also estimated 212.8 billion yen of overall tariffs on Japan's exports to the United States will be reduced. But the figures were based on the assumption the United States would eliminate its tariffs on Japanese autos and auto parts, a major sticking point. Without those tariff cuts, the reduction in overall US tariffs on Japanese goods would be a little over 10 per cent of the government's projection, according to an estimate by Japan's Asahi newspaper and Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting. After the deal is ratified, Japan and the United States have four months to consult on further talks, and Trump has said he wants more trade talks with Japan after the initial deal. But Japanese government sources familiar with the talks say the momentum to negotiate a deeper deal appears to have waned for now with Washington preoccupied with talks with Beijing. "It's unclear whether Washington seriously wants to continue trade talks," one of the sources said. "The question is how much time the United States can allocate for talks with Japan, even if we start negotiations. There's limited time to conclude talks before the presidential elections." Watch: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defence Vague Japan and the United States already appear to have different interpretations of what was agreed on car tariffs. Japan has said it has received US assurance that it would scrap tariffs on Japanese cars and car parts and that the only remaining issue was the timing. But Washington has not confirmed that. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has said cars were not included in the agreement, and that it was only Japan's ambition to discuss car tariffs in the future. A US document only said customs duties on autos and auto parts "will be subject to further negotiations with respect to the elimination of customs duties". "The deal was left vague on the issue of tariff cuts on Japanese auto and auto parts. Otherwise, we couldn't have reached the agreement," another source said. There is also uncertainty on whether Trump will drop threats to impose steep tariffs on Japanese car imports under "Section 232" that gives him authority to do so on national security grounds. Abe said he had got an assurance from Trump that he would not do that, though analysts say the president could always change his mind, or at least keep Japan guessing. Opposition parties have attacked Abe for a deal they say is unfair. Critics say Trump could drag his feet on further negotiations unless he is sure he can win more concessions. "There's a chance Trump will put pressure on Japan on trade to appeal to his voters," said Junichi Sugawara, senior research officer at Mizuho Research Institute. "There's a possibility he could renew his threat over auto tariffs."

Japan's lower house passes United States trade deal, auto tariffs still linger

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