MEDIA REACTION Q NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION -

UNCLAS TOKYO 004869 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 NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Friday morning papers front-paged Thursday's decision by the International Astronomical Union that Pluto is no longer a planet under new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight. ¶1. "Nuclear Nonproliferation: Issue Must Be Dealt with Resolutely" The moderate Tokyo Shimbun editorialized (8/25): "This year's meeting of the United Nations Disarmament Conference was held in Yokohama. There appear to be no immediate solutions regarding the nuclear programs of the DPRK and Iran.... The road to disarmament and the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a steep one. North Korea, which has declared it possesses nuclear weapons, launched seven ballistic missiles last month. Iran, which is suspected of seeking nuclear weapons, has not displayed any inclination to accept the package of incentives offered by the P-5 plus Germany.... At the Yokohama meeting, nearly 60 experts, including diplomats, senior officials from international organizations, and scholars, discussed how to put disarmament and nonproliferation back on track.... Libyan officials attended the meeting for the first time, explaining how their country's decision to scrap its nuclear program has led to the end of sanctions and to the provision of Western assistance for power generation and desalinization. We hope that North Korea and Iran will carefully study the Libyan success story and choose the path that leads to significant benefits in return for abandoning their nuclear programs." DONOVAN