DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07/11/06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 003867

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SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07/11/06


INDEX:
(1) US urging China to persuade North Korea: Bush

(2) US President Bush expresses strong sense of distrust of Kim Jong
Il regime in interview with press, forces Pyongyang to accept
requests for scrapping nuclear program, improving human rights

(3) Is President Bush interested in the Abe-Fukuda rivalry in the
LDP presidential race?

(4) US President Bush expresses sadness and outrage about the North
Korean abductions

(5) Five years of Koizumi diplomacy (Part 3 -- conclusion) --
Distance between, Japan, US, China: Need to reshape "triangle"

(6) High public support necessary for enemy base strikes

(7) Yosano in magazine article proposes holding memorial services
for war dead at Chidorigafuchi Cemetery

(8) Enemy base attack should be discussed, alongside with MD; New
Komeito remains cautious

(9) Abe to unveil his foreign policy principles, aiming at spreading
freedom, democracy across Asia

(10) X-band radar deployed at Shariki base; Tsugaru residents fear
that the radar will become North Korea's prime target

ARTICLES:
(1) US urging China to persuade North Korea: Bush

YOMIURI (Top play) (Full)
Eve., July 11, 2006

WASHINGTON-The United States has urged China to use more of its
influence on North Korea in connection with North Korea's recent
firing of missiles, US President Bush told the Yomiuri Shimbun and
other news media in an interview at the White House on July 10 (July
11 Japan time). Bush said, "The strategy at this point is for China
to persuade North Korea to return to the table (for six-party
talks)." He also said the United Nations Security Council always has
the option of voting on a resolution seeking UN sanctions on North
Korea. With this, he clarified that a resolution seeking UN
sanctions would be an effective measure to press North Korea for
concessions, and he called on North Korea to comply with the
international community's call for it to scrap its nuclear programs.
The interview was held with the representatives of the Japanese,
German, Russian, and Italian media prior to the Group of Eight (G-8)
summit starting in St. Petersburg on July 15.

"He (Kim Jong Il) should decide." With this, Bush strongly urged
North Korea to return to the six-party talks. Bush also criticized
North Korea for its firing of missiles in defiance of a warning from
other countries, calling it "unacceptable."

Japan has been strained in its bilateral relations with China and
South Korea over Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine
and other issues. "I told Prime Minister Koizumi that I hoped it
would be possible to improve relations (with China and South
Korea)," Bush added: "Our friend's having favorable relations with
other friends and countries is also in our country's national

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interests." Envisaging the post-Koizumi situation, Bush urged Japan
to make efforts to improve relations with its neighbors. Bush
suggested the need for Japan to improve its relations with China and
South Korea in order for other six-party member countries to apply
international pressure on North Korea. However, Bush remained
cautious about the United States' intervention, saying it would be
up to these countries to improve their relations."

Bush also expressed serious concern about Iran's nuclear program,
saying, "If Iraq has nuclear weapons, Iran will be a threat to world
peace." With this, he clarified that the United States would urge
Iran to give up on its nuclear weapons program.

Referring to Japan-US relations, Bush said he has had a wonderful
relationship with Prime Minister Koizumi over the past five years.
"I will maintain a similar relationship with the next one," Bush
said. With this, he indicated that he was willing to make bilateral
relations closer.

In addition, Bush expressed a strong sense of distrust in North
Korea over its abduction of Megumi Yokota. "North Korea is paying no
attention to human rights," Bush said.

The interview was held with the participation of four companies-the
Yomiuri Shimbun, Handelsblatt (Germany),TASS (Russia),and Sole 24
Ore (Italy).

(2) US President Bush expresses strong sense of distrust of Kim Jong
Il regime in interview with press, forces Pyongyang to accept
requests for scrapping nuclear program, improving human rights

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
Evening, July 11, 2006

Takashi Sakamoto, Washington

In an interview given yesterday to the press, including the Yomiuri
Shimbun, US President George W. Bush condemned North Korean General
Secretary Kim Jong Il's actions, telling reporters: "I can't

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tolerate it." Bush expressed a strong sense of distrust of Kim,
citing the missile launches, serious abuse of human rights, and
starvation of the Korean people. The President did not refer to
regime change, but it is highly likely that unless Kim totally
accepts international requests, including abandoning its nuclear
ambitions and improving the human rights situation, the United
States will remain tough toward North Korea.

