April 19, Thursday, 2018 (2:00 p.m.) Read by Ms. Hiroko Kitadai and Ms. Yuka Matsumoto

  1. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to maintain the maximum pressure on North Korea until the country takes concrete steps for denuclearization.
  2. Finance ministers of the Group of Seven countries say maximum economic pressure will continue to be applied to North Korea.
  3. Russia says it has started massive military drills in the Kuril Islands. The country says the island chain includes 4 Russian-held islands claimed by Japan.