south korea's president vows to hit back hard if north korea attacks. she's responding to a declaration from her neighbor that the countries are in a state of war. more than 16,000 people who have homes in a town near japan's damaged nuclear plant can now visit during daytime hours. but it will take years before they'll be able to live there again. welcome to nhk world "newsline." south korea's president has told their military commanders be

ready to respond to any north korean provocation. pack geun-hye has heard threat after threat from authorities in pyongyang. she's vowing to fight back without worrying about the political consequences. defense ministry officials briefed park on monday. she said she takes the recent string of north korean moves and threats very seriously. she acknowledged that the north koreans have scrapped a nonaggression treaty, cut off a military hotline and unilaterally announced they have entered a state of war with the south. >> translator: if any provocations happen against our people and our country, the military should respond powerfully early on without any political considerations. >> a navy commander briefed park by video link. he said north korean forces carried out a massive military drill last week near the border in the yellow sea. he added the north still had five vessels near the area.

north korean authorities are pushing ahead with programs that governments around the world are trying to halt. state-run media are reporting delegates for the supreme people's assembly endorsed legislation to solidify their country's status as a nuclear armed nation. they also created a new department for space development. the supreme people's assembly is north korea's parliament. it usually meets once a year. delegates s prove decisions an the national budget, new legislation, and leadership changes. this is the first time they've gathered since north korean scientists launched a rocket in december, and held a nuclear test in february. ahead of the meeting senior members sat down to gather on sunday. first secretary and north korean leader kim jong-un announced plans to strengthen the nation's nuclear and missile capabilities. he also said the regime would rebuild the economy, which is stagnant, and improve the people's standard of living. the economic interests of

north korean leaders are in some cases trumping feelings of animosity they have toward their neighbor. they allowed workers to cross, but the workers say the atmosphere at the facility as changed. north korean officials said over the week they would close the industrial park if south korea continued to try to undermine their dignity. they said they would allow personal in and out of the zone. so many of them said operations at the complex were no different than any other day, but some mentioned heightened tensions and tougher security checks by north korean authorities. >> translator: authority korean workers did not respond to me even though i started to start conversations. their attitude toward south

korean workers changed. the operations are the source of badly needed foreign currency for the north. the friction on the korean peninsula is generating heat across asia. earlier i speak to nhk world's kengo komoato who worked as a correspondent in seoul and watched this kind of crisis unfold before. why are the north koreans being more provocative now? >> authorities in pyongyang are responding to the joint military drill that u.s. and south korean forces began last month. these annual exercises always prompt an anger reaction from the north koreans. but this time, they seem outraged, because the americans used the b-2 stealth bombers, which is unusual. and the u.s. also tested a b-52 strategic bomber. both planes can carry nuclear missiles. north korean officers, officials, are taking this

opportunity to build up supporter for young leader jong-un. they resorted to their old tactic of lashing out against an enemy to build support among citizens. in this case, the enemy is the u.s. and of course south korea. the north koreans are also responding to political change across the border. south koreans elected park geun-hye as president. instead of a candidate who takes a softer approach toward the north. plus, members of the u.n. security council toughened sanctions against the north to try to smother its nuclear and missile programs. china, north korean's longtime ally, voted in favor of the action. >> what is the jong-un regime trying to achieve? what's the end game here? >> yes, gene. the north koreans are trying to heighten the sense of crisis. direct talks with the u.s.

kim reportedly told former star american basketball player that he wants to hear from president obama. here is what dennis rodman said in march after his visit to north korea. >> he want obama to do one thing -- call him. >> he wants a call from president obama? >> that's right, he told me that. he said if you can, dennis, i don't want to do war, i don't want to do war. he said that to me. >> north korean officials know president obama was reluctant to negotiate with them during his first term. now that he's started his second term, they are hoping he'll change his position. they insist nuclear war can break out at any time on the korean peninsula. they've gotten the attention of american readers with their threats to bomb asia and the u.s. mainland. they believe negotiations are possible. >> how long do you think the north korean leaders will keep

up their provocative behavior? >> yes, gene, it's a hard question. but possibly until the u.s. suspend military drills. finish this month. north korea is looking ahead to july 27. the 60th anniversary of the armistice that ended the korean war in 1953. also in pyongyang, recently announced they would unilaterally nullify the armistice. this sounds like a threat to provoke the u.s. and south korea. north korean leaders could be aiming to get a peace agreement to replace the armistice. it's unclear what they will gain this time around. but they managed to put officials in the u.s. and asia on alert. and get people wondering what kind of moves they'll make next. five published daily newspapers from returned to myanmar for the first time in

half a century. dhra dhirakaosal in bangkok is following this story. dhra, good evening. new publications are already rolling off the press, and many more are expected to follow. they come after a move by the government of myanmar to ease censorship in the country. nhk world reports. thi hz ha thwe report ha thwe h. >> reporter: on monday, four privately run daily papers hit news stands in myanmar's largest city of yangon. in the 1960s myanmar's military government forced free publication censorship. because of the time needed to get approval, private publishers could issue only on a weekly basis. daily papers. citizens like having the new sources of information.

