NK missile launch disrupts Japanese PM's first day
發佈日期: 2025-10-22 21:06
TVB News
New Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi's first full day in the job took a dramatic turn as she reacted to a missile test by North Korea. The rockets were fired within North Korea territory and caused no damage.
Regional tensions went to the very top of Japan's first female leader's priorities just hours after she'd been voted into the job.
Sanae Takaichi leading in more ways than one. A potential trailblazer for gender equality. The 104th PM, a fourth for Japan in five years - the first woman.
She picked mostly men in her new cabinet. Two women were appointed. Satsuki Katayama is finance minister. Kimi Onoda as economic security minister.
Takaichi pledged to bring more women into top positions but in cutting deals with political partners that was always going to be difficult to achieve at first.
Most of the big hitters are male. Smiles from Takaichi who has a tough task ahead with low public opinion of politicians and regional tensions.
On Takaichi's first full day in the job, North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles.
The first major launch in five months. Fired from an area north of Pyongyang, the projectiles flew for about three hundred and fifty kilometres. It coincided with Takaichi's election victory.
The new Japanese prime minister elected with four votes over a majority. The euphoria of the day before quickly forgotten as the 64-year-old, literally entering the prime minister's office, telling journalists today had taken a dramatic turn.
She dodged initial questions, heading straight to a top level meeting. Later, emerging after talks, confirming North Korea's ballistic missile launch had been verified in Tokyo.
"I changed my schedule" she said. "The government is taking all possible measures communicating with the US and South Korea, including sharing real time data."
The prime minister, who's political career stretches back to the 1990s, says there was no damage from the rockets.
It comes ahead of APEC and a visit by Donald Trump to Japan next week. A tariff deal has been reached, and although Takaichi may agree to buy US soybeans, a bold commitment to defence spending is in the balance.
Takaichi's new Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi was asked about Trump's upcoming visit to Tokyo
"It is a good opportunity for the leaders to build trust on a personal level," said Motegi. "Regarding defence build-up our stance is: a nation should protect itself and it should be decided on the country's independent judgment. We will convey this to the US when they come."
