Japan’s PM walks tightrope in high-stakes Washington visit – Access Asia

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi travelled to Washington hoping to strengthen ties with the United States. The visit turned into a delicate balancing act amid US President Donald Trump’s growing pressure on allies to help the US in the Iran war. Yuka Royer discusses the visit with James Schoff, Senior Director at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA.

Also on the show:

Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to a temporary pause in fighting as their conflict escalates into what Islamabad calls an “open war” with the Taliban regime. We’re joined by analyst Hameed Hakimi to break down the risks of further regional destabilisation.

Finally, the global rise of Korean pop culture: from BTS’s long-awaited return to the Oscar-winning success of “KPop Demon Hunters”, we look at how the “K wave” is now driving tourists to South Korea.