Japan faces the worst crisis since World War-II; Pressure mounts on Kan to quit; Takeaki Matsumoto to be the new Foreign Minister of Japan; Japan stealth jet prototype set to fly in 2014; Russia to deploy cruise missiles on Kuril Islands
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  • Reports noted that Japan is today experiencing its greatest hardships since World War II. It is tackling an earthquake, tsunami and a growing nuclear crisis. The Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said in a television statement that there will be sweeping power cuts. He further added that the existing situation at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant remained grave. There have also been reports that the death toll in tsunami-hit Miyagi prefecture alone could exceed 10,000. 1

    On the political front, there are reports that the people who are within the government have also started demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Naoto Kan. The most vocal were members of the Democratic Party of Japan who are close to former party President Ichiro Ozawa.2 On the other hand Japan appointed a new foreign minister. It was announced that Vice Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto will succeed Seiji Maehara as Foreign Minister of Japan.3

    On the defence front, a senior military official said that Japan is on track to test a domestically designed prototype stealth fighter in three years. This was announced by Lt. Gen. Hideyuki Yoshioka who stated that the prototype will likely be rolled out for a test flight on schedule in 2014. 4

    However, on the bi-lateral front, it is believed that Russia will deploy antiship cruise missiles and antiaircraft missiles systems on the Kuril Islands. This will be including the four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan. 5

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