<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

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-pope-francis-on-a-tour-of-asia-263749/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

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

<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>

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

Is The U.S. Piling The Pressure On Its Asian Allies - Japan & South Korea?

Gravitas: Report: Trump wants Japan and South Korea to pay more for defense

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asks-japan-to-hike-payments-for-us-troops-to-8-billion-foreign-policy-262592">Japan</a> Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's approval rating has taken a hit in the past month, a media poll shows, amid opposition accusations that his office may have violated political spending laws.

Allegations that his political office sponsored a party for supporters are the latest in a string of gift-giving scandals that have brought down politicians across Japan in recent months, eroding public sentiment.

A monthly Yomiuri Shimbun poll conducted late last week showed an approval rating of 49 per cent&nbsp;for Abe's cabinet, down 6 points from the October poll, and falling below 50 per cent&nbsp;for the first time since February.

The disapproval rating rose to 36 per cent&nbsp;from 34 per cent&nbsp;last month, with 45 per cent&nbsp;of respondents citing "lack of trust in the prime minister" over the party-funding allegations.

Abe on Monday confirmed that 800 guests attended the dinner reception at a five-star hotel in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-emperor-performs-thanksgiving-rite-with-sun-goddess-262141">central Tokyo</a> in April, which he and his wife attended, adding that attendees each paid a 5,000 yen ($46) admission fee.

"Neither my office nor the party's supporters organisation contributed funding towards admission for guests or myself at the dinner event," Abe told reporters on Monday, adding that his office held no record of the event.

Opposition parties say that the admission price was much lower than that of other receptions held at the Hotel New Otani, which start at 11,000 yen per head, according to the hotel's website. They say if Abe subsidised the admission, it may violate the Political Offices Election Law and Political Funds Control Law.

"Abe has said that his office sponsored the reception, so it's mandatory that it keeps records of the event for bookkeeping purposes," Jun Azumi, deputy secretary-general of the centre-left Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, told reporters. "The fact that these records do not exist shows that his office had no intention to keep such records, that his office doesn't acknowledge the event. This is an issue."

Politicians are strictly forbidden to give anything to constituents that even hints at being a gift. The rule is so strict that one cabinet minister quit in 2014 after distributing paper fans during the summer.

Last month, two government officials separately resigned over accusations that they had given fruit and vegetables to constituents as gifts.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's approval rating has taken a hit in the past month, a media poll shows, amid opposition accusations that his office may have violated political spending laws.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's approval rating has taken a hit in the past month, a media poll shows, amid opposition accusations that his office may have violated political spending laws. Allegations that his political office sponsored a party for supporters are the latest in a string of gift-giving scandals that have brought down politicians across Japan in recent months, eroding public sentiment. A monthly Yomiuri Shimbun poll conducted late last week showed an approval rating of 49 per cent for Abe's cabinet, down 6 points from the October poll, and falling below 50 per cent for the first time since February. The disapproval rating rose to 36 per cent from 34 per cent last month, with 45 per cent of respondents citing "lack of trust in the prime minister" over the party-funding allegations. Abe on Monday confirmed that 800 guests attended the dinner reception at a five-star hotel in central Tokyo in April, which he and his wife attended, adding that attendees each paid a 5,000 yen ($46) admission fee. "Neither my office nor the party's supporters organisation contributed funding towards admission for guests or myself at the dinner event," Abe told reporters on Monday, adding that his office held no record of the event. Opposition parties say that the admission price was much lower than that of other receptions held at the Hotel New Otani, which start at 11,000 yen per head, according to the hotel's website. They say if Abe subsidised the admission, it may violate the Political Offices Election Law and Political Funds Control Law. "Abe has said that his office sponsored the reception, so it's mandatory that it keeps records of the event for bookkeeping purposes," Jun Azumi, deputy secretary-general of the centre-left Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, told reporters. "The fact that these records do not exist shows that his office had no intention to keep such records, that his office doesn't acknowledge the event. This is an issue." Politicians are strictly forbidden to give anything to constituents that even hints at being a gift. The rule is so strict that one cabinet minister quit in 2014 after distributing paper fans during the summer. Last month, two government officials separately resigned over accusations that they had given fruit and vegetables to constituents as gifts.

Japanese prime minister Abe's approval rating sags due to accusations of violating laws for political spending

Know about Japan's invisible minority. To know more watch the video

Your Story: Last generation of Hidden Christians?

Japan's SoftBank Corp plans to merge internet unit Yahoo Japan with messaging app operator Line Corp to create a $30 billion tech giant, as it strives better compete to with local rival Rakuten and US tech powerhouses.

The deal, which would combine the providers of two of Japan's top QR code payment services, offers SoftBank access to 164 million Line users and their data in Japan and Southeast Asia as it expands into services outside its core wireless business.

It also offers Line a deep-pocket patron who can offer its tech expertise, including potentially via the giant Vision Fund.

The deal comes as SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son battles to restore his reputation after a disastrous investment in office-sharing firm WeWork.

Telecoms firm SoftBank Corp said in a statement that Yahoo Japan, which last month changed its name to Z Holdings Corp, would aim to complete its merger with Line, owned by South Korea's Naver Corp, in October 2020.

The companies plan to reach a definitive agreement by next month in a transaction that would see SoftBank Corp and Naver form a 50:50 venture that would control Z Holdings, which in turn would operate Yahoo Japan and Line.

SoftBank Corp and Naver, which owns 73 per cent of money-losing Line, plan to launch a tender offer for Line's remaining shares at 5,200 yen each - a 13.4 per cent&nbsp;premium to the shares' price before news of the merger broke. That values Line at about $12 billion.

Line's shares closed up 2.2 per cent&nbsp;at 5,150 yen after the announcement. Shares in Z Holdings rose 1.2 per cent, with Naver's shares up 2.9 per cent&nbsp;and SoftBank Corp's down 0.3 per cent.

Line has been looking for growth through expansion into areas such as QR code payments with Line Pay but has been squeezed because of its limited funds and heavy-spending peers including SoftBank, which has a rival service called PayPay.

The merger of Japan's most popular messaging app and one of the country's top online retailers is the latest consolidation in its tech industry and comes as Rakuten is expanding into SoftBank's core business with the launch of mobile services.

SoftBank this month completed its acquisition of online fashion retailer Zozo Inc, whose founder and ex-Chief Executive Yusaku Maezawa sold down his stake following a series of missteps.

The merger is driven by the two companies' "sense of crisis" over the rise of tech giants from the U.S. and China, Line CEO Takeshi Idezawa told a news conference, wearing a tie in Yahoo Japan's red corporate colour.

SoftBank Group's Son frequently laments Japan's tardiness in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, with Monday's presentation showing even after combining the company's research and development budget would be dwarfed by overseas rivals.

Yahoo Japan CEO Kentaro Kawabe, who was wearing a tie in Line's corporate green, declined to comment on which services would be combined or abolished post-merger.

Line launched to overcome downed networks in the aftermath of a 2011 earthquake and tsunami before building a strong following with its use of colourful emojis, eventually listing in 2016.

However, the messaging service struggled to make inroads in countries dominated by apps like Facebook's Whatapp and eventually retrenched in its core markets of Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia.

Coming at a time of heightened political tension between Japan and South Korea, the merger might be the two countries' most significant economic cooperation of the last decade, Jaewoong Lee, a South Korean serial entrepreneur and founder of Naver rival Daum wrote on his Facebook page late on Sunday.

Z Holdings will continue to be a consolidated subsidiary of SoftBank Corp, which is a unit of investment conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp.

SoftBank retained Mizuho Securities, a unit of Mizuho Financial Group, as its financial advisor. Naver retained Deutsche Bank.

Japan's SoftBank Corp plans to merge internet unit Yahoo Japan with messaging app operator Line Corp to create a $30 billion tech giant, as it strives better compete to with local rival Rakuten and US tech powerhouses.

