Japan's economy in quarterly dive; 朝鮮中央通訊社

Japan's economy in quarterly dive

Japanese exports have been hit by the global economic downturn

Japan's economy contracted by 3.3% in the last quarter of last year - its worst showing since the oil crisis of the 1970s, official figures show.

The contraction means the economy shrank at an annual pace of 12.7%. during the October to December period.

Economic Minister Kaoru Yosano said Japan faced its worst economic crisis since the end of World War II.

The slowdown in the world's second-biggest economy is steeper than in the US or Europe.

Japan has been hit particularly hard by falling global demand for its products.

Exports, particularly of electronics and cars, have slumped and production has been slashed.

Consumers have cut back too, alarmed by rising unemployment.

No surprise

People had been saying for some time that GDP would be bad, so while the market didn't welcome the numbers there was no excessive reaction Hiroaki Osakabe, Chibagin Asset Management

"This is the worst economic crisis in the post-war era. There is no doubt about it," Mr Yosano said at a news conference.

"The Japanese economy, whose growth is heavily dependent on exports of automobiles, machinery, and IT equipment, was literally battered" by the global downturn, he said.

However, Japan's stock market largely brushed off the latest economic news.

The Nikkei share index lost 0.4%, while the broader Topix rose 0.7%.

"People had been saying for some time that GDP would be bad, so while the market didn't welcome the numbers there was no excessive reaction," said Hiroaki Osakabe at Chibagin Asset Management.

"The next quarter is likely to also be tough because consumption may well fall off."

Government problems

Mr Yosano said the government would consider new stimulus measures to aid the economy.

"Japan alone won't be able to recover. The economy has no border. It is our responsibility to rebuild the domestic economy for other countries," he added.

Prime Minister Taro Aso is hampered in his response by a divided parliament and a fractious ruling party.

There were reports over the weekend that he is considering another stimulus package of government spending worth 20 trillion yen ($218bn; £152bn).

But the latest opinion poll has showed that fewer than 10% of people support the prime minister, who must call a general election by September.

朝鮮中央通訊社在星期一（2月16日）金正日67歲生日之際否認朝鮮準備試射遠程導彈。

近日來，韓國、日本以及西方媒體普遍報道朝鮮將試射“大埔洞”2型洲際彈道導彈。

朝鮮中央社評論稱這是“反朝鮮惡勢力”散播的謠言，“是企圖阻擋朝鮮發展自衛所需的軍事力量以及和平科學研究的險惡陰謀”。

中央社稱，“朝鮮將發射什麼，大家過段時間就會知道。”

中央社表示，“開發太空是朝鮮的自主權利，也是現實發展的要求。”

評論稱，目前各國都在開發太空，朝鮮也正根據這一趨勢發展自己的尖端科技，並在太空開發領域取得巨大成果。

吸引注意？

此前有分析稱，朝鮮選擇在此際試射遠程導彈是為了吸引美國奧巴馬政府的注意。

但中央社的評論說：“目的不純的勢力聲稱朝鮮是以挑舋行為吸引某勢力注意，但這種說法本身就是對朝鮮的侮辱。”

“朝鮮無需任何人的關心，也不希望他人介入或干涉只有朝鮮民族居住的朝鮮半島的事務。”

不過韓國聯合通訊社報道指出，朝鮮在1998年試射“大浦洞”1號導彈時曾聲稱是發射“光明星1號”人造衛星。

報道因此提出朝鮮此次可能故伎重演，以發射人造衛星作為試射導彈的掩護。

美國國務卿希拉里﹒克林頓在前往亞洲訪問途中對記者們表示美國期待朝鮮遵守其所作出的去核承諾。

克林頓在上周曾表示如果朝鮮放棄核武器計劃，美國願與其簽署和平協議，實現關係正常化並提供能源及其它經濟援助。