his subscriber family is like sometimes a seed is all you need to allow the big ideas to grow. we're bringing environmental conservation to life with learning pass like global ideas. we will show you how climate change and environmental conservation is taking shape around the world and how we can all make a difference. knowledge grows through sharing, download it now for free. now 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 and the us here on display by kill yanks troops and their leader kim jong on

and from japan, a story of survival. the country's rule re ways struggle as passenger number's full, so operate as to finding other weights to keep on rolling. ah, i made 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 stay that they are in discussions following the height and threats from the north. we've also received use that south korea carried out

a solid fuel rocket test last week. the defense ministry says it was part of if it's to build a space based surveillance capability and bold stewart's defense post trip. 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 adapting to rapidly changing times. the idea of growing its own military muscle is in you 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 built up and increasing activity in the region. given a to go, i recognize that we present to pull magic militaristic behavior of china. post is a challenge to our efforts to maintain the peace and safety of japan guide and the pace and stability of the international community. and to solidify the international order based on the rule of law, often for my new 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 were resorted or even after a denial from president joe biden, south korea and says it's discussing possible joint exercises with

a u. s. using washington nuclear assets. this came after pyongyang labeled so as it's unsolved at enemy and sent military drones into the south to none soon. gosh, it was such an incident that shows that our military is ready with some training very insufficient over the years, or talk on anything clearly confirmed that stronger preparedness and training on needed. or, you know, room 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 summit, a senior diplomat from japan's embassy. following the announcement of tokyo's new national security strategy. so protested against your pants to rhetoric claims over the contest it islands of dock door or package shima in the plan. one of the pos dispute, hindering the neighbors closer ties,

despite their shared wish to maintain the regions status quo. our east asia 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 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 a point at our isde, a 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 on the island has long been a very sore point between so in tokyo and currently the south korea have actually sent in a bass. they are police over there, but japan has long also claimed territorial integrity over that 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 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 all, how far back will that dispute then put south korea in japan in their joint efforts to uphold regional piece? i think the biggest challenge to the bilateral trust between japan and south korea for them to strengthen 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? fred 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 missile test just before the new year, and then on sunday as well. and then the new north train lead a can. one has also, mary made it really clear that they are going to increase their investment and

their abilities and the nuclear strike weapons. and they pointed to south korea in the us 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 the skill and the frequency that it's happening. and they are concerned that there is probably not going to be a 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 train companies in japan have been struggling as rural populations decline and people switch to cause of the countries 95 small railways. 91 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 real 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 because only think of 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 a good. now, 80 percent of the company's revenue comes from lawn train operations, including baking and selling its popular crackers, soaked in soy sauce, orkin remorse. here we 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 coming and using marketing partnerships, the train company did managed 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. although

cells of cuddly toys also help it's got to so that other says, maybe the time will come when else a service as a railway firm would no longer be needed. but not yet. all the trains are all matted and covered in brussels career, but they're 60 years old. got it. but we believe there are many things we can still do. what? oh and we must keep moving forward since they're there. she also get there. you got like a this attitude has cab this to carry, train running every day and like the boss 3rd moving forward. having a long, i'll see you tomorrow. bye bye. ah . ah, what secrets lie behind these walls? discover new adventures in 360 degrees. and explore fascinating world heritage sites d w world heritage. $360.00 get the out. now. i

discovered stories that can change your mind just a click away. find out best documentaries on you to see the world as already subscribed low to d w documentary. 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 a taste of africa in every scoop will take you to cape town,

where ice cream lovers are flocking to try some unconventional flavor. 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 casting 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 ward, or 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 a massive corporate outbreak. beijing.