Japan's SoftBank Corp plans to merge internet unit Yahoo Japan with messaging app operator Line Corp to create a $30 billion tech giant, as it strives better compete to with local rival Rakuten and US tech powerhouses. The deal, which would combine the providers of two of Japan's top QR code payment services, offers SoftBank access to 164 million Line users and their data in Japan and Southeast Asia as it expands into services outside its core wireless business. It also offers Line a deep-pocket patron who can offer its tech expertise, including potentially via the giant Vision Fund. The deal comes as SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son battles to restore his reputation after a disastrous investment in office-sharing firm WeWork. Telecoms firm SoftBank Corp said in a statement that Yahoo Japan, which last month changed its name to Z Holdings Corp, would aim to complete its merger with Line, owned by South Korea's Naver Corp, in October 2020. The companies plan to reach a definitive agreement by next month in a transaction that would see SoftBank Corp and Naver form a 50:50 venture that would control Z Holdings, which in turn would operate Yahoo Japan and Line. SoftBank Corp and Naver, which owns 73 per cent of money-losing Line, plan to launch a tender offer for Line's remaining shares at 5,200 yen each - a 13.4 per cent premium to the shares' price before news of the merger broke. That values Line at about $12 billion. Line's shares closed up 2.2 per cent at 5,150 yen after the announcement. Shares in Z Holdings rose 1.2 per cent, with Naver's shares up 2.9 per cent and SoftBank Corp's down 0.3 per cent. Line has been looking for growth through expansion into areas such as QR code payments with Line Pay but has been squeezed because of its limited funds and heavy-spending peers including SoftBank, which has a rival service called PayPay. The merger of Japan's most popular messaging app and one of the country's top online retailers is the latest consolidation in its tech industry and comes as Rakuten is expanding into SoftBank's core business with the launch of mobile services. SoftBank this month completed its acquisition of online fashion retailer Zozo Inc, whose founder and ex-Chief Executive Yusaku Maezawa sold down his stake following a series of missteps. The merger is driven by the two companies' "sense of crisis" over the rise of tech giants from the U.S. and China, Line CEO Takeshi Idezawa told a news conference, wearing a tie in Yahoo Japan's red corporate colour. SoftBank Group's Son frequently laments Japan's tardiness in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, with Monday's presentation showing even after combining the company's research and development budget would be dwarfed by overseas rivals. Yahoo Japan CEO Kentaro Kawabe, who was wearing a tie in Line's corporate green, declined to comment on which services would be combined or abolished post-merger. Line launched to overcome downed networks in the aftermath of a 2011 earthquake and tsunami before building a strong following with its use of colourful emojis, eventually listing in 2016. However, the messaging service struggled to make inroads in countries dominated by apps like Facebook's Whatapp and eventually retrenched in its core markets of Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia. Coming at a time of heightened political tension between Japan and South Korea, the merger might be the two countries' most significant economic cooperation of the last decade, Jaewoong Lee, a South Korean serial entrepreneur and founder of Naver rival Daum wrote on his Facebook page late on Sunday. Z Holdings will continue to be a consolidated subsidiary of SoftBank Corp, which is a unit of investment conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp. SoftBank retained Mizuho Securities, a unit of Mizuho Financial Group, as its financial advisor. Naver retained Deutsche Bank.

SoftBank to create $30 billion tech giant with Yahoo Japan, Line Corp merger

&nbsp;A Japanese space probe is heading home from an asteroid 250 million km (155 million miles) from Earth after collecting sub-surface samples that could help scientists seeking the origins of life, Japan's space agency said on Monday.

Asteroids are believed to have formed at the dawn of the solar system and scientists say the asteroid, called Ryugu, may contain organic matter that may have contributed to life on Earth.

If the return trip is completed successfully, that will be the first time samples from beneath an asteroid's surface have been brought back to Earth, a spokeswoman for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said.

The unmanned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../japans-hayabusa2-probe-lands-successfully-on- asteroid-234824">Hayabusa 2</a>, named after a falcon, began leaving <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../japanese-spacecraft-hayabusa2-lands-on-ryugu- asteroid-takes-samples-198878">Ryugu </a>last week, but it is still sending images back to Earth.

Those observations will be wrapped up on Monday or Tuesday before its main engine is activated for the year-long flight, JAXA said.

"This is us bidding farewell to Ryugu," the spokeswoman said.

Hayabusa 2 is scheduled to return to Earth by the end of 2020. After dropping off a capsule containing the samples, without landing, the probe itself will keep on going and fly away into space, finishing its six-year, 29 billion yen ($266 million) mission.

A Japanese space probe is heading home from an asteroid 250 million km (155 million miles) from Earth after collecting sub-surface samples that could help scientists seeking the origins of life, Japan's space agency said on Monday.

A Japanese space probe is heading home from an asteroid 250 million km (155 million miles) from Earth after collecting sub-surface samples that could help scientists seeking the origins of life, Japan's space agency said on Monday. Asteroids are believed to have formed at the dawn of the solar system and scientists say the asteroid, called Ryugu, may contain organic matter that may have contributed to life on Earth. If the return trip is completed successfully, that will be the first time samples from beneath an asteroid's surface have been brought back to Earth, a spokeswoman for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said. The unmanned Hayabusa 2, named after a falcon, began leaving Ryugu last week, but it is still sending images back to Earth. Those observations will be wrapped up on Monday or Tuesday before its main engine is activated for the year-long flight, JAXA said. "This is us bidding farewell to Ryugu," the spokeswoman said. Hayabusa 2 is scheduled to return to Earth by the end of 2020. After dropping off a capsule containing the samples, without landing, the probe itself will keep on going and fly away into space, finishing its six-year, 29 billion yen ($266 million) mission.

Japan space probe on its way back after asteroid mission

Japan's&nbsp;SoftBank&nbsp;Corp&nbsp;plans to merge internet unit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/yahoo-japan-bids-for-control-of-fashion-e-tailer-zozo-for-37-billion-249306">Yahoo&nbsp;Japan</a>&nbsp;with messaging app operator&nbsp;Line&nbsp;Corp&nbsp;to&nbsp;create&nbsp;a $30&nbsp;billion&nbsp;tech&nbsp;giant, as it strives better compete to with local rival Rakuten and US&nbsp;tech&nbsp;powerhouses.

The deal, which would combine the providers of two of&nbsp;Japan's top QR code payment services, offers&nbsp;SoftBank&nbsp;access to 164 million&nbsp;Line&nbsp;users and their data in&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;and Southeast Asia as it expands into services outside its core wireless business.

It also offers&nbsp;Line&nbsp;a deep-pocket patron who can offer its&nbsp;tech&nbsp;expertise, including potentially via the&nbsp;giant&nbsp;Vision Fund.

The deal comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/softbank-backed-oyo-to-raise-15-billion-led-by-founder-other-existing-investors-254242">SoftBank&nbsp;Group</a> founder Masayoshi Son battles to restore his reputation after a disastrous investment in office-sharing firm WeWork.

Telecoms firm&nbsp;SoftBank&nbsp;Corp&nbsp;said in a statement that&nbsp;Yahoo&nbsp;Japan, which last month changed its name to Z Holdings&nbsp;Corp, would aim to complete its&nbsp;merger&nbsp;with&nbsp;Line, owned by South Korea's Naver&nbsp;Corp, in October 2020.

The companies plan to reach a definitive agreement by next month in a transaction that would see&nbsp;SoftBank&nbsp;Corp&nbsp;and Naver form a 50:50 venture that would control Z Holdings, which in turn would operate&nbsp;Yahoo&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;and&nbsp;Line.

SoftBank&nbsp;Corp&nbsp;and Naver, which owns 73 per cent&nbsp;of money-losing&nbsp;Line, plan to launch a tender offer for&nbsp;Line's remaining shares at 5,200 yen each - a 13.4 per cent&nbsp;premium to the shares' price before news of the&nbsp;merger&nbsp;broke. That values&nbsp;Line&nbsp;at about $12&nbsp;billion.

Line's shares closed up 2.2 per cent&nbsp;at 5,150 yen after the announcement. Shares in Z Holdings rose 1.2 per cent, with Naver's shares up 2.9 per cent&nbsp;and&nbsp;SoftBank&nbsp;Corp's down 0.3 per cent.

Line&nbsp;has been looking for growth through expansion into areas such as QR code payments with&nbsp;Line&nbsp;Pay, but has been squeezed because of its limited funds and heavy-spending peers including&nbsp;SoftBank, which has a rival service called PayPay.

The&nbsp;merger&nbsp;of&nbsp;Japan's most popular messaging app and one of the country's top online&nbsp;retailers is the latest consolidation in its&nbsp;tech&nbsp;industry, and comes as Rakuten is expanding into&nbsp;SoftBank's core business with the launch of mobile services.

SoftBank&nbsp;this month completed its acquisition of online&nbsp;fashion retailer Zozo Inc, whose founder and ex-Chief Executive Yusaku Maezawa sold down his stake following a series of missteps.

The&nbsp;merger&nbsp;is driven by the two companies' "sense of crisis" over the rise of&nbsp;tech&nbsp;giants from the US&nbsp;and China,&nbsp;Line&nbsp;CEO Takeshi Idezawa told a news conference, wearing a tie in&nbsp;Yahoo&nbsp;Japan's red&nbsp;corporate colour.

SoftBank&nbsp;Group's Son frequently laments&nbsp;Japan's tardiness in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, with Monday's presentation showing even after combining the company's research and development budget would be dwarfed by overseas rivals.

Yahoo&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;CEO Kentaro Kawabe, who was wearing a tie in&nbsp;Line's&nbsp;corporate green, declined to comment on which services would be combined or abolished post-merger.

Line&nbsp;launched to overcome downed networks in the aftermath of a 2011 earthquake and tsunami before building a strong following with its use of colourful emojis, eventually listing in 2016.

However, the messaging service struggled to make inroads in countries dominated by apps like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nso-snoop-row-how-pegasus-broke-into-whatsapp-260055">Facebook's Whatapp</a> and eventually retrenched in its core markets of&nbsp;Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia.

