Accessibility links
Asia Asia

Asia

National Security

White House Drops Victor Cha As Candidate For Ambassador To South Korea

After he criticized the idea of a U.S. preemptive strike on North Korea, Victor Cha is no longer the White House's candidate for Ambassador to South Korea. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Frank Aum of the U.S. Institute of Peace about the Trump administration's "bloody nose" strategy.

White House Drops Victor Cha As Candidate For Ambassador To South Korea

Listen · 4:27
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/582240496/582240497" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

National Security

Experts Concerned About Idea Of A Preemptive Strike Against North Korea

The White House's withdrawal of Victor Cha as a candidate for ambassador to South Korea comes as an apparent result of differing views on the idea of using a preemptive strike against North Korea.

Experts Concerned About Idea Of A Preemptive Strike Against North Korea

Listen · 3:23
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/582240489/582240490" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
White House Scuttles Ambassador Pick Apparently Over View On North Korea Policy

President Trump's State of the Union address is broadcast at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday. The White House is no longer considering Victor Cha for the South Korea ambassadorship. Lee Jin-man/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Lee Jin-man/AP

The Two-Way

White House Scuttles Ambassador Pick Apparently Over View On North Korea Policy

Victor Cha, the top candidate for ambassador to South Korea, voiced his opinion that a pre-emptive strike against North Korea could be very dangerous. He is no longer being considered for the post.

Fujifilm To Acquire Photocopying Pioneer Xerox In A $6.1 Billion Deal

The logo of Fuji Xerox Co., the joint venture between Fujifilm Holdings and Xerox, is displayed outside the company's headquarters in Tokyo. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Two-Way

Fujifilm To Acquire Photocopying Pioneer Xerox In A $6.1 Billion Deal

The deal signals the end of independence for a once-iconic U.S. company. Tokyo-based Fujifilm said it will cut 10,000 jobs as part of the restructuring of its 56-year-old joint venture with Xerox.

Learning To Love Sake: Japan Ramps Up Efforts To Entice Foreign Markets

Empty sake bottles lined up outside a restaurant in the Daikanyama area of Tokyo. Graham Crouch/Getty Images/Lonely Planet Image hide caption

toggle caption
Graham Crouch/Getty Images/Lonely Planet Image

The Salt

Learning To Love Sake: Japan Ramps Up Efforts To Entice Foreign Markets

Faced with a shrinking market and workforce, Japanese sake brewers are relying more on exports for growth. So, the government and sake industry are investing in education to help demystify the drink.

Sports

American With Korean Heritage Will Play On Korea's Women Hockey Team At Olympics

Athletes from North and South Korea joined together for the Olympics. NPR's Michel Martin talks with Randi Griffin, an American whose mom is South Korean, about playing on the women's ice hockey team.

American With Korean Heritage Will Play On Korea's Women Hockey Team At Olympics

Listen · 5:33
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/581460853/581460854" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Decades After They Were Held Captive By North Koreans, U.S. Crew Seeks Compensation

Fifty years ago, 82 American crew members of a Navy spy ship were taken hostage by North Korea. Three crew members were part of a $9 million settlement in 2017, but others have yet to be compensated.

Decades After They Were Held Captive By North Koreans, U.S. Crew Seeks Compensation

Listen · 3:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/581460860/581460861" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

What To Make Of North Korea's Olympic Overtures

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Jung Pak at the Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies about North Korea's military and diplomatic goals ahead of the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

What To Make Of North Korea's Olympic Overtures

Listen · 4:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/581268984/581268985" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Rare Disease Finds Fertile Ground In Rohingya Refugee Camps

By mid-January, there had been nearly 5,000 reported cases of diphtheria in the camps and 33 deaths. Allison Joyce for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Allison Joyce for NPR

Goats and Soda

Rare Disease Finds Fertile Ground In Rohingya Refugee Camps

Diphtheria is not seen in the West because almost everyone is vaccinated against it. But it's been infecting thousands of the refugees in Bangladesh.

Rare Disease Finds Fertile Ground In Rohingya Refugee Camps

Listen · 4:01
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/581070933/581269080" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Bill Richardson: 'Aung San Suu Kyi Needs To Start Listening'

Aung San Suu Kyi (center), poses with Bill Richardson (2nd right) and other members of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State after their meeting in Myanmar on Monday. Myanmar State Counsellor Office via AP hide caption

toggle caption
Myanmar State Counsellor Office via AP

Parallels

Bill Richardson: 'Aung San Suu Kyi Needs To Start Listening'

Myanmar's leader has "moved in a dangerous direction," the veteran negotiator tells NPR. "She doesn't want any dissent," he says. "She's got to change."

Will A Scandal Over Expensive Watches Bring Down Thailand's Government?

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan raises his hand to shade the sun, revealing a luxury watch and diamond ring, during a Dec. 4 ceremony at Government House. The expensive jewelry set off an outraged reaction in Thailand. Krit Phromsakla Na Sakolnakorn/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Krit Phromsakla Na Sakolnakorn/AP

Parallels

Will A Scandal Over Expensive Watches Bring Down Thailand's Government?

The deputy prime minister is believed to own some 25 luxury watches, worth more than $1 million. The fallout has tarnished the government's image, leading some to wonder how much longer it will last.

Will A Scandal Over Expensive Watches Bring Down Thailand's Government?

Listen · 3:49
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/580657904/580959420" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Walmart To Launch Online Grocery Delivery In Japan, E-Book Sales In U.S.

A woman pushing a stroller walks in front of a Rakuten Cafe store at a shopping district in Tokyo in 2014. Rakuten is Japan's largest e-commerce company. Yuya Shino/Reuters hide caption

toggle caption
Yuya Shino/Reuters

The Two-Way

Walmart To Launch Online Grocery Delivery In Japan, E-Book Sales In U.S.

The U.S. retailing giant is partnering with Japan's biggest e-commerce company with the aim of advancing in a competitive international market. Walmart has also announced layoffs at its headquarters.