March 17, Saturday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Risa Shimizu and Ms. Fumiko Konoe

  1. Japan and the United States have agreed to continue applying maximum pressure on North Korea until it takes concrete action toward denuclearization.
  2. Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso has reiterated that he will not resign. Opposition parties are demanding that he step down to take responsibility for the ministry’s document-tampering scandal.
  3. Chinese President Xi Jinping has been reelected for his second 5-year term at China’s National People’s Congress. His key ally, Wang Qishan, was elected as vice president.