JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/07/06

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/07/06 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 4) Joint Yomiuri-Hankook Ilbo poll: 59 PERCENT of Japanese see ties with ROK as worsened, up 24 points from last year's survey 5) Prime Minister Koizumi hints at paying homage at Yasukuni Shrine in near future 6) Abe's secret visit to Yasukuni Shrine in April carefully planned and executed 7) Foreign Minister Aso knew about Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe's April visit to Yasukuni 8) Opposition camp blasts ABE for secret visit to Yasukuni Shrine 9) New Komeito fears that ABE flap may hurt the administration 10) Tojo's order limited Yasukuni to solely those killed during the war 11) Emperor not only stopped visiting Yasukuni Shrine after Class-A war criminals enshrined, he avoided ancillary war shrines across country 12) LDP policy affairs council planning law that would place Yasukuni Shrine under state jurisdiction 13) Foreign Minister Aso has plan to secularize Yasukuni Shrine 14) Survey of LDP lawmakers shows ABE already has lined up support from almost majority for his bid to become next party president 15) LDP's Yamasaki may not run in the LDP presidential race after all 16) Learning from lesson of Nagano election, LDP realizes has a lot of homework to do if it hopes to capture the fickle unaffiliated voter in next years' Upper House race 17) Government, Okinawa setting up consultative organ on Futenma base relocation 18) Japan, US complete joint analysis of recent North Korean missile launches 19) GSDF troops carrying out PKO on Golan Heights are on the edge of the fighting between Israel, Hezbollah Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei &Tokyo Shimbun: Murai ousts Tanaka in Nagano gubernatorial race Nihon Keizai: 44 PERCENT of 100 top executives see another year of economic TOKYO 00004417 002 OF 012 growth Akahata: 2006 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs in Hiroshima wraps up; Time to rid the world of nuclear weapons 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1)Drastic reform of the Social Insurance Agency absolutely necessary (2)Bicycle traffic offenders should be fined Mainichi: (1)Postal reform committee members should fulfill responsibility (2)Limits to mock change in government seen (by editorial committee member Masao Yora) Yomiuri: (1)Adjust consumption tax, not income tax (2)Nagano citizens sought solid reform Nihon Keizai: (1)Questioning policy issues for 2006 LDP presidential race: (2)Leap of corporations and environmental consolidation urgent Sankei: (1)Hiroshima peace declaration fails to include warning against North Korea's threat (2)Decrease in ATM transfer amount: Exercise wisdom to maintain convenience Tokyo Shimbun: (1)Surge in oil prices: The future situation cannot be taken lightly (2)Defense White Paper: Transparency in policies should be heightened Akahata: Deregulatory Council Chairman Miyauchi wants own way too much 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, August 6 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) August 7, 2006 07:41: Left the Hiroshima Prince Hotel. 08:00: Attended a memorial service marking the 61st anniversary of the atomic bombing, held at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. 09:49: Met Upper House President Ogi at Hiroshima Air Port. 10:46: Left Hiroshima Air Port aboard ANA 676. 11:57: Arrived at Haneda Air Port. 12:28: Arrived at his official residence. TOKYO 00004417 003 OF 012 4) Poll: 60 PERCENT see Japan-ROK relations as worse, a leap of 24 points in a year YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) August 7, 2006 Nearly 60 PERCENT of the Japanese public think Japan-South Korea relations are in bad shape, the Yomiuri Shimbun found from a joint public opinion survey conducted in Japan and South Korea with the Hankook Ilbo (Korea Times),a South Korean daily. The survey has been conducted five times since 1995, but the figure this time is the worst level ever. The survey was conducted in Japan and South Korea from late June through early July on a face-to-face basis. In Japan, a total of 36 PERCENT answered that Japan-South Korea relations are in good shape, down 24 percentage points from last year's survey. Meanwhile, a total of 59 PERCENT think the two countries' relations are in bad shape, up 24 points. In South Korea, "good" totaled 12 PERCENT , with "bad" reaching 87 PERCENT . There were no substantial changes in the proportions of positive and negative figures. In Japan, a total of 51 PERCENT answered they cannot trust South Korea, up 17 points from last year, with a total of 43 PERCENT saying they can trust South Korea, down 16 points. In South Korea, a total of 11 PERCENT answered they can trust Japan, with a total of 89 PERCENT saying they cannot trust Japan. In South Korea, anti-Japanese sentiments grew strong last year after Shimane Prefecture cited an ordinance to establish a commemorative day for Takeshima, a group of disputed islets called Dokdo in South Korea. This year, the Japanese public appears to have grown distrustful of South Korea for its public's negative sensitivities over the Takeshima issue and the Yasukuni issue. In the survey, Japanese and South Korean respondents were asked if they thought the Takeshima issue could be resolved through intergovernmental talks between the two countries. "Yes" totaled 30 PERCENT in Japan and 21 PERCENT in South Korea. Respondents were also asked if they would not care about the prime minister paying homage at Yasukuni Shrine. In Japan, "no" marked 60 PERCENT . In South Korea, however, "no" accounted for only 10 PERCENT . In the meantime, North Korea still continues its nuclear development programs. Respondents were asked if they felt a threat from that country's nuclear development. In response to this question, "yes" totaled 87 PERCENT in Japan and 59 PERCENT in South Korea. The figures show an evident perception gap between the two nations. 