North Korea blasts Japan-US-South Korea joint aerial exercise
The chief of the ministry's Policy Office issued a press statement through the state-run Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA, on Sunday.
The statement expresses "serious concern" over what it calls the three countries' "hostile acts of persistently conducting provocative and threatening military actions."
It also "strongly" warns of what it describes as "grave consequences to be entailed by them on the regional situation."
The statement underscores that North Korea "will never tolerate any slightest act which exerts a negative influence on the security environment of the state." It also showed the country's readiness to take what it terms a "practical military counteraction."
The trilateral exercise took place on Friday off the coast of a southern part of South Korea to deal with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. It involved at least one US B-52 strategic bomber.
The top uniformed defense officials of Japan, the US and South Korea also met in Seoul the same day. They reaffirmed cooperation to address challenges posed by North Korea.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Times
6 hours ago
- Japan Times
In Japanese politics, rice is the 'third rail'
In the United States, Social Security is often referred to as the "third rail," meaning you touch it at your peril. In Japan, the "third rail" is rice. You disturb the supply of Japanese-grown ultrahigh-quality rice at a reasonable price at your peril. People around the world often do not understand that. For many, rice is rice. The U.S. government certainly does not get it. But in Japan, every region has its rice varieties and brands that are promoted and treasured for their subtle taste and texture differences. The Japanese have no trouble identifying which region produced the rice and its grade with just one bite. Japan should hold far more global rice tasting competitions, similar to wine tasting. The highest-class restaurants and Japanese inns feature the highest quality rice that is grown in their area. It is part of the Japanese travel experience to sample the cuisine in every region and rice is an integral part of it. Rice cultivation in Japan dates back to the Yayoi Period, approximately 2,500 years ago. It is part of the nation's most ancient religious rituals. Every Shinto shrine in Japan today has prominent displays of local residents' offerings, including large bags of locally produced rice and casks of sake made from that rice. Stay updated on Japan's rice crisis. Quality journalism is more crucial than ever. Help us get the story right. For a limited time, we're offering a discounted subscription plan. Unlimited access US$30 US$18 /mo FOREVER subscribe NOW When the Japanese discuss food security, they are primarily referring to rice. There is flexibility when it comes to imports of wheat, corn and beef, but Japanese-grown rice will be protected, whatever the cost. If we need to import more foreign-grown rice to resolve the tariff dispute with the U.S. over cars, we will utilize it in food processing and distribute it as Japanese aid to foreign countries. But the reality is that Japan faces severe challenges in its rice production ecosystem. Far too many farmers are above 65 with no successors. Far too many rice-growing farms are suboptimal in terms of the acreage available to support the cost of investing in highly automated AI-based production technologies. The Japanese government has been locked in a conundrum for decades: Maintain the price of rice grown in Japan at a government-set level that allows farmers to survive economically, but not to prosper. A policy then emerged to pay farmers to reduce the area planted with rice and leave it fallow or to switch to other crops. The system was rigid and lacked the flexibility to adapt to climate change or years with excessive rainfall, drought or extended high temperatures. The policy relied on massive warehouses of stored rice stock. However, using that to maintain stable market prices while keeping farmers financially sound requires political leadership, which Japan currently lacks. Today, Japan faces the consequences of that policy failure, marked by both empty grocery store shelves for rice and skyrocketing prices. With incredibly high rice prices becoming a significant voter issue ahead of the upcoming Upper House election, the Ishiba administration is engaged in a desperate attempt to stave off a third and final election defeat on July 20, which would force the cabinet to resign en masse. Who do they turn to? The Koizumi family. In the early 2000s, the prime minister, to great fanfare from abroad, Junichiro Koizumi, decided to privatize what was then a world-class postal system. The post offices, together with on-site banking and insurance, provided excellent service and also served as a social lifeline to isolated rural communities in Japan. He broke it into multiple pieces and then walked away. The service deterioration started almost immediately. Recently, the postal system has reached a nadir, with a five-year ban being imposed on the use of its national truck fleet to move mail due to safety violations involving alcohol testing of its drivers. Now, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has tasked farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi to find quick solutions to the rice system. While good-intentioned, like his father, he could inadvertently destroy the Japanese rice-growing culture, which has existed for more than 2,500 years. The major issues for rice farmers have been the same ones for quite some time. While the overall population is declining steadily, the average age of Japanese rice farmers now exceeds the normal retirement age and is increasing steadily. For decades, government policy was to intentionally reduce the amount of acreage under rice cultivation, despite the climate's impact on production. Under trade pressures, Japan imports over 750,000 metric tons of rice rather than investing in growing more of its own. The average acreage under cultivation by each farmer is too small to support investment in large-scale automation. Farmers are paid to not produce more rice. The Agricultural Ministry has historically attempted to achieve two contradictory objectives — maintaining a low consumer price of rice while keeping rice farmers barely afloat financially. And a third goal has been added: food security, which complicates the already bad calculus. Instead of paying farmers not to grow rice, we should be paying them to consolidate smaller plots from retiring farmers into larger ones and then provide financial and hands-on advanced technology so they can confidently invest in large-scale automation. We should conduct R&D to create new high-quality Japanese rice varieties that can thrive in the higher temperatures now experienced throughout Japan, especially in the highest-quality rice-growing regions. Food security means that the warehouses of rice inventory need to be strictly maintained to ensure it is not spoiled and tapped into when required, but immediately replenished. Keep the amateurs out to make a name for themselves away from rice. Japan's third rail will take them if they inadvertently damage our food security. Edo Naito is a commentator on Japanese politics, law and history. He is a retired international business attorney and has held board of director and executive positions at several U.S. and Japanese multinational companies.
