in that sense north korea today is now like north korea of the past. sure, it has not collapsed or changed since the death of kim jong-il, but, you know, we're only talking a few months. this new regime has always been in power for a few months. in the broader scope of history there have been buried -- many transitional regime's that lasted years before something major has happened. i think the verdict is still out i don't think we can simply assume everything will go smoothly and that there will be able to muddle through forever. prattle to the death of kim jong-il if you ask any expert, including you, what would be the most important variable that can create major change, i think everyone would have agreed, the sudden death of the north korean leader. we have to respect what we thought before. i think we all have to watch very carefully what is going to happen. i think the future of this regime is not an all certain. the ramifications if something happens will be huge for the united states and for others in the region in a way that won't matter for t

first, north korea wants to strengthen its ties with europe in order to avoid becoming overdependent china. the north also wants to show japan, united states, south korea, that it is not isolated internationally. third, north korea's government hopes the relation with europe will bolster north korea's current leadership. in other words, using european capital and investments to raise domestic living standards would enhance the leadership's credibility and increase its grip on power. >> so do you think economic ties between europe and north korea will deepen? if so, how soon can we see that happen? >> that depends on the north's actions. earlier this year north korean officials partially advised foreign investment in a bid to attract foreign capital. european leaders will become wary if there are anymore provocative actions by the north. and kim jong-un's economic policy is yet not very clear. still, european businesses have high hopes for the young leader and the country's labor market. >> nhk world there. >>> well, tokyo residents are enjoying a sunny morning before the rainy season

first, north korea wants to strengthen its ties with europe in order to avoid becoming overdependent china. the north also wants to show japan, the united states, south korea, that it is not isolated internationally. third, north korea's government hopes the relation with europe will bolster north korea's current leadership. in other words, using european capital and investments to raise domestic living standards would enhance the leadership's credibility and increase its grip on power. >> do you think economic ties between europe and north korea will deepen? if so, how soon can we see that happen? >> that depends on the north's actions. earlier this year north korean officials revised a low on foreign investments on a bid to attract foreign capital. but european leaders will become wary if there are any more provocative actions by the north. and kim jong-un's economic policy is not yet very clear. still, european businesses have high hopes for the young leader and the country's labor market. >>> for an update on the weather forecast, here is mai shoji. mai? >> here in tokyo today we

we might see some mounting military tension too to try to regain south korea's predominance over north korea while south korea's defense ministry says it's aiming to bolster its forces in the area so that's not a secret i mean we expect north korea to do the same a boost and the number of their troops. that's certainly a possibility i think we have to be skeptical about the really what kind of forces north korea has to muster and whether it would be an adequate response to to the threat of a south korean invasion of course undergirded by the u.s. military umbrella that it that they lie under but but certainly i think pyongyang will have to react in some way at least to save face so we could definitely see some sort of boost in troops along the border or at least some sort of formal protest over the plan. and this border along the yellow sea of course the scene of previous deadly naval clashes between the two countries what are the chances that we could see similar violence after this announcement. well certainly there has been violence there in the past as you indicate and and it is a an are

in still you pakistan third to iran in the north korea you see pure young as more threatening is there because of the regime they have plenty of control in that country. what you see the north korean regime is certainly more aggressive than pakistan. at the same time and should be noted that north korea currently has forty two kilos of weapon grade plutonium. they used different technology that is not what you said when reaching uranium they have a single facility where the tony i'm the new iran there is a more advanced technology but their stock of what i'm grade plutonium would be enough to produce some seven two or eight warheads similarly to iran's capabilities . they were already got a delivery vehicle to do that that is why north korea generally poses a serious threat. but unlike iran north korea does despite to dominate its entire region when it up with its regime is not using the nuclear issue to hansard stand any public domestically just a few weeks already strengthened to the extreme you know i would say north korea is not essentially pose a nuclear threat to its neighbors an

two nations iran and north korea. do you believe that iran's nuclear program is really dangerous for its neighbors and the world in general. well let's take a look at the facts the void you read on the report today here in his almost six thousand centrifuges that operate around the clock. and that number is increasing. here in it has about six tons three point five percent alone reached uranium. in addition it has about a hundred and seventy kilograms of uranium in a reach to twenty percent up. what does this mean. that iran is already in position of enough uranium to produce seven or eight warheads. these are the facts that now there is another interesting consideration. the i.e. has been asking iran why do you need military technology is. why do you need the so-called nuclear explosive devices. actually meaning other components that are of no use for anything except for the production of nuclear weapons. and the i.a.e.a. he's getting no answers we're not talking about our expert community are a big key authority in