5) Koizumi hints at Yasukuni visit before stepping down NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) August 7, 2006 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi indicated the possibility that he would visit Yasukuni Shrine before stepping down from his post, saying: "I can visit the shrine at any time, but I will decide on the timing appropriately." TOKYO 00004417 004 OF 012 Koizumi responded to questions from reporters in Hiroshima after attending the annual memorial service to mark the US atomic bombing of the city in World War II. Taking issue with China and South Korea for refusing to hold summit meetings with Tokyo, Koizumi said: "I have said I am ready to hold meetings with China and South Korea at any time. It is not me doing the rejecting." 6) ABE went in secrecy to pay homage at Yasukuni Shrine in April as last resort; Visit was carefully planned and aimed at balancing personal political belief and need to repair China, ROK relations ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) August 5, 2006 Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO ABE secret visit to Yasukuni Shrine in April has created a sensation domestically and abroad. It has created a debate within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in connection with the upcoming LDP presidential election pitting ABE supporters against anti-Abe forces. However, Prime Minister Koizumi has expressed his understanding and strong support, calling Abe's shrine visit a matter of "personal freedom." Why did Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, in stark contrast with Prime Minister Koizumi, pay SIPDIS homage at the shrine in secrecy? Why did this closely-held visit to the shrine surface at this delicate time just prior to the end-of-war anniversary on August 15? Almost nobody noticed ABE visiting Yasukuni Shrine early in the morning. It happened at 6:30 am on April 15, just after dawn. Abe's staff notified Yasukuni Shrine just beforehand that ABE would soon be arriving. ABE did not come by official car. He arrived at the shrine accompanied by a policy secretary and two police escorts. He went up to the main hall and paid homage to the dead. It was six days before the great spring shrine festival, which ABE for some time had brought up as one of the appropriate times for him to pay homage at the shrine. That morning of the 15th, he was scheduled to attend the Prime Minister's Cherry Blossom Viewing Party at Shinjuku Gardens, so his being dressed in morning coat was not unusual. There was less possibility of someone noticing that he had gone earlier to the shrine to worship. That was probably Abe's calculation, for he reportedly had decided in late March on the timing of the visit. For Abe, who strongly desires to continue to pay homage at Yasukuni Shrine, his method of secretly visiting it was a carefully planned strategy designed to somehow balance his own personal political beliefs and the need to improve relations with China and the Republic of Korea, strained over the Yasukuni issue. One can say that Abe, aware of the prime minister's power, decided to plot a more pragmatic course. There is a strong view in the group of junior LDP lawmakers who back Abe that he should visit the shrine. In considering the LDP presidential election, Abe, too, must be aware of such a political force behind him. However, the prime minister's shrine visits have been used as the reason by China and South Korea to cut off summit meetings with Koizumi. For Abe, who is considering the rebuilding of Asia diplomacy as one of the challenges of his administration, he cannot walk in the same footsteps as Koizumi. Aides of ABE have been haunted by this issue, one of them saying, TOKYO 00004417 005 OF 012 "If he visits on August 15, there will be no way to avoid this issue in the presidential race, but if he goes in October at the fall festival, it would damage the launching of his administration. So by doing it in April, there would seem to be little to worry about." 7) Aso knew of Abe's Yasukuni Shrine visit ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) August 6, 2006 Commenting on Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO Abe's visit to Yasukuni Shrine in April, Foreign Minister Taro Aso on August 5 told reporters, "Since I have known of his visit to Yasukuni for a long time, I have no special feelings about it." Regarding whether he would visit the shrine or not, he stressed that he would "remain cautious about the issue." 