naoko aoki thank you forjoining us i aoki thank you forjoining us in programme.est on the war in ukraine. moscow has been targeted by multiple drones in the biggest such attack since the invasion of ukraine. officials said eight drones had reached the russian capital and caused some damage, but most had been shot down. ukraine has denied any involvement. russia's president vladimir putin said the drones were aimed at "civilian targets" and that russia "reserves the right to take the harshest possible measures" against kyiv. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg heard the explosions, and sent this report. russian television says this is the moment that moscow came under attack. the bbc has not independently verified the images russian tv showed. but from early morning, people in and around the russian capital did report hearing explosions. i heard them, too. at home my windows shook from the force of the blasts. russia's defence ministry accused ukraine of carrying out the attack but said that russia's military had downed all the drones. ukraine has denied having anyt

earlier, i spoke with naoko aoki, an associate political scientist at the rand corporation, a think tank, and spoke to me earlier from washington. i think the key to this visit was whether prime minister kushida could build on the momentum that the two countries are on, in terms of improving relations and his comments in particular, that was very much a focus, because of south korean criticism against president younes in goal on his moves to improve relations with japan. i moves to improve relations with ja an. ., ., moves to improve relations with jaan. ., ., i. moves to improve relations with jaan. ., . ,, ~' japan. i wonder what you think is drivin: japan. i wonder what you think is driving this _ japan. i wonder what you think is driving this closeness - is driving this closeness between the two. is it a domestic priority or is it more as we have reported and been talking about several times on this programme, more about china and the sort of strategic power play we are seeing in the region with the us wanting to push this forward as well? i think there is both of that. external and

naoko aoki is an associate political scientist at the rand corporation — a think tank and research institute i think the thing about this was — i think the thing about this was prime minister michael when trying _ was prime minister michael when trying to— was prime minister michael when trying to build in on the momentum on the trajectory that these _ momentum on the trajectory that these two — momentum on the trajectory that these two countries run and improving relations in common in particular very much a focus because — in particular very much a focus because of— in particular very much a focus because of south korean criticism against president yoon— criticism against president yoon suk yeol on his moves to improve — yoon suk yeol on his moves to improve relations with japan. but you — improve relations with japan. but you think is driving this closeness between the two? the thickets of domestic priority or is it more, as we have reported net been talking about several times on this programme, is it more about china and the strategic powerplay that we are seeing in the region with the

i also spoke to naoko aoki, an associate political scientist at the rand corporatio.he explained what it means when it is stated that the north fired a space vehicle. this development, if it is indeed a spy satellite, is very significant because the last time they launched a vehicle into space was in 2016, and at that point we, the outside world, were worried that north korea was improving its ballistic missile capabilities and using space launch vehicles as an excuse. now, today, north korea has made considerable improvement in ballistic missile technology and now we have to worry about another thing — north korea potentially having better information—gathering technologies. it's a significant development and one north korea has been planning for a while now. have we heard any reaction yet from the united states? i'm not aware of any statements at this point but i wouldn't be surprised at all if the united states and its allies, south korea and japan, react to this in a very critical manner. the problem, though, is it's different from 2016. in 2016, the last time nor

i�*m nowjoined by naoko aoki — an associate political scientist at the rand corporation — a think tank asian security issues and join sus security issues and joins us from washington dc. how do you think this meeting has gone, how do you think this meeting has gone, japan and south korea have not always been friendly to each other, yet we are seeing more intentional effort on both sides to strengthen ties, why the change in tone now? whether the prime minister can build on the _ whether the prime minister can build on the momentum that the two countries — on the momentum that the two countries are on in terms of improving _ countries are on in terms of improving relations and his comments in particular— improving relations and his comments in particular were very much the focus _ in particular were very much the focus because on south korean criticism — focus because on south korean criticism against the president on his moves— criticism against the president on his moves to improve relations with japan _ his moves to improve relations with japan |_ his moves to improve relations with