inspecting iran. u.n. investigators have landed in te rab to look into the country's nuclear program. nuclear inspectors are looking for answers. the team from the international atomic agency want to look into allegations iranian scientists are building nuclear weapons. iranian officials counter they're trying to make electricity. we have a report from teheran. >> reporter: the team led by the deputy director general arrived

in teheran on sunday. the iaea said in a report released last november that iran may have carried out tests of a highly capable explosive device that is used to ignite nuclear bombs. the itinerary of the delegation remains undisclosed. but iran has suggested it may allow the inspectors to visit a nuclear facility where uranium enrichment began this month. iranian foreign minister said on sunday iran has nothing to hide and all questions will be answered during the visit. he even offered to restart stalled notions with the west over its nuclear development. observers say iran's reconciliatory stance is an attempt to diffuse tensions as the u.s. and european countries ratchet up the pressure by

tightening economic sanctions against the country. >> the sanctions are designed to damage iran's nuclear development program. there's no evidence yet that goal is being achieved. we're seeing the impact the boycott is having on iranian people. they're paying for more things they need to get by. we also looked at that angle. >> reporter: the sanctions by western nations are seriously affecting the everyday lives of iranians. >> reporter: inflation is going up. the government has cut down subsidies for daily necessities to manage its tight budget. residents say food prices in teheran have doubled in just over a month.

>> reporter: many people are rushing to exchange the iranian currency for u.s. dollar or gold. the currency has plunged by nearly 50% against the dollar over the past month. the sanctions have resulted in an unexpected impact as well. iran is an oil exporting country. but it has to import gasoline because it has little technology to refine oil. the west has stopped exporting gasoline into iran. consumers have to use domestically produced gasoline of lower quality. this has caused serious air pollution. the number of hospital patients with respiratory diseases is on the rise. the u.s. and european nations have stepped up their efforts to

impose an embargo on imports of crude oil from iran. they have urged japan to do the same. but japan and iran have enjoyed cultural and economic relations for years. many iranians fear japan will give into the pressure from the west. >> as the sanctions intensify, people are iran are watching closely to see what japan will do. japan could be a very different country half a century from now. a new report predicts its population will shrink by 40 million by the year 2060.

to put that in perspective that's roughly the same number of people who live in spain. the national institute of population and social security research released statistics. numbers are prompting some experts to call on the government to overhaul its social security system. japan's population stood at 128 million as of 2010. the report says we'll fall below 100 million by mid century. it's expected the drop to 6 million by 2060. the average life expectancy for a man was more than 79 years in 2010. the report says that figure is likely to rise to more than 84 years. the average expectancy for women was more than 86 years in 2010. by 2060 women are expected to live longer than 90 years. the proportion of the population aged 65 or older was about 23% in 2010. the estimate suggests that proportion will reach 23% in

2035 and almost 40% in 2060. researchers predicted fife years ago that the average number of babies born per woman in mid century would be 1.26. this latest report says the average in 2060 will increase slightly to 1.35. still the general trend is toward having fewer children. this demographic shift is expected to have an impact on all facets of japanese society. a professor is urging the government to swifltly review social security measures including pension, employment and child rearing support. >> translator: none of japan's social security is designed to deal with such a rapid decrease in population or aging of society. the government needs to revise the current systems taking the expected demographic changes into account. it faces challenges of making political decisions and drawing up policies to address these

issues. next we go to bangkok to find out what's going on in the region. the nobel laureate will continue her tour around the country to garner support from other candidates from her country. she received an enthusiastic welcome as she visited a southern city. such scenes were unimaginable during the 7.5 years of her most recent house arrest when she was unable to make public appearances and was banned from politics. >> translator: in elections every single voter has their vote. and every vote is equally valued. with your support, we will work for the development of the country. please vote for our party in the

election. [ applause ] >> translator: she is the one who fulfills our hopes. i'm thrilled to see her. >> the government recently approved the official registration of the nld. it also released many political prisoners including major prodemocracy advocates. myanmar's economy is one of the least developed in -- the government shift toward democracy appears to be part of its effort to get economic sanctions lifted by western countries. the by-elections are scheduled for april 1st and will be fought over a total of 48 seats in the upper and lower houses of parliament in local assemblies. the nld is fielding candidates in nearly all those seats. kyi is running for a lower house seat in a constituency which she

is widely expected to win. the reforms in myanmar have altered many opinions about the country. but the new sense of optimism isn't shared by everyone. for years many people from myanmar fled the country in search of work or freedom. but as nhk world reports from the thai border, they often find their new lives are also filled with hardship. >> reporter: between myanmar and thailand -- every day people cross from myanmar often illegally to look for work. they total about 20,000 a year. they expect a better life.