8) Opposition parties criticize ABE in unison YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpt) August 5, 2006 Opposition parties have strongly criticized Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo ABE for having visited Yasukuni Shrine. Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Ichiro Ozawa told reporters on Aug. 4 in Kyoto: "Japan has been unable to hold talks with China and South Korea. If Mr. ABE becomes prime minister, the same situation will continue." He indicated his view that if ABE became prime minister, it would be difficult to improve Japan's relations with Beijing and Seoul. He also posed a question about Abe, who had not made public his homage at the Shinto shrine, saying, "Since that's his belief, he should have made his actions public." 9) New Komeito concerned about ABE government YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpt) August 7, 2006 With the revelation of Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO Abe's visit to Yasukuni Shrine in April, the New Komeito, the junior partner in the ruing coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),has a heightened sense of alarm toward an ABE government. Although New Komeito leader Takenori Kanzaki has repeatedly called on the prime minister, foreign minister, and chief cabinet secretary to refrain from visiting the shrine, ABE did so after assuming his current post, and he has set forth policies, including a change in the government's interpretation of the exercise of the right to collective self-defense, that are unacceptable for the New Komeito. 10) Wartime Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, according to secret document toward end of war, rigidly set standard for enshrinement at Yasukuni Shrine, limiting it to those who directly served and fought in battle TOKYO (Top play) (Excerpt) August 6, 2006 It was learned as of yesterday that toward the end of World War II, then Prime Minister Hideki Tojo (who was also Army Minister) in a TOKYO 00004417 006 OF 012 secret Imperial Army document set the standard for enshrinement at SIPDIS Yasukuni Shrine, limiting it to those military personnel or civilian employees of the military who had died "as a direct result of serving in battle." Under the strict rules he set, it would be impossible for those who did not die on the battlefield to be enshrined. If the order from the wartime prime minister himself is applied, Class-A war criminals now enshrined at Yasukuni who include himself, would be excluded from consideration for such status. 11) Emperor Showa stopped visiting war-related Shinto shrines across country after enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 7, 2006 After Class-A war criminals were enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine along with the war dead in 1978, the Showa Emperor (Hirohito) also stopped visiting ancillary Shinto shrines across the nation designated as places of worship for those who died in the war (gokoku-jinja). The Sankei Shimbun has obtained this information. An informed source also revealed that before the current Emperor visited the Shinto Shrine in Tochigi Prefecture (Utsunomiya City) in 1996, the Imperial Household Agency had asked if the souls of Class-A war criminals were enshrined there. Until the mid-1970s, the Showa Emperor visited war-dead-related Shinto shrines across the nation almost every year since 1957. In May 1978, just before the souls of Class-A war criminals were enshrined at Yasukuni, he visited the gokoku-jinja shrine in Kochi Prefecture (Kochi city),but afterward, he ceased visiting such shrines. Showa Emperor made his final visit to Yasukuni Shrine in November ¶1975. The enshrinement of Class-A war criminals occurred three years later, so many took the view that the late emperor's cessation of visits to the shrine had nothing to do with the enshrinement of the war criminals. Looking at his paying homage at gokoku-jinja shrines across the nation, though, we can see that the enshrinement of Class-A criminals was an apparent turning point. The souls of Class-A war criminals are enshrined at gokoku-jinja shrines in their respective hometowns. A memorandum written by then Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Tomohiko Tomita refers to then Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka and then Ambassador to Italy Toshio Shiratori. Matsuoka and Shiratori are enshrined at the Shinto gokoku-jinja shrine in Yamaguchi Prefecture (Yamaguchi City) and the gokoku-jinja shrine in Chiba Prefecture (Chiba City),respectively. The current Emperor visited a gokoku-jinja shrine in Saitama Prefecture (Saitama City) in 1993, the first visit to such a designated shrine by an emperor in 15 years. In 1996, he visited the gokoku-jinja shrine in Tochigi Prefecture, but no souls of Class-A war criminals are enshrined at either shrine. According to persons related to the Tochigi shrine, there was direct contact from the Imperial Household Agency to ask if Class-A war criminals were enshrined or not. The emperor has not visited any gokoku-jinja shrine for 10 years since then. 12) LDP Nakagawa eyes legislation to place Yasukuni Shrine under state management TOKYO 00004417 007 OF 012 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) August 7, 2006 Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa indicated yesterday that the government would study submitting a bill designed to turn Yasukuni Shrine, a religious corporation, into a state-run war memorial. Speaking before reporters, Nakagawa said in connection with growing calls for removing Class-A war criminals from the shrine's enshrined soul list: "The government might submit a related bill if the bereaved families' group agrees to it." Over the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals along with the war dead, the Japan War-Bereaved Association decided just after the general election last September to look into the matter. On a TV program yesterday, Nakagawa stated: "(Bereaved families) seem to be gradually coming to favor Yasukuni Shrine being changed into a nonreligious corporation and placed under state control." Later, he told reporters: "The LDP should discuss the issue with representatives from the association." The LDP submitted to the Diet session in 1969 a bill that aimed to change Yasukuni into a nonreligious facility, but the bill was killed in the face of objections from opposition parties. Former Secretary General Makoto Koga, association chairman, and Foreign SIPDIS Minister Taro Aso have also come up with proposals. Nakagawa's statement yesterday is likely to heat up the debate on the issue. In reference to Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO Abe's refusal to confirm his visit to Yasukuni Shrine in April, Nakagawa told the reporters: "Since he paid homage in the capacity of a private citizen, there is no need to mention it." 13) Foreign Minister Aso urges Yasukuni Shrine be made nonreligious organization; Legislation to establish national facility ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) Evening, August 5, 2006 Foreign Minister Aso, who has declared his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election in September, has drafted a reform plan regarding Yasukuni Shrine. The details were unveiled on August 5. The plan proposes a gradual step of first calling on Yasukuni Shrine to disband itself as a religious organization on a voluntary basis and making it a national memorial facility after legally turning it into a nonreligious organization. The sticking point is the Class-A war criminals that are honored at Yasukuni Shrine along with the war dead. The Aso plan proposes that the Diet make a decision, noting, "The Diet should decide through debate whose souls should be consoled." Aso does not intend to visit Yasukuni Shrine until these measures are realized. The views of the candidates to succeed Prime Minister Koizumi on the Yasukuni issue differ. While it was revealed that Chief Cabinet Secretary ABE visited the shrine in April, Finance Minister Tanigaki SIPDIS has announced his intention not to visit Yasukuni if he becomes prime minister. Chances are that if Prime Minister Koizumi visits the shrine on August 15, Yasukuni will become an issue in the LDP presidential race. The reform plan presented by Aso, who has been viewed as close to ABE in terms of diplomatic policy, will likely give impetus to the discussion on reforming Yasukuni TOKYO 00004417 008 OF 012 The Aso plan, which he claims is his private view, stresses the need to keep Yasukuni Shrine as far away from politics as possible and keep it as a "(nonpolitical) place of worship for eternity." The set of proposals also noted: "It may not be an exaggeration to say that the government has privatized its business of consoling the souls of the war dead. By doing so, it has left the business itself unattended until it dies out in course of time." He thus indicated a sense of crisis regarding the continuation of Yasukuni Shrine as is. As a measure to resolve this issue, the Aso plan calls on Yasukuni Shrine to take procedures to become a nonreligious organization on a voluntary basis, noting that it is necessary. It also pointed out: "There are 52 Shinto shrines designated as places of worship for those who died in the war throughout the nation. They are exactly the same as Yasukuni Shrine in terms of the process of their establishment, the nature of the facilities, and problems concerning the present situation. It is, therefore, appropriate to deal with Yasukuni Shrine along with those shrines as a package." 14) Survey: Over 190 LDP lawmakers, nearly half, support ABE for presidency TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) August 6, 2006 In the wake of Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki's official announcement on August 5 of his candidacy for the September 20 LDP presidential election (campaigning to formally kick off Sept. 8) and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda's announcement that he will not run in the race, the Tokyo Shimbun conducted a survey of the 403 LDP Diet members. The results showed that over 190 - close to a majority of 202 - were determined to vote for Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO Abe. SIPDIS The results were analyzed comprehensively based on interviews with lawmakers and information obtained from party executives. Those who supported a candidate other than Abe, Tanigaki, or Foreign Minister Taro Aso were categorized as "other and undecided," because their favorites may not run in