Overview
- South Korea says it will greet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with honors akin to a state guest during her May 19–20 visit, including an honor guard at the hotel meeting with President Lee Jae-myung.
- The government is studying a 2026 supplementary budget to cut electricity, gas, and fuel bills, while LDP executive Koichi Hagiuda says open-ended gasoline subsidies are not sustainable.
- Tokyo has finalized measures to counter cyberattacks powered by advanced AI, with alerts to critical infrastructure operators and a faster, National Cyber Coordination Office–led response structure.
- The LDP’s proposal for year-end security document revisions will back a major defense buildup without setting a numeric target, with discussion referencing allies that plan around 3.5% of GDP.
- Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki warns of false social media posts after a fatal two-boat capsizing off Henoko, including claims about public subsidies to the operator that the prefecture disputes.