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North Korea
Sakie Yokota (left), whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, speaks at a rally on the abduction issue in Tokyo on May 30, 2026, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front row, middle) also attended. Photo: Kyodo
Japan

Japan PM vows ‘breakthrough’ with North Korea in abduction issue

Japan officially lists 17 Japanese nationals as having been abducted by North Korea, with five returned in 2002.

South Korea

Professor disciplined after saying ‘8 in 10 Korean women’ engaged in sex work

The Philippines

How Philippines and Japan future-proofed ties amid China tensions, US wavering

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Japan

Japan’s hefty visa fees, digital entry system move closer to implementation

Once the fee changes are rolled out later this year, the upper limit will be set at US$630 for visa renewals.

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A traveller walks past an image of Mount Fuji in the arrivals terminal at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on May 20. Photo: AFP
A traveller walks past an image of Mount Fuji in the arrivals terminal at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on May 20. Photo: AFP
Japan

Is self-censorship behind Japan’s ‘problematic’ press freedom ranking?

Media insiders say Japan’s press is rarely overtly repressed, but access pressures and newsroom caution still shape what gets reported.

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South Korea

‘Transitory euphoria’: South Korea’s strong economic outlook masks key hurdles

The surge in demand for semiconductors is cyclical, while other sectors in the country are lagging, analysts say.

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South Korea

Desperate search for Busan rooms: ‘obscenely high’ prices anger BTS fans

‘I wanted to explore the city, but I’m now forced to find accommodation elsewhere,’ a K-pop fan says.

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BTS members attend the American Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday. Photo: Reuters
BTS members attend the American Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Japan

Japan Airlines wants to blast human culture into space and land it on the moon

The carrier is selling payload space to preserve Earth’s heritage from climate change and war, but sceptics dismiss it as a PR stunt.

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Transport and logistics

Polar shipping era: China, South Korea bypass old trade lines amid Hormuz crisis

Passage through the waters could reduce transit times to Europe, offering an alternative to traditional routes amid rising geopolitical risks.

Japan

Japan enacts law centralising intelligence gathering

The move is a significant first step in the government’s plans to expand Japan’s counter-espionage architecture.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to the media at her official residence in Tokyo on Monday. Establishing the council is a key aim in the governing agenda for Takaichi, a security hawk who has pledged to strengthen intelligence and counter-espionage capabilities. Photo: Kyodo/via Reuters
South Korea

Underage dating claims left Kim Soo-hyun in tears, but now there’s a plot twist

A YouTuber was arrested for allegedly using AI-generated evidence to defame the star by linking him to the late actress Kim Sae-ron.

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South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun cries during a press conference in Seoul last year. Photo: Reuters
South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun cries during a press conference in Seoul last year. Photo: Reuters
Japan

Russia’s military activity has Japan fearing a dual-front war

Japan scrambled its fighter jets 448 times in nine months last year. Most of the intercepts involved Russian or Chinese aircraft.

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South Korea

South Korea eyes first nuclear submarine by mid-2030s, but hurdles run deep

Delayed US talks, non-proliferation concerns and budget pressures stand in the way of Seoul’s bid to boost its defence, analysts say.

South Korea

South Korea’s lonely, stressed Gen Z find escapism in apps that do nothing

Fake delivery and smoke-break sites offer stress relief to South Korean youth, simulating orders without cost and easing cravings.

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Gen Z in South Korea find comfort in “dopamine sites” like fake food delivery apps that simulate experiences without real-world cost.
Japan

Japan eyes new rules to curb US, China and Russia space arms race

Japan is ‘best placed’ to establish new rules given its space capabilities and strong support for nuclear non-proliferation, analysts say.

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An illustration shows a military satellite shooting a laser at the Earth. Photo: Shutterstock
An illustration shows a military satellite shooting a laser at the Earth. Photo: Shutterstock
The Philippines

‘Like an aeroplane landing’: deadly building collapse shocks Philippine city

James Bernardo was delivering food in Angeles City when the structure collapsed behind him, with the wreckage also affecting nearby businesses.

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South Korea

3 killed in South Korea after ageing overpass collapses during safety check

One section collapsed ‌while ‌senior public works officials ⁠and private sector experts were inspecting the support structure.

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Japan

Japan baseball manager quits after arrest over alleged assault on daughter

The Japanese baseball team’s manager allegedly grabbed the 18-year-old and forced her to the floor at their Tokyo home.

Shinnosuke Abe, manager of the Yomiuri Giants, is accused of assaulting his daughter. Photo: AFP
Shinnosuke Abe, manager of the Yomiuri Giants, is accused of assaulting his daughter. Photo: AFP
South Korea

‘My fault’: tycoon takes blame to quell fury over Starbucks Korea ad blunder

Chung Yong-jin’s apology came as backlash deepened over the coffee chain’s marketing campaign mocking South Korea’s pro-democracy history.

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The Philippines

Marcos’ historic Japan trip: what will Philippine leader seek from Takaichi?

Japan is a key counterweight for the Philippines to deal with its maritime challenges in the South China Sea, analysts say.

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Japan

Why a 2-year US missile delay could expose a ‘serious contradiction’ with Japan

Analysts said any delay could hinder Tokyo’s defence build-up but also open the door for Japanese firms to produce more US-designed weapons.

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The US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black fires a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile in support of the attack on Iran from an undisclosed location on February 28. Photo: US Navy
Japan

19 taken to hospital in Japan after suspected tear gas released in Tokyo mall

More than 50 emergency vehicles were activated after police received a call about an irritating smell and people coughing inside the mall.

Firefighters and police officers stand in front of the Ginza Six luxury shopping centre in Tokyo’s Ginza district after a man allegedly sprayed a substance inside the mall on Monday. Photo: EPA
Firefighters and police officers stand in front of the Ginza Six luxury shopping centre in Tokyo’s Ginza district after a man allegedly sprayed a substance inside the mall on Monday. Photo: EPA
Japan

Founder of Japan’s 7-Eleven chain Toshifumi Suzuki dies aged 93

The ‘father of the convenience store’ was the first to come up with the idea of selling onigiri at 7-Eleven outlets.

Japan

Dozens injured in Japan after man sprays mystery liquid in Tokyo shopping centre

An elderly woman said her throat started ‘stinging and hurting’ as she approached the ATM where the liquid had been sprayed.

Japan

Japan to scour social media in hunt for visa overstayers, illegal workers

The Immigration Services Agency also plans to crack down on individuals who employ foreign workers without valid visas.

Japan plans to monitor social media to curb visa overstayers and illegal foreign workers. Photo: Reuters
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