"Starvation in North Korea is serious, and there is a huge
forced-labor camp in that country," President Bush said, with an
angry expression on his face. Adding, "The North Korean leader
should opt for a path different from his past one," he urged Kim to
scrap his nuclear program in a verifiable way and rejoin the
international community.

During the period when the six-party talks on the nuclear issue were
going on, Bush gave a certain degree of consideration to Kim,
calling him "Mr. Kim Jong Il." But around last summer, after
President Bush appointed an official in charge of the human rights
problem in North Korea, he has severely criticized the North Korean
regime by singling out North Korea's illegal acts, such as money
laundering and drug smuggling. The remarks the President made during
the interview were in line with the Bush administration's tough
stance toward the North.

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President Bush has urged North Korea to return to the six-party
talks, saying, "It would be of benefit to North Korea to sit again
at the negotiating table." But in the interview, he remained hostile
to North Korea, calling General Secretary Kim Jong Il by name
without an honorific title.

Yet, the President was prudent enough to avoid making any remarks
implying regime change. In fact, he went no further than to say:
"Should he (Kim) opt for a path different from that desired by the
international community, he would find himself isolated." Should Kim
accept all requests made by the Bush administration, the existence
of North Korea would surely be threatened. Whether the Bush
administration's current policy will bear fruit or not is an open
question.

(3) Is President Bush interested in the Abe-Fukuda rivalry in the
LDP presidential race?

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
Eve., July 11, 2006

Bun Igarashi, Washington

In an interview on July 10 with the Yomiuri Shimbun, US President
George W. Bush showed interest in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
presidential election in September, which will determine a successor
to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The president expressed his
hopes that the next Japanese prime minister would make efforts to
repair relations with China and South Korea. He then stated: "I
wonder whether this will become a campaign issue in the LDP
presidential election. It would be interesting to see whether this
issue will be important or of interest to the Japanese public." He
revealed that he was carefully watching Japan's Asia diplomacy as a
major campaign issue in the LDP presidential election.

He did not mention specific names, but it can be taken that he meant
the rivarly between Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, known for
his hard-line stance toward China, and former Chief Cabinet
Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, who has called for the need to mend ties

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with China and South Korea. Both are likely presidential
candidates.

(4) US President Bush expresses sadness and outrage about the North
Korean abductions

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
Eve., July 11, 2006

Takashi Sakamoto, Washington

In an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun on July 10, US President
George W. Bush started with his meeting on April 28 with Sakie
Yokota, mother of abductee Megumi Yokota, saying, "The meeting was
one of the most moving events I have had since I took office."

The President continued: "I want you to imagine what it would be
like for your child to be kidnapped by another country." He said
with a sad expression: "She (Sakie) told me that she had searched
everywhere thinking that her daughter might have been killed. Don't
you think (what was done) is incredible?"

He then severely criticized North Korea, saying, "North Korea

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neither feels any responsibility for its abductions of children nor
has any consideration for human rights." He once more expressed his
anger at the abductions.

(5) Five years of Koizumi diplomacy (Part 3 -- conclusion) --
Distance between, Japan, US, China: Need to reshape "triangle"

ASAHI (Page 1) (Full)
July 3, 2006

"Mr. Koizumi's 'Presley' diplomacy attracted a great deal of
attention." This remark came from former Prime Minister Yasuhiro
Nakasone when he appeared on a commercial TV program at the end of
June. Nakasone had what was called the"Ron-Yasu" relationship with
US President Reagan.

Prime Minister Koizumi recently made a tour of Elvis Presley's
Graceland where he wore Presley's sunglasses much to the amusement
of President Bush. A photo of Koizumi putting on sunglasses was
featured in such major US dailies as The Washington Post, and was a
lead story in TV news.

