Japan warns of severe rain, North Korea swaps defense chief, and regional news roundup

Japan's weather agency issued a top-level rain alert for Fukui as mudslides struck, North Korea appointed a new defense minister, three students died off Kagoshima, manufacturers announced an AI-robot consortium, a bread-dumping incident was investigated, the main opposition party faces a split, deadly Nepal-China floods continue, and J.League teams recorded early wins.

Japan's weather authority escalated warnings to Level 5 for Fukui, Ono and Katsuyama, urging immediate protective measures as mudslides have already been confirmed. North Korea's state media announced that Kim Song Gi, previously head of the General Political Bureau, has taken over as minister of National Defense, replacing No Kwang Chol under the direction of leader Kim Jong Un. The Japan Coast Guard identified three teenage victims—Haruki Shitaebisu, 17, his brother Kensei, 13, and Takahiro Takemoto, 14—who were swept out to sea off Kagoshima Prefecture.

Approximately twenty Japanese manufacturers, among them Kyocera Corp. and Kobe Steel Ltd., are set to create a joint venture with software firm Arum Inc. to commercialize AI systems for autonomous factory robots. Police are investigating the roadside dumping of 39 kg of bread in Daisen-Oki National Park, Tottori, after the incident sparked false claims linking it to rising bear encounters. The largest opposition party in the lower house faces a potential split as merger negotiations with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan fell apart, threatening unity ahead of next spring's local elections.

Floods and mudslides along the Nepal-China border have escalated, with nearly 3,000 people missing and more than 680 fatalities, and officials warn a newly formed natural dam could fail. In sports, Kashiwa Reysol and Kashima Antlers each recorded 1-0 wins in the J.League opener, with Yusuke Segawa scoring for Kashiwa and Ricardo Rodriguez's side extending its unbeaten run.