October 19, Tuesday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1.Japan’s government says North Korea fired two ballistic missiles on Tuesday morning. It marks the latest in a series of launches in recent months. Japan’s Defense Ministry says North Korea launched the missiles at 10:15 a.m. and 10:16 a.m. from the east side of North Korea. The ministry says both probably dropped into the Sea of Japan on the east side of the Korean Peninsula.
2.It’s a busy day for hundreds of candidates vying for seats in Japan’s Lower House. Tuesday marks the official start of the election campaign. Voters will choose their government at the end of this month. The ruling coalition wants to maintain its majority in the chamber and stay in power. But in an attempt to block it opposition parties are fielding a united candidate in many constituencies.
3.Defense officials in Japan say Chinese and Russian naval vessels have jointly passed through the Tsugaru Strait located between Japan’s main island of Honshu and Hokkaido. It is the first time that Japan’s defense ministry confirmed Chinese and Russian warships going through the strait simultaneously.