but often they find it's tough. this garbage dump is close to the liver. i'm standing in a garbage mountain in a town on the thai board we are myanmar. the stink is really terrible. people from myanmar make a living by collecting garbage. the mountain of trash is dotted with people. they're searching for scraps of steel and plastic to sell. this 13-year-old came here with his family five years ago. he earns about $1 a day, too little to feed his family of four.

picking garr bang is the only way to get enough to eat. >> translator: my father is sick so i have no choice but to do this. >> reporter: a local ngo has built a school near the garbage site to help the children. about 150 students attend the school. they all live at the dump, but they get medical check ups and free meals through the school. his younger brother started at this school two years ago. after -- he stay collecting garbage, he goes to the school to pick up his brother.

he wishes he was also playing with his friends. but he has to support his family. he hopes that one day he too will go to school and become a doctor. >> translator: working at the dump site is no fun at all. it's just that there's no alternative job. i want to return to my hometown some day. >> reporter: he endures a tough job to support his family, but that doesn't stop him from dreaming that one day things

will get better. >> and that will wrap up our bulletin. >> thanks. some high tech firms are developing robots to help elderly or sick people get through their day. assistant robots help them get up and get around. some people worry about whether these machines might hurt instead of help. some robot makers are running a with theory of tests to make sure their products are safe. >> reporter: this man suffered a stroke eight years ago. and has been visiting a rehabilitation clinic ever since. the stroke left the right side of his lower body partially paralyzed. during his sessions, he uses a robot which helps him to walk. he just started using this robot last spring and can now slowly

climb stairs. something that was totally beyond him until now. >> translator: my goal is to be able to go naturally up and down the stairs. >> reporter: the device was developed to support patients like him who have trouble walking on their own. it works by responding to the faint electrical currents sent by the brain to the legs' skin surface. developed by a venture business, hal is now being used for rehabilitation at 120 medical organizations and clinics. >> translator: imagine after losing nearly everything a person is able to go about his daily life. this technology will thrive if

it can help people even partially regain the physical functions they've lost. >> reporter: major electrical appliance manufacturers are also getting involved in assistive robots. this bed which looks like an average hospital fixture is actually a robot. the risk of physical injury especially to the back is a major concern for staff of hospitals and rehabilitation centers when moving patients. the robot is meant to lighten the load in transferring patients from their beds to a wheelchair. this is a completely automatic hair washing robot. there's no doubt assistive robots like these can be of enormous use. but their public perception depends very much on safety. these company surveyed over 1,000 people in companies and

hospitals and found that 90% of sponts stressed the need for firm safety measures. >> translator: when people come into contact with robots, there's always the issue of safety and yet no international safety standards exist. without any standards there can be no products and there's no way to create a new industry. >> reporter: the government is now helping to solve this issue. the ministry of economy, trade and industry was central to building a facility the first of its kind to test rand approve the safety of assistive robots. in this test chamber, isolated from electromagnetive waves robots are examined to see if they function normally amid strong electrical interference. in this space, the robot is tested for durability. the hal walking suit has also

begun trials to see if it can withstand long hours of assistance. this state of the art laboratory conducts 18 types of safety tests. it was built in preparation for the introduction of international safety standards which are scheduled to be established two years from now. >> translator: by pioneering and leading the world, i hope to help popularize robot assistance not just in japan, but throughout the world. >> the center is currently testing ten assistive robots. in theory the establishment of such tests will make it easier for small companies to develop robots in the future and for more robots to be put to practical use. the people of north korea have had a new lead for more than a month now. the country ice state run media is continuing their efforts to get them to know kim jong un and

cement his authority. kim took part in december after his father died. earlier this month state run tv broadcast a biography about him to mark his birthday. >> the documentary is 50 minutes long. it focuses mostly on kim jong un's links to north korea's military. it shows him riding horse back, inspecting army units and getting on a tank. state media reported kim jong un companied his father to inspect missiles in 2009. he has made it clear he will press forward with the military first policy promoted by kim

jong il. we have some more insight. tell us more about what north korea's state run media have been doing to promote kim jong un? >> they have -- it's likely a sign of the regime's eergness to sell him as the legitimate successor. kim jong un made his first appearance in north korean media in september 2010. it happened during the nomination of new party leadership. a photograph showed him sitting two places to the right of his father. he held the title of vice chairman of the party's central commission. kim jong un featured prominently during his father's funeral. he began commander in chief of the armed forces on december 30th, the day the official period of mourning ended. the state tv biography you mentioned repeatedly shows kim

