north koreans are celebrating the anniversary of the birth of their country's founder amid rising tensions over the possible launch of a ballistic missile. growth figures out of china have surprised economists. the world's second-largest economy still expanding but seems to be losing some steam. welcome to nhk world "newsline." people in north korea are celebrating an important holiday as people elsewhere continue to watch the country's leaders. north korea's citizens are observing what would have been

the 101st birthday of the nation's founder kim il-sung. leader kim jong-un marked the day by visiting his grandfather's mausoleum. >> state-run tv reports kim was accompanied by close aides, including his uncle and mentor. it was kim's first appearance on state media since a session of the north korean parliament two weeks ago. people in neighboring countries fear he'll mark the holiday by ordering the test of a ballistic missile. pictures out of pyongyang send a different message. presidents have laid flowers. at statues of kim il-sung and kim jong-il. north korea's leaders have made repeated threats targeting people in other countries, in

spite of repeated calls for restraint. officials in pyongyang escalated tensions after u.n. security council members approved stricter sanctions. they were responding to north korea's third nuclear test. the country's military leaders have issued a series of warnings that they're ready to attack. they threatened to strike targets in the united states, south korea and japan. south korean government officials suspect north korean agents were behind a series of cyber attacks last month. they affected more than 50,000 computers and tv stations and major banks. officials believe the attacks were the work of north korea's reconnaissance general bureau, which conducts espionage against the south. this month south korean officials said the north appears ready to launch the musudan, a midrange ballistic missile, and several short-range missiles. defense analysts are trying to understand where all of this is headed. akimoto has been tracking the situation for the royal united

services institute for defense and security studies, it's a british think tank. >> north korean commanders are mobilizing their troops. they want to respond to a joint military exercise by u.s. and south korean forces. with such tensions, north korean soldiers can't afford to be taking part in military parade. that said, there is little possibility of renewed fighting between the two koreas. u.s. and south korean commanders state their exercise to train their troops in joint operations. and to put on show of strength. leaders in pyongyang are simply responding to that. these are psych local tacticloi. we see little sign that ground troops are preparing for war. no troops have moved south. and we have no reports of anything unusual happening in pyongyang. military tensions always risk

causing something unpredictable. a nervous front-line soldier could fire shot by mistake, prompting exchange of gunfire and start a fight that could escalate. with this dynamic, u.s. leaders canceled the test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. but we've heard these repeated threats from the north koreans. they may believe that doing nothing would damage morale among their troops. so they may launch a missile. carrying a mock hard warhead. but i can't imagine a direct assault on japanese territory unless a war breaks out. data from the past three nuclear tests show the explosions were all small-scale. but seven years have already passed since the first test. and it's korea that engineers are trying to develop a small nuclear warhead capable of being mounted on a missile.

the middle rage and musudan missile can be considered complete. but they're still working on the warhead and technologies. we are all wondering how far they will go down that road. but they've certainly made progress. if things remain as they are, a nuclear armed north korea will become a reality in the near future. south korea's defense minister says officials continue to monitor developments in the north. he says the north's leaders appeared ready to carry out their threats. >> translator: north korea is ready to launch a missile at any time. >> kim said there's a possibility that the north may also resort to other attacks. the military and police held a drill in seoul. soldiers prepared for the possibility of a bomb attack in the subway.

>> about 300 members of the conservative group protested. they burned north korean flags and effigies of the leaders. the u.s. secretary of state is trying to coordinate a response among his counterparts in the region. he's consulted with leaders in tokyo, seoul and beijing. he wants the chinese to take care of problems in their own back yard. nhk world's kaho izumitani reports. >> reporter: the u.s. secretary of state has lent his diplomatic weight to a challenge that changes day by day. john kerry met with japanese prime minister shinzo abe on the last stop of his asian tour. they agreed to work together in this time of heightened tension. >> it was a very constructive conversation with the administration. and we have reaffirmed the strength of the partnership. >> translator: your message placing importance on the asia