Nakasone pursued the strengthening of the Japan-US alliance, but he
describes Koizumi diplomacy as "being somewhat US tilted." He said:
"Visits to the United States and China are both diplomatic
requirements. President Reagan and I were close friends, but (former
Chinese Communist Party General Secretary) Hu Yaoban also was a good
friend."

Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, one of the contenders
to succeed Prime Minister Koizumi, visited the US in mid-May and met
with key US government officials, including Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and Vice President Dick Cheney. According to a
government source, during the string of meetings, US officials
stressed the differences between the values held by Japan and by
China.

In June, Fukuda gave a speech in Indonesia in which he spoke of
China and the differing values between Japan and China, said: "I
expect (China) to come to share such values as democracy, respect
for human rights, and rule of law, even in following its own path."

The alliance with the US will be strengthened, based on universal
values, such as freedom, human rights, democracy, and the market
economy. These values are mentioned also in "the Japan-US Alliance
of the New Century," a joint paper released after the recent
Japan-US summit. The joint paper is intended to caution China, which
draws doubts in the areas of human rights and market economy.

When Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, one of the contenders to
succeed Prime Minister Koizumi, visited the US in May, he described
Japan, India, and Australia as a group of countries sharing the same
values and proposed holding a strategic dialogue between this group
and the US.

"No major difference exists between Abe and Fukuda," a diplomat
concerned with negotiations with the US noted.

The US government's China policy may be featured by its expectation
that China will play a responsible role in the international
community: the notion to have China engaged in international affairs
as a "stakeholder." The Joint paper also emphasized the importance
to have China engaged in international affairs, stating the need to

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utilize the dynamism of China.

Japan can deter the rise of China as a military power by
strengthening its alliance with the US and via the realignment of US
forces in Japan, but in order to do something with China, talking
with it is indispensable. Japan is unable to do so because of the
controversial Yasukuni issue.

Mike Mochizuki, director of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at
George Washington University, analyzed: "A decline in Japan's
influence in Asia could weaken America's influence in the region, as
well." He thinks that Japan-China relations will affect America's
China policy.

The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan's (Minshuto)
President Ichiro Ozawa is trying to make clear the differences
between his party and the Koizumi administration, as the Upper House
election is set for the summer of next year. Ozawa will make a tour
of China starting on July 3 and meet with President Hu Jintao and
other Chinese officials.

Appearing on a commercial TV station on July 2, Ozawa commented on
relations among Japan, the US, and China: "Likening the relations to
an equilateral triangle, Japan should be at the apex of a triangle
and serve as the binder of the fan. But now, this triangle lacks the
apex with only the base formed by China and the US."

Prime Minister Koizumi has solidified relations with the US in some
aspects. This will be the legacy of Koizumi diplomacy. On the other
hand, Japan-China relations remain strained, with no prospects for
the two countries to mend fences come into sight.

If the next administration takes over the negative legacy of the
stalemate in Japan's China policy, it will find it difficult indeed
to be engaged in helping China to become a stakeholder as worked out
in the Japan-US joint paper. The first thing for a successor to
Koizumi to do would be to form a triangle consisting of Japan, the
US, and China.

(6) High public support necessary for enemy base strikes

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
July 11, 2006

Commentary by Toshiyuki Shikata, professor at Teikyo University (or
security affairs)

The issue of whether Japan should possess the capability to attack
enemy bases has been discussed at the Diet many times, and it has
been decided that Japan under current legal interpretation can
attack enemy bases. Discussing the issue now therefore seems
somewhat behind the curve. In the event that a missile lands in
Japan, Japan has to take some measures to prevent a second or third
missile launch. When Japan launches a counterattack, United States'
cooperation is indispensable. It is presumed that the Self-Defense
Force will offer logistical support for US military bombers. There
will be no problem in terms of such physical aspects as strike
capability. When the government decides to strike an enemy base,
however, high public support is necessary.