jong un in scenes similar to ones his father was in. for example, he rides a horse. kim jong il used to appear on a white horse. observers say these images are meant to cement kim jong un's legitimacy as leader. >> how is the transition of power going so far? >> the north korean regime is continuing to culture the personality ff kim jong un and was done for his father and grandfather. kim jong un is being portrayed as a man of the people. citizens are told how he ordered -- or how he himself replied to letters from ordinary workers. north korea is prepared for

important celebrations to include the 70th anniversary of the birth of kim jong il on february 16th. and the 100th anniversary of his grandfather's birthday on april 15th. there's even crucial test for the the new leader who will likely be eager to display his legitimacy by holding public ceremonies. of course, the big question is whether kim jong un will be able to control the country's army and ruling party. he's still in his training and lacks practical experience. north korea set it national slogan to -- however sanctions will make building its economy difficult. observers are watching to see how kim jong un will guide his country during these tough times. >> thank you. >> japan's labor ministry is trying to protect people who face abuse on the job. a panel of experts has defined

what constitutes workplace harassment. it's telling companies ways to deal with the problem. >> translator: condemnation from my boss was nothing out of the ordinary in my office. >> translator: i was forced to put on a performance at drink parties after work. >> panel members explain their findings monday. they defined workplace harassment as any action in which a superior causes mental or physical suffering to his or her employees. they categorize six forms of abuse. physical abuse, mental abuse, neglect or isolation, demand for an infeasible amount of work. providing no work or giving assignments that differ from experience or ability. excessive prying to private affairs is also considered a form of harassment. the labor ministry says the number of workplace harassment complaints is on the rise. they reached nearly 40,000 in 2011. that's a nearly six fold

increase since 2002. >> translator: workplace harassment deprives workers of their enthusiasm to work and could lore productivity as well. so it's crucial for companies to make their own rules. >> members of the labor ministry panel say working conditions vary from one company to another. they're calling on individual firms to spell out what constitutes harassment. then the companies will be expected to come up with solutions such as providing consult take services for employees. rachel ferguson is up next with weather. time for another weather update. let's head into eastern asia, specifically japan. we've been seeing continued heavy snow across the sea of japan side of the country. northwestern part getting up to about half a meter of snow in the last 24 hours.

as well as other areas about 34 centimeters. good news for all of you taking to the slope for the the weekend. as many people are. however, there's going to be even more snow and that could cause some problems certainly another half a meter possibly in the next 24 hours. and as we head on into the middle of the week there's going to be even heavier snow. it's this low pressure moving aacross the korean peninsula. it will bring a few centimeters of snow. as it develops over the sea of japan and parts of the north could see another meter of snow, fresh snowfall. so really, really piling up here. now most of the continent look quite dry at the moment. there will be some problems with fog potentially for parts of central china in early hours of the morning in. the south we have seasonal thunderstorms scattered across indoe china as well as the philippines. the monsoonal flow will be intensifying. wnz central parts of the

philippines could see heavier rain coming in. temperatures 7 in tokyo. just about on target in tie pie. 18. 10 in shanghai. across the north it is going to be getting much, much cooler. seoul 0. 0 in beijing as well. there's frigid air will bring the high in seoul down to minus 7 on wednesday. that low will be about minus 15. so you really need to bundle up as that surge of frigid air comes in. a bit of a quiet start to the week as we head into north america here. things are clearing up for the pacific northwest in the u.s. here. it's been a little bit wet and windy, but the heavy showers will continue for you in coastal british columbia. idaho seeing some snow coming down. the strong wind will be buffetted about as well. possibly drifting snow, blowing snow problems there. we've got some snow also coming across the great lakes region. just a few centimeters. nothing too heavy. what this warm front is going to be doing is really bringing the

temperatures up acrs the east. let's take a look at those now. i'll show you what's going to be happeni happening. 17 in denver. 17 in oklahoma city. 4 in new york by monday. by tuesday it goes up to 11. that's eight above average. d.c. also ten degrees above average. memphis up to 21. these are really spring like temperatures. usually we see this in march, april time. as we head on into europe next i want to talk about what's happening out here to the west. we've got a front that's ascending across france and down towards the iberian peninsula. a few centimeters of snow in paris on your tuesday. then it's quite unstable here across the mediterranean parts of italy as well as the northern coast of africa you're going to be seeing some thunderstorms maybe a destructive winds as well. then another low pressure system here sitting over the black sea. this one's going to be churning away bringing mountain snow and sending a front down that means thunderstorms towards the south of turkey and also parts of the

northern middle east. nothing much in terms of precipitation in terms of central and eastern europe, but it is frigid. minus 14 in kiev as well as moscow. these are the highs. it is going to be getting cooler right in towards the west as we head into tuesday and then wednesday. here's your extended forecast.

that's our broadcast for this hour on "newsline." thank you for watching. bye-bye. .