Coming at a time of heightened political tension between&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;and South Korea, the&nbsp;merger&nbsp;might be the two countries' most significant economic cooperation of the last decade, Jaewoong Lee, a South Korean serial entrepreneur and founder of Naver rival Daum wrote on his Facebook page late on Sunday.

Z Holdings will continue to be a consolidated subsidiary of&nbsp;SoftBank&nbsp;Corp, which is a unit of investment conglomerate&nbsp;SoftBank&nbsp;Group&nbsp;Corp.

SoftBank&nbsp;retained Mizuho Securities, a unit of Mizuho Financial Group, as its financial advisor. Naver retained Deutsche Bank.

Japan's SoftBank Corp plans to merge internet unit Yahoo Japan with messaging app operator Line Corp to create a $30 billion tech giant, as it strives better compete to with local rival Rakuten and US tech powerhouses. The deal, which would combine the providers of two of Japan's top QR code payment services, offers SoftBank access to 164 million Line users and their data in Japan and Southeast Asia as it expands into services outside its core wireless business. It also offers Line a deep-pocket patron who can offer its tech expertise, including potentially via the giant Vision Fund. The deal comes as SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son battles to restore his reputation after a disastrous investment in office-sharing firm WeWork. Telecoms firm SoftBank Corp said in a statement that Yahoo Japan, which last month changed its name to Z Holdings Corp, would aim to complete its merger with Line, owned by South Korea's Naver Corp, in October 2020. The companies plan to reach a definitive agreement by next month in a transaction that would see SoftBank Corp and Naver form a 50:50 venture that would control Z Holdings, which in turn would operate Yahoo Japan and Line. SoftBank Corp and Naver, which owns 73 per cent of money-losing Line, plan to launch a tender offer for Line's remaining shares at 5,200 yen each - a 13.4 per cent premium to the shares' price before news of the merger broke. That values Line at about $12 billion. Line's shares closed up 2.2 per cent at 5,150 yen after the announcement. Shares in Z Holdings rose 1.2 per cent, with Naver's shares up 2.9 per cent and SoftBank Corp's down 0.3 per cent. Line has been looking for growth through expansion into areas such as QR code payments with Line Pay, but has been squeezed because of its limited funds and heavy-spending peers including SoftBank, which has a rival service called PayPay. The merger of Japan's most popular messaging app and one of the country's top online retailers is the latest consolidation in its tech industry, and comes as Rakuten is expanding into SoftBank's core business with the launch of mobile services. SoftBank this month completed its acquisition of online fashion retailer Zozo Inc, whose founder and ex-Chief Executive Yusaku Maezawa sold down his stake following a series of missteps. The merger is driven by the two companies' "sense of crisis" over the rise of tech giants from the US and China, Line CEO Takeshi Idezawa told a news conference, wearing a tie in Yahoo Japan's red corporate colour. SoftBank Group's Son frequently laments Japan's tardiness in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, with Monday's presentation showing even after combining the company's research and development budget would be dwarfed by overseas rivals. Yahoo Japan CEO Kentaro Kawabe, who was wearing a tie in Line's corporate green, declined to comment on which services would be combined or abolished post-merger. Line launched to overcome downed networks in the aftermath of a 2011 earthquake and tsunami before building a strong following with its use of colourful emojis, eventually listing in 2016. However, the messaging service struggled to make inroads in countries dominated by apps like Facebook's Whatapp and eventually retrenched in its core markets of Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia. Coming at a time of heightened political tension between Japan and South Korea, the merger might be the two countries' most significant economic cooperation of the last decade, Jaewoong Lee, a South Korean serial entrepreneur and founder of Naver rival Daum wrote on his Facebook page late on Sunday. Z Holdings will continue to be a consolidated subsidiary of SoftBank Corp, which is a unit of investment conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp. SoftBank retained Mizuho Securities, a unit of Mizuho Financial Group, as its financial advisor. Naver retained Deutsche Bank.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday held bilateral meetings with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono and the United States Secretary of Defence Mark T Esper on sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Minister's Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). 
 
"Had a wonderful interaction with Japan's Minister of Defence, Mr&nbsp;Taro Kono. We had a detailed discussion on adding further momentum to India-Japan defence cooperation," Singh tweeted.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Had a wonderful interaction with Japan’s Minister of Defence, Mr. Taro Kono. 
 
We had a detailed discussion on adding further momentum to India-Japan defence cooperation. <a href="https://t.co/WaiTt6GPTI">pic.twitter.com/WaiTt6GPTI</a>
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1195927720183529473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The ADMM-Plus meeting will witness the participation of defence ministers from ASEAN member countries and eight other nations. The ministers would gather and discuss the way forward for security cooperation in this meeting. 
 
Prior to this, Singh also had a fruitful discussion with Esper over boosting defence cooperation between India and the US as well as the opportunities and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. 
 
"Had an excellent meeting with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajnath-singh-meets-mark-esper-on-the-sidelines-of-admm-plus-meeting-in-bangkok-262660">US Secretary of Defence, Dr&nbsp;Mark T Esper</a> in Bangkok today. We talked about ways to expand defence cooperation between India and the United States," Singh said. 
 
"Productive discussion today with Indian MinDef Rajnath Singh on opportunities and challenges in the #IndoPacific. As the largest democracy in the world, India is a major defence partner and has an essential role in maintaining stability in the Indian Ocean region," Esper tweeted. 
 
Singh, earlier today, told that the ASEAN cooperation forms a central point in India's Act East policy. 
 
He said that the forum will provide an opportunity to deliberate on sustainable security, terrorism and coastal security. 
 
"Security can only be successful if it is sustainable," the minister stressed. 
 
Later today, Singh will also inaugurate the India pavilion at the Defence and Security Exhibition in Bangkok. He will address the business seminar and interact with the industry representatives. 
 
As part of the agenda for the ADMM Plus meeting, Singh will also release the Handbook on Military Medicine for ASEAN along with the Defence Minister of Myanmar. 
 
A courtesy call with&nbsp;the Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha will also take place during the visit.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday held bilateral meetings with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono and the United States Secretary of Defence Mark T Esper on sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Minister's Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus).

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday held bilateral meetings with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono and the United States Secretary of Defence Mark T Esper on sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Minister's Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus). "Had a wonderful interaction with Japan's Minister of Defence, Mr Taro Kono. We had a detailed discussion on adding further momentum to India-Japan defence cooperation," Singh tweeted. Had a wonderful interaction with Japan’s Minister of Defence, Mr. Taro Kono. We had a detailed discussion on adding further momentum to India-Japan defence cooperation. pic.twitter.com/WaiTt6GPTI — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) November 17, 2019 × The ADMM-Plus meeting will witness the participation of defence ministers from ASEAN member countries and eight other nations. The ministers would gather and discuss the way forward for security cooperation in this meeting. Prior to this, Singh also had a fruitful discussion with Esper over boosting defence cooperation between India and the US as well as the opportunities and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. "Had an excellent meeting with US Secretary of Defence, Dr Mark T Esper in Bangkok today. We talked about ways to expand defence cooperation between India and the United States," Singh said. "Productive discussion today with Indian MinDef Rajnath Singh on opportunities and challenges in the #IndoPacific. As the largest democracy in the world, India is a major defence partner and has an essential role in maintaining stability in the Indian Ocean region," Esper tweeted. Singh, earlier today, told that the ASEAN cooperation forms a central point in India's Act East policy. He said that the forum will provide an opportunity to deliberate on sustainable security, terrorism and coastal security. "Security can only be successful if it is sustainable," the minister stressed. Later today, Singh will also inaugurate the India pavilion at the Defence and Security Exhibition in Bangkok. He will address the business seminar and interact with the industry representatives. As part of the agenda for the ADMM Plus meeting, Singh will also release the Handbook on Military Medicine for ASEAN along with the Defence Minister of Myanmar. A courtesy call with the Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha will also take place during the visit.

Rajnath Singh holds bilateral meetings with Japan, US at ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus in Bangkok

Inside The Secret & Symbolic Japanese Ritual That Has Come In For A Lot Of Criticism.

Gravitas: Cost Of Japan's Emperor's Symbolic Night With Sun Goddess: $18 Million

Japan's new Emperor Naruhito on Thursday began an elaborate and secretive ritual dating back 1,300 years, giving thanks to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu as part of his enthronement rites.

The Daijosai, considered the most important ritual for Japan's imperial household, came three weeks after Naruhito proclaimed his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne and is performed only once in an emperor's reign.

Television footage showed the emperor in white silk vestments walking slowly through a specially constructed complex of wooden buildings in the imperial palace known as the Daijokyu.

Escorted part of the way by servants, Naruhito entered one of two halls where the main ritual would take place overnight.

The emperor was to offer newly harvested rice to Amaterasu, from whom the Japanese imperial line is considered to have descended, and other deities of heaven and earth.

He was to recite prayers for peace and "share" a feast with the goddess including salmon, abalone, jujube fruit, and millet, washed down with sake.

Empress Masako, wearing a white layered kimono, was to offer her own prayers in separate halls within the Daijokyu.

