Japan

「送金バイト」に罰則導入 マネロン対策、法改正へ

Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | Regulation

The National Police Agency's expert panel has recommended introducing penalties for "remittance part-time jobs," a newly emerged money laundering technique, to combat the increasing use of victim funds by anonymous criminal groups known as toku-ryu. These groups recruit individuals via social networking sites (SNS) to receive stolen funds into their accounts and then transfer the money to designated accounts for compensation. The government plans to submit a bill this month to amend the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds.

Toku-ryu and similar groups evade detection by routing swindled money through multiple accounts illegally traded on SNS, making the money trail difficult to trace. Arrests under the current law reached 4,362 in 2024. However, current penalties are limited to imprisonment of up to one year or fines up to one million yen, which the panel considers insufficient. The report highlights difficulties in cracking down on these activities under existing laws, including challenges in applying the Organized Crime Punishment Act unless the transferred funds are clearly recognized as criminal proceeds.

Asahi Shimbun - E | English | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | North Korea

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reported significant progress in restoring trust with China during his recent state visit. He asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to mediate Seoul’s efforts to engage North Korea in dialogue, highlighting that despite attempts so far, success had not been achieved. Xi emphasized the need for patience when addressing the nuclear-armed North Korean issue.

Lee's talks with Xi, their second in under three months, aimed to open a "new phase" in bilateral relations after years of tension, partly due to South Korea’s deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in 2017 which had led to Chinese restrictions on Korean cultural exports. Xi acknowledged the efforts made and noted that while talk is easy, action and building trust require continued work.

The South Korean president underlined the complexity of diplomatic relations which involve balancing national interests, expressing hope for the resolution of recent tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. He also stated that South Korea values its relations with Japan as much as its ties with China.

NHK | English | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | Climate Change

Recent severe disasters in South and Southeast Asia, including record downpours in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia that caused over 2,000 deaths, highlight climate-related calamities as a significant security threat to the region. Professor Joseph Liow of the National University of Singapore emphasizes the urgent need for governments to address climate change to safeguard public well-being.

Liow notes that most countries in the region are not meeting their decarbonization commitments, partly due to rapid adoption of AI technologies that require energy-intensive data centers. He warns that energy consumption will grow exponentially and urges governments to develop sustainable energy sources and better manage consumption to ensure the security of their populations.