James Oaten

What’s wrong with Narita? I just wish the NEX was more frequent

A witness to one of Japan's lesser-known WWII horrors has this final wish Eighty years after World War II, some of Japan's last survivors are still pushing for an apology and recognition. But time is running out.

In the documentary we look at the Tokyo Firebombing, the Battle for Okinawa, and the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

80 years since end of WW2 there are few survivors old enough to remember the horrors. This is their story. There’s not much time left.

An online writeup is here:

The Last Witnesses of Hiroshima and Japan's Destruction tell their Story | Foreign Correspondent YouTube video by ABC News In-depth

In 1945, Japan could not win the war.

But it fought on hoping to exhaust the Americans and secure a more favourable peace. In only led to more carnage.

My latest documentary is through the eyes of Japanese civilian survivors, who want Japan to recognise and apologise for their suffering. 👇

South Korea's Prime Minister Han Duck Soo has had his impeachment overturned, meaning he'll get his job and powers back.

Of course the main event is whether the Constitutional Court does the same for President Yoon Suk Yeol -- verdict expected to be any day now.

en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2025...

If you’re more of a visual person - here’s the television version, which includes an AI model of me.

(Visuals have that deepfake sheen, but the audio is scarily spot on.)

How those suffering grief are turnjng to AI 👇

youtu.be/HnKw9WYTpkc?...

'My heart became lighter': AI gave this grieving mum a final farewell As AI technology rapidly improves, some people in South Korea talk with computer-generated models of their dead loved ones to process grief and say goodbye.

“An unexpected healing of wounds.”

Using VR or AI to reanimate the dead may sound like a Black Mirror episode, but it is becoming increasingly real and convincing.

Can the tech help or hinder the grieving process?

My latest on “grief bots” in South Korea 👇

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...

Young men are fuelling the rise of the 'White Skull Squad' in Korea Wearing symbolic white helmets and waving "Stop the Steal" flags, the young men of the "white skull squad" are back on the streets of South Korea and wanting the US to intervene in their country's dem...

With South Korea’s Constitutional Court soon to deliver impeachment verdict of President Yoon Suk Yeol, there are increasing concerns about possible unrest and violence.

Here’s my latest on the MAGA tactics deployed by his most hardened followers 👇

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03...

How synchronised walking became a smash hit in Japan | ABC NEWS YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)

Amid this rather chaotic news cycle - here’s a nice little television yarn from me, showcasing Japan’s famous synchronised walking. Enjoy!

youtu.be/lLtR03xjsko?...

I was just there today!!
Steak and Shiraz - 10/10.

New Gallup Korea numbers are out, with a few interesting pieces of data. Mini-thread incoming.

Australian satire takes on Korean politics

Couple of snaps from the protest too

After a game of hide and seek, South Korea's president emerges defiant After a weeks-long game of hide and seek, South Korea's president Yoon Suk Yeol has finally emerged from the shadows. The saga has exposed the nation's political division.

There’s a feeling among pro-Yoon supporters a communist sympathising deep state is out to get their leader.

It’s a calling card that would typically unite his older supporters, but there was a notable presence of 20 and 30 somethings at the protest too.

My latest 👇

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...

[속보] 尹, 14일 헌재 정식변론 불출석…“신변안전 등 우려” 윤석열 대통령이 오는 14일 헌법재판소의 탄핵 심판 첫 변론기일에 출석하지 않을 것이라고 윤 대통령 측 변호인단이 12일 밝혔다. 변호인단은 “신변 문제 우려”를 거론하며 “경호 문제가 해결돼야 출석할 수 있다”는 입장을 재차 전했다. 앞서 윤 대통령 입장을 대신 전하고 있는 윤갑근 변호사는 8일 오후 기자들을 만나 “헌재 재판에 출석한다는 의사는 변함이

Just in: Yoon Suk Yeol's lawyer says he will be absent from the first hearing of his impeachment trial on Jan 14 out of "concerns about his personal safety".

