North Korea to test a submarine-launched ballistic missile, South Korea reports

The other news of the day: Japan is set to allow tourists into the country after two years, blast kills at least 12 in Afghanistan, a boat carrying Chinese nationals sinks off the coast of Cambodia, the Philippines starts talks with Russia about buying oil.

 


NORTH KOREA

North Korea is preparing to test a submarine-launched ballistic missile. South Korea’s military detected signs to this effect this week in Sinpo, South Hamgyŏng province. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is set to meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris, who will travel to Tokyo for the state funeral of Shinzo Abe.

EAST ASIA

Hong Kong and Japan have relaxed anti-COVID-19 border restrictions. Hong Kong ended its compulsory quarantine hotel policy, while Japan announced that, starting 11 October, foreign tourists will be able to enter the country after more than two years of closure.

CAMBODIA – UNITED STATES

Some 300 Cambodians living in the United States staged a protest in front of the United Nations building in New York during Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's address to the General Assembly, demanding the release of political prisoners and the implementation of democratic reforms. Protesters showed pictures of members of the now-banned Cambodian National Rescue Party held in prison.

CHINA – CAMBODIA

A boat carrying 41 Chinese nationals sank off the coast of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, a town notorious for human trafficking. As a result, one person is dead, more than 20 are missing, while another 19 people were rescued.

PHILIPPINES – RUSSIA

The Philippines held talks with Russia over the purchase of fuel and other basic goods, including fertilisers and foodstuffs, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said in an interview. The aim is to diversify the country’s supply chain in order to keep prices low. Despite sanctions against Russia, Marcos said that “the national interest comes first”.

AFGHANISTAN

A blast killed 12 people and wounded 41 in Kabul yesterday. But according to local sources, the death toll could be two or three times higher than reported by the Taliban. The explosion took place near the Wazir Akbar Khan mosque in the city centre.

RUSSIA

Various news media are trying to report Russia’s partial mobilisation, describing it as taking place at a fast pace. Men trying to avoid the draught are stopped in the streets while recruitment centres have been set up in schools with students directly loaded onto AvtoGAZ vans from classrooms.

TAJIKISTAN – KYRGYZSTAN

Ulan Bakasov, a lawmaker in the Kyrgyz parliament (Žogorku Keneš), said residents in border regions with Tajikistan should be given defensive weapons, starting in Batken, after clashes were reported along the border between the two countries. Huge quantities of humanitarian aid are said to be arriving in the area from across the country.