MEDIA REACTION Q G-8 SUMMIT/UNSC RESOLUTION ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003971 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 G-8 SUMMIT/UNSC RESOLUTION ON NORTH KOREA - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged the end Monday of the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. ¶1. "Make International Cooperation on DPRK Effective" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (7/18): "It is fair to say that the international community has stepped up pressure on North Korea. The G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, ended with the adoption of a chairman's statement that condemned North Korea's recent missile launches, saying: 'These missile launches intensify our deep concern over the DPRK's nuclear weapons programs.' The statement urged North Korea to freeze its missile launches and return immediately and unconditionally to the six-party talks. ¶2. "The statement also clarified the need to quickly find a solution to the abduction issue and urged Pyongyang to respond to humanitarian concerns from the international community. The chairman's statement essentially follows the resolution adopted Saturday by the UN Security Council. It is, though, a unified condemnation of North Korea by the leaders of the eight major powers, which have great responsibility for maintaining the peace and stability of the international community. The North Koreans should take this latest warning from the international community seriously." ¶3. "Make G-8 Unity Genuine by Using Crises as Leverage" An editorial in the business daily Nihon Keizai commented (7/18): "The G-8 summit opened with the world being buffeted by four crises: North Korea's missile launches, Iran's nuclear development, Israel's attacks on Lebanon, and the sharp rise in the price of crude oil. Can the G-8 leaders contain these crises that threaten the global order and economic stability? Although the international community had pinned considerable hopes on the G-8 leaders, the meeting fell somewhat short of expectations. ¶4. "North Korea's ballistic missiles present the greatest threat to the security of Japan. During talks prior to the summit, PM Koizumi rightly called on Russian President Putin, chair of the summit, to show strong leadership and take a firm stance toward North Korea. It was a given that North Korea would be on the summit agenda, and the chairman's summary statement condemned the missile launches and called on the DPRK to return unconditionally to the six-party talks." ¶5. "A Grave Warning to North Korea" The liberal Asahi wrote (7/17): "The UNSC adopted a resolution condemning North Korea for its launches of ballistic missiles. Pyongyang must fully and sincerely accept the gravity of the UNSC resolution, which was adopted unanimously. The missile launches threatened regional peace and security, and the North Koreans must suspend all related activities. We urge all UN member states to avoid any involvement in North Korea's missile and WMD programs. We also urge Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks.... ¶6. "China has a major role to play in getting North Korea to return to the six-party talks. Beijing opposed a UNSC resolution that would have included sanctions out of concern that it would harden Pyongyang's stance and would not lead to a resolution of the issue. Although the UNSC did not go beyond a condemnation, China has a growing responsibility to get North Korea back to the talks. While North Korea must be open to the world, it is also TOKYO 00003971 002 OF 002 necessary for the US and Japan to keep their own doors open for dialogue with Pyongyang. We should not forget that a combination of dialogue and pressure is the way to resolve the matter." SCHIEFFER