May 29, Monday, 2023

1. Japanese government officials say North Korea has told the International Maritime Organization of plans to launch what it calls an “artificial satellite” between May 31 and June 11. Japan has condemned it as a provocation against its national security. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio told reporters the Self-Defense Forces have been ordered to shoot down any incoming missile expected to fall in Japanese territory.
2. The Philippine Coast Guard will hold a drill with its Japanese and US counterparts from Thursday in waters around Manila Bay. Officials from the three countries confirmed they will strengthen cooperation, apparently with China’s increasing activities in the South China Sea in mind. 3. Turkey’s election commission has announced that incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the winner in the presidential runoff election. Erdogan declared victory before his supporters on Sunday evening in Istanbul. Erdogan was running against Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the head of a six-party opposition alliance.