>> translator: newspapers used to mean government propaganda. but with the private dailies, i can finally learn what's really happening. >> reporter: that all began to change last year while the government lifted regulations. by march, authorities had granted permits to 16 private papers. >> translator: although private dailies have gone on sale, they still have a long way to go to improve their quality. i want them to carry more in-depth reports to satisfy the readers. >> reporter: groups, including -- are set to launch more than 20 daily papers in the country. media analysts view the loosened restrictions as a move by the government to showcase democratic reforms, both at

home, and to the world. nhk world, yangon. india's supreme court has made a landmark decision that has major implications for both the pharmaceutical industry and the world's poor patients. the court rejected a swiss firm's attempt to win patent protection for its cancer drug. in the ruling handed down on monday, the court says the compound made by novartis is not novel enough to qualify for a patent. the company filed the case seven years ago. india has stricter pharmaceutical patent requirements than other nations. for example, it doesn't allow patents for tweaks to existing drugs. this common industry practice is -- india a major producer of copycat drugs which mimic branded products. it also makes generic medicines which are based on expired patents.

indian-made alternatives can cost less than 10% the price of branded drugs. health officials believe that more than alf of the aids drugs used in developing nations come from india. aid groups are applauding the court decision saying it protects the right of the poor to medical treatment. >> i think the supreme court said they definitely abuse this practice of getting many patents on one drug. >> but the country's growing drug industry is raising concerns. analysts point out that cheap alternatives from india could make it difficult for pharmaceutical companies to continue the expensive development of new medicines. responding to the court decision, novartis released a statement saying that patents safeguard innovation and encourage progress. the company sees the ruling as a setback for patients, as it hinders development of drugs for

diseases that do not currently have effective treatment options. patients around the world need affordable treatment, and pharmaceutical companies seek to protect their intellectual property rights. the debate on how to best balance the two is likely to remain centered on india. the rapid economic development powering emerging economies of southeast asia is welcome to most. but there's always a price to pay. whether it's through pollution, the destruction of ecosystems or in human terms, the cost of progress can be steep. but for some the stakes have been even higher. nhk world reports on the latest killing of an environmental activist in thailand. >> reporter: once it was a

family but now there are only four left. in late february, the head of the family. a memorial made by neighbors for the former chief is displayed at his house. >> translator: i grieve that he has gone. he is everything to our family. he did so many things for everyone. i'm sure he died because of his work for the community. >> reporter: i am standing where he was killed. witnesses say gunmen shot him four times in broad daylight before fleeing the scene. the killing shocked villagers because he was a prominent leader in the local movement against environmental pollution. for years, toxic dumping has

been applied on the province, about 100 kilometers east of bangkok. there are 11 industrial waste dump sites near the village. most of the toxic waste comes in from the industrial -- that are powering the economy. underground water the only source of drinking water for the village has been contaminated by leaking chemicals. villages have been forced to endure bad smells, skin disease and headaches. >> translator: around 3,000 villagers have been affected. in their blood we found phenol which should not be in the human body. the authorities found the same type of contamination in groundwater in the area. >> reporter: he was fighting

this common crisis alongside other villagers and his brother john. it brought to the attention of the authorities and singled out those companies that aare accused of dumping toxic waste. the national human rights commission began an investigation. police told nhk they believe for jobs activists attracted the attention of a people who then gunned him down. >> translator: there must be a mastermind hiring the hit man. the cause of this killing is as what the media said, and the residents have known this all along. >> reporter: human rights advocates warn that -- >> since 2001, more than 35 environmentalists and human rights defenders have been

killed. there is very little serious investigation by law enforcement authorities in southeast asia countries let alone any successful criminal prosecution of the perpetrators. so there say culture of impunity. there is a culture of violence. >> translator: the tragic incident left a widowed wife struggling to raise three children without a husband. >> translator: my husband used to say that if he did nothing about this problem the next generation would only have to suffer more. now he's no longer with me. i believe he knows i will do everything i have learned from him, and seen him doing, because i was with my husband all the time. >> reporter: a police investigation is under way, but so far it has failed to yield any arrest. the truth remains elusive. nhk world, central thailand. >> and that wraps up our bulletin.

