No giving up

I wonder if Korea ever gets tired of this?

韓国外務省、慰安婦請求権 で「遺憾」

2013.8.30 23:17

［韓国］ 韓国外務省は３０日、日本による朝鮮 半島統治時代の「慰安婦」に関する報道 官声明を発表し、韓国が要請している協 議に日本側が応じていないことに「深い 遺憾を表明する」とした。日本側に「歴 史的な過ちを勇気を持って直視」し、元 慰安婦の「痛みを癒やせる責任ある行動 を示すべきだ」と主張した。

声明は元慰安婦の対日請求権問題につ いて、韓国政府が措置を講じてこなかっ たことを「違憲」とした韓国憲法裁判決 から２年となるのを機に出された。この 間、韓国側は日本政府に対し、継続的に 協議に応じるよう要求してきたと強調し た。（ソウル 加藤達也）
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/news/130830/kor13083023180003-n1.htm

South Korean Foreign Ministry on claims of comfort women, “Regrettable”

The South Korean Foreign Ministry made a public statement regarding the period of Japanese rule over the Korean peninsula and the “comfort women,” saying that “it is extremely regrettable” that Japan would not respond to a request from South Korea for a discussion. It called on Japan to “have courage and take a hard look at its past mistakes” and that it “must take action to heal the pain” of the comfort women.

The statement was put out on the 2 nd anniversary of the South Korean Constitutional Court judgment that it was “unconstitutional” that the South Korean government had not taken measures concerning the problem of claims against Japan by former comfort women. During this time, South Korea has made continual requests for discussions with Japan.

Made a run for it

Another plucky North Korean has escaped to the south. This should be cause for celebration.

北朝鮮の住民が韓国亡命
2013.8.23 14:24 ［北朝鮮］

北朝鮮住民の男性が２３日未明、南北軍 事境界線に近い韓国北西部の喬桐島の海岸 に到着し、亡命の意思を示した。韓国軍関係者が明らかにした。

男性は何も持たずに泳いで喬桐島にたど り着いたとみられる。近くの島民に「北か ら来た」と伝え、島民が韓国当局に申告し た。韓国当局が男性の身柄を確保し、経緯 などを調べている。（共同）

http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/news/130823/kor13082314260001-n1.htm

North Korean citizen seek asylum in South Korea

In the early morning of the 23 rd , a North Korean man arrived on the coast of the Jumun Island in the north-west of South Korea near the north-south military border and expressed a desire for asylum. This was reported by south Korean sources.

It appears that the man swam to Jumun, bringing nothing with him. He told island inhabitants, “I’ve come from the North” and they then reported it to the South Korean authorities. The authorities secured the man and are investigating the circumstances.

Making old life less awesome…

The guvmint is out to make your life more expensive, if you live in Japan and happen to be over the age of 70. Time to vote DPJ again?

社会保障改革の手 順、閣議決定…秋に 成立目指す

政府は２１日の閣議で、社会保障制度改 革の手順を定める「プログラム法案」の 「骨子」を決定した。社会保障制度改革国 民会議がまとめた報告書を基に医療、介 護、年金、少子化対策の改革の実施時期を 示したもので、秋の臨時国会での法案提 出、成立を目指す。

負担増となる改革には与野党に慎重意見 が根強いため、スケジュールに沿って個別 の法改正が進められるかが今後の焦点とな る。 「骨子」では、現在１割に据え置かれて いる７０～７４歳の医療費窓口負担を本来 の２割に戻すなど、医療分野の改革は「１ ７年度までをめど」に順次、実施するとし た。高所得者の介護サービスの自己負担引 き上げなど、介護分野の改革は「１５年度 をめど」とした。一連の改革の財源には消 費増税の税収を充てるとした。 （2013年8月22日01時28分 読売新聞）

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/news/20130821-OYT1T01455.htm?from=navr

Social Security Reform Procedures, Cabinet Resolution….goal of passage by autumn

In a cabinet resolution on the 21st, the government outlined a “program bill” to establish the procedures for social security reform. Based on a report from the Social Security System Reform National Committee, it outlines a timeframe for reforming healthcare, nursing, pensions, and population growth measures and will be submitted at a special session of Parliament in the autumn aiming to pass during the same session.

Because there is strong current of caution across all parties at present towards the reform because it includes cost increases, whether or not individual revisions will proceed on schedule or not is going to be a focal point.

“The essentials” of the plan are that the percent of medical fees born by those in the 70-74 age range will return to 20% from the current 10% along with other medical field reforms “occurring by 2017.” The personal cost of nursing service for high income earners will be raised as well as other reforms in the nursing field “finishing in 2015.” The reform funding would come from the tax revenues from the consumption tax increase.

The TPP returns!!!

Sorry for the long delayed silence. Here's a random quotation from some guy involved in TPP negotiations. Good luck trying to figure out what he'd actually talking about.

日本の貢献策を表明 へ＝甘利ＴＰＰ担当 相—ブルネイ会合

鶴岡公二ＴＰＰ首席交渉官は１９日夜、
ブルネイで２２日に始まる環太平洋連携協定（ＴＰＰ）閣僚会合について、甘利明ＴＰＰ担当相が安倍内閣の交渉に対する決意と、年内妥結に向けた日本の貢献策を表明するとの見通しを示した。

その上で鶴岡氏は、関税撤廃・削減の２国間協議の本格化を念頭に「交渉は佳境に入っている」と強調。「交渉の成果を出し、日本の国益を最大限発揮したい」と述べた。

http://jp.wsj.com/article/JJ12365004687482003324619218159292901278344.html

Announcing Japan’s contribution plan – TPP representative Amari – Brunei meeting

Koji Tsuruoka , the TPP negotiator predicted regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) committee meetings that begin on the 22 nd in Brunei, that Akira Amari, the minister over TPP negotiations would announce Prime Minister Abe’s decision on negotiations as well as Japan’s contribution plan towards a compromise this year.

Furthermore, Tsuruoka emphasized that “negotiations have entered a climax,” keeping in mind that intra-country negotiations are proceeding on tariff elimination/reduction. He also said, “We plan to produce negotiation results that demonstrate the maximum focus for Japan’s national interest.”