Other royals and several hundred attendants, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in separate pavilions. No foreigners attend the sacred rite.

The emperor disappeared from sight after he entered the main hall by torchlight. Throughout the rituals that end just before dawn on Friday, he was to be accompanied only by a lady-in-waiting.

'Simple ceremony'

The rite was mentioned in historical documents dating back as far as the seventh century but was discontinued for more than 200 years because of civil war and financial constraints, starting up again in the late 17th century.

The Daijosai, which is carried out whenever a new emperor ascends the throne, is estimated to cost 2.7 billion yen ($25 million), including building and dismantling the Daijokyu and later banquets at the palace.

The Daijokyu complex is built on an area of about 2,700 square metres and consists of around 30 pavilions of different sizes for those performing and observing the rituals.

"It was originally a simple ceremony using natural materials but it is expensive to replicate it in the modern age," said Keiko Hongo, professor at the Historiographical Institute of the University of Tokyo.

The buildings are of a traditional, simple construction. The floors are laid with straw mats and the pillars made from logs with unstripped bark.

The Daijosai, though not officially a state occasion, has drawn criticism given its highly religious nature and cost.

The rice used in the Daijosai was planted earlier in the year after palace courtiers selected sites using an ancient ritual involving the shells of rare green sea turtles.

Two thin plates made from turtle shells were heated over a flame to produce cracks, which "told" officials to grow the rice in two locations -- the ancient capital of Kyoto and the Tochigi region north of Tokyo.

The harvesting in September was also bound in ritual. The day before, rituals were performed to "purify" everyone involved.

On the day, the emperor's envoys offered prayers and the rice was harvested by farmers in traditional clothes and black hats at the two locations selected.&nbsp;

Only the most carefully selected heads are threshed to make the offerings for the Daijosai.

Japan's new Emperor Naruhito on Thursday began an elaborate and secretive ritual dating back 1,300 years, giving thanks to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu as part of his enthronement rites.

Japan's new Emperor Naruhito on Thursday began an elaborate and secretive ritual dating back 1,300 years, giving thanks to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu as part of his enthronement rites. The Daijosai, considered the most important ritual for Japan's imperial household, came three weeks after Naruhito proclaimed his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne and is performed only once in an emperor's reign. Television footage showed the emperor in white silk vestments walking slowly through a specially constructed complex of wooden buildings in the imperial palace known as the Daijokyu. Escorted part of the way by servants, Naruhito entered one of two halls where the main ritual would take place overnight. The emperor was to offer newly harvested rice to Amaterasu, from whom the Japanese imperial line is considered to have descended, and other deities of heaven and earth. He was to recite prayers for peace and "share" a feast with the goddess including salmon, abalone, jujube fruit, and millet, washed down with sake. Empress Masako, wearing a white layered kimono, was to offer her own prayers in separate halls within the Daijokyu. Other royals and several hundred attendants, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took part in separate pavilions. No foreigners attend the sacred rite. The emperor disappeared from sight after he entered the main hall by torchlight. Throughout the rituals that end just before dawn on Friday, he was to be accompanied only by a lady-in-waiting. 'Simple ceremony' The rite was mentioned in historical documents dating back as far as the seventh century but was discontinued for more than 200 years because of civil war and financial constraints, starting up again in the late 17th century. The Daijosai, which is carried out whenever a new emperor ascends the throne, is estimated to cost 2.7 billion yen ($25 million), including building and dismantling the Daijokyu and later banquets at the palace. The Daijokyu complex is built on an area of about 2,700 square metres and consists of around 30 pavilions of different sizes for those performing and observing the rituals. "It was originally a simple ceremony using natural materials but it is expensive to replicate it in the modern age," said Keiko Hongo, professor at the Historiographical Institute of the University of Tokyo. The buildings are of a traditional, simple construction. The floors are laid with straw mats and the pillars made from logs with unstripped bark. The Daijosai, though not officially a state occasion, has drawn criticism given its highly religious nature and cost. The rice used in the Daijosai was planted earlier in the year after palace courtiers selected sites using an ancient ritual involving the shells of rare green sea turtles. Two thin plates made from turtle shells were heated over a flame to produce cracks, which "told" officials to grow the rice in two locations -- the ancient capital of Kyoto and the Tochigi region north of Tokyo. The harvesting in September was also bound in ritual. The day before, rituals were performed to "purify" everyone involved. On the day, the emperor's envoys offered prayers and the rice was harvested by farmers in traditional clothes and black hats at the two locations selected. Only the most carefully selected heads are threshed to make the offerings for the Daijosai.

Japan's emperor performs thanksgiving rite with Sun Goddess

Asian&nbsp;stocks&nbsp;fell on Thursday after soft economic data in China and Japan showed the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../trade-truce-unlikely-in-2020-but-us-recession- fears-recede-economists-reuters-poll-261987">trade war</a> between Beijing and Washington hitting&nbsp;growth&nbsp;in some of the world's biggest economies.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei stock index fell further, dropping 0.8 per cent.

Australia's S&amp;P/ASX200 wiped earlier gains to close 0.5 per cent&nbsp;higher, while Shanghai blue chips trod water, supported by expectations the gloomy figures would add to the case for stimulus.

European stock futures point to a flat open after recent rises. US&nbsp;futures were down 0.1 per cent, following a record-high close on the S&amp;P 500 on Wednesday.

China's&nbsp;industrial production&nbsp;growth&nbsp;slowed sharply in October, with the 4.7 per cent&nbsp;year-on-year rise well below forecasts for 5.4 per cent. Investment&nbsp;growth&nbsp;hit a record low and retail sales also missed expectations.

"The weakness in investment and production would suggest that confidence is down," said Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital in Sydney.

"It puts more pressure on Chinese authorities to come to a deal with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../garbage-dropped-by-china-india-and-russia- into-the-sea-floats-into-los-angeles-trump-261937">Donald Trump</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../trump-says-china-trade-deal-close-but-dashes- hopes-for-signing-details-261767"> on trade</a>, just as President Trump's desire to be re-elected puts pressure on him to come to a deal."

The weak figures also come as market confidence toward a resolution weakens, with a new Reuters poll showing most economists do not expect Washington and Beijing to strike a permanent truce over the coming year.

Trump offered no update on the progress of negotiations in a policy speech on Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that talks had snagged on farm purchases.

Meanwhile, the&nbsp;global&nbsp;fallout from the dispute is widening.

Data due at 0700 GMT will reveal whether Germany has entered a technical recession, as forecast.

Japan's economic&nbsp;growth&nbsp;hit its slowest pace in a year in the third quarter as soft demand knocked exports.

"Looking around the region, you've had some near misses of recession - Korea's been one, Singapore's also been one and you've got Hong Kong in a recession at the moment," said Sean Darby,&nbsp;global&nbsp;equity strategist at Jefferies in Hong Kong.

"So it's not great. It's not a cycle that is not leaving any scars," he said.

Worries about spiralling violence as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../protesters-block-central-hong-kong-streets-as- chaos-grips-city-261782">anti-government protests</a> intensify in Hong Kong have also soured investor sentiment.

Protesters paralysed parts of Hong Kong for a fourth day on Thursday, forcing school closures and blocking highways and other transport links in a marked escalation of unrest in the financial hub.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.8 per cent on&nbsp;Thursday to a fresh one-month low.

In currency&nbsp;markets, safe havens such as the Japanese yen and Swiss franc held on to gains.

The yen was quoted at 108.70 per dollar, close to a one-week high. The Swiss franc traded at 0.9900 versus the greenback, near the highest in more than a week.

The Australian dollar skidded to a one-month low on Thursday after a worryingly weak reading on employment re-ignited speculation about another cut in interest rates.

Brent crude futures rose 0.6 per cent&nbsp;to $62.76 a barrel while US&nbsp;West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 0.63 per cent&nbsp;to $57.48 per barrel.

The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes rose to 1.8652 percent&nbsp;compared with its US&nbsp;close of 1.869 per cent&nbsp;on Wednesday.

Asian stocks fell on Thursday after soft economic data in China and Japan showed the trade war between Beijing and Washington hitting growth in some of the world's biggest economies.

