does not reach more than 30 percent of the world population. very simple. that facility that's very convenient for the chinese. after all, the port will be full, very excused with the mediterranean, as potomac, kind of great sarcophagus. if anything he was proud of, it was to be a steal worker, like his grand parents and his parents. this is his business to come here for life . well the winners and losers. globalization, where do we stand? starts january 5th on d, w. ah, this is the w use asia coming up to date, who's the greatest security challenge. china and it's military activities in and around asia, bull, north korea, and it's nuclear threats against the south than the us here on display by kill yags troops. and that leader kim jong on

and from japan, a story of survival. the country's rural railways struggle as passenger number's full. so operate is the finding other weights to keep on rolling. ah, i've been fizzling. welcome. north korea, i should in the new year, vowing to mass produce battle field nuclear weapons targeting south korea and introduce a more powerful intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the united states made. but then so brought up the prospect of joint nuclear exercises with the u. s. president joe biden denies. they have been talks between the allies, south korea, reconfirming to state that they are in discussions following the height and it's

from the north. we've also received news that south korea carried out a solid fuel rocket test last week. the defense ministry says it was part of efforts to build a space based surveillance capability and bolts through its defense posture. it didn't notify the public causing a brief scare. some people thought it was a north korean missile. others, a u. f o. well, regional tensions and russia's war on ukraine has stoking fears in japan. it recently unveiled its biggest military build up since the 2nd world war. a $320000000000.00 plan that will buy missiles capable of striking china and radiate for sustained conflicts. east asian countries are responding to the changing status quo in the region. it's a challenge attempting to rapidly changing times. the idea of growing its own military muscle is a new in japan. it just didn't get prioritized. but in december,

the government finally announced a new national security strategy that will see its defense spending being doubled within 5 years. a response to china's military builds up and increasing activity in the region will give her an approval. i recognized that the present diplomatic and militaristic behaving of china poses a challenge to our efforts to wanting the peace and safety of japan and the pace and stability of the international community. and to solidify the international order based on the rule of law often bought manish york or state of aggregate. but it's not just china to japan. north korea's nuclear weapons program is also a very real threat. young young fired an unprecedented number of missiles in 2022 behavior that also worries, sol, or even after a denial from president joe biden self career insists. it's discussing possible

joint exercises with a u. s. using washington nuclear assets. this came after pyongyang labeled sol as it's unsolved at enemy and sent military drones into the south to none, surely on gun. it was such an incident that showed that our military's ready was training very insufficient over the years. or talk on anything clearly confirmed that stronger preparedness and training on needed or, you know, little crunch ha cornish but was south korea and japan a countering similar regional threats. relations between the 2 neighbors have also been at their worst and years. last month, south korea summoned a senior diplomat from japan's embassy following the announcement of tokyo's new national security strategy. so protested against japan's territory, claims over the contested islands of dock door or turkish shima in the plan. one of the past disputes hindering the neighbors closer ties despite their shared wish to

maintain the regions status quo. our estate correspondent can tell us more william young. let's start with japan's record defense budget. how does the government justify those measures considering its pacifist constitution? so the japanese government have laid out a very clear reason why they feel contempt and also necessary for them to raise the defense budget. they cited us threats coming from china, russia in north korea, as the primary reasons why japan needs to enhance its budget and also invest in a lot more defense capabilities. and one of the biggest changes that experts have pointed out is the counter strike capability, which well fundamentally changed japan's defense policy and the direction of japan's entire defense strategy. and its so called national security strategy.

japan makes a territorial claim over dispute islands with south korea, which is seen sol issue a strong protest. right. the island has long been a very sore point between so in tokyo and currently the south korea has actually a stand in a base. they are police over there by japan, has long also claim territorial integrity over the island. and this protest, i think, and comes at a point where the u. s. is really trying to build a partnership between japan and south korea in the, in the pacific. and in the south korean, in the pacific strategy that was just released last week, we also seen that they mention the very importance of strengthening the relationship with japan. so i think this island dispy will continue to be

a very difficult point for both countries to try to resolve as they try to build closer partnership in connection, especially on the security front. in the overall in the pacific strategy under the umbrella that is led by the united states. well, how does that dispute or how far back will that dispute then put south korea or in japan in a joint efforts to up whole regional piece? i think the biggest challenge to the bilateral trust between japan and south korea for them to strength and security relationship is going to come with the trust that they have with each other in obviously the dispute over these islands will continue to put some challenge over how both countries can overcome decades of mistrust between each other and then really becomes security partners that the u. s. can rely on. and at this point, we are not really seen both sides of putting forward

