UNCLAS TOKYO 002248

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 JAPAN-SOUTH KOREA
RELATIONS/IRAQ - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers front-paged
President Bush's announcement Tuesday that the US would
temporarily halt deposits to the strategic oil reserve in
order to curb soaring gasoline prices.


1. "Takeshima (Dokdo) Dispute: If Roh Is So Confident, He
Should Take It to the ICJ" The top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri editorialized (4/26): "Given the assurance he
expressed about his country's claim, South Korea's
President Roh should take the long-standing territorial
dispute over the Takeshima (Dokdo) islets to the
International Court of Justice. In a special statement
broadcast live, Roh rejected Japan's claim, emphasizing
his determination to take an open and fearless approach
to the issue and saying that his country could no longer
deal with it quietly.... Roh said that Japan was trying
to 'make a claim to colonial territory.' His statement
reflects his belief that Japan annexed the islets during
the Russo-Japanese War....


2. "Direct conflict was averted through negotiations, and
the two nations have agreed to resume talks in May
concerning how to demarcate their exclusive economic
zones. Roh's demand for Japan to 'abandon its
unreasonable position' only makes such negotiations more
difficult and could inflame the situation. It is
important for Japan and South Korea to cooperate on the
threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program and
its abductions of foreign nationals. This territorial
dispute must not be allowed to adversely affect efforts
to settle unrelated issues."


3. "Difficulty in Forming Permanent Iraqi Government" An
editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai commented
(4/26): "About four months after its national legislative
election, the prime minister who will head a new
administration in Iraq has finally been named.... The
prime minister will play an important role in steering
the country. Although the designation of a premier
represents a major step in the political process, there
are still many difficult tasks left to overcome prior to
the formation of a stable government that transcends
ethnic and sectarian divides.... Even with the launch of
a new government, the security situation in Iraq will not
likely improve soon, as the Sunnis, including holdouts
from the former Hussein regime and radical Islamists who
have come from outside the country, have rejected the
democratic process itself."

DONOVAN