Asian stocks fell on Thursday after soft economic data in China and Japan showed the trade war between Beijing and Washington hitting growth in some of the world's biggest economies. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.3 per cent. Japan's Nikkei stock index fell further, dropping 0.8 per cent. Australia's S&P/ASX200 wiped earlier gains to close 0.5 per cent higher, while Shanghai blue chips trod water, supported by expectations the gloomy figures would add to the case for stimulus. European stock futures point to a flat open after recent rises. US futures were down 0.1 per cent, following a record-high close on the S&P 500 on Wednesday. China's industrial production growth slowed sharply in October, with the 4.7 per cent year-on-year rise well below forecasts for 5.4 per cent. Investment growth hit a record low and retail sales also missed expectations. "The weakness in investment and production would suggest that confidence is down," said Shane Oliver, chief economist at AMP Capital in Sydney. "It puts more pressure on Chinese authorities to come to a deal with Donald Trump on trade, just as President Trump's desire to be re-elected puts pressure on him to come to a deal." The weak figures also come as market confidence toward a resolution weakens, with a new Reuters poll showing most economists do not expect Washington and Beijing to strike a permanent truce over the coming year. Trump offered no update on the progress of negotiations in a policy speech on Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that talks had snagged on farm purchases. Meanwhile, the global fallout from the dispute is widening. Data due at 0700 GMT will reveal whether Germany has entered a technical recession, as forecast. Japan's economic growth hit its slowest pace in a year in the third quarter as soft demand knocked exports. "Looking around the region, you've had some near misses of recession - Korea's been one, Singapore's also been one and you've got Hong Kong in a recession at the moment," said Sean Darby, global equity strategist at Jefferies in Hong Kong. "So it's not great. It's not a cycle that is not leaving any scars," he said. Worries about spiralling violence as anti-government protests intensify in Hong Kong have also soured investor sentiment. Protesters paralysed parts of Hong Kong for a fourth day on Thursday, forcing school closures and blocking highways and other transport links in a marked escalation of unrest in the financial hub. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.8 per cent on Thursday to a fresh one-month low. In currency markets, safe havens such as the Japanese yen and Swiss franc held on to gains. The yen was quoted at 108.70 per dollar, close to a one-week high. The Swiss franc traded at 0.9900 versus the greenback, near the highest in more than a week. The Australian dollar skidded to a one-month low on Thursday after a worryingly weak reading on employment re-ignited speculation about another cut in interest rates. Brent crude futures rose 0.6 per cent to $62.76 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 0.63 per cent to $57.48 per barrel. The yield on benchmark 10-year Treasury notes rose to 1.8652 percent compared with its US close of 1.869 per cent on Wednesday.

Asian stocks retreat as China's growth slowdown deepens

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-abe-tells-cabinet-to-compile-stimulus-package-to-support-economy-260734">Prime Minister Shinzo Abe</a> surged back to power seven years ago, pledging to bolster Japan's defences in response to a growing threat from China and aiming to amend the pacifist constitution.

Now on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier, Abe has kept his first promise. The second remains elusive.

That means Japan, which US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has criticised over what he called an "unfair" security alliance, still faces limits on acting as a full-fledged American ally.

Trump has even suggested changing the two-way security pact that underpins the alliance, at a time when China is flexing its military muscle in the region and North Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes.

During Abe's watch, Japan has boosted defence spending by 10 per cent&nbsp;after years of decline, expanding the military's ability to project power abroad. In a historic shift in 2014, his government reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two.

But the conservative leader's inability to cement his legacy by revising the charter's pacifist Article 9 symbolises persistent public wariness about putting troops in harm's way far from home and a fear of entanglement in US-led wars.

"For the Japanese people, Article 9 is a kind of Bible," Hajime Funada, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker and former head of a panel on revising the charter, told Reuters.

Japan's US-drafted constitution is seen by conservatives as a humiliating symbol of defeat but by others as a brake on entanglement in foreign conflicts.

For both sides, a revision would be hugely symbolic.

According to a survey by NHK TV this week, voters gave the highest marks to Abe's security and diplomacy policies. But an Asahi newspaper survey earlier this year showed 64 per cent&nbsp;opposed revising Article 9 while 28 per cent&nbsp;favoured the amendment.

Any constitutional amendment requires approval by two-thirds of both houses of parliament and a majority in a national referendum.

Abe, who quit in 2007 after a troubled one-year term, returned to office in December 2012. On November&nbsp;20, he will exceed the record 2,886 days in office set by Taro Katsura in the early 20th century.

Abe's term as LDP leader ends in September 2021 and unless party rules are revised, that would spell the end of his tenure.

A five-year defence programme unveiled last year allocates 25.5 trillion yen ($233.7 billion) in spending, a 6.4 per cent&nbsp;rise over the previous five years, and includes refitting two warships as Japan's first aircraft carriers since World War Two, a step toward a full-fledged blue-water navy.

A year after the cabinet reinterpreted the constitution, parliament enacted laws that ended a ban on exercising the right of collective self-defence, or defending a friendly country under attack, if Japan's survival is threatened.

Such steps have further pushed the limits of Article 9, which, if taken literally, bans the maintenance of a standing military but has been stretched by previous administrations to allow armed forces for self-defence.

"There is not much left of the post-war constraints," said Richard Samuels, director of the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"It was under his (Abe's) administration where the fastest progress was achieved to get more distance from Article 9."

Nonetheless, Abe has been forced by public opinion and the LDP's less hawkish coalition partner, the Komeito party, to compromise.

"Theoretically, Abe has laid the groundwork for Japan to take one step closer to ... supporting the US&nbsp;in combat for collective interests," said Ellis Krauss, professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego.

"But I don't think Japan is near actually doing it."

Last month, Japan proposed a mission by its navy in Middle East waterways, not as part of a US-led coalition to protect merchant ships but separately under a Japanese law allowing research and intelligence gathering.

Even that sparked calls for caution from liberal media.

For Abe, revising the constitution is a personal mission - one that eluded his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, who quit as premier in 1960 due to a furore over a US-Japan security pact.

"It's not only who he is, it's who his grandfather was and it's his base," Samuels said. "It's the view that says that ... we are a different Japan, no longer bound and constrained by the defeat of World War Two."

Abe has proposed writing the existence of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, as the military is known, into Article 9, far short of more drastic changes proposed previously by the LDP.

Critics in his own party say that would be a waste of political capital for little gain, although experts note an amendment could open the door to future bolder changes.

Abe appears unlikely to abandon the cause.

"Abe's fundamental philosophy is nationalism and without a change in Article 9, there can be no independence from the (US) Occupation regime," said Yoshihide Soeya, a political science professor at Keio University. "I think he'll never give it up."

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe surged back to power seven years ago, pledging to bolster Japan's defences in response to a growing threat from China and aiming to amend the pacifist constitution.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe surged back to power seven years ago, pledging to bolster Japan's defences in response to a growing threat from China and aiming to amend the pacifist constitution. Now on track to become Japan's longest-serving premier, Abe has kept his first promise. The second remains elusive. That means Japan, which US President Donald Trump has criticised over what he called an "unfair" security alliance, still faces limits on acting as a full-fledged American ally. Trump has even suggested changing the two-way security pact that underpins the alliance, at a time when China is flexing its military muscle in the region and North Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes. During Abe's watch, Japan has boosted defence spending by 10 per cent after years of decline, expanding the military's ability to project power abroad. In a historic shift in 2014, his government reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two. But the conservative leader's inability to cement his legacy by revising the charter's pacifist Article 9 symbolises persistent public wariness about putting troops in harm's way far from home and a fear of entanglement in US-led wars. "For the Japanese people, Article 9 is a kind of Bible," Hajime Funada, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker and former head of a panel on revising the charter, told Reuters. Japan's US-drafted constitution is seen by conservatives as a humiliating symbol of defeat but by others as a brake on entanglement in foreign conflicts. For both sides, a revision would be hugely symbolic. According to a survey by NHK TV this week, voters gave the highest marks to Abe's security and diplomacy policies. But an Asahi newspaper survey earlier this year showed 64 per cent opposed revising Article 9 while 28 per cent favoured the amendment. Any constitutional amendment requires approval by two-thirds of both houses of parliament and a majority in a national referendum. Abe, who quit in 2007 after a troubled one-year term, returned to office in December 2012. On November 20, he will exceed the record 2,886 days in office set by Taro Katsura in the early 20th century. Abe's term as LDP leader ends in September 2021 and unless party rules are revised, that would spell the end of his tenure. A five-year defence programme unveiled last year allocates 25.5 trillion yen ($233.7 billion) in spending, a 6.4 per cent rise over the previous five years, and includes refitting two warships as Japan's first aircraft carriers since World War Two, a step toward a full-fledged blue-water navy. A year after the cabinet reinterpreted the constitution, parliament enacted laws that ended a ban on exercising the right of collective self-defence, or defending a friendly country under attack, if Japan's survival is threatened. Such steps have further pushed the limits of Article 9, which, if taken literally, bans the maintenance of a standing military but has been stretched by previous administrations to allow armed forces for self-defence. "There is not much left of the post-war constraints," said Richard Samuels, director of the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "It was under his (Abe's) administration where the fastest progress was achieved to get more distance from Article 9." Nonetheless, Abe has been forced by public opinion and the LDP's less hawkish coalition partner, the Komeito party, to compromise. "Theoretically, Abe has laid the groundwork for Japan to take one step closer to ... supporting the US in combat for collective interests," said Ellis Krauss, professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego. "But I don't think Japan is near actually doing it." Last month, Japan proposed a mission by its navy in Middle East waterways, not as part of a US-led coalition to protect merchant ships but separately under a Japanese law allowing research and intelligence gathering. Even that sparked calls for caution from liberal media. For Abe, revising the constitution is a personal mission - one that eluded his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, who quit as premier in 1960 due to a furore over a US-Japan security pact. "It's not only who he is, it's who his grandfather was and it's his base," Samuels said. "It's the view that says that ... we are a different Japan, no longer bound and constrained by the defeat of World War Two." Abe has proposed writing the existence of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, as the military is known, into Article 9, far short of more drastic changes proposed previously by the LDP. Critics in his own party say that would be a waste of political capital for little gain, although experts note an amendment could open the door to future bolder changes. Abe appears unlikely to abandon the cause. "Abe's fundamental philosophy is nationalism and without a change in Article 9, there can be no independence from the (US) Occupation regime," said Yoshihide Soeya, a political science professor at Keio University. "I think he'll never give it up."