a very concrete plan for them to compromise or have reach consensus over these islands. so for them to be able to actually become reliable security partners in the region, they will definitely 1st have to make the 1st step to actually reach how and had bilateral relationship and talks over the status of these islands and put it into perspective for us. how much of a bigger threat is this growing thread from north korea's ballistic missile program? as we know, last year was the year that north korea conducted the highest number of their miss out tests in history. and just in the beginning of this year, they have already conducted to a large scale miss out test just before the new year and then on sunday as well. and then the new north train leader can one has also, mary made it really clear that they are going to increase their investment and the

abilities in the nuclear strike weapons. and they pointed to south korea in the u. s. as the primary threat for them to be pushed to do that. and so i think experts are also pointing out that essentially the skill of these tests should no longer just be characterized as a missile test. they should be viewed as military exercises because of this scale and the frequency that it's happening. and they are concerned that there is probably not going to be short term solution to de escalate attention that is currently really reaching appalling point in the korean peninsula. and you mentioned china before, how worried do we have to be about it's ambitions abroad? i think we should pay very close attention to the people's liberation army activities in and around asia. it's not only just in south china sea where they

have long been conducting these very provocative moves and try to expand their territorial claims. but at the same time, in the over the last year, they have been conducting regular military exercises with russia near japan. and that is exactly one of the points that was highlighted in japan's, a national security and national defense plans that china is now the greatest security challenge to japan and also to the international community. and we have and are continuing to see the close relationship with between russia and china, being highlighted by the 2 leaders. most recently, just a few days ago, she didn't p. m, the russian president vladimir putin met it via video conference. and they highlighted this importance of the bilateral relationship again. and so i think we need to pay very close attention to how china is really expanding, is ambition in south china sea in east tennessee. and obviously,

also in the time when street, where there are a lot of potential threats and also potential points that could potentially escalate the situation. the w william young, it could be an interesting 2023. 0, now for a story of survival, small trained companies in japan have been struggling as rural populations. decline and people switch the cause of the countries. nike 5 small railways, $91.00 lost money last year. but we report on one that refuses to be side tracked. cut slowly took him, auto is doing everything he can to keep this train service running. like dozens of other small japanese rail lines, this route that operates in boone, shiba is a loss maker. the number of passengers on this route has been declining, due to dwindling population in rural areas,

increase in car ownership and the pandemic. but the century old business has so far managed to get by gasoline vehicles, as revenue is decreasing every year. we have no option but to make a profit by doing something else that you're able to cover the cost of maintaining the robustness of georgia. that's it. now, 80 percent of the company's revenue comes from lawn train operations, including baking and selling its popular crackers, soaked in soy sauce organ remorse, here go through the crack. has a good or but i want to see the train keep running for a long time. i hope that local people, as well as for tourists, remember, using marketing partnerships. the train company did manage to attract some tourists to take a ride alongside these local passengers. that's also helping to boost a local economy. but the railway needs subsidies and loans to survive. of those

cells of cuddly toys also help is scott to so that other says to me, the time will come when else serviced as a railway firm will no longer be needed. but not yet. all. the trains are all matted and covered in brussels group. there 60 years old got it, but we believe there are many things we can still do well and we must keep moving forward since they're there. she also get that guy like ala. this attitude has cab this to carry, train, running every day. and like the ball said, moving forward, turning along, i'll see you tomorrow. bye bye. ah . people and trucks injured one, trying to flee the city center. more and more refugees are being turned away. warner families played on the taxi syrian police credit on this. we learned this trade,

people fleeing extreme ground carrying 200 people around the world. more than 300000000 people are seeking refuge. yes. why? because no one should have to flee. make up your own mind. w. made for mines. ah. ah, ah, a 3rd of the world is heading for a recession and inflation will continue to plague the global economy in work at less pay new research suggests we may need to reassess our assumptions about the cause of the gender pagan and the taste of africa in every school

will take you to cape town where ice cream lubbers are flocking to try some unconventional flavors. this is the w business. i'm kate ferguson. thanks for joining me. much of the world is heading for a recession with the war in ukraine. the pandemic and geopolitical tensions costing a long shadow over the global economy. thoughts of the rather bleak outlook the international monetary fund has communicated for this year. but perhaps there are some bright spots reporter war. the iran has been taking a look at new year and some new forecasts. 2023 is being tipped as a year of economic slowdown. that's according to the i m f, which says the china, the u. s. and the european union are set for a period of economic turbulence. let's begin with china, which is dealing with the massive corporate outbreak.