sanctions banning weapons and materials to north korea. they say the paperwork show the ship transported four large vehicles from shanghai. japanese officials say it's likely these vehicles matched those displayed during a military parade in april in north korea and say exporting this type of hardware violates resolutions that ban countries from sending materials related to weapons of mass destruction to north korea. japanese officials are reporting their findings to the u.n. >>> a chinese foreign ministry spokesperson is denying the accusati accusations. >> translator: china firmly opposing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. we strictly implement u.n. resolutions. >> he added firms in china do not export goods that are banned by security council resolutions or chinese law. >>> nhk world senior reporter gives us more insight into the special vehicles that have been transported to north korea. >> where the international community has raised concerns over the launch, which for the first time appeared in public in pyongyang on apri

> in europe and north korea rdiplomatic relations with north several other capital ciand north korea'sder, m jong-un, wants it in >> how does europe view s nuclear development and programs? >> europe is seeking the denuclearization of northike japan, t at the same time, european diplomatic tiewi to pur the n elegation came a pledged tofreeze its missile test it appears tpressure time pursue a po engagement. >> with e >> there are notice. first, north korea wants to strengthen its ties with europe in order to avoid china. japan, united states, so th an se its grip on c tiesorea will deepen? happen? >> t earlier thd forereign capital.rs will become prnorth. policy is yet not very clear. high hopes for the you >> nhk tokyo r enjoying aore thestarts.mori joins the world weather forecast. ine. we are s skies tokyo. the quite a warm day. raforecast. aroundrner. aff western japan with again, the ruding the tokyo area td it, dry across the is affecting much today, not too heavy but heavomorrow, as much as ers of rain is a span of 24 dochina peninsula has been aling with torrential rain, lots o

this remains unclear why china provided north korea with the vehicles. but shipping military materials overseas requires a go-ahead from beijing. therefore, it is likely that china, china's leadership approves export of vehicles in the knowledge that north korea might use them for military purposes. but please look at the photo again. >> okay. >> as the vehicle seems to be for civilian purposes china may have thought it can -- it did not violate the security council resolutions, it exported vehicles to the north for civilian purposes. next question is, how is the international community react china's suspected breach of the u.n. resolutions? >> thank you very much for that. >> good evening, aung san suu kyi will spend time visiting britain and france. the last time she was in europe was 1988. she spent many of the intervening years under house arrest. leaving airport on wednesday she told reporters how she felt. aung san suu kyi made her return to the international stage when she visited thailand earlier this month on her european tour she's expected to

north korea would like the south to apologize or it says face strikes. as to whether people really should be concerned, an artillery strike or whatever kind of strike north korea plans to carry out on targets in seoul would be a really serious departure in terms of career relations, in terms of wider international reaction to north korea. it would be a very serious move indeed, and most analysts here believe that north korea knows that. so it's certainly not something that north korea would probably undertake lightly or without an awful lot of thought. >> lucy, thanks for that. lucy williamson live in seoul. aaron's here. he is beside me. you have a prophet of doom, aren't you? >> i have a prophet of doom. don't shoot the messenger. we're talking about the asian markets. they opened lower for the beginning of the week. we can bring the board up while i rattle off what everybody's worried about in terms of the markets. they're trying to digest and get their head around the fact that, once again, we're seeing the global economy seeing down. we're seeing mo

north korea will always retaliate in an aggressive fashion. sometimes they'll block gps. 70 percent of north korea is mountainous. it is not enough for us to know we are getting the materials into north korea. we want to be able to target certain areas. gps technology allows us to make sure we are reaching the launches and to be able to track where materials are landing so we can see the response of the government and assist with our partners in the undergrown churc church. >> what do north koreans tell you about these launches? >> north carolinians have fascinating stories to tell. they will tell them not to touch anything with a balloon or pack ajs because it is coated with poison. for a north korean to pick up a bible is a serious thing. >> it isn't useful to be carried ashed a pipe. even though it is dangerous for them to poe susz the materials. they are interested in coming to know jesus christ. >> thank you, gary. >> you see the images of visitors to jerusalem writing the prayers on the cracks of the western wall. >> i have done it. juli

