Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 12

TOKYO -- The Chinese character meaning "north" was selected as kanji, or Chinese character of the year that best summarizes the year's national mood in Japan, the country's Kanji Aptitude Testing Association announced in Kyoto on Tuesday, local media reported.

According to the Kyoto-based organization, the selection was based on votes cast by the general public. "North" won 7,104 of the 153,594 votes received in total this year. (Japan-Chinese character of the year)

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir -- At least five soldiers were missing Tuesday after avalanches hit army posts at two locations in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The avalanches struck in frontier Gurez and Nowgam sectors of Bandipora and Kupwara districts respectively.

"Two soldiers slipped down the slope in Nowgam sector of Kupwara and three went missing in Gurez of Bandipora district after being hit by avalanches," an Indian army official said. (India-Avalanche)

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan's security forces have captured a Taliban key commander Mullah Abdul Haq in northern Kunduz province, an army spokesman said on Tuesday.

The security forces also killed two militants and injured three others, said Abdul Khalil, the army spokesman of the province. (Afghanistan-Taliban)

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TOKYO -- The Japanese government on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to join a U.S-led plan to build a new space station in the moon's orbit.

The Japanese government hopes the ambitious plan will provide opportunities for Japanese astronauts to visit the lunar surface for the first time. (Japan-U.S.-Space)

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ISLAMABAD -- Militants in Pakistan's northwestern tribal area of North Waziristan ambushed an army vehicle on Tuesday, leaving two people killed, an official statement said.

The Inter-Services Public Services, the media wing of the Pakistani army, said in a statement that those killed include a 21-year-old soldier and an officer who recently got passed from a military academy. (Pakistan-Attack) Enditem