Abe's mission unaccomplished: Pushing to revise Japan's pacifist charter

On Thursday evening, Japan's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-new-emperor-naruhito-officially-takes-up-post-214938">Emperor Naruhito</a> will dress in pure white robes and be ushered into a dark wooden hall for his last major enthronement rite: spending the night with a goddess.

Centred on Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess from whom conservatives believe the emperor has descended, the "Daijosai" is the most overtly religious ceremony of the emperor's accession rituals after his father Akihito's abdication.

Scholars and the government say it consists of a feast, rather than, as has been persistently rumoured, conjugal relations with the goddess.

Although Naruhito's grandfather Hirohito, in whose name soldiers fought World War Two, was later stripped of his divinity, the ritual continues.

That has prompted anger - and lawsuits - from critics who say it smacks of the militaristic past and violates the constitutional separation of religion and state, as the government pays the cost of £19.32 million.

&nbsp;

What happens?

At about 7 p.m., Naruhito enters a specially-built shrine compound by firelight, disappearing behind white curtains.

In a dimly-lit room he kneels by piled straw mats draped in white, said to be a resting place for the goddess, as two shrine maidens bring in offerings of food, from rice to abalone, for Naruhito to use in filling 32 plates made from oak leaves.

Then he bows and prays for peace for the Japanese people before eating rice, millet and rice wine "with" the goddess.

The entire ritual is repeated in another room, ending at about 3 a.m.

Long a secret, the ceremony was re-enacted this year by NHK public television, an unprecedented move scholars say may have been a government initiative to dispel rumours.

"There is a bed, there is a coverlet, and the Emperor keeps his distance from it," said John Breen of Kyoto's International Research Centre for Japanese Studies, adding that de-mystifying the ceremony could be a government defence.

"Kingmaking is a sacred business, it's transforming a man or a woman into something other than a man or a woman," he said, pointing to mystical elements in Britain's coronation functions.

"So the Japanese government's denial that there's anything mystical to it is bizarre, but the purpose is pretty clear - it's to fend off accusations there's something unconstitutional going on."

How ancient is the tradition?

Believed to have started in the 700s and observed for about 700 years, the ritual was then interrupted for nearly three centuries, a gap that Breen said led to the loss of much of its original meaning.

Although believed to have initially been one of the less important enthronement rites, the ceremony gained status and its current form from 1868, as Japan began to turn itself into a modern nation-state, unified under the emperor.

What is the funding controversy?

At a news conference, the Emperor's younger brother, Crown Prince Akishino, wondered if it was "appropriate" to use public money, suggesting instead the private funds of the imperial family, which would necessitate a far smaller ceremony.

But Koichi Shin, the head of a group of 300 people suing the government to halt the ritual, and demand damages of 10,000 yen each for "pain and suffering", says that would still not be satisfactory, as the private funds are still tax money.

With part of one lawsuit thrown out by the Supreme Court and another set for hearing after next week's rite, the court battle is mostly symbolic, as concern over nationalism and the emperor fades.

At then emperor Akihito's accession in 1990, protests were louder and bigger, including rocket attacks ahead of some of the rituals, while 1,700 people sued amid harsh media coverage.

"Emperor Hirohito was responsible for the war, but Akihito has done a lot to soften the family's image," said Shin, a 60-year-old office worker.

"But I think showing these ceremonies on television solidifies the idea of the emperor as religion."

On Thursday evening, Japan's Emperor Naruhito will dress in pure white robes and be ushered into a dark wooden hall for his last major enthronement rite: spending the night with a goddess.

On Thursday evening, Japan's Emperor Naruhito will dress in pure white robes and be ushered into a dark wooden hall for his last major enthronement rite: spending the night with a goddess. Centred on Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess from whom conservatives believe the emperor has descended, the "Daijosai" is the most overtly religious ceremony of the emperor's accession rituals after his father Akihito's abdication. Scholars and the government say it consists of a feast, rather than, as has been persistently rumoured, conjugal relations with the goddess. Although Naruhito's grandfather Hirohito, in whose name soldiers fought World War Two, was later stripped of his divinity, the ritual continues. That has prompted anger - and lawsuits - from critics who say it smacks of the militaristic past and violates the constitutional separation of religion and state, as the government pays the cost of £19.32 million. What happens? At about 7 p.m., Naruhito enters a specially-built shrine compound by firelight, disappearing behind white curtains. In a dimly-lit room he kneels by piled straw mats draped in white, said to be a resting place for the goddess, as two shrine maidens bring in offerings of food, from rice to abalone, for Naruhito to use in filling 32 plates made from oak leaves. Then he bows and prays for peace for the Japanese people before eating rice, millet and rice wine "with" the goddess. The entire ritual is repeated in another room, ending at about 3 a.m. Long a secret, the ceremony was re-enacted this year by NHK public television, an unprecedented move scholars say may have been a government initiative to dispel rumours. "There is a bed, there is a coverlet, and the Emperor keeps his distance from it," said John Breen of Kyoto's International Research Centre for Japanese Studies, adding that de-mystifying the ceremony could be a government defence. "Kingmaking is a sacred business, it's transforming a man or a woman into something other than a man or a woman," he said, pointing to mystical elements in Britain's coronation functions. "So the Japanese government's denial that there's anything mystical to it is bizarre, but the purpose is pretty clear - it's to fend off accusations there's something unconstitutional going on." How ancient is the tradition? Believed to have started in the 700s and observed for about 700 years, the ritual was then interrupted for nearly three centuries, a gap that Breen said led to the loss of much of its original meaning. Although believed to have initially been one of the less important enthronement rites, the ceremony gained status and its current form from 1868, as Japan began to turn itself into a modern nation-state, unified under the emperor. What is the funding controversy? At a news conference, the Emperor's younger brother, Crown Prince Akishino, wondered if it was "appropriate" to use public money, suggesting instead the private funds of the imperial family, which would necessitate a far smaller ceremony. But Koichi Shin, the head of a group of 300 people suing the government to halt the ritual, and demand damages of 10,000 yen each for "pain and suffering", says that would still not be satisfactory, as the private funds are still tax money. With part of one lawsuit thrown out by the Supreme Court and another set for hearing after next week's rite, the court battle is mostly symbolic, as concern over nationalism and the emperor fades. At then emperor Akihito's accession in 1990, protests were louder and bigger, including rocket attacks ahead of some of the rituals, while 1,700 people sued amid harsh media coverage. "Emperor Hirohito was responsible for the war, but Akihito has done a lot to soften the family's image," said Shin, a 60-year-old office worker. "But I think showing these ceremonies on television solidifies the idea of the emperor as religion."

Symbolic night with goddess to wrap up Japan emperor Naruhito's accession rites

Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako rode through central Tokyo on Sunday in a motorcade to mark this year's imperial succession as well-wishers waved national flags and held up mobile phones for snapshots of the smiling royal couple.

Japan imperial couple rides through Tokyo in grand enthronement parade

Thousands of people gathered in Tokyo on Sunday ahead of a rare open-top car parade featuring newly enthroned Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, with heavy security in place for the event. The motorcade scheduled for later in the afternoon is one of the final public events associated with Naruhito's assumption of the throne following his father Akihito's abdication earlier this year. Watch this video to know more.

Japan hails the new emperor Naruhito

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday at a national festival to celebrate the enthronement of Japan's Emperor Naruhito with dancers and pop stars offering jubilant performances.

Some 10,000 citizens who won hard-to-get tickets and 20,000 invited guests attended&nbsp;the evening festival at Tokyo's Imperial Palace Plaza, which was broadcast live across the nation.

The festival came after Naruhito completed his ascension to the Chrysanthemum throne on October 22 in a ceremony steeped in the traditions and grandeur of a monarchy that claims 2,000 years of history.

"I am grateful to you gathering here today for your congratulations," Naruhito told a flag-waving crowd, standing on a stone bridge at the palace with Empress Masako following congratulatory speeches by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other notable figures.

J-pop group Arashi performed a song composed for the event.

Earlier in the day, another 30,000 people enjoyed local dancing performances at the venue.

On Sunday, the royal couple will parade in a convertible car along a 4.6-kilometre&nbsp;route from the palace to their residence in central Tokyo to mark the enthronement.

The parade was originally scheduled for October 22 but postponed after more than 80 people were killed when Typhoon Hagibis slammed into Japan and caused widespread damage.

In his brief speech, the emperor offered his condolences to the victims and voiced his "sincere hope" for an early recovery from the disaster.

