JAPAN CONCERNED ABOUT 5+5 MEETING AT UNGA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005027 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2016 TAGS: KNNP KS MNUC PARM PREL JA SUBJECT: JAPAN CONCERNED ABOUT 5+5 MEETING AT UNGA REF: STATE 143310 Classified By: Charge d' Affaires Joseph R.Donovan. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D ) ¶1. (C) On September 1, Embassy Tokyo political officer delivered reftel demarche, which asked 5 5 group members to reconvene at UNGA, to MOFA NE Asia Division Deputy Director Yutaka Kashiwabara. Kashiwabara said that Japanese officials would consider the proposal and attempt to deliver a formal response in time for A/S Hill,s September 4 meeting in Tokyo with MOFA Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau DG Kenichiro Sasae. ¶2. (C) Providing what he described as an &initial8 response, Kashiwabara said that MOFA officials have three main concerns: a) September LDP presidential elections will result in the appointment of a new prime minister. MOFA fears that the resulting cabinet reshuffle might leave insufficient time to either select a new foreign minister, or to make travel arrangements. In that case, Japan might have to select another representative to attