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

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.      

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

According to Sankei, Japan and France convened a meeting of senior defense and foreign affairs officials in Tokyo yesterday and agreed that North Korea’s latest missile test must not be condoned. They also discussed a range of security issues, such as China’s maritime advancement, the situation in Afghanistan, and Iran’s nuclear development. They confirmed that they will arrange for their defense and foreign ministers to hold….Read more

Sankei wrote that some 200 leading Japanese and ROK corporate executives plan to meet remotely on Nov. 2, noting that they are expected to discuss bilateral cooperation in the private sector for economic digitalization and the creation of a carbon-free society amid the prolonged political tensions between the two capitals over the comfort women and forced labor disputes.   

NHK reported at noon that the Ministry of Defense announced this morning that North Korea fired what appeared to be ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan this morning. Prime Minister Kishida told reporters in Fukushima that North Korea fired two ballistic missiles and said North Korea’s missile launches are “extremely regrettable.” Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Isozaki reportedly told the….Read more

On Oct. 17, Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko and Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin completed their visit to the islands of Etorofu and Shikotan in the Northern Territories. The deputy prime ministers, who arrived at Etorofu on Oct. 15, stayed in the territories for three days, which is unusually long given that Russian….Read more

TOKYO/NEW YORK — Ten naval vessels belonging to China and Russia passed through a narrow chokepoint in the north of Japan, Tokyo’s Defense Ministry said Monday.   The warships sailed eastward toward the Pacific Ocean, likely as part of “Naval Interaction 2021,” a joint maritime exercise the two navies are conducting this month.   This is the first time that….Read more

Yomiuri took up the disclosure by a source connected to the Moon administration that Director of National Intelligence Haines and Cabinet Intelligence Director Takizawa visited Seoul on Monday for a trilateral meeting with their ROK counterpart, speculating that they exchanged views on issues related to North Korea’s denuclearization, including the resumption of inter-Korean and U.S.-DPRK dialogue. The three officials reportedly held a similar meeting in Tokyo on May 12. Pointing….Read more

All national papers spotlighted the first meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and family members of the Japanese nationals abducted by the DPRK that was held at the Kantei on Monday, quoting the premier as saying: “I am determined to meet with General Secretary Kim without preconditions in order to repatriate the victims as soon as possible.” The premier reportedly emphasized that the abduction issue is one of the most important items on his administration’s agenda and that he is strongly committed to taking the….Read more