Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO1313
2006-03-13 04:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION NORTH KOREA - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO6201 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #1313 0720406 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 130406Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9663 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5087 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8212 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1093 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0927 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7284 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9267 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001313
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION NORTH KOREA - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged the
nonbinding plebiscite Sunday in Iwakuni City, where
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is located, as 87
percent of voters said "no" to the planned relocation of
a US Navy carrier-borne air wing from NAS Atsugi to MCAS
Iwakuni.
UNCLAS TOKYO 001313
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION NORTH KOREA - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged the
nonbinding plebiscite Sunday in Iwakuni City, where
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is located, as 87
percent of voters said "no" to the planned relocation of
a US Navy carrier-borne air wing from NAS Atsugi to MCAS
Iwakuni.
1. "North Korean Illicit Activities: Stalemate at Six-
Party Talks Cannot Be Allowed" An editorial in the top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri commented (3/12): "...US
and North Korean officials met recently in New York to
discuss US sanctions imposed on the DPRK last fall in
retaliation for its illicit activities. The US has banned
a Macao-based bank suspected of having helped Pyongyang
launder money from any dealings with US financial
institutions. North Korea's money laundering is connected
with its counterfeiting of US currency and its
trafficking in narcotics. At the six-party talks last
November, the North Koreans said that the sanctions were
based on a false allegation and called for their removal.
North Korea has made an end to the sanctions a
precondition for returning to the six-party talks, which
are now at a standstill.
2. "At the New York meeting, Pyongyang again denied any
involvement in illegal activities, while the US presented
evidence and explained the appropriateness of the
sanctions. Although neither side budged, the US likely
made it abundantly clear to the North Koreans that its
allegations are well-founded. The DPRK should quickly
return to the six-party talks.... The Kim Jong Il regime
is continuing its nuclear development, and it is possible
that Pyongyang has acquired enough plutonium to build
nearly 10 nuclear weapons. There have also been signs
that North Korea is moving to construct a new nuclear
reactor. The recent agreement on nuclear cooperation
between the US and India is not helpful. India was
recognized as a nuclear weapons state and was not called
upon to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).
Both North Korea and Iran will likely interpret this
accord in a way that serves their own interests."
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION NORTH KOREA - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged the
nonbinding plebiscite Sunday in Iwakuni City, where
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is located, as 87
percent of voters said "no" to the planned relocation of
a US Navy carrier-borne air wing from NAS Atsugi to MCAS
Iwakuni.
1. "North Korean Illicit Activities: Stalemate at Six-
Party Talks Cannot Be Allowed" An editorial in the top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri commented (3/12): "...US
and North Korean officials met recently in New York to
discuss US sanctions imposed on the DPRK last fall in
retaliation for its illicit activities. The US has banned
a Macao-based bank suspected of having helped Pyongyang
launder money from any dealings with US financial
institutions. North Korea's money laundering is connected
with its counterfeiting of US currency and its
trafficking in narcotics. At the six-party talks last
November, the North Koreans said that the sanctions were
based on a false allegation and called for their removal.
North Korea has made an end to the sanctions a
precondition for returning to the six-party talks, which
are now at a standstill.
2. "At the New York meeting, Pyongyang again denied any
involvement in illegal activities, while the US presented
evidence and explained the appropriateness of the
sanctions. Although neither side budged, the US likely
made it abundantly clear to the North Koreans that its
allegations are well-founded. The DPRK should quickly
return to the six-party talks.... The Kim Jong Il regime
is continuing its nuclear development, and it is possible
that Pyongyang has acquired enough plutonium to build
nearly 10 nuclear weapons. There have also been signs
that North Korea is moving to construct a new nuclear
reactor. The recent agreement on nuclear cooperation
between the US and India is not helpful. India was
recognized as a nuclear weapons state and was not called
upon to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT).
Both North Korea and Iran will likely interpret this
accord in a way that serves their own interests."
SCHIEFFER