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday at a national festival to celebrate the enthronement of Japan's Emperor Naruhito with dancers and pop stars offering jubilant performances.

Tens of thousands of people gathered on Saturday at a national festival to celebrate the enthronement of Japan's Emperor Naruhito with dancers and pop stars offering jubilant performances. Some 10,000 citizens who won hard-to-get tickets and 20,000 invited guests attended the evening festival at Tokyo's Imperial Palace Plaza, which was broadcast live across the nation. The festival came after Naruhito completed his ascension to the Chrysanthemum throne on October 22 in a ceremony steeped in the traditions and grandeur of a monarchy that claims 2,000 years of history. "I am grateful to you gathering here today for your congratulations," Naruhito told a flag-waving crowd, standing on a stone bridge at the palace with Empress Masako following congratulatory speeches by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other notable figures. J-pop group Arashi performed a song composed for the event. Earlier in the day, another 30,000 people enjoyed local dancing performances at the venue. On Sunday, the royal couple will parade in a convertible car along a 4.6-kilometre route from the palace to their residence in central Tokyo to mark the enthronement. The parade was originally scheduled for October 22 but postponed after more than 80 people were killed when Typhoon Hagibis slammed into Japan and caused widespread damage. In his brief speech, the emperor offered his condolences to the victims and voiced his "sincere hope" for an early recovery from the disaster.

Tens of thousands celebrate Japan emperor's enthronement

A court in southern&nbsp;China&nbsp;sentenced a&nbsp;former&nbsp;politician&nbsp;from Japan to life imprisonment on Friday for attempting to smuggle&nbsp;drugs&nbsp;out of the country hidden in the soles of platform&nbsp;shoes.

76-year-old Takuma Sakuragi was caught at an airport in 2013 with 3.29 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden in the handle of his suitcase and in the soles of "women's foam sandals" inside the case, according to a report published on an official court website.

Sakuragi, a&nbsp;former&nbsp;city councillor in Japan's Aichi Prefecture, was attempting to fly from Guangzhou to Japan via Shanghai.

Sakuragi said at the trial that he had been asked to transport the suitcase to Japan by a Nigerian acquaintance, but had not known that it contained methamphetamine, Kyodo News reported.

Two other people, a Malian national identified on the court's live stream page as Aly Yattabare and Guinean national Mohamed Soumah, were arrested by police weeks later and believed to have packed the&nbsp;drugs&nbsp;into the suitcase.

Police found another 18 grammes of methamphetamine in the two men's homes, the report said.

Officials in the central&nbsp;Japanese&nbsp;city of Inazawa said at the time that Sakuragi had travelled to&nbsp;China&nbsp;for his private trading business.

The Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court sentenced the men on Friday for&nbsp;smuggling&nbsp;drugs, sentencing Mohamed and Sakuragi to life imprisonment and Yattabare to death with a two-year reprieve, which generally means a life term.

China's criminal law exempts most defendants 75 and older from the death penalty.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Friday that&nbsp;China&nbsp;had already notified Japan's consulate general in Guangzhou.

The sentencing comes&nbsp;a day after&nbsp;China&nbsp;jailed nine people for selling fentanyl to Americans in what a court in northern Hebei province described as the first successful joint US-Chinese probe related to the deadly opioid.

A court in southern China sentenced a former politician from Japan to life imprisonment on Friday for attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country hidden in the soles of platform shoes.

A court in southern China sentenced a former politician from Japan to life imprisonment on Friday for attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country hidden in the soles of platform shoes. 76-year-old Takuma Sakuragi was caught at an airport in 2013 with 3.29 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden in the handle of his suitcase and in the soles of "women's foam sandals" inside the case, according to a report published on an official court website. Sakuragi, a former city councillor in Japan's Aichi Prefecture, was attempting to fly from Guangzhou to Japan via Shanghai. Sakuragi said at the trial that he had been asked to transport the suitcase to Japan by a Nigerian acquaintance, but had not known that it contained methamphetamine, Kyodo News reported. Two other people, a Malian national identified on the court's live stream page as Aly Yattabare and Guinean national Mohamed Soumah, were arrested by police weeks later and believed to have packed the drugs into the suitcase. Police found another 18 grammes of methamphetamine in the two men's homes, the report said. Officials in the central Japanese city of Inazawa said at the time that Sakuragi had travelled to China for his private trading business. The Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court sentenced the men on Friday for smuggling drugs, sentencing Mohamed and Sakuragi to life imprisonment and Yattabare to death with a two-year reprieve, which generally means a life term. China's criminal law exempts most defendants 75 and older from the death penalty. China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Friday that China had already notified Japan's consulate general in Guangzhou. The sentencing comes a day after China jailed nine people for selling fentanyl to Americans in what a court in northern Hebei province described as the first successful joint US-Chinese probe related to the deadly opioid.

China jails former Japanese politician for smuggling drugs in shoes

Japanese Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moon-abe-hold-friendly-talks-on-asean-sidelines-259835">Shinzo&nbsp;Abe</a>&nbsp;on Friday asked his&nbsp;cabinet&nbsp;to&nbsp;compile&nbsp;a&nbsp;package&nbsp;of&nbsp;stimulus&nbsp;measures to&nbsp;support&nbsp;the&nbsp;economy&nbsp;and build infrastructure to cope with large natural disasters, the government's top spokesman said.

Chief&nbsp;Cabinet&nbsp;Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the&nbsp;package&nbsp;will include steps to promote investment for growth through aggressive use of fiscal investment and loan programmes.

The government will&nbsp;compile&nbsp;the&nbsp;package&nbsp;as soon as possible, though the size of spending will depend on proposals to be made by various ministries,&nbsp;Economy&nbsp;Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a news conference after a regular&nbsp;cabinet&nbsp;meeting.

"I've received an instruction from the prime minister to&nbsp;compile&nbsp;a new economic&nbsp;package&nbsp;to guard against the chance overseas risks may hurt&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;economy," Nishimura said.

Japanese policymakers have been under pressure to fend off heightening overseas risks with a diminishing tool-kit, as the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-us-agree-tariff-rollback-if-phase-one-trade-deal-is-completed-260641"> US-China trade war </a>and soft global demand hurt the export-reliant&nbsp;economy.

Finance Minister Taro Aso said the planned economic&nbsp;package&nbsp;should help enhance productivity and achieve strong growth to overcome the pressure caused by the declining population, which he said was the "biggest problem" Japan faces in the long run.

Aso added that the size and scope of the&nbsp;stimulus&nbsp;still needed to be worked out. He suggested that a supplementary budget would be&nbsp;compiled by the year-end, along with an annual budget for the next fiscal year that starts in April 2020, to ensure the economic&nbsp;package&nbsp;would be rolled out seamlessly over a 15-month period.

Abe&nbsp;had told a top economic council on Thursday that the government will consider what policy measures it can take to prevent intensifying global risks from derailing the export-reliant economic recovery.

Japan's&nbsp;economic growth likely slowed to an annualised 0.8 per cent&nbsp;in July-September from 1.3 per cent&nbsp;in the second quarter, a Reuters poll showed this week. The data will be reported on November&nbsp;14.

An increase in the sales tax to 10 per cent&nbsp;from 8 per cent, put in place from October, may also hurt consumption, analysts say.

Slowing growth underscores the challenge for&nbsp;Abe's government as it tries to strike a delicate balance between the need to boost growth and fix the industrial world's heaviest public debt burden that is more than twice the size of&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;$5 trillion&nbsp;economy.

Some economists worry that additional public works spending would further strain the nation's dire public finances and aggravate a labour crunch in a fast-ageing population.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday asked his cabinet to compile a package of stimulus measures to support the economy and build infrastructure to cope with large natural disasters, the government's top spokesman said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday asked his cabinet to compile a package of stimulus measures to support the economy and build infrastructure to cope with large natural disasters, the government's top spokesman said. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the package will include steps to promote investment for growth through aggressive use of fiscal investment and loan programmes. The government will compile the package as soon as possible, though the size of spending will depend on proposals to be made by various ministries, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a news conference after a regular cabinet meeting. "I've received an instruction from the prime minister to compile a new economic package to guard against the chance overseas risks may hurt Japan's economy," Nishimura said. Japanese policymakers have been under pressure to fend off heightening overseas risks with a diminishing tool-kit, as the US-China trade war and soft global demand hurt the export-reliant economy. Finance Minister Taro Aso said the planned economic package should help enhance productivity and achieve strong growth to overcome the pressure caused by the declining population, which he said was the "biggest problem" Japan faces in the long run. Aso added that the size and scope of the stimulus still needed to be worked out. He suggested that a supplementary budget would be compiled by the year-end, along with an annual budget for the next fiscal year that starts in April 2020, to ensure the economic package would be rolled out seamlessly over a 15-month period. Abe had told a top economic council on Thursday that the government will consider what policy measures it can take to prevent intensifying global risks from derailing the export-reliant economic recovery. Japan's economic growth likely slowed to an annualised 0.8 per cent in July-September from 1.3 per cent in the second quarter, a Reuters poll showed this week. The data will be reported on November 14. An increase in the sales tax to 10 per cent from 8 per cent, put in place from October, may also hurt consumption, analysts say. Slowing growth underscores the challenge for Abe's government as it tries to strike a delicate balance between the need to boost growth and fix the industrial world's heaviest public debt burden that is more than twice the size of Japan's $5 trillion economy. Some economists worry that additional public works spending would further strain the nation's dire public finances and aggravate a labour crunch in a fast-ageing population.