i'm dhra dhirakaosal in bangkok. thousands of people waiting to go home. tons of debris waiting for disposal. vast tracks of land awaiting to be restored. overcoming the challenges of japan's 2011 disaster will not be easy, but people are moving forward, find out how at 1:00 p.m. on "newsline". residents of a town near the crippled fukushima daiichi nuclear plant are allowed to make daytime visits to their former homes. this after restrictions were eased on some parts of the town. all 21,000 former residents are still unable to live within the town limits. more than two years have passed since a massive earthquake and

tsunami set off a crisis at the nuclear plant. people who have homes in low radiation zones are now allowed to visit them during daylight hours. more than 80% of the former residents will be able to take advantage of the new rules. miechi and his wife now live in another city in fukushima prefecture. they spend their monday visit cleaning their home. >> translator: i hope the government will speed up its efforts so all of us can live in the town together again. >> town officials say they hope to complete decontamination work, restore infrastructure and make some parts of the town habitable within four years. authorities in germany decided to phase out nuclear power in the wake of the

accident at fukushima daiichi. last week we told you about the long and difficult process of decommissioning the country's reactors. but germans are wrestling with another complex issue, where to store nuclear waste. nhk world's ivo tuchel reports. >> reporter: german leaders have had their eyes on this town for decades. they've considered it the main candidate to host permanent storage facility for nuclear waste. they've been carrying out experiments there to build their case. spent fuel rods and other types of nuclear waste are planned to be stored underground at a maximum depth of 933 meters. but as authorities have been assessing the safety of their plan, they face strong resistance from local residents. like katja tempel. >> translator: we heard the drums get rusty and that

radioactive waste can leak out. there's the chance of gas leaks. this place is too dangerous for permanent storage. >> reporter: the public opposition forced the german government to reconsider the project. last week, environment minister peter altmaier announced a compromise. he launched a commission that will include representatives from environmental groups. the government would come up with new criteria by 2015 to find a proper site for the permanent storage of nuclear waste. katja still has doubts. >> translator: there is still possibility that this town will be the storage site. so we cannot be relieved by the announcement. >> reporter: a large majority of germans supported their government's decision to phase out nuclear power. they are sensitive to the risks of radiation because of the chernobyl accident.

the government will most likely face another protest, no matter where it decides to store the nuclear waste. ivo tuchel, nhk world, berlin. the debate in germany is being followed closely by government leaders in many countries including japan. officials here have yet to decide on a final place to store nuclear waste. among the 31 nations and territories operating nuclear plants, only finland and sweden have picked permanent storage sites. a play that shows medical workers and firefighters coping with the aftermath of the 2011 disaster was staged in los angeles on sunday. the performance seeks to keep the memory of the tragedy alive. the play is called rebirth in english. it depicts how medical workers at a hospital in soma city dealt with patients shortly after northeast japan was struck by an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear

crisis. it also shows firefighters in the city of fukushima prefecture helping people evacuate to safety. the play was first performed in new york last march. survivors of the disaster hope that performances help people outside japan understand what it was like to experience the disaster. >> i just found it very, very moving. very, very touching. also, it will always serve as a reminder of what happens and how people came together, and to overcome this adversity. >> translator: i think the play's role is to imprint the tragedy in people's memory. >> the play will return to new york and then transfer to tokyo and fuokoka later this month. heavy rain is causing havoc.

>> yes, let's update you in southeastern china. heavy rain has been going on for the last several weeks. we had this front line stretched out. it's pushed across to the east, and that's heading up to japan. so below average temperatures along with lots of wet weather across japan. there is a short break as you can see, but there is already another area of rain coming over, another low, and that will keep the rain coming. this stream of moisture will continue right through the weekend. we had delayed flights, cancellations, and significant flooding. i have updated video for you to take a look at. the heavy rain has been coming down for the last several weeks, and not only rain, but egg sized hail and winds topping 110

kilometers per hour. now, over 400 homes were damaged, many drops also sustained significant damage. and two weeks previous to this storm, the same area was hit by a weather system that resulted in over ten deaths and 200 injuries. so it really is a severe situation right here. this is the rain accumulation over the last week. you see the areas in morning indicating the rain that's fallen, and it looks like the next few days the same areas will be targeted. temperature wise, around here, we're getting around the low to mid 20s, hong kong about 22 right now, shanghai 16. look at the china peninsula, all red, bangkok, 38 degrees.

it is the dry season right now but that's still a pretty high figure. tokyo will be feeling the chill at 14 degrees. into the americas, it is still very much like winter up here in earn canada. lake effect snows for you as well monday into tuesday. this weather system bringing wind as well. that means reduced visibility with 30 centimeters of snow coming down this this one will be pushing into the central and southern plains, and it will be bringing you some thunderstorms. on your monday, 19 degrees, that falls to just seven for the high, dallas, texas getting down to about 11 by wednesday. four in chicago, and one in

toronto. into europe, now things will be fairly dry for the northern half of the continent, but there is a low moving, bringing hail, thunder, and lightning. no snow towards the north of the continent, down through germany, the low countriecountries, and is no precipitation available. look at these highs, we usually see these as lows at this time of year, four in berlin, three in vienna. here, now, is your extended forecast.

that's "newsline" for this hour. for all of us here at nhk world, thank you for joining us.