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Jesse Johnson
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 13, 2021
North Korea's Kim vows stronger 'nuclear war deterrent' as party congress ends
Kim wrapped up the congress on Tuesday by noting the importance of nuclear weapons and a strong military in the face of what it calls a “hostile policy” by the U.S.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 13, 2021
Defend, dominate, deny: Declassified U.S. strategy shows vision for Indo-Pacific
The document appears to highlight the large role Japan played in its formation and after, touting the “strategic resonance” of Tokyo's “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” concept.
JAPAN
Jan 12, 2021
Avoid nonessential outings in daytime, Japan virus response chief says
Economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura made the request after the three-day weekend saw no change in the number of people venturing out.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 11, 2021
General Secretary Kim: North Korean leader given late father's title
Kim Jong Un was elected to the top post Monday, taking the mantle from his late father in a move seen as cementing the role of the Workers' Party of Korea in the country's affairs.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 10, 2021
North Korea ruling party says key congress to be held every five years
Prior to the amendment to the party's rules, the congress — where leader Kim Jong Un has announced key regime decisions and plans — had been sporadically held.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 10, 2021
Trump's Taiwan policy ends much as it started — by blowing up status quo
The U.S. has lifted decades-old restrictions on contacts between U.S. officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, just days before President-elect Joe Biden is due to take office.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 9, 2021
North Korea's Kim greets Biden era with plan to upgrade nuclear capabilities
Kim vows to bolster arsenal — including via new weapons tests — but leaves door open to diplomacy with the United States.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 8, 2021
North Korea's Kim hints at improving inter-Korean ties and foreign policy
The leader teased the possibility of improved ties with Seoul and vowed to expand 'external relations' in his first remarks on foreign policy since Joe Biden's election.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 7, 2021
North Korea's Kim vows to boost nuclear-armed country's 'defense capabilities'
On the second day of a rare party congress, the strongman vowed to put 'state defense capabilities on a much higher level, and put forth goals for realizing it.”
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 6, 2021
North Korea's Kim admits economic missteps as rare party congress opens
The strongman refrained from mentioning his country's nuclear program in an opening speech, but said the economic strategy unveiled in 2016 'fell extremely short' of its goals.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Jan 5, 2021
As pandemic persists, Asia's hot spots simmer on
While the region continues to focus on battling COVID-19, long-running tensions around North Korea, the South China Sea, Taiwan and others have not gone away.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jan 1, 2021
Japan to play placeholder role in Asia as Biden gets his house in order
Tokyo will be particularly interested to see how the next U.S. president tackles China, trade, regional security as well as its relationships with Southeast Asia and the two Koreas.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Dec 14, 2020
Japan set to approve new ships and missiles but defer legal questions
Two new destroyers will fill the gap left by a canceled deployment of Aegis Ashore, while improved missiles will offer the ability to strike from beyond the range of enemies.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 9, 2020
No mention of China or Asia as Biden touts pick for Pentagon chief
Omission risks sending an alarming message to allies such as Japan amid hopes for a continued U.S.-led charge confronting an increasingly assertive Beijing.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Dec 6, 2020
Biden officials to look to repair alliances and help mend Tokyo-Seoul ties
Trump's 'America First' moves have left something of a leadership vacuum that Beijing has been more than willing to attempt to fill — one of Japan's biggest fears.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 30, 2020
U.S. military in Okinawa reports single-day record 72 new COVID-19 cases
The marines said there were no indications that those infected had spread the disease to the larger population surrounding the bases.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 24, 2020
China's Wang visits Tokyo, with bilateral ties and Biden topping agenda
Japan and China have agreed to restart business travel between the two countries later this month.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 23, 2020
Biden to prioritize COVID-19, but Kim Jong Un may have other ideas
'The Biden administration cannot afford to ignore Pyongyang — and North Korea has ways of ensuring it is not ignored,' says former U.S. State Department official Evans Revere.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 18, 2020
U.S. Aegis warship successfully intercepts mock ICBM in first-of-its-kind test
The test could give the incoming U.S. administration a potent new weapon for defending against North Korean long-range missiles.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 13, 2020
Taiwan Defense Ministry, Pentagon deny U.S. Marines' presence for training
Taiwan's Defense Ministry and U.S. Defense Department have denied reports of U.S. Marines visiting the island to train Taiwanese forces.

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Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.