(7) Yosano in magazine article proposes holding memorial services
for war dead at Chidorigafuchi Cemetery


TOKYO 00003867 006 OF 010


YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)

In an article contributed to the August edition of the Chuo Koron
out on July 10, State Minister in Charge of Economic, Fiscal and
Financial Policy Yosano proposes that the annual memorial service
for the war dead be held at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in
Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. The ceremony is now held at the Nippon Budokan
hall on August 15 every year.

Yosano notes that "the relationship has been established between the
state and the war dead" by holding an annual memorial service with
the participation of the Emperor, the symbol of the unity of the
people, the heads of the three powers of administration,
legislation, and judicature. Based on this view, he suggests that a
permanent hall for the war dead should be constructed on the site of
Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery, which houses their remains, to
replace the rental hall.

(8) Enemy base attack should be discussed, alongside with MD; New
Komeito remains cautious

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged)
July 11, 2006

Following North Korea's missile launches, many in the government and
the Liberal Democratic Party have begun to suggest that Japan should
look into possessing the capability to attack enemy bases. Behind
such calls is concern about the safety of Japan under only the
missile defense (MD) system. The government's conventional view is
that "if there is no other means, Japan will be allowed to strike
enemy bases because such act is within the scope of self-defense."
The government is likely to be pressed to start discussing Japan's
attack capability, alongside with the MD issue.

Defense Agency (JDA) Director General Nukaga told reporters on July
9: "In order to protect the people, Japan must have a minimum
capability. The issue should be discussed in the ruling camp." Chief
Cabinet Secretary Abe said in a press conference yesterday: "Under
the Japan-US alliance, there is a clear distinction between the
roles of defense and attack. It is necessary for the two countries
to thoroughly discuss the issue." LDP Secretary General Takebe also
took a positive view about studying Japan's strike capability.

The government has taken this view about defense-only policy: "Japan
should use defense power for the first time when it comes under an
armed attack, but it should exert minimum necessary power to defend
itself." Even so, it takes the view that attacking an enemy state is
possible if there is no other means. The government, though, has
refrained voluntarily from possessing offensive weapons.

For an attack on an enemy state, the following capabilities are
necessary: (1) being able to launch missiles or drop bombs from a
long-range fighter; and (2) able to deploy a naval ship or an Aegis
destroyer mounted with Tomahawk cruise missiles. In launching an
attack by fighter aircraft, it is necessary to gain air supremacy by
blanking out the enemy's radar and destroying its fighters and
anti-aircraft bases. In such a case, the act might be taken as a
preemptive attack and eventually as a violation of Japan's
defense-only principle.

Given this, no progress has been made in discussion on specifics in
the government. In reaction to North Korea's development of various
missile development programs, then JDA Director General Ishiba

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indicated in a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting in
January 2003 that if (North Korea) announced "we will make Tokyo a
sea of fire" and if Japan finds it injecting fuel (into a missile)
or making preparations, Japan will be allowed to attack the
missile-launch site. Nukaga's remarks on July 9 are also likely to
work to solicit calls for debate on Japan's strike capability from
among government and ruling party members.

In the event that Japan did strike an enemy base, Japan would be in
a state of war. Keeping such a possibility in mind, some lawmakers
mainly in the New Komeito are calling for caution. New Komeito
President Kanzaki told reporters yesterday: "If Japan enters the
stage (of launching an attack),the situation will turn into an
all-out war. Given this, it is necessary to conduct thorough
debate."

In Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan),too, views are split. A
senior JDA officer indicated the need for detailed study, saying:
"If Japan launches an attack on an enemy's territory, the issue of
infringement of sovereignty will emerge. The current situation is
not like that. It is necessary to prepare a new method to build
grounds for an attack.

(9) Abe to unveil his foreign policy principles, aiming at spreading
freedom, democracy across Asia

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full)
July 11, 2006

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, a leading candidate for the
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election in
September, will shortly unveil an essay detailing the foreign policy
ideas he has sketched out as part of his political platform, sources
revealed yesterday. The purpose of the essay is to make known his
diplomatic philosophy consisting of four universal values --
freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law -- and his
position on disseminating those values across Asia, as well as the
rest of the world. In the essay, Abe expresses concerns about the
state of human rights in both China and North Korea, specifically
naming them, and he will also condemn North Korea for its recent
missile launches.