pacific region will encourage japan, and other asian nations. >> kerry repeated that message throughout his tour of asia. he reassured his counterpart in seoul that u.s. forces stand ready to defend their allies. kerry delivered another message in beijing, encouraging chinese leaders to use their leverage. >> the united states and china remain fully committed to the september 2005 joint statement of the six-party talks and to its core goal. and that core goal is the verifiable denuclearization of the korean peninsula in a peaceful manner. >> reporter: china accounts for 70% of north korea's trade and meets much of the country's need for oil. china can pressure pyongyang directly by suspending oil

exports and by strengthening border inspections. u.s. and chinese diplomats have agreed to meet to discuss the korean crisis. but china's state-run xinhua news agency reported premier li keqiang stopped short of reporting what responses china might take. kerry repeated his goals in meetings with japanese leaders and before a crowd of university students in tokyo. >> the united states remain open to authentic and credible negotiations on denuclearization, but the burden is on pyongyang. >> reporter: kerry came to the region hoping to encourage the chinese to use their influence with their allies in pyongyang. now he's waiting to see whether the chinese will follow through. kaho izumitani, nhk world, tokyo.

chinese military officers took part in an annual drill in the south china sea for the first time. the u.s. and the philippines run the event. china and the philippines remain in a stand off over islands in the south china sea. the simulation of maritime activity was was part of a drill defense forces from 11 countries. two military officers from the chinese embassy in manila observed for the first time. they say they have always helped in disasters and they're focussing on working together. >> it will definitely help in the building of confidence and the relationship among countries in the region. >> they accepted an invitation at the last minute.

analysts have been keeping track of spending by military leaders. they say it fell for the first time in more than a decade. a report in stockholm says spending came to 753 billion. it was the first time expenditures fell year on year. cuts on the u.s. and europe drove the decline. it's share of the global total fell below 40% for the first time in two decades. spending fell by 6% year on year to $682 billion. china and russia are allocating more funds. spending by china rose almost

8%. they ranked second worldwide. russian leaders are focusing on bolstering the nation's armed fors and improving weaponry. china's economic engine seems tohug along month after month, but they have lost some steam. the pace of growth for the world's second largest economy has slowed. officials say gross domestic product grew 7.7% compared with a year earlier, and gdp growth dropped from the 7.9% recorded in previous quarter. the numbers surprised many economists. >> china's economy is maintaining a high growth rate, be many economies expected more.

exports rose as did the global demand for chinese goods. but the pace for domestic demands slowed. it passed the government's goal of 7.5% growth for all of 2013. that targtt last month during the national people's congress. the target reflects beijing's attention for distraction over economic despairties. it also wants to pursue a more sustainable pace of growth. >> we are focusing on the quality and efficiency of china's economy. structural adjustments are helping steer the economy toward stable growth.

>> however, authorities are dealing with a new strain of avian flu. measures to counter it could about companies and trading. earlier this morning, we spoke to the executive director. >> the growth rate was below market expectations, and showing china's economic recovery is slowing. what is your take on the figures? >> right, nose figures are pretty bad. the first quarter gdp and the march industrial production were worse than market expectations if over shadows the lower than expected pdi. i believe in the next quarter too china will face a decreasing

demand and export and also the change of chinese government. so i think sustainable growth like 7.5% will be sustainable. but i don't think something more than 8% growth will sustain in the next quarter. >> what are some of the problems you think will slow china's economic growth. >> right, actually investors are quite optimistic. because of the data. we clearly see there are two uncertainties. first, the increasing attention in north korea. this is definitely an uncertainty, and the chinese gdp is decelerating.

these too, definitely unte uncertainty, may drag down the growth in the next quarter or two. even those uncertainties, whether it will be clear or not, the gdp remains in some of kind of mid to 7.5% growth. >> here are the latest market figures.

a candidate hand picked by late president hew go chavez narrowly won. he has been serving as acting president since chavez died last month. with most of the ballots sounds, maduro took more than 50%, and his rival just got over 49%. capriles called for a recount but maduro is calling it his win. >> it should be respected. >> maduro drew wide support by the poor while promising to continue programs for low income.