this remains unclear why china provided north korea with the vehicles. but shipping materials over requires the go ahead from beijing. therefore, it is likely that china -- china's leadership approved export of vehicles. but please look at the photo again. as the vehics appear to be for civilian purposes china claims it did not violate the resolutions as it exported the vehicles to the north for the civilian purposes. the next question is how the international committee will react to china's suspected brief of the u.n. resolution. >>> well investors who hold assets in europe may be getting even more nervous. ai joins us now. tell us why tt is. >> that's because analysts at credit ratings agencies are saying some of these assets aren't even of investment grade. the latest victim is spain. the nation has been downgraded by credit agency moody's bringing it down to a level just above speculative status. the agency said that it has lowered spain's sovereign debt to baa3. that's down three notches from a3. it could further downgrade spain bt in the next three

there's not a stoplight in north korea. they don't know how money works. >> rose: because there are no cars, or because what? >> in the capitol one of the-- the capitol is a show city so it's built in a grand fashion but also, you know, americans bombed the north mercilessly during the korean war. we had two big global air forces that we put on one small peninsula. and you know, we bombed pyongyang until three buildings were standingment and they haven't forgotten that all the boulevards are 100 meters wide to facilitate mass evacuation should we bomb them again. and so the streets are so wide and there are so many lanes and so few cars that there are low odds of this them hitting each other. there are beautiful woman who have batons who stand in the intersections and conduct traffic. >> rose: can the world and can the world community tolerate north korea with nuclear weapons? >> hmmmm, well, you know, i was-- . >> rose: does it change the regime or does it change the behavior? >> well, i was speaking to steve at a dinner n

north korea planning to build a new front line naval base near its disputed border with the north a site of clashes between the two rivals in the past the base will be located on one of the five islands recognized by the south korean by the u.n. in the one nine hundred fifty s. though pyongyang has always refused to accept the decision james corbet editor of the news and information site corporate report thinks the base is a sign of an escalating conflict in the region. well the important thing to remember about this is that it's in fact the second provocation in less than one week from from south korea against north korea in fact just on monday pyongyang was protesting the use of the north korean flag as a target during some joint military exercises that were being conducted very close to the north korean border and so this has to be seen as something of an escalation that may indicate an increase in border tensions and perhaps even military tensions between the two entities and the question is why now and it has to be understood that there is something of a quiet revolution happening i

may be part of an infrastructure whereby china will be able to start investing more and more in north koreaand south korea may see that as a type of threat against their their one leverage over north korea which is their food aid and their monetary aid to the north and if china is investing more and more north korea that kind of gives gives them more of an advantage in that respect so we might see some mounting military tension to to try to regain south korea's predominance over north korea. egypt's defeated presidential front runner ahmed shafik has fled the country hours after a corruption case was opened against him the former prime minister of ousted leader hosni mubarak left for the united arab emirates along with most of his family meanwhile newly elected president mohamed morsi is starting to form a government which he promises will represent all egyptians he also met with the military rulers who have been running the country since mubarak was overthrown last february the army promised to officially transfer power on saturday when morsi is sworn in as head of state but the question r

may be part of an infrastructure whereby china will be able to start investing more and more in north korea and south korea to me see that as a type of threat against their their one leverage over north korea which is their food aid and their monetary aid to the north and if china is investing more and more north korea that kind of gets gives them more of an advantage in that respect so we might see some mounting military tension to to try to regain south korea's predominance over north korea. egypt's newly elected president mohamed morsi has moved into his new office and is starting to form a government there's a misleader has promised it will represent all egyptians including muslims and christians has also met with the military rulers have been running the country since mubarak was ousted last february the army promised to officially transfer power on saturday when morsi is sworn in as head of state ever the question remains whether they'll stick to the deadline and how much power the president well actually have experts believe gaining full control of the country won't be easy task for

may be part of an infrastructure whereby china will be able to start investing more and more in north korea and south korea may see that as a type of threat against their their one leverage over north korea which is their food aid and their monetary aid to the north and if china is investing more and more in north korea that kind of gives gives them more of an advantage in that respect so we might see some mounting military tension too to try to regain south korea's predominance over north korea. it's been a week since julian assad requested ecuador for a diplomatic asylum and took refuge in the country's embassy in london no decision on that has yet been made me while prominent americans including filmmakers michael moore and oliver stone plus renowned academic noam chomsky signed a letter supporting us on his bed chomsky is one of the guests on the whistleblower of show airing today on our team here's a preview. now moving over the middle east the deep concern in the united states and the other imperial traditional imperial powers britain france particularly concern is that now they may t

i mean, i would -- we can count on one hand how many people have gotten into north korea and told us about the north koreans inside north korea for the free world. we know what's happening there. but my point to you is the power of the media. and my point is this, actually. i am actually here to castigate the media. the american media, which in many ways is not doing a good job any more for covering foreign news for americans, keeping these things on the front burner. you all talk about you talking about congress. there has to be political will behind what we do. and all i'm here to say is having covered the news at the beginning of my career as a kid basically, and being told more and more in my later years, you don't want to go overseas. nobody's going to pay you to go overseas to cover the news. something is happening that's very bad for our security and human rights and what's happening to other countries. north korea is a good example of it. i think far more could be done to cover these stories. it's tough for you. my point is, why doesn't the american media arise to the tougher

and i mean north korea can't do anything about it north korea will. well retaliate if attacked it's not unlikely that you can do anything more than that so i think it's going to go on. i think they the koreans realize that now they have to wait probably until after the american election and so you see what happens there and a second term. may be a better partner just a second term bush was wrong on the nose. but they will have to sit around but the interesting thing and the big thing that might change the game is the election in south korea there's going to be a change of policy in south korea towards more wins and that might turn the americans in. or item b. author in asia specialist thanks very much indeed for sharing your views with us here on r.t. thanks. well that's all for me for now time to get the latest from artie's business team first day russia's me to get out like a band of the year the same bet as burke for. well i didn't even go is there for us and we do get to see it so what makes a gathering particular important this year. well first o

north korea's, you know, a very, very closed environment with enormous human rights violations, and, um, so we're focused on looking for the opportunities to widen the space for information and to get the north korean people information from the outside that they so earnestly want. i think in terms of your broader question about how we are using the internet, i think the story is we're using the internet not only in this space, but broadly. and part of it is because of the moment we're in where, as i said at the outset, you know, everything is increasingly happening online and through new technologies. and under the secretary there's been a concerted effort to take advantage of the opportunities for 21st century state craft to reach out to people in more places, people that we couldn't have reached for a back-and-forth conversation ten or twenty years ago we now can. we have twitter feeds in a number of different languages that reach a large portion of the world and allow us to have a back and forth. obviously, in 140 characters per exchange or less, but allow us to have a back and fo

wants china to be on its site and you know if china were to sit take north korea for example you know the great example you know if china were on the side of the u.s. . things would be so much easier but the fact that china has no independent view on north korea makes chinese american dealings with north korea that much more difficult in fact in my book i begin my book with a kind of fantasy scenario where i say that you know ten years from now if the united states gets into so much economic trouble right that it will have to borrow money and if china has the money. provide the u.s. china might say well we don't like your military presence in the pacific your naval presence and you have to you know get rid of them so economic power can always be leveraged for political and foreign policy objectives good things that one of the reasons not to get for kind of anxious about this is that it is a mutually dependent relationship you know so one country doesn't want to inflict too much damage on the other because it backfires on yourself but that being said there are areas where you know some

. >>> north korea is trying to strengthen the image of leader kim jong-un. he's in his 20s and seen as lacking political experience. the late leader, kim jong-il, picked his third son as successor in december of 2006, four years before the younger kim emerged in public as heir apparent. the magazine says kim jong-il told him of his decision while handing him a diploma. kim said he should continue the military first policy. kim jong-un replied that he will live up to his father's trust by leading an invincible military force. >> the people of egypt are facing a new wave of turmoil. an islamic fundamentalist group says its candidate won the election and the military government is strengthening its authority. the muslim brotherhood declared victory on monday based on its own ballot count. officials at the supreme council then announced they will transfer power to a civilian government by the end of this month as planned. but they also said they will amend egypt's interim constitution, creating a committee to draft a new constitution even after the transfer of p