Amid concerns at home and abroad about Japan's Asia diplomacy after
Prime Minister Koizumi steps down in September, Abe has judged it
necessary to shape and unveil his foreign policy ideas ahead of the
LDP presidential election.

In the essay, Abe will indicate a policy course of actively
spreading such universal values as freedom and democracy across the
world, particularly in Asia, cooperating in that effort with the
United States, Australia, and India, all of which can share those
universal values. Toward Asia and the Middle East, where various
political systems and social structures coexist, Abe will make clear
his stand of attaching importance to democratization and the state
of human rights in countries and highlight the consistency of his
diplomacy to an international audience.

In the essay, while stressing the importance of mutual understanding
between neighboring nations, Abe will express concern about the
state of human rights in China, noting: "Freedom of religion and of
speech are both being suppressed." Mentioning North Korea by name,
Abe will criticize that country: "Many people desire to enjoy the
benefits of freedom and democracy, but they remain unable to do

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so."

On security affairs, the essay will condemn North Korea for its
missile launches and its abductions of Japanese nationals, and
specify that the state is responsible for protecting the lives and
property of the people. The essay also will include Abe's thinking
on bolstering the Japan-US alliance, as well as actively
participating in international peacekeeping operations, such as the
dispatching of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops.

The essay will express the intention to convey to an international
audience the good points of Japanese traditions, culture and
history. It will also stress the need to amend the Constitution,
promulgated immediately after the end of World War II, by factoring
in current Japanese views of the state and history. On the question
of visits to Yasukuni Shrine, Abe is considering seeking an
understanding about such visits. His notion is that "offering
sincere condolences for the war dead is a common practice in every
country."

On the economic front, the essay will state the need to facilitate
deregulation and the signing free trade agreements in order to make
Japan into an open country. It will also state the need to enhance
the dynamism of the Japanese economy by technological innovation, as
well as to promote technical cooperation in the areas of the
environment and energy.

(10) X-band radar deployed at Shariki base; Tsugaru residents fear
that the radar will become North Korea's prime target

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Pages 28, 29) (Abridged)
July 8, 2006

North Korea launched a Taepodong missile in the early hours of July
5, sending shockwaves throughout Japan. In March, the Tokyo
Shimbun's special news report department produced a report on
Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture, which was picked as the site for

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the deployment of the X-band radar in accordance with the US
military's missile defense (MD) plan. The radar has already been
deployed and is now in operation. This article probes residents
living near the base equipped with the state-of-the-art X-band
radar, which reportedly will become the prime target in an actual
combat.

Rice paddies and fields sprawl as far as the eye can see in the
Shariki district (former Shariki Village) in Tsugaru City facing the
Sea of Japan, about an hour and a half by car from Aomori Airport.
The Air Self-Defense Force's Shariki detachment base sits along the
coast of the Sea of Japan beyond pastoral land.

The barbed wire fences surrounding the base are dotted with English
signs saying WARNING in red. Beyond the fences sits a brown
truck-like vehicle. It is the US military's early warning radar
commonly called the X-band radar.

The X-band radar was installed at the Shariki base on June 23. An
official of the Shariki liaison office of the Sendai District
Defense Facilities Administration Bureau explained: "The US military
is partially using the premises of the ASDF base. We don't have much
information on the radar because it belongs to the US military, but
we believe it is already in operation."

On July 5, North Korea launched seven missiles. The launches were

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particularly timely in the eyes of residents of Shariki hosting the
X-band radar.

"If North Korea intended to attack Japan, it would target the radar
in Shariki for starters," Tsugaru assemblyman Matsuhashi said
glumly. A 70-year-old farmer in the nearby rice paddy also noted:
"North Korea could do anything. A missile from that country can
annihilate Aomori Prefecture."

