May 31, Wednesday, 2017 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Mariko Kojima and Mr. Mick Corliss

1. The U.S. Defense Department says it has successfully shot down an intercontinental ballistic missile in the first test of its kind using a ground-based intercept system.
2. U.S. Defense Department officials say the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan has entered the Sea of Japan for a joint drill with another aircraft carrier.
3. Japanese and Russian officials have begun to discuss details of a survey to promote joint economic activities on 4 Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.