maduro is expected to maintain the hard line status toward the united states and seek closer relationships with governments that oppose the u.s. august august has ca aung san suu kyi called on her people to do more. she visited kyoto for the first time in almost 30 years. >> translator: people in and outside of myanmar have different views. we have to overcome the differences to maintain true peace and unity. >> about 200 people attended the rally. >> translator: i'm now studying abroad, but i want to go back to my country. >> aung san suu kyi described how her party has been working

to democratize the country. the wetlands of the southern indian state has changed water for many of it's residents, it's a floating super market. more from kerala. >> life here is steeped in tradition. people take pride in their life near the water, just as their forefathers have done for generations. but this boat brought changes to their lifestyle. it's a floating super market. it stops at each water side

district once a month. people look forward to it's arrival. >> the 20 meter long boat stocks about 750 products, including rice, a main staple, and incense that drive off mosquitos. >> i like to buy biscuits and chocolate. >> people have waited years for a floating super market. during that time, locals would often travel several hours by boat to the nearest dam to buy

essentials like rice. there are about 140 isolated areas like this where the floating super market can reach. more than 800,000 people wholy there rely on the floating super market. it's run by a cooper subsidized by the state government. >> it is part of the world. and it belongs to people who don't have access. >> the the key to it's success is an inventory controlled system developed by richie. it links the coop ray tors headquarters to the floating super market online.

so people at headcourters with monitor the boat in realtime. when they're about to run out, they can instruct the super market to dock at a port. a truck is sent there to restock the necessary items. the cost of few and other factors require them to raise prices. but it allows the floating super market to sell goods at the same prices as land-based stores. shoppers can even buy items like this. that used to be difficult to get. >> i ordered a washington machine, and had the floating super market deliver it to my door. >> the super market will deliver

large household alliances without charging a transportation fee. this customer is very happy. she no longer has to do the laundry by hand. >> translator: thanks to the floating super market, i can buy what i want. i don't want to return to the old way of life. in many ways, the old lifestyle still as a firm grip on people. backup slowly, modern services are influencing a new way of life. nice weather throughout japan, rachel ferguson is here with the forecast. >> hi there, a glorious day in tokyo, but things will change towards the north of japan. there is a system developing that is heading up towards the north, and you will see a couple snow flakes.

the majority of the pro sip tip will be rain. we have been seeing rains across the river valley. most of it is light or moderate, not like the heavy stuff you were seeing early on at the beginning of the early and intense raining season, but for example on wednesday, some local areas, you're going to be seeing about 100 meters. so down towards the south is right now the places getting the heaviest of the rain. to the west of thailand, there is a tropical low. that rain will start to creep into cambodia as well. here is your temperatures, shanghai as well. that will maybe be a little more

comfort ableble for you by the middle of the week. 7 degrees for your high on tuesday. winter here today, into ontario and quebec. this will be weakenning as it goes. the next storm will be developing in the four corners. over here in colorado this will be coming towards the central plains bringing snow and cooler temperatures, so unsettled and cooler for the middle of the week certainly. i'll show you the semis right now. right now it's not too bad. but six in denver. so you see the change on the other side of the jet stream. and that cold will make it's way

further east. on into europe. things have been improving greatly across the couldn't net here. i'm sure many of you are aware of that surge of warmth. unfortunately it's not applicable for all of you. there is still wet and windy weather here. but, many of you are going to be enjoying this warm spell. i want to bring you some video coming out of italy showing some people very much enjoying the warmth. this is venice. some residents took advantage of the weather by going to the beach on sunday. many said it felt more like summer than spring. the warm temperatures in venice are forecasted to continue through the workweek. i can tell you most of these people will probably not want to

be heading back to work at all. it was such a long and protracted winter season. 18 in vienna. down in ithens, 28 degrees, and stockholm getting some as well. i'll be back with you later on.

that's "newsline" for this hour. i'm gene otani.

from all of us here at nhk world, thank you for joining us.