People also fear that electromagnetic waves emanating from the
X-band radar might have ill elects on the natural environment, human
health, and agricultural and marine products and that the security
situation might also worsen with growing US servicemen. Yoshinori
Toba, a 68-year-old local fisherman, said: "We fear most that fish
will disappear from the adjacent fishing grounds. Fish are our bread
and butter."

Operation of the X-band radar has started without dispelling such
local concerns. "Tokumitsu Matsuhashi, 65, a former Shariki
municipal government worker, is calling for a city referendum on the
propriety of the deployment of the X-band radar. But assemblyman
Matsuhashi took this view:

"The local economy has not benefited from the X-band radar in any
way. Ninety percent of the former Shariki Village residents would
vote against the radar, but because the village has been merged into
Tsugaru City, there are no vocal calls for a referendum."

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Fisherman Toba also said:

"The government thinks a big radar is necessary for defending Japan,
which is understandable. But local residents are really worried. The
radar is truly vital for the defense of the United States, but I
feel Washington is saying, 'The radar is necessary for the defense
of Japan.' A missile carrying a nuclear weapon or a deadly gas can
wipe out this area."

The North Korean missiles also exposed some problems in intelligence
sharing between Japan and the United States.

A missile launch detected by a US spy satellite is first transmitted
to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado,
then to the Pacific Command in Hawaii, and finally to Yokota Air
Base in Japan. The Defense Agency comes after that.

According to military analyst Kensuke Ebata, it takes four to five
minutes for a missile launch detected first by a US satellite to
reach Japan. A ballistic missile can land in Japan in just four to
seven minutes.

Ebata took this view:

"Getting intelligence via the US mainland gives Japan no time to
intercept an incoming missile. Sharing intelligence with the US
military in real time is desirable. But we cannot expect the US
military to allow any arrangements that might end up leaking
military secrets to Japan."

Such arrangements clearly indicate that the X-band radar is purely
for the defense of the United States.

Yasuhiro Morino, a former lieutenant general, fears that if Japan
was removed from the US intelligence network, it would become a

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vassal state of the United States.

Regardless of Tsugaru residents trembling with fear for a possible
North Korean missile targeting the X-band radar, Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi said when he dined on the night of July 6 with
Liberal Democratic Party executives, including Secretary General
Tsutomu Takebe: "It would have been embarrassing if the North had

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launched a Taepodong when I was touring Elvis Presley's mansion. I
was lucky that the North fired the missiles after I came back to
Japan."

Song Il Ho, North Korea's ambassador in charge of diplomatic
normalization talks with Japan, strongly hinted at more missile
launches, saying on July 7: "The missile launches did not constitute
a violation of the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration." Tatsumi Tanaka
of Risk Hedge, a crisis-management consultancy, explained: "A North
Korea leader can say such a thing openly because that country does
not feeling any pressure from the Japanese government."

Tanaka urged the Japanese government to deal with a critical
situation resolutely, as with the case with a corporation:

"In the event of a corporation being attacked by a illicit group,
the firm in principle must take a resolute posture by involving
law-enforcement officers in the case. Armed with the war-renouncing
Article 9 of the Constitution, the Japanese government must search
for ways to apply pressure on North Korea by utilizing the US-Japan
Security Treaty. Japan should exhibit a firm attitude by, for
instance, convening an extraordinary Diet session to discuss
countermeasures."

Rei Shiratori, a professor of political science at TOKAI University,
pointed out:

"Tokyo may want to take a strong position, but options are limited
for the Koizumi administration, which has strained relations with
China and South Korea."

Japan, the United States, and Britain are aiming to adopt a
Japan-presented binding UN Security Council resolution to impose
sanctions on North Korea. Opposed to a resolution, China has
presented a nonbinding presidential statement.

Shiratori also noted:

"Since Japan-China relations are strained, Beijing has no means to
protest. Japan wants to tighten the noose around North Korea, but
such is not possible because Tokyo cannot join hands with Beijing or
Seoul. It's not possible to pressure North Korea without watching
the international situation. If Japan wants to revamp its posture,
Tokyo has to begin changing its policy toward Asia."

SCHIEFFER