Briefs | N. Korea boat captain charged in theft

Japanese authorities have indicted the North Korean captain of a boat that drifted to its coast on charges of stealing a generator from an uninhabited island. The captain and his nine crewmembers on the dilapidated boat were rescued near a tiny island off of Hokkaido, northern Japan, in late November. Japanese police this month arrested the captain and two crewmembers on suspicion they stole a generator and appliances from a barn on the island. Japanese media, including NHK public television, say prosecutors yesterday charged the captain with theft. The prosecutors’ office refused to confirm the Associated Press’ phone inquiry from Tokyo.

Vietnam party chief praises fight against corruption

Vietnam’s Communist Party chief has praised the country’s fight against corruption, saying it has reached an “unprecedented level” and achieved positive results. Nguyen Phu Trong was speaking at an online government conference yesterday that was for the first time also attended by other top party and government officials. Trong’s comments come as country’s most high-profile court case in decades is set for next month. Nearly two dozen former oil executives including a former Politburo member are accused of embezzlement and mismanagement.

India chides Pakistan for treatment of officer’s family

India lashed out at Pakistan yesterday for its treatment of the wife and mother of an Indian naval officer on death row for spying during their first meeting since his arrest. India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj accused Pakistan of disregarding the cultural and religious sensibilities of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s family under the pretext of security precautions, including the removal of bangles and other ornaments as well as a change in attire and shoes. Swaraj said in a statement in India’s Parliament that Monday’s meeting in the Pakistani capital could have proved to be a positive step in improving ties between the two countries. The criticism is expected to exacerbate tensions between the longtime rivals who have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947 and regularly exchange fire along their disputed territory in Kashmir.