Japan Times
11 hours ago
- Japan Times
As rice shortage hits donations, food banks urge politicians to tackle poverty
With rice shortages hitting vulnerable people especially hard ahead of Sunday's Upper House election, nonprofit groups are emphasizing the need for political leadership capable of taking effective measures against poverty. Food banks are struggling to secure rice and other food items to distribute to people in need as inflation has put a dent in donations. With measures to fight inflation high on the agenda in the Upper House election, food bank officials are calling for steps to tackle poverty amid growing economic gaps and a rising number of people having difficulties making ends meet. About 100 people waited in line in Tokyo's Sumida Park on June 15 to receive bento boxed meals with ingredients including donated food items. "I feel that poverty is spreading," said Mitsuo Nakamura, a 74-year-old member of Asile, an association based in Tokyo's Arakawa Ward that distributed the meals. "Political parties should create places to listen to the voices of people in need." Stay updated on Japan's rice crisis. Quality journalism is more crucial than ever. Help us get the story right. For a limited time, we're offering a discounted subscription plan. Unlimited access US$30 US$18 /mo FOREVER subscribe NOW "Assistance helps because I live on welfare," said an unemployed man in his 50s who was among those in line. "I want tax money to be spent on those who are really in need." An unemployed man in his 40s sought "policies that do not lead to higher prices" from candidates in the Upper House election. Asile members started food bank operations in Kanto in 2000, providing about one ton of rice a month to cafeterias that serve needy children for free or at low prices and facilities for the elderly. With donations decreasing since last autumn due to inflation, however, Asile was left with no rice at the end of March and was unable to distribute rice in April. The group resumed rice deliveries in May thanks to donor support but still struggles amid shortages of the staple, Asile officials said. According to a survey of food banks across Japan conducted in July last year by Food Bank Sendai, about 60% of 66 responding groups said that donations were on the decline due to rising prices in recent years. Reduced rice donations were cited by some 70%, according to the nonprofit organization based in Miyagi Prefecture. In fiscal 2024, the nonprofit organization provided support to a record of some 7,100 individuals, up about 40% from the previous year. At the same time, donations of rice have been insufficient. For fiscal 2025, the group is receiving rice from the government's stockpiles for free under a program launched this spring but still expects shortages. "More people than ever are having difficulty making ends meet," said Takahiro Kawakubo, 38, an executive of the group. "Even a small price increase could be fatal to people in need," Kawakubo added, urging politicians to pay attention to poverty and take measures such as raising social security benefits.
NHK
12 hours ago
- NHK
Trump slams supporters over report on conspiracy theory
US President Donald Trump has lashed out at some of his supporters, who are dissatisfied with a Justice Department report on a man who was acquainted with him and was charged with sex trafficking of girls. The man reportedly died by suicide in 2019 while in detention. But there is persistent speculation that a client list including famous people exists and he was actually killed to silence him. The Justice Department issued a report this month that concludes that he died by suicide and there is no client list. But some MAGA -- passionate Trump supporters -- are unconvinced by the report and are demanding the disclosure of more information. During the presidential election campaign last year, Trump called for looking into the conspiracy theory. But on Wednesday he denounced such people as "stupid." He said on social media that his past supporters accept the falsehoods and that he does not want their support anymore. A Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that 69 percent of respondents thought the government was hiding details about alleged clients. Reuters also reported that 17 percent approve Trump's handling of the case.
