TV Asahi reported at noon that the U.S. government called on North Korea to engage in dialogue following its launch of a new type of SLBM on Tuesday. The network showed White House Press Secretary Psaki telling the press: “We condemn the DPRK’s ballistic missile launch. These launches violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions and are a threat to the….Read more

KEN MORIYASU, Nikkei Asia chief desk editor   NEW YORK — U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was with President George W. Bush in the Oval Office when aides came bearing news of a major development in Iraq.   It was April 9, 2003, and the Iraq invasion by American forces — not even a month old — was reaching a major milestone.….Read more

The Japan Coast Guard patrol confirmed four China Coast Guard vessels traveling in the contiguous zone outside Japan’s territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands (Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture) on Oct. 19.   The Chinese government ships were last sighted near the Senkakus on Oct. 16.      

ERI SUGIURA, Nikkei staff writer   TOKYO — France is reviewing its Indo-Pacific approach after being blindsided by the AUKUS alliance that scuttled its submarine deal with Australia, a French official said in Tokyo on Tuesday, with Paris keen to strengthen ties with Japan and India.   “What is at stake is what kind of Franco-American and trans-Atlantic partnerships, particularly….Read more

Moscow, Oct. 19 (Jiji Press)–Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed his government to draw up legislation by Aug. 1, 2022, for creating a special zone on northwestern Pacific islands disputed with Japan, according to a media report.   Putin last month unilaterally announced his plan to create the zone, where businesses will be exempted from paying tariffs and corporate tax,….Read more

Oct. 19 marks the 65th anniversary of signing the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration, which restored diplomatic relations between Japan and the former Soviet Union. At a press conference on Oct. 18, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu expressed his willingness to resolve the territorial issue with Russia over the Northern Territories. “We will actively address the issue based on the various agreements….Read more

A few years ago, I saw the U.S. drama film “Vice.”   I remember a scene where Secretary of State Colin Powell, in the presence of President George W. Bush, is vilified by a fellow Cabinet secretary as a “chicken” and a “wimp.”   Hearing of Powell’s demise on Oct. 18, I reread his memoir and critical biography.   For….Read more

Washington, Oct. 19 (Jiji Press)–Ranil Salgado, assistant director at the International Monetary Fund, called on Japan to promote science education for women to secure personnel for digitalization.     Small and midsize companies in Japan, which play a key role in economic growth, are falling behind in digitalization, Salgado, the IMF’s mission chief for the country, said in a recent interview….Read more

NHK reported this morning that senior officials of the U.S., Japan, and South Korea in charge of North Korean issues met in Washington on Tuesday and exchanged views on the DPRK’s latest ballistic missile launch. According to the network, the meeting was attended by MOFA Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Funakoshi, U.S. Special Representative for the DPRK Sung Kim, and Special Representative for….Read more