. i'm catherine kobayashi. they're about to launch a robert into orbit that's carrying an information gathering satellite. it's on the launch pad in southwestern japan. it's getting fueled up and undergoing other final preparations. information gathering satellites are designed to capture images of the ground and sea from several hundred kilometers away. the government uses these kinds of spy satellites to monitor north korea's missile lawn unch facilities japanese waters. >>> taiwan has unveiled a report on its new defense strategy. it says the island will strengthen its defense capabilities to counter china's growing military. the document says beijing has been increasing its defense spending year after year to rapidly modernize its equipment. it also says china has not abandoned the possibility of using force against taiwan. the report adds that the country already has the capability to blockade taiwan and take control of outlying islands. a taiwan ease defense official pledged on thursday to introduce new armaments. >> translator: we'll introduce a new type of stealth fighter jet

. here's your extended outlook. >>> that does it for this edition of nhk "newsline." i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. thanks very much for staying with us. ♪ welcome to "in good shape." coming up, raynaud's syndrome, when your fingers turn white and numb. food and pharmaceuticals, avoiding the wrong combinations. and, gall bladder conditions, when it's time to go under the knife. ♪ and here's your host, dr. carsten lekutat. dr. lekutat: i remember the days when i was a medical student. when we opened up in anatomy course, everything was red in the human body, but something sticks out and it was green. amazing, something green in the body, it was the gallbladder.

. in tokyo. i'm catherine kobayashi. our top story, japan's defense minister has been dragged into a scandal involving a controversial school land deal. tomomi inada admitted her deal with a school operator correcting an earlier comment when she denied it. but opposition parties say she made false remarks in the diet and are demanding her resignation. lawmakers have been debating the sale of state-owned land at a deep discount. it was sold to a school operator headed by yasunori kagoike. inada denied ever representing kagoike in a trial or offering him legal advice when she was a lawyer but court records emerged that proved otherwise. she admitted she acted as a legal counsel for the school operator in a 2004 civil lawsuit. >> translator: i answered the question totally based on my memory. i have later confirmed that i appeared in court on behalf of my husband on december 9th, 2004. i correct my prior remark and apologize. >> inada also said she would like to continue to sincerely perform her duties. prime minister shinzo abe had this to say when asked if he plans to dismiss her. >>

catherine kobayashi. >>> the constitutional court upheld park's impeachment friday. she left the blue house sunday returning to her private home in seoul. she released a statement denying any wrong doing. choo mi-ae said park cared only for herself and her supporters, not the people. choo said change of government is the only hope for the nation. park jie-won of the people's party said the people are disappointed that she did not accept the ruling or express remorse. on monday lawmakers close to park visited her home, but she did not appear in public. local media report that a cabinet meeting will be held for scheduling an election with a date likely abe announced this week. media also say prosecutors are likely to question the former president for the first time this week to determine whether she accepted bribes from a conglomerate. >>> nine embassy staff and their families are stranding there because of a travel ban. the two countries have been locked in a diplomatic row over the killing of the north diplomatic killing. prime minister has said his country will keep the lines of comm

>>> a very warm welcome to nhk "newsline." it is 10:00 a.m. in tokyo. i'm catherine kobayashi. >>> our top story this hour -- south korea's constitutional court will announce on friday whether to uphold or reject the impeachment of president park geun-hye. if she is forced to leave office, it will be the first such case in the nation's history. parliament voted in december to impeach park over an influence-peddling scandal involving her longtime friend and others. she's been suspended from her duties. the court now has eight judges. if six or more rule in favor of impeachment, park will be immediately impeached. a presidential elections will be held in 60 days. if three or more judges rule against it, it will be rejected allowing park to resume her duties. whether park could stay in office until her term expires in february remains unclear. opposition parties would likely push her to resign. on thursday, park's supporters converged in an area near the court chanting the president is innocent. >> translator: things are proceeding as though the impeach was a foregone conclusion. >> later

