MEDIA REACTION JAPAN-SOUTH KOREA

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