the race. The Tokyo Shimbun conducted a similar survey on July 21, as well. In the previous survey, over 170 lawmakers said they would support Abe. Fukuda's withdrawal from the race has prompted the Mori faction, to which ABE and Fukuda belong, to field ABE as its only candidate. Support for ABE has also spread in the Niwa-Koga faction, the Ibuki faction, and the Komura faction, which do not have their own candidates. Fukuda's withdrawal has also sparked calls in the Tsushima faction to field Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga. The Yamasaki faction was less eager to support ABE from the previous poll due to former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki's tight grip on its members. Yamasaki is keeping the door open to his own candidacy. About 20 members - the requirement for official candidacy -- expressed their support each for Tanigaki and Aso, as in the previous survey. TOKYO 00004417 009 OF 012 15) Taku Yamasaki indicates he will not run in LDP presidential race TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) August 5, 2006 Appearing on a Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) program on Aug. 4, Taku Yamasaki, who heads a faction in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),discussed the possibility of his running in the September LDP presidential election: "Since the result of the race is known, I don't want to join as a minor league player. If I join the game, I would like to do so as a good player as I have responsibility and pride. I will be cautious about it." Yamasaki's view apparently is that if there is no change in Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO Abe's advantage, he will not run in the election. Asked about when he would announce his decision, Yamasaki responded, "I have said that I will make up mind after the mid-August Bon holiday break." 16) LDP gives reserved support to Jin Murai, former Lower House member of LDP in order to attract voters without any party affiliation TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) August 7, 2006 The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is relieved that Jin Murai, a former Lower House lawmaker of the LDP, was returned in the gubernatorial election in Nagano Prefecture. Though the LDP Headquarters stopped short of giving an official endorsement to him, it had been concerned that if incumbent Yasuo Tanaka, a harsh critic of Prime Minister Koizumi's politics, won, it would spark momentum in the opposition parties, particularly the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ = Minshuto). The LDP gave no more than a prefectural federation-level endorsement to Murai, because the executive judged that in order to embrace voters without any party affiliation it would be wise for the candidate to constrain a party flavor. Behind the judgment are also calculated motives to avoid responsibility in the event of Murai losing the election despite overall backing from the LDP, following failures in the by-election in the Lower House Chiba Constituency No. 7 in April and the gubernatorial election in Shiga Prefecture in July. The two candidates locked in a neck-and-neck race until the final stage of the campaign. The executive encouraged Murai, "Firmly fight the rival candidate," but it never offered organized support. Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe yesterday evening told reporters, SIPDIS "We judged that the party should not intervene in this election." He thus underscored that the LDP's reserved support has proved effective. However, dampening its joy over the victory in Nagano the LDP found no effective approach to capture uncommitted voters in looking ahead to next year's nationwide local elections and the Upper House election. TOKYO 00004417 010 OF 012 17) Government, Okinawa to establish consultative body later this month to discuss specific Futenma relocation plans, new economic stimulus measures YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) August 6, 2006 The central and the Okinawa prefectural governments have entered in the final stage of negotiations to establish a consultative body later this month to draw up plans for the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, now located in Ginowan, and incentives for municipalities that will accept the relocated facilities. Atsushi Watanabe, head of the Defense Facilities Administration's Facilities Department, will visit the prefecture on Monday to exchange views with prefectural government officials on the planned consultative body. The basic plan for the realignment of US forces in Japan, endorsed by the cabinet in May, calls for the establishment of a panel comprising representatives from the central and Okinawa prefectural governments and affected municipalities to discuss the relocation of the air base to a coastal areas of Camp Schwab in Nago. The prefectural government has been opposed to setting up the panel, saying it has not endorsed the government's relocation plan. But the prefecture has now changed its stance and convened on Saturday a liaison council to discuss the issue with Nago and 11 other municipalities in the northern part of the prefecture. The council will meet with agency officials on Monday. Nago and the other municipalities