Jesse Johnson - The Japan Times

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Apr 2, 2018

Kim Jong Un: statesman and all-around normal guy? Not quite

Kim Jong Un: statesman and all-around normal guy?

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Mar 28, 2018

With historic meeting of leaders, North Korea and China shore up leverage as Kim-Trump talks loom

North Korea and China secured major diplomatic victories — and possibly more — this week with leader Kim Jong Un's visit to Beijing, a move that bolsters Pyongyang's leverage ahead of talks with Washington and returns Beijing to its role as a central player in the nuclear crisis roiling the Korean...

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 28, 2018

Mystery no more: North Korea's Kim meets Xi, says he's 'willing' to talk with Trump

North Korea's young leader, Kim Jong Un, has made an unannounced visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, state media confirmed Wednesday, apparently saying for the first time just weeks before a possible meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump that he is "willing" to sit down...

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 26, 2018

Chinese Air Force drills in South China Sea and Western Pacific, calls exercises 'rehearsals for future wars'

The Chinese Air Force has conducted a series of exercises in the contested South China Sea and the Western Pacific, where it sent fighter jets and bombers through Okinawa's Miyako Strait on Friday, labeling the exercises "rehearsals for future wars."

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 24, 2018

China accuses U.S. of 'serious provocation' after American warship sails near man-made island in South China Sea

China's Defense Ministry has accused the U.S. of "serious political and military provocation" after the U.S. Navy conducted its first so-called freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the disputed South China Sea since January.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 22, 2018

China should prepare for 'direct military clash' over Taiwan amid U.S. moves: Chinese paper

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 21, 2018

South Korea's Moon hints at possibility of three-way summit with North Korea and U.S.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday floated the possibility of a three-way summit involving the two Koreas and the United States in the wake of an North-South summit scheduled for next month and a possible meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before the...

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 21, 2018

Taiwan shadows China carrier through narrow strait after warning by Xi: report

Taiwan has sent ships and aircraft to shadow a Chinese aircraft carrier group through the narrow Taiwan Strait, its Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 20, 2018

Toned-down U.S.-South Korea military drills set for April 1 amid North Korea thaw

The U.S. and South Korea announced Tuesday that a toned-down version of annual joint military drills would begin April 1 amid a potentially monumental thaw in ties with nuclear-armed North Korea that could see the allies' two leaders hold separate summits with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 19, 2018

Top South Korean diplomat says Kim has 'given his word' on denuclearizing

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has "given his word" that he is committed to denuclearizing, South Korea's top diplomat said Sunday, a key condition for a potential summit with U.S. President Donald Trump planned for May.

JAPAN / Politics

Mar 18, 2018

North Korea says Japan 'may not get a ticket for Pyongyang' if pressure policy continues

North Korea threatens Japan over Tokyo's policy of pressuring it and says it “may not get a ticket for Pyongyang” if it continues.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 18, 2018

In rare direct message, North Korea's Kim congratulates China's Xi on re-election as president

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent a congratulatory message to China's Xi Jinping on his re-election as president, state-run media said Sunday, in a rare direct message between the two Asian leaders.

WORLD / Politics

Mar 17, 2018

'Oh, konnichiwa': U.S. interior secretary's remark to lawmaker of Japanese descent draws fire

U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke came under fire this week for what critics said was a "flippant" and "juvenile" use of a Japanese greeting when responding to a question from a congresswoman of Japanese descent during a House committee hearing.

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Mar 14, 2018

New top U.S. diplomat's hawkish views on Iran put North Korea detente in question

U.S. President Donald Trump has again cleaned house, this time firing his top diplomat and replacing him with his hawkish spy chief in a move that could have wide-ranging implications for a planned summit between the American and North Korean leaders slated to take place sometime before the end of May....

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 13, 2018

U.S. aircraft carrier and MSDF helicopter destroyer conduct joint exercises in disputed South China Sea

The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group has kicked off bilateral exercises with the Maritime Self-Defense Force, including one of the largest vessels in Japan's fleet, in the disputed South China Sea, the U.S. Navy said Tuesday.

ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS

Mar 12, 2018

Trump-Kim summit expectations high, but North Korea unlikely to part with its 'treasured nuclear sword' any time soon

After years of failed attempts by the United States and others, is U.S. President Donald Trump the man who can strip North Korea of its nuclear weapons and bring lasting peace to the Korean Peninsula?

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 11, 2018

Trump says Japan 'very happy' with North Korea talks that could bring 'greatest deal'

U.S. President Donald Trump voiced confidence Saturday that his agreement to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was the right decision, saying that Japan is "very happy with what I'm doing" and that the talks could result in "the greatest deal for the world" that eases nuclear tensions.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 10, 2018

U.S. seeks 'concrete actions' from North Korea before talks

The White House said Friday that President Donald Trump will not meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unless Pyongyang takes "concrete and verifiable actions," stoking confusion as the administration faced criticism for agreeing to talks while receiving few, if any, tangible benefits in return.

ASIA PACIFIC / Politics

Mar 9, 2018

Trump agrees to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on denuclearization

U.S. President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un by the end of May — a stunning and unexpected announcement that comes as the two historic adversaries dial back threats of nuclear annihilation and attempt to reach a deal on the issue of scrapping the North's...

ASIA PACIFIC

Mar 7, 2018

Trump optimistic, U.S. officials cautious amid signs of progress with North Korea on talks over relinquishing its nukes

U.S. President Donald signaled an openness to talks with North Korea on Tuesday, citing "possible progress" after the regime told visiting South Korean envoys that it was prepared to halt tests of nuclear weapons and missiles and would put scrapping its atomic arsenal on the table for discussion —...

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