Kyodo News Digest: May 7, 2022

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

———-

North Korea could be ready to conduct nuclear test this month: U.S.

WASHINGTON – The United States assesses that North Korea could be ready as early as this month to conduct its first nuclear test in years at its Punggye-ri test site, State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter said Friday.

“We’ve shared this information with allies and partners, and we’ll continue closely coordinating with them as well,” she said, while noting that President Joe Biden intends to demonstrate during his trip to Japan and South Korea later in the month that the U.S. commitment to their security is “ironclad.”

———-

Japan looking to resume accepting foreign tourists in June

TOKYO – Japan is looking to resume accepting some foreign tourists in June at the earliest, a government source said Friday, likely reversing a ban on their entry introduced during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ahead of the highly anticipated move that would boost the country’s struggling tourism industry, the government may accept a limited number of group tours on a trial basis by the end of May to see the impact on the COVID-19 situation, the source added.

———-

G-7 leaders to meet online May 8 in show of unity to pressure Russia

WASHINGTON – The leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations will hold a virtual meeting Sunday to discuss the latest developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine and demonstrate their continued unity in pressuring Moscow to end the aggression, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

U.S. President Joe Biden said earlier that the discussions will include whether or not to take additional punitive steps toward Russia, while saying his administration is “open to additional sanctions.”

———-

EU chiefs to visit Japan for talks with PM Kishida amid Ukraine war

BRUSSELS – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel will visit Japan next week and meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the European Union said Thursday, with Russia’s war against Ukraine and China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region expected to be discussed.

The EU said the summit, scheduled to be held on May 12, will provide “an opportunity to display the increasingly deep and dynamic alliance” between the regional bloc and Japan, which have similar values including a commitment to defending the rules-based international order.

———-

U.N. Security Council voices “deep concern” over Ukraine crisis

NEW YORK – The U.N. Security Council on Friday adopted a president’s statement on the ongoing Ukraine crisis, expressing “deep concern” over the situation in the country as it fights against Russia’s military aggression.

It is the first time for the often-divided council to issue a statement on the matter since Russia started its attack on Ukraine in late February. The document was adopted unanimously, with support from Russia along with the other members.

———-

Japan continues search for missing from sunken boat off disputed isle

SAPPORO – The Japan Coast Guard continued its search Friday of the sea around a Russia-controlled, Japan-claimed island off Hokkaido, two weeks after a tour boat accident that left 14 people dead and 12 missing.

A patrol boat searched the area near Kunashiri Island, one of four islands claimed by both countries, after Moscow permitted the boat to operate based on a bilateral accord on maritime accidents.

———-

U.S. economy adds 428,000 jobs in April, jobless rate steady at 3.6%

WASHINGTON – The U.S. economy created 428,000 nonfarm jobs in April, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged from the previous month at 3.6 percent, the Labor Department said Friday.

Growth in nonfarm payrolls exceeded the market consensus of an increase of 391,000. The unemployment rate remained at the lowest level since the coronavirus pandemic accelerated in March 2020.

———-

Baseball: Dragons’ Ono pretty much perfect in win over Tigers

TOKYO – Veteran left-hander Yudai Ono threw nine-plus flawless innings but came up short in his quest for Japanese baseball’s 17th perfect game on Friday, as his Chunichi Dragons battled to a 10-inning, 1-0 sayonara win over the Hanshin Tigers.

The 33-year-old hurler retired 29 straight batters into the 10th inning at Vantelin Dome Nagoya, but with Tigers starter Koyo Aoyagi also on fire in a gripping Central League pitching duel, Ono could not get run support early enough to achieve the milestone.