2003.09.11

Typhoon Maemi -- UPDATED    One fatality now being reported.   Typhoon Injures Dozens in Southern Japan (AP). AP - A powerful typhoon swept across Japan's southern islands early Thursday, flipping over cars, toppling telephone poles and causing at least 63 injuries, two of them serious, officials said. [Yahoo! News - World] 2003.09.11

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A yen for a hi-tech life. Online: The ageing residents of Japan are turning to cutting-edge technology in their twilight years. J Mark Lytle reports from Osaka. [Guardian Unlimited] 2003.09.11

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Gov. Ishihara Foot in Mouth Disease (Reuters)   Imagine if the Mayor of New York City commented "he deserved it" after an Assistant Secretary of State found a timebomb on his front lawn. That's the equivalent of what we have here. 2003.09.11

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Japan-WTO (Kyodo)   Details of the Japan-backed farm plan at WTO in Cancun. 2003.09.11

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Air India Sikh Bomber: 'Never Meant to Hurt Anyone' (Toronto Star)   Yes, there is a Japan connection to this story. 2003.09.11

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Nikkei   Nikkei index off  310 points at close. 2003.09.11

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North Korea Update - Missile. North Korea Update :: Agonist Exclusive Reuters is reporting new claims from Washington that North Korea has advanced its missile program on two fronts. First that it has developed a new missile based on the Soviet "SSN6." The proper missile designation is SS-N-6 - the NATO designation is SERB. However the Reuters story cautions that Washington's assessment is in not yet complete. The assessment presented by Washington or Reuters may be inaccurate. "American officials said the missile is based on the Russian SSN6, a submarine-launched ballistic missile deployed in 1969, with a range up to 3,400 miles" Three versions exist of the SS-N-6 missile: the mod1, mod2 & mod3. The mod1, which was released in 1969, has a reported range of 2400 Kilometers and the mod2 that was released in 1973 has a reported range of 3200 Kilometers. A range of 3400 Miles represents a 71% increase in range from the mod2 version, which had a range of 3200 Kilometers (1988 Miles). What is more disturbing is that the mod3 missile contained an MRV warhead - meaning that each missile contained three separate warheads. The second reported development is that there are "indications" that North Korea has started to produce Taepo Dong 2 missiles that have a reported range of 3700 to 6200 Miles depending on sources. Neither missile is currently known to be tested, operational or deployed. Treat as variable, hat tip Ash Craft Sources Reuters Globalsecurity.org & Globalsecurity.org Discussion Here <<< [The Agonist] 2003.09.11

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N. Korea Has More Capable Missile - U.S. Officials (Reuters). Reuters - North Korea has used Russian technology to develop a new intermediate range ballistic missile that may be the most capable and accurate system in Pyongyang's inventory, U.S. officials said on Wednesday. [Yahoo! News - World] 2003.09.11

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Next Round of Six-Way Talks Delayed? (Reuters via WNYC)   Seems half the parties to these talks (including Pyongyang) have publicly expressed the thought "Why bother?" 2003.09.11

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Brit Survives Nagoya Prison (BBC)   Imagine being a foreigner in Japan and  jailed for years  for a crime you didn't commit. Imagine doing that time in a prison notorious for its abuse and corruption. That's the apparent story here. 2003.09.11

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N Korea Has New, More Capable Missile-U.S. Official (Reuters). Reuters - North Korea has used Russian technology to develop a new intermediate range missile that may be the most capable and accurate system in Pyongyang's inventory, U.S. officials said on Wednesday. [Yahoo! News - World] 2003.09.11

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