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Jesse Johnson
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 28, 2018
In push to salvage U.S.-North Korea summit, team of veteran American diplomats faces high hurdles
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that an advance team of veteran American diplomats is conducting talks with North Korean officials at the border between the two Koreas as both the U.S. and the North work to salvage a possible leaders' summit — a push that faces a number of daunting challenges,...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 28, 2018
China vows to boost 'combat readiness' after U.S. sails two warships near South China Sea islands
China's Defense Ministry has vowed to bolster its "combat readiness" to defend against what it said was a "serious infringement" of the country's sovereignty after the U.S. Navy dispatched two warships for an apparent "freedom of navigation" operation (FONOP) in disputed South China Sea waters.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 27, 2018
Trump-Kim summit back on track, Moon says after secret meeting
With all eyes on next month's on-again, off-again summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, Kim reiterated his commitment to the "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" and to a Trump sit-down, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Sunday, a day after his secret...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 26, 2018
North and South Korean leaders hold surprise talks at border as Trump signals summit may be back on track
In yet another stunning turn of events on the Korean Peninsula in recent days, the leaders of the two Koreas held a second summit, secretly meeting at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the Demilitarized Zone on Saturday, hours after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled talks with the North might...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 26, 2018
Trump says U.S. in 'productive talks' with North Korea, suggests summit with Kim could still happen on June 12
Just a day after abruptly pulling out of a planned summit with North Korea's leader, U.S. President Donald Trump held out hope Friday that the talks could still be held — possibly even on the scheduled June 12 date in Singapore.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 25, 2018
Trump cancels summit with North Korea's Kim, citing 'tremendous anger and open hostility' in recent statement
In a stunning turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump called off his landmark meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday, citing “tremendous anger and open hostility” in a recent statement released by Pyongyang’s state-run media.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 24, 2018
North Korea issues most direct threat yet to pull out of summit with U.S.
In North Korea’s most direct comment yet that the planned summit with the U.S. may be in jeopardy, a top official from the nuclear-armed country said Thursday that it will reconsider the meeting if Washington continues with “unlawful and outrageous acts” — a reference to a “Libya-style” coerced...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
May 23, 2018
U.S. and North Korea engage in diplomatic dance amid shifting prospects for Singapore summit
With less than three weeks to go before the first-ever planned U.S.-North Korea summit, both sides are engaging in a delicate diplomatic dance, claiming that the landmark event might not even be held while also serving up concessions to draw the other back to the negotiating table.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 23, 2018
U.S. bolsters missile defense in Japan as cutting-edge Aegis destroyer arrives ahead of Trump-Kim summit
An advanced U.S. destroyer equipped with cutting-edge ballistic missile defense technology arrived at its new home port at the Yokosuka naval base in Kanagawa Prefecture on Tuesday, as the U.S. Navy's Japan-based 7th Fleet looks to bounce back from two deadly accidents less than a year ago while also...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 21, 2018
Top U.S. senator says Trump looking to end North Korea crisis in first term
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said in an interview Sunday that President Donald Trump would seek to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis in his first term, adding that if Pyongyang backs out of a landmark summit scheduled for next month, the two countries would be "on the path to conflict."
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 19, 2018
China lands bombers on South China Sea outpost for first time
China has landed heavy bombers on one of its outposts in the South China Sea for the first time, part of an operation intended to provide "experience for Air Force bomber units to use islands as their bases," according to the Defense Ministry.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 19, 2018
Trump nominates Pacific Command chief Harry Harris to be South Korean ambassador
The White House formally nominated Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris on Friday to fill the long-vacant post of ambassador to South Korea, as the U.S. gears up for the planned first-ever talks between a sitting American president and a North Korean leader on June 12 in Singapore.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 16, 2018
North Korean ruling party newspaper rips Japan as 'desperate' amid detente, urges end to 'hostile policy'
North Korea's ruling party newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, has lashed out at attempts by Tokyo to urge Washington to address its nuclear and missile programs at a planned U.S.-North Korea summit, calling the moves "desperate efforts" by a "trouble-maker creating only complexities" on Wednesday.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 16, 2018
North Korea threatens to cancel Trump-Kim summit over U.S. push for 'unilateral' denuclearization
North Korea abruptly threatened to cancel the summit between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump if the U.S. presses ahead with demands Pyongyang unilaterally relinquish its nuclear arsenal.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 15, 2018
Satellite imagery shows first evidence of buildings being dismantled at North Korean nuclear test site, monitor says
New commercial satellite imagery has provided the first definitive evidence that North Korea is dismantling its Punggye-ri nuclear test site ahead of a scheduled ceremony next week to mark the event, U.S. researchers said Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 14, 2018
Top U.S. diplomat Pompeo stokes concern over North Korea as Abe seeks to avoid being shut out of diplomatic process
Worries are running high in Tokyo that the mercurial Trump will leave Japan in the lurch.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 13, 2018
North Korea wants the world to watch as it blows up its nuclear test site, but are there ulterior motives?
North Korea wants the world to watch as it blows up its Punggye-ri nuclear test site, the country has said, announcing that it will hold a "ceremony" between May 23 and May 25, inviting foreign journalists to witness what it said would be a "transparent" event.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 13, 2018
China's first homemade aircraft carrier begins sea trials in demonstration of growing military prowess
China's first indigenously built aircraft carrier began inaugural sea trials on Sunday, in a display of the Asian giant's growing technological prowess and as it seeks to expand the reach of its navy further into the Pacific.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 10, 2018
Trump welcomes three Americans freed by North Korea in diplomatic win for U.S. president
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed home three Americans who had been detained by North Korea, greeting the trio at an air base outside Washington early Thursday after they were released hours earlier by Pyongyang. The release gives Trump a key diplomatic victory ahead of a highly anticipated summit...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 10, 2018
North Korea's Kim calls planned summit with Trump a 'historic' opportunity
North Korea has made official mention for the first time of a planned summit between leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, telling visiting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that it would be a "historic" opportunity, state media said Thursday.

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