MEDIA REACTION Q NORTH KOREA/G-8 SUMMIT

UNCLAS TOKYO 003882 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 Q NORTH KOREA/G-8 SUMMIT - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers front-paged a series of terrorist bombings at train stations in Mumbai, India, Tuesday evening. ¶1. "Continued Diplomatic Effort Needed for Adoption of Resolution on North Korea" The business daily Nihon Keizai editorialized (7/12): "The adoption at the UNSC of a draft resolution condemning North Korea's missile launches has been postponed. It is important for members of the international community to join hands and swiftly express their opposition to the missile launches, but doing so will take time, as coordination with China and Russia is proving difficult, and China currently has a diplomatic mission in North Korea. Nonetheless, the matter cannot be put off forever. ¶2. "While strengthening cooperation with the US and European nations and aiming to have a resolution adopted at an early date, Japan should also make continued diplomatic efforts to have a strong message to Pyongyang adopted at the coming G-8 summit in Russia.... Looking at the reaction of other countries to the North Korean missile launches, it is hard to comprehend South Korea's response.... The ROK is saying that Japan is overreacting. Is it not the case that Seoul is under- reacting?" ¶3. "Heavy Responsibility for Putin at G-8 Summit" An editorial in the liberal Asahi commented (7/12): "This year's G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, will be much tenser than past meetings, as the North Korean missile launches and the WTO Doha Round stalemate will be addressed along with such other global issues as rising crude oil prices and Iran's nuclear development.... The coming summit will be an opportunity for Russia to reemerge as a key player in world affairs.... Although the UNSC is the primary forum for addressing the North Korean missile launches, the leaders gathered in Russia should discuss the issue frankly, which would add significance to the annual summit. ¶4. "President Bush has emphasized the need for a diplomatic solution to both the North Korean and Iranian issues. If Russian President Putin opts for cooperation over power games, the G-8 summit can become an event of unity, which would then entice Chinese President Hu into the fold. Although Russia is not a WTO member, Moscow will be asked to join the trade organization if President Putin plays a key role in breaking the stalemated Doha round talks.... The international community is also pinning its hopes on Putin's leadership in reaching a new accord on energy, which would lend momentum to the discussions of other issues. The summit cannot be allowed to signal the beginning of an era of enmity and division." SCHIEFFER