Japan's Abe tells cabinet to compile stimulus package to support economy

North Korea on Thursday called Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a moron who should not even dream of setting foot in Pyongyang in a state media commentary laden with insults in response to his criticism of the North's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-short-range-projectiles-souths-military-259136">latest weapons test</a>.

North Korea conducted a test of what it called "super-large multiple rocket launchers" on October&nbsp;31, but Japan said they were likely ballistic missiles that violated U.N. sanctions.

Abe condemned the test at an Asian summit this week, while saying he was eager to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "without conditions" to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the isolated state, Kyodo news agency reported citing the Japanese government.

"Japanese <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-shinzo-abe-renews-call-on-south-korea-to-keep-promises-to-mend-ties-257928">Prime Minister Abe</a>, who is now making such a fuss over our super-large multiple rocket launcher test-fire as if a nuclear warhead had fallen on Japanese soil, is a moron," the North's KCNA news agency said, citing a statement by Song Il Ho, its ambassador for ties with Japan.

"Abe, who has been making ill-advised remarks about our legitimate self-defence measures by recklessly wagging his tongue ... should not even dream of crossing the Pyongyang threshold ever."

In 2002, North Korea admitted that its agents had kidnapped 13 Japanese from the 1960s to the 1980s. Japan says 17 of its citizens were abducted, five of whom were repatriated.

North Korea has said eight of them were dead and another four never entered the country.

Abe has vowed to pursue the issue until all of the abductees come home and said previously that he was willing to meet Kim without conditions.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Pyongyang in 2002 and met the father of the current North Korean leader but Abe has never met Kim.

North Korea on Thursday called Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a moron who should not even dream of setting foot in Pyongyang in a state media commentary laden with insults in response to his criticism of the North's latest weapons test.

North Korea on Thursday called Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a moron who should not even dream of setting foot in Pyongyang in a state media commentary laden with insults in response to his criticism of the North's latest weapons test. North Korea conducted a test of what it called "super-large multiple rocket launchers" on October 31, but Japan said they were likely ballistic missiles that violated U.N. sanctions. Abe condemned the test at an Asian summit this week, while saying he was eager to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "without conditions" to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the isolated state, Kyodo news agency reported citing the Japanese government. "Japanese Prime Minister Abe, who is now making such a fuss over our super-large multiple rocket launcher test-fire as if a nuclear warhead had fallen on Japanese soil, is a moron," the North's KCNA news agency said, citing a statement by Song Il Ho, its ambassador for ties with Japan. "Abe, who has been making ill-advised remarks about our legitimate self-defence measures by recklessly wagging his tongue ... should not even dream of crossing the Pyongyang threshold ever." In 2002, North Korea admitted that its agents had kidnapped 13 Japanese from the 1960s to the 1980s. Japan says 17 of its citizens were abducted, five of whom were repatriated. North Korea has said eight of them were dead and another four never entered the country. Abe has vowed to pursue the issue until all of the abductees come home and said previously that he was willing to meet Kim without conditions. Former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Pyongyang in 2002 and met the father of the current North Korean leader but Abe has never met Kim.

North Korea slams door on Japan PM Abe visit, calls him a 'moron'

Asian shares napped near multi-month peaks on Thursday while bonds eked out a bounce as reports of delays in sealing a preliminary Sino-US&nbsp;trade deal left investors frustrated at the lack of concrete progress.

In early European trades, the pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures&nbsp;were up slightly while those for German DAX were flat. London's FTSE futures&nbsp;rose 0.2 per cent.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan&nbsp;dipped a slight 0.2 per cent, just off a six-month highs hit earlier in the week.

Japan's Nikkei dithered either side of flat in very quiet trade, having touched a 13-month top on Wednesday. South Korean stocks eased 0.15 per cent&nbsp;after hitting their highest since May, while Shanghai blue chips lost 0.08 per cent.

E-Mini futures for the S&amp;P 500 eased 0.1 per cent.

Reuters reported on Wednesday a meeting between US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to sign an interim trade deal could be <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-china-trade-deal-signing-could-be-delayed-to-december-london-a-possible-venue-report-260422">delayed until December</a> as discussions continue over terms and venue.

Among various suggestions was to sign a deal after a scheduled NATO meeting in early December.

"One could take the view that by not committing to meet the original deadline it gives more time for a somewhat more comprehensive agreement to be thrashed out," said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy at National Australia Bank.

"But markets have understandably jumped the other way, exhibiting a slight loss of confidence that anything more substantial than an agreement not to further lift tariffs, in return for some increase in US agricultural purchases, can be agreed by way of an initial deal."

Wall Street was underwhelmed by the news and the Dow ended Wednesday all but flat, while the S&amp;P 500&nbsp;gained 0.07 per cent&nbsp;and the Nasdaq&nbsp;dropped 0.29 per cent.

HP Inc&nbsp;rose over 6 per cent&nbsp;after Reuters reported US&nbsp;printer maker Xerox Holdings Corp&nbsp;has made a roughly $33 billion cash-and-stock offer for the computer group.

The pause in the risk rally helped bonds recoup a little of their recent losses. Yields on benchmark US&nbsp;10-year notes&nbsp;fell back to 1.81 per cent&nbsp;from a two-month top of 1.87 per cent.

That, in turn, restrained the dollar, which eased to 108.74 yen&nbsp;from a weekly high of 109.24. The dollar was steady on a basket of currencies at 97.965.

The euro was struggling to sustain any bounce at $1.1061, perilously close to chart support at $1.1060.

Spot gold was little changed at $1,490.38 per ounce&nbsp;and well within recent tight trading ranges.

Oil prices nursed losses after taking a hit from a surprisingly large build in US&nbsp;crude inventories.

US&nbsp;crude&nbsp;was 6 cents lower at $56.29 a barrel, while Brent crude&nbsp;slipped 7 cents to $61.67.

Asian shares napped near multi-month peaks on Thursday while bonds eked out a bounce as reports of delays in sealing a preliminary Sino-US trade deal left investors frustrated at the lack of concrete progress.

Asian shares napped near multi-month peaks on Thursday while bonds eked out a bounce as reports of delays in sealing a preliminary Sino-US trade deal left investors frustrated at the lack of concrete progress. In early European trades, the pan-region Euro Stoxx 50 futures were up slightly while those for German DAX were flat. London's FTSE futures rose 0.2 per cent. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan dipped a slight 0.2 per cent, just off a six-month highs hit earlier in the week. Japan's Nikkei dithered either side of flat in very quiet trade, having touched a 13-month top on Wednesday. South Korean stocks eased 0.15 per cent after hitting their highest since May, while Shanghai blue chips lost 0.08 per cent. E-Mini futures for the S&P 500 eased 0.1 per cent. Reuters reported on Wednesday a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to sign an interim trade deal could be delayed until December as discussions continue over terms and venue. Among various suggestions was to sign a deal after a scheduled NATO meeting in early December. "One could take the view that by not committing to meet the original deadline it gives more time for a somewhat more comprehensive agreement to be thrashed out," said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy at National Australia Bank. "But markets have understandably jumped the other way, exhibiting a slight loss of confidence that anything more substantial than an agreement not to further lift tariffs, in return for some increase in US agricultural purchases, can be agreed by way of an initial deal." Wall Street was underwhelmed by the news and the Dow ended Wednesday all but flat, while the S&P 500 gained 0.07 per cent and the Nasdaq dropped 0.29 per cent. HP Inc rose over 6 per cent after Reuters reported US printer maker Xerox Holdings Corp has made a roughly $33 billion cash-and-stock offer for the computer group. The pause in the risk rally helped bonds recoup a little of their recent losses. Yields on benchmark US 10-year notes fell back to 1.81 per cent from a two-month top of 1.87 per cent. That, in turn, restrained the dollar, which eased to 108.74 yen from a weekly high of 109.24. The dollar was steady on a basket of currencies at 97.965. The euro was struggling to sustain any bounce at $1.1061, perilously close to chart support at $1.1060. Spot gold was little changed at $1,490.38 per ounce and well within recent tight trading ranges. Oil prices nursed losses after taking a hit from a surprisingly large build in US crude inventories. US crude was 6 cents lower at $56.29 a barrel, while Brent crude slipped 7 cents to $61.67.

Asia stocks frustrated as trade doubts resurface

Microsoft Japan's 4-day Workweek; Work less, Achieve more. Watch video to know more

Microsoft Japan's 4-day Workweek; Work less, Achieve more

japan

Japan, News on Japan, stories on Japan, articles on Japan, Japan stories at Wion, Japan news, Japan latest news