MEDIA REACTION Q NORTH KOREA - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 004242 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 - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged Sunday's air strike on a Lebanese village by Israeli aircraft that allegedly took the lives of 57 civilians, including 37 children. ¶1. "North Korea Deepens Isolation at ARF" The business- oriented Nihon Keizai editorialized (7/30): "The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ended after issuing a chairman's statement that not only expressed grave concern over North Korea's missile launches but also called on the DPRK to return unconditionally to the six-party talks. North Korean Foreign Minister Paek hinted at Pyongyang's withdrawal from the forum. The only way for North Korea to end its isolation is to heed the calls of the international community, as voiced unanimously at the UN Security Council, and return immediately to the six-party talks.... ¶2. "Pyongyang knew that Foreign Minister Paek would find himself isolated in Kuala Lumpur, but it likely sent him in hopes of sounding out the possibility of contact with Secretary of State Rice. That did not come about. The SIPDIS decisive factor in the creation of this unfavorable situation for North Korea was its July 5 missile launches.... There appears to have been no change in North Korea's unwillingness to return to the six-party talks. The US and Japan, as well as other nations, will have to consider additional punitive measures as long as there is no change on the part of Pyongyang." SCHIEFFER