Guangzhou seen as likely destination for N. Korean entourage

January 13, 2006

Chances that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who is believed to be on a visit to China, is in the southern city of Guangzhou surged Friday when an employee at a hotel there admitted he was staying there, and a motorcade arrived in front of the hotel in the morning. While Kim himself has yet to be spotted, tightened security near the five-star White Swan Hotel also pointed to the strong possibility that a dignitary was visiting the city.

Japan supports U.N. Security Council referral for Iran

January 13, 2006

Japan on Friday expressed support for the announcement by Britain, France and Germany that Iran should be referred to the U. N. Security Council over its recent decision to resume nuclear research but also called for increased diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said in a news conferences that he does not see ''any other option (to resolve the issue) than to report it to the U.N. Security Council unless Iran changes its current attitude.'' Foreign Minister Taro Aso also made a similar remark in a separate news conference.

Guangzhou likely to be destination for N. Korean entourage

January 13, 2006

Chances that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who is believed to be on a visit to China, is in Guangzhou surged Friday when an employee at a hotel in the southern city admitted that he was staying there, and a motorcade arrived in front of the hotel in the morning. While Kim himself has not been spotted, other signs near the White Swan Hotel also pointed to the strong possibility that a dignitary was visiting the city.

Prospects of final U.S. realignment plan by March uncertain: Aso

January 13, 2006

Foreign Minister Taro Aso indicated Friday it is uncertain whether compiling a final plan on the realignment of the U.S. military presence in Japan by March, as scheduled, is feasible. Aso said in a news conference that he ''cannot quite say at this stage whether it is okay or it is not,'' referring to the lack of conclusion over whether Japan and the United States can craft implementation plans by March as agreed upon in an accord last October on the realignment of the U.S. military presence in Japan.