[November 04, 2009]

Kyodo news summary -3-+

(Japan Economic Newswire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TOKYO, Nov. 4_(Kyodo) _ ---------- Hatoyama, Obama likely to meet Nov. 13 in Tokyo TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama are likely to meet in Tokyo on Nov. 13, a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.

The meeting will take place during Obama's first visit to Japan as U.S. president Nov. 12-13 amid growing tension between the two countries especially over the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.

---------- Japan mulls sending SDF liaison officers to Afghan security mission TOKYO - Tokyo is considering sending Self-Defense Forces personnel to the headquarters of the international security mission in Afghanistan to aid the war-torn country, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Wednesday.

"The possibility is not zero, but (the SDF dispatch) is not at all decided yet," Kitazawa said about the plan to send SDF liaison officers to join the International Security Assistance Force. "The Defense Ministry has floated the idea as Japan's possible contribution." ---------- U.S. expected to decide 'soon' on talks with N. Korea: S. Korea SEOUL - The United States is expected to decide "soon" whether and when to hold bilateral talks with North Korea, South Korea's chief nuclear envoy told Yonhap News Agency Wednesday.

"It has been a long time since North Korea has invited the U.S. (for bilateral talks). It is time for the U.S. to set its position," Wi Sung Lac, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, said in an interview with Yonhap's video news.

---------- Ex-Foreign Minister Muto dies at 82 TOKYO - Former Foreign Minister Kabun Muto died of pancreatic cancer Wednesday morning at a Tokyo hospital, sources close to him said. He was 82.

Other than the foreign ministry portfolio, the former House of Representatives member held ministerial posts at then Management and Coordination Agency and then International Trade and Industry Ministry before retiring from politics in 2005.

---------- U.S. official meets with Suu Kyi in Myanmar YANGON - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell on Wednesday held talks with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in the country's largest city Yangon.

It is the first time for Campbell to meet face to face with Suu Kyi. U.S. Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel was also present at the meeting held at a hotel in Yangon.

---------- Nepal issues high security alert as Maoist protests continue KATHMANDU - Nepal's government on Wednesday issued a high alert to security agencies, including the national army, following the seizure of administration offices across the country by Maoist former rebels.

The government issued the alert saying it had credible information that protests by the Maoists could take a violent turn.

---------- Bloomberg wins 3rd term as New York City mayor NEW YORK - Michael Bloomberg won his third term as New York City mayor in Tuesday's election in what has turned out to be a close contest, local media reported.

Bloomberg, 67, a billionaire who founded the financial news agency Bloomberg LP, beat New York City Comptroller William Thompson Jr., 56, a Democrat. Bloomberg, a former Republican, no longer belongs to any party.

---------- Fugitive wanted in murder of British woman sighted in Nagoya CHIBA, Japan - A man who looks like the fugitive believed to be involved in the 2007 murder of British woman was seen last month in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, investigative sources said Wednesday.

Police also received information that a man who looks similar to Tatsuya Ichihashi, 30, had cosmetic surgery at a clinic in Nagoya, the sources said. Ichihashi is wanted for suspicion of abandoning the body of Lindsay Hawker, 22, a language teacher, in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture.

---------- JVC Kenwood mulls selling music software unit Victor Entertainment TOKYO - JVC Kenwood Holdings Inc. is considering selling its music software group company Victor Entertainment Inc. as part of efforts to rehabilitate its struggling businesses, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday.

Candidates the holding company of Victor Co. of Japan, known as JVC, and Kenwood Corp. are considering as the possible buyer include major video game software developer Konami Corp., the sources said.

(c) 2009 Kyodo News International, Inc.

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