Update: S. Korea's transport ministry has revealed that both black boxes from the Jeju Air plane crash stopped recording approximately 4 minutes before the aircraft collided with a concrete structure, potentially complicating efforts to determine exact cause of crash. Reason remains unknown.

The 'stop the steal' is interesting -- according to @koreanforeigner.bsky.social

"Their hope is that Donald Trump will feel some sort of sympathy for Yoon and his supporters."

"They're hoping that their... images will appear in Fox News, which will eventually filter into Donald Trump's TV."

The fortune teller who may be pulling the strings on Korea's wild political crisis South Koreans fearing the communist "wind from the north" back impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol, but he looks to shamans and mysticism to guide him into and through office.

Shamans, conspiracies, 'stop the steal'.

No, this isn't the MAGA movement.

These are the tactics of South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. It may be at odds with the mainstream public, but it seems to be helping Yoon... at least a bit.

My latest 👇

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01...

“And why did the aircraft touch down so far down the runway that it had no chance of stopping before exited the runway?

And why was there a brick wall at the end of the runway?"

2/2

Aviation expert says questions need answering after South Korea plane crash The Jeju Air crash on Sunday afternoon is South Korea's worst airline disaster in more than 30 years, with 179 of the 181 people on board dying.

"If they were going to make an emergency landing with the undercarriage up, why didn't the fire tenders lay foam on the runway?”

“Why weren't they in attendance when the plane touched down?”

Many questions from yesterday’s fatal Jeju plane crash in South Korea

1/2

www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

Firefighters EXPECT** all on board have died, except two rescued.

A failed landing gear is believed to be reason for crash.

The aircraft abandoned its first landing attempt, and the second was a "belly landing" - so no landing gear. Bird strike suspected for fault.

Footage shows it skidding off the runway and exploding.

Fuselage destroyed.

Live: Plane carrying 181 crashes in South Korea, at least 85 dead Authorities say the plane was attempting a crash landing due to a malfunctioning landing gear, when it veered off the runway and collided with a fence at Muan Airport. Follow live.

Firefighters except all on board Jeju aircraft, except two rescued, have died.

The aircraft was landing at Muan International Airport.

Live blog here:
www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

Death toll now at 62.

ABC running a live blog with all the latest:

www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

Horrible news -- death toll from Muan International Airport plane crash now at 47, according to Yonhap.

The Jeju aircraft, returning from Bangkok, was attempting a crash landing due to a malfunctioning landing gear, authorities say.

Opposition wants the full bench to effectively lower the bar for impeachment.

When the PM and acting President refused to approve the extra three judges, he was impeached too.

Bit of extra detail....
There are six judges on Constitutional Court, which is hearing the matter of Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.
There are meant to be nine.
SO, the court would need a unanimous decision to uphold impeachment, instead of majority.

(2nd LD) Nat'l Assembly votes to impeach acting President Han | Yonhap News Agency (ATTN: UPDATES throughout with impeachment vote; CHANGES headline, photos)By Lee Haye-ah a...

South Korea has now impeached the acting President Han Duck-soo less than two weeks after he took over for President Yoon Suk Yeol.
en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2024...

The charge is attempted murder, prosecutors seeking eight years jail.

Prosecutors allege Yang Ping befriended Alex Shorey after her spouse died unexpectedly and was motivated by "a desire to satisfy her personal needs for control, jealousy, and revenge".

"He was at constant risk of massive bleeding from various parts of his body and could have died at any moment.”

Woman charged with attempted murder over Australian student's 2023 poisoning in Taiwan A woman in Taiwan is facing eight years jail after being charged with attempted murder for allegedly poisoning Brisbane university student, Alex Shorey, with rat poison

Extraordinary case from Taiwan:

Woman allegedly gave rat poison to her Australian friend because he was leaving the country early.

While in hospital, she allegedly continued to lace his food and drink with rat poison.

Now charges laid.

My latest.
www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...