. in tokyo. i'm catherine kobayashi. >>> our top story, the u.n. security council has held an emergency meeting over what it calls north korea's increasingly destabilizing behavior. they discussed pyongyang's latest launch of ballistic missiles and agreed to ensure a steady implementation of sanctions and take fresh action. japan, the u.s. and south korea called for the emergency meeting. council members met wednesday in new york. japan's u.n. ambassador explained the impact on his country as pyongyang says the launch was conducted by a military unit training to strike american military bases in japan. >> this is actually very dangerous. the three missiles which landed in our exclusive economic zone landed where fishermen do fishing for squids. >> the u.s. ambassador said all options are on the table to deal with north korea. >> i appreciate all of my counterparts wanting to talk about talks and negotiations. we are not dealing with a rational person. >> the launches came after pyongyang criticized joint military exercises between washington and seoul. >> this is not a time fo

this edition of nhk "newsline." it is 10:00 a.m. in tokyo. i'm catherine kobayashi. our top story this hour. diplomats at a u.n.-sponsored disarmament conference banded together to condemn north korea for its latest ballistic missile test. but the representatives for pyongyang struck back saying ongoing u.s./south korea military exercises might turn into actual war. envoys from more than a dozen countries met tuesday in geneva. many of them had harsh words for north korea. >> these actions are clear provocations to the security of the region and the international community. and are totally unacceptable. >> it is in violation of multiple u.n. security council resolutions and that the countries represented in this room are not going to stand by and just let the dprk violate international law. >> but the north korean envoy dug in his heels. >> the dprk is firm in its determination to firm up its defense capabilities with a nuclear deterrent to defend itself against nuclear war caused by the united states. >> pyongyang says monday's launch was conducted by a military unit training to

house to house to drive away back lud. that wraps up this edition of nhk "newsline." i'm catherine kobayashi in tokyo. thanks for joining us. q÷bi9yof , we spend an evening with seven time native american music award winner keith scola. we meet minnesota state supreme court associate judge anne mckeig. and we follow up on a story from season 5 about men's health with dr. arnie vainio. we also learn what we can do to lead healthier lives, and hear from our elders on this edition of "native report". [music playing] production of "native report" is made possible by a grants from the shakopee mdewakanton sioux community, the blandin foundation, and the duluth superior area community foundation.

catherine kobayashi. the government acquired a 50.1% stake in tokyo electric power company through a state-backed bailout fund after the accident which put the utility under state control. the government was planning to sell tepco stocks next month as a step towards reducing its control but it will cost about $188 billion to take care of the aftermath of the accident. that's about double earlier estimates. the extension of state control over tepco means the government will give up current plans to cover the clean-up cost of $35 billion by selling the utility shares. the government is now considering other ways to raise the money. >>> two women in malaysia have been charged with murder for the suspected assassination of north korea leader's half-brother. before the indictment police took them to the site of the killing of kim jong-nam as part of their investigation. an amateur video posted to the internet shows one of them walking through the lobby of kuala lumpur airport. they were trying to confirm whether the women are the same ones in surveillance footage on the day of the attack. the s

tokyo. i'm catherine kobayashi. our top story this hour, the american president is scheduled to deliver his first policy speech to congress. the white house says it be forward looking and highlight donald trump's longstanding theme of america first. trump will present his plans for the year including an expected significant increase in defense spending that he referenced monday. he's also likely to vow to build a wall on the border with mexico and tighten immigration control. those proposals have been controversial. the president is expected to highlight the withdrawal from the transpacific partnership free trade deal as an achievement of his first 40 days in office and he'll likely call for tax reforms. that's the structure investment to create jobs. the address or the address is likely to also mark a shift from former president barack obama. trump is expected to speak about reviewing obama's national healthcare program and easing regulations. the speech will be broadcast live across the u.s. tuesday evening. >>> reuters reports they could face death if convicted. the women rub