Asia in 3 minutes: Moon warns of North Korea conflict, Indonesia to cane men for gay sex

Moon warns of conflict with North Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in warned on Wednesday there was a “high possibility” of military clashes along the border with North Korea, as tensions mount over Pyongyang’s weapons ambitions. Moon, who was sworn in last week, said the North’s nuclear and rocket programmes were “advancing rapidly”, days after Pyongyang launched what appeared to be its longest-range missile yet.

The North claimed the rocket was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, although there are doubts whether the country could build a warhead small enough to fit into a missile. It has staged two atomic tests and dozens of missile tests in its quest to build a missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.

What next? Left-leaning Moon favours engagement with the North to bring it to the negotiating table. But after Sunday’s missile launch he said dialogue would be possible “only if Pyongyang changes its behaviour”.

Moon flags high risk of military clashes with North

Thai junta drops Facebook threat

The Thai government backed away from a threat to block Facebook on Tuesday, instead serving the social media platform with court orders to remove content that the government deems illegal. Thailand made the threat last week as it wanted Facebook to block more than 130 posts it considers a threat to national security or in violation of the country’s lèse-majesté law, which makes insulting the monarchy punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Thailand’s military government has made prosecuting royal insults a priority since seizing power in a coup three years ago.

What next? The junta is also mulling a new cyber law that would grant authorities the power to access any private-sector computer system, a tool they say is needed to defend against hackers. The bill was proposed after the massive “WannaCry” cyberattack sparked havoc in computer systems worldwide, but is controversial because Thailand has previously adopted cyber laws that have been used as a cudgel against government critics.

Thailand backs down on Facebook ban threat after site ‘cooperates’ over royal posts

Japanese princess announces engagement, fuels succession fears

Japanese Princess Mako, the eldest granddaughter of Emperor Akihito, will marry a former college classmate, Japanese media reported, heating up debate on the ever-shrinking royal family, since she must become a commoner after marriage. The fiancé of 25-year-old Mako , Kei Komuro, appeared before media cameras on Wednesday outside the Tokyo law office where he works, a day after the news of their engagement broke. The Imperial Household Agency declined to comment. There are only four heirs to the throne – Akihito’s two middle-aged sons, whose wives are in their early 50s, Akihito’s octogenarian brother, and Prince Hisahito, the ten-year-old son of Akihito’s younger son. Akihito has only four grandchildren, the other three of whom are female – Mako, her younger sister, Kako, and Crown Prince Naruhito’s daughter, Aiko. The shrinking royal population has raised concerns that the youngest prince may also be the last.