2005.05.16

ROK has new offer if  DPRK returns  to atom talks (Reuters). South Korea is prepared to make a new and serious proposal to advance six-country talks on North Korea's nuclear programs if Pyongyang returns to the stalled negotiations. 2005.05.16

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Imperial Palace-Herpes (Kyodo) What is it with herpes at the Imperial Palace? First we were informed that among the ailments Crown Princess Masako had been inflicted with was herpes zoster. Now we're told the carp in the Imperial Moat also have herpes. 2005.05.16

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Japan-Middle East (VOA) Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi fails to pull off a Middle East peace summit in Tokyo but gives the visiting Palestianian leader $100 million for being nice enough to show up. 2005.05.16

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US, DPRK make contact on nuclear crisis (AFP). A US official reportedly has telephoned a North Korean representative, reviving direct bilateral contact on the escalating nuclear stand-off amid Pyongyang's refusal to return to six-nation talks. 2005.05.16

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Tsunami Rebuilding Effort Stalls (AP). Political squabbling, donor demands and government indecision are stalling the building of roads, water treatment plants and nearly 180,000 homes for survivors of last December's Asia-Pacific tsunami. 2005.05.16

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Japan-Leash Girl [Mainichi] Dog collar captor forced victim's family to fund leashed teenager's upkeep. 2005.05.16

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Koizumi rejects criticism of war shrine visits (Reuters). Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi says he sees nothing wrong with paying respects at a Tokyo shrine for the war dead that is seen by China as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism, and that he would make an "appropriate decision" on when to go again. 2005.05.16

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DPRK resumes talks with ROK. [BBC News ] The two Koreas hold their first high-level talks in 10 months, amid mounting tensions over the North's nuclear plans. 2005.05.16

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Japan-Nationalism (VOA) Japan shedding its pacifist cloak much to the dismay of its Asian neighbors. 2005.05.16

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DPRK-Nukes (VOA) Bush administration warns North Korea not conduct a nuclear test. 2005.05.16

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