S. Korean activist Kim

S. Korean activist Kim

SEOUL, South Korea - Kim Young Hwan, a prominent South Korean activist, speaks to reporters in Seoul on July 25, 2012, after returning home from China. Kim, who was held by Chinese authorities for over three months, was tortured with a cattle prod while in detention, a South Korean newspaper reported July 27, citing a close confidant of the activist.

China activist may get passport in 'few days'

China activist may get passport in 'few days'

NEW YORK, United States - Jerome Cohen, a New York University professor who is a friend and confidant of the Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng, is interviewed by Kyodo News in New York on May 9, 2012. Cohen said he expects the prominent dissident to receive a passport in ''a few days.''

Inquest panel says LDP's Yamasaki deserves indictment

Inquest panel says LDP's Yamasaki deserves indictment

TOKYO, Japan - Taku Yamasaki, a senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker and confidant of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, fields questions from reporters at a Tokyo hotel on July 27 after the Tokyo Dai-ni Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution's conclusion said he deserves to be indicted over a political donation scandal involving a dentists lobby.

Inquest panel says LDP's Yamasaki deserves indictment

Inquest panel says LDP's Yamasaki deserves indictment

TOKYO, Japan - Taku Yamasaki, a senior Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker and confidant of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, fields questions from reporters at a Tokyo hotel on July 27 after the Tokyo Dai-ni Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution's conclusion said he deserves to be indicted over a political donation scandal involving a dentists lobby. (Kyodo)

China activist may get passport in 'few days'

China activist may get passport in 'few days'

NEW YORK, United States - Jerome Cohen, a New York University professor who is a friend and confidant of the Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng, is interviewed by Kyodo News in New York on May 9, 2012. Cohen said he expects the prominent dissident to receive a passport in ''a few days.'' (Kyodo)

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and his confidant Wang Qishan shake hands after being elected as president and vice president, respectively, at the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 17, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and his confidant Wang Qishan shake hands after being elected as president and vice president, respectively, at the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 17, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and his confidant Wang Qishan shake hands after being elected as president and vice president, respectively, at the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 17, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Chinese President Xi Jinping (front) and his confidant Wang Qishan attend the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 17, 2018, where they were elected as president and vice president, respectively. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Chinese President Xi Jinping casts his ballot in a vote on his re-election to a second five-year term at the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 17, 2018.(Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Xi re-elected as China's president, his confidant becomes No. 2

Chinese President Xi Jinping casts his ballot in a vote on his re-election to a second five-year term at the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 17, 2018.(Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Rally to seek resignation of S. Korean Pres. Park

Rally to seek resignation of S. Korean Pres. Park

People stage a rally in Seoul on Oct. 27, 2016, calling for the resignation of South Korean President Park Geun Hye in the wake of a high profile influence-peddling scandal implicating her longtime confidant. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

S. Korean president's approval rating hits record-low 17.5%

S. Korean president's approval rating hits record-low 17.5%

Students protest at Ewha women's university in Seoul on Oct. 26, 2016, over a high-profile influence-peddling scandal in South Korea in which a longtime confidant of President Park Geun Hye has been implicated. Park's approval rating tumbled to a record low of 17.5 percent, poll results released by Realmeter showed on Oct. 27. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

S. Korean president's approval rating hits record-low 17.5%

S. Korean president's approval rating hits record-low 17.5%

Students protest at Ewha women's university in Seoul on Oct. 26, 2016, over a high-profile influence-peddling scandal in South Korea in which a longtime confidant of President Park Geun Hye has been implicated. Park's approval rating tumbled to a record low of 17.5 percent, poll results released by Realmeter showed on Oct. 27. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo