Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 0600 GMT, Jan. 26

Japan's trade deficit hit record 12.78 trillion yen ( about 109 billion U.S. dollars) in the year of 2014, up 11.4 percent from the previous year, government data showed Monday.

It was the worst reading since comparable data became available in 1979, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report, adding that the balance of trade in goods registered in red ink for the fourth straight year. (Japan-Trade Deficit)

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SEOUL -- South Korea expressed regrets Monday over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s "threat" of stern punishment against Seoul's distortion of Pyongyang's willingness toward dialogue.

Unification Ministry spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol told a press briefing that it was very regrettable for the DPRK to distort and denounce South Korea's will to improve inter-Korean ties and even "threaten" the country through the DPRK's National Defense Commission statement. (S.Korea-DPRK-Punishment)

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ISLAMABAD -- Top Pakistani and Afghan commanders have opened talks on security issues, focusing on border management amid growing anti-terror cooperation, the military said Monday.

Commander Afghan Border Police, Lieutenant General, Shafiq Fazli, is leading a 10-member delegation in talks with Pakistani counterparts. (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Talks)

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NEW DELHI -- India on Monday began its 66th Republic Day celebrations, with U.S. President Barack Obama as the chief guest at the event.

President Obama, his wife Michelle, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other dignitaries and the general public, are watching the Republic Day parade on Rajpath road in front of the presidential palace at the heart of the national capital. (India-Republic Day) Endi