EAP A/S HILL'S APRIL 11 MEETING WITH MOFA VICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001985 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2026 TAGS: PREL PARM ECON ETRD MARR CH KS KN JA SUBJECT: EAP A/S HILL'S APRIL 11 MEETING WITH MOFA VICE MINISTER SHOTARO YACHI REF: A. TOKYO 1982 ¶B. TOKYO 1984 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan. Reasons: 1.4 (b) ( d) ¶1. (C) Summary. EAP A/S Hill emphasized to VFM Yachi April 11 the importance of getting North Korea back to the Six-Party Talks negotiating table, while noting the focus of Japan's media on his decision not to meet bilaterally with DPRK officials. Yachi confirmed that North Korean officials had given Japan no indication that they would like to return to the Six-Party Talks. Yachi told Hill that U.S.-Japan alliance management is particularly important in light of Japan's "not always excellent" relations with China and North Korea. Separately, Yachi suggested that the United States participate as an observer at the Ambassador level at the East Asian Summit. Hill said he would discuss the proposal with Secretary Rice and other agencies. Yachi also asked for enhanced dialogue between the State Department and the Japanese embassy in Washington. End summary. ¶2. (C) On April 11, EAP A/S Christopher Hill and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi discussed a range of bilateral and multilateral issues with a focus on North Korea and the Six Party Talks. The meeting was also attended by MOFA DG North American Affairs Chikao Kawai, National Security Council Director for Asian Affairs Victor Cha, Embassy DCM Joe Donovan and Political Counselor Mike Meserve. DPRK and Six Party Talks -------------- ¶3. (C) The Japanese media was focused almost exclusively on whether he would agree to meet bilaterally with DPRK VFM Kim Gye Gwan, A/S Hill commented. Noting that his meetings with DPRK officials in January and the March meetings with Treasury officials in New York had not been particularly productive, he questioned why another bilateral meeting was so important, adding that the North Koreans would try to characterize it as a concession. The important thing, he stressed, was that the DPRK return to the Six Party Talks. Yachi confirmed MOFA Asian Affairs DG Kenichiro Sasae's report that DPRK officials had given Japan no indication that they were ready to return to the Six Party Talks. Hill reiterated his position that he would not meet with the North Korean officials without "some indication" that they would return to the talks. 
 ¶4. (C) Noting Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit Washington, Hill said he hoped that Chinese do not try to blame the U.S. for the impasse in the talks, noting that President Bush feels strongly about both the human rights situation in North Korea and the country's illicit financial transactions. "If North Korea thinks staying out of the talks is good for them, they should think again," Hill stated ¶5. (C) The Japanese government remains under great pressure to "get tough" on North Korea , Yachi remarked. A Japanese task force is now discussing possible law enforcement measures against North Korean residents of Japan. Hill observed that Japanese trade with North Korea is waning while Chinese trade with North Korea is growing, provoking concern in South Korea. Japan-China Relations -------------- ¶6. (C) The fact that Japanese relations with North Korea and China are "not always in excellent shape" makes the U.S.-Japan alliance (and management of that alliance) all the more important, Yachi commented. He had met four times with his Chinese counterpart VFM Dai Bingguo for meetings lasting ten hours each time to discuss a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues. Contrary to media reports, the conversations were not entirely confrontational, Yachi remarked. He noted that Chinese press statements about Japan are always harsh but the actual substance of the dialogue is not. "I have established good relations with Dai Bingguo," he said. U.S.-Japan "Alliance Management" -------------- TOKYO 00001985 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Yachi requested that Hill consult more with the Japanese embassy in Washington, noting that he has almost monthly meetings with Ambassador Schieffer. Hill assured Yachi that the State Department has good communications with Japan's Embassy and that he meets with Ambassador Kato and DCM Akitaki Saiki. Yachi noted that Saiki is a "great confidant" of Foreign Minister Aso and Shinzo Abe. There was agreement that current Embassy Economic Minister Counselor Jim Zumwalt would be an asset to the Washington dialogue when he moves to his new position as Director of the Japan desk. EAS, APEC -------------- ¶8. (C) The East Asian Summit (EAS) is not intended to displace or contradict APEC and other regional fora, Yachi emphasized. He sees EAS as a way to build a greater Asian community in the next century and believes the United States can help build this community because the U.S. and Japan share common values that he hopes will become prevalent in the Asian region. Japan does not welcome observer status for Russia and would like to see the U.S. and EU participate as observers if Russia receives such status. Yachi told Hill that a U.S. observer could be at the Ambassador level. Hill replied that he would discuss the idea of U.S. observer status with Secretary Rice and other agencies. The United States, he said, would continue to view APEC as "our main avenue" of regional dialogue, noting that APEC provides a good opportunity for Latin American countries to learn from prosperous Asian economies. Yachi acknowledged the importance of APEC, in addition to that of EAS and other fora. A/S Hill confided that the Secretary will likely attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting this summer. ¶9. (U) Assistant Secretary Hill cleared this message. SCHIEFFER