affected by the relocation expect measures for spurring economic growth, particularly because the 10 billion yen in annual funding for current projects will come to an end this year. "The Okinawa prefectural government must take into consideration the local population's desire for economic measures when discussing the relocation issue with the central government," a government source said. To facilitate the local government's participation in the panel, the central government plans to place priority on the drafting of new economic growth measures for the northern part of the prefecture. The Futenma relocation issue will likely become the greatest campaign issue in the Okinawa gubernatorial election in November. To what extent Okinawa will cooperate on mapping out plans for the alternative facility remains to be seen. 18) All six North Korean Rodong and Scud missiles landed in targeted sea zone, Japan, US conclude; They are accurate and operational YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) August 6, 2006 Six of seven missiles that North Korea test-fired on July 5 fell inside a sea zone that was put off-limits for ships in advance by Pyongyang, the Japanese and US governments have concluded. Soon after the launches, the government announced the six missiles, which were Rodongs (with a range of 1,300 kilometers) and Scuds (300 to 500 kilometers) excluding a Taepodong-2 (6,000 kilometers),were estimated to have hit points 400 to kilometers out to sea. But the government later learned the six missiles likely splashed in an area bout 50 kilometers in radius, as North Korea had calculated. TOKYO 00004417 011 OF 012 A Defense Agency official said: "The targeting accuracy of the Rodong and Scud missiles was high to a certain degree, and it proved the missiles are operational." North Korea set the restricted area - a triangle about 160 kilometers long on each side - in the Sea of Japan off the North Korean coast between July 4 and 11, and notified concerned persons in North Korea of the restricted zone. According to Japanese and US analyses based on data from radar of Aegis-equipped warships and other intelligence, the Rodong and Scud missiles traveled about 300 to 400 kilometers northeast from a missile base in Kitaeryong in the southeastern part of the country. All the landing points were inside the designated zone and the government believe they were within an area with a radius of about 50 kilometers. A senior Defense Agency official indicated it was unknown whether the missiles accurately hit targeted points. "As we don't know the target points that North Korea set, it's difficult to make that judgment," the official said. 19) GSDF carrying out PKO on Golan Heights close to war zone where Israel and Hezbollah are having it out; Danger of becoming wrapped up in their fighting AKAHATA (Page 2) (Abridged) August 6, 2006 As the combat situation worsens in Lebanon between the Israeli forces and Hezbollah, the Shiite faction's civilian militia in that country, attention is turning to the impact of the fighting on the peacekeeping operations (PKO) of the Ground Self-Defense Force troops dispatched to the Golan Heights, an area of Syria which is adjacent to Israel and Lebanon. Sources in the GSDF are worried that Japanese troops might become wrapped up in the fighting. The Golan Heights, where PKO is being carried out, spans across eastern and western Syria. To the north is Lebanon, and to the south is Israel. The Heights are on the very edge of the battle-zone next door. On July 15, a rocked landed near the GSDF unit when they were at a point over a dozen kilometers from the camp where they are stationed. The rocket seems to have been launched by Hezbollah. The incident, reported in the Yomiuri Shimbun on July 29, quoted one person as saying, "Missiles and rockets are always flying back and forth under our noses (at camp)." PKO in the Golan Heights began after Israel and Syria called a halt to their fighting in 1974, with both armies withdrawing from the Heights when international observers arrived. Later, United Nations Disengagement Observer Forces (UNDOF) was deployed as ADS or Active Directory Service. The Japanese government from Feb. 1996 dispatched a GSDF transport unit to UNDOF. Currently, there are 43 GSDF personnel active in the unit. As logistical support for UNDOF, the unit transports mostly daily necessity goods. In addition, two GSDF officers are attached to UNDOF Headquarters. In late August, the current unit is scheduled to be rotated out and be replaced by the next unit in line to come. The United Nations Peace Cooperation Headquarters reports that the route used to transport goods extends into the area of northern Israel that is being shelled by Hezbollah. In the 2006 Defense of Japan (White Paper),issued by Defense Agency, fierce fighting has spread all across the south part of Lebanon where Israeli troops continue TOKYO 00004417 012 OF 012 large-scale strikes. The Defense Agency explains that currently it is aware of the need to maintain the safety of the mission and that activities in Lebanon and Israel are not now taking place. However, GSDF troops on the Heights are becoming increasingly perplexed, fearing that they could become wrapped up in the combat situation. SCHIEFFER