Japan rescued North Korean sailors at sea. How will Tokyo return them?
Thursday's rescue marks a rare circumstance in which North Korean authorities requested international assistance following the sinking of its vessel.
Summary by The Tokyo Editorial Desk · As published by The Japan Times · · 1 min read
Thursday's rescue marks a rare circumstance in which North Korean authorities requested international assistance following the sinking of its vessel.

Local
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A Kyodo News poll showed Friday that the approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Cabinet rose 3.2 percentage poi
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

government
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Tokyo metropolitan government is considering an ordinance banning littering, as trash left in downtown entertainment districts ha
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

Local
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Bank of Japan raised its key interest rate to 1.25 percent from 1.0 percent on Friday, accelerating monetary tightening as it see
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

library
The cultivation of autumn watermelons is spreading in the city of Tomisato, Chiba Prefecture, a major watermelon-producing area. In autumn, shipments
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

Local
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Japanese and U.S. governments are planning for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and President Donald Trump to have talks on Tuesday,
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

safety
NAGANO -- The Nagano Prefectural Police force has selected the first successful applicant under a new recruitment program for people with experience c
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

government
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The U.S. dollar jumped above the 157 yen line on Friday, after two of nine Bank of Japan policy board members voted against an intere
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

News
TSU -- A project is underway to reconstruct stone markers donated late in life by 19th-century Japanese explorer Matsuura Takeshiro to shrines across
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

safety
TOKYO -- A junior high school student in Iwate Prefecture was arrested after allegedly spraying bear repellent at students after the school's vice pri
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

government
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The U.S. dollar jumped above 157 yen on Friday after two of the Bank of Japan's nine policy board members voted against an interest r
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

Local
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's farm ministry on Friday began procedures to buy back 210,000 tons of rice to replenish government reserves drawn down by rele
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026

News
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has reshuffled her Cabinet and unveiled a new leadership lineup for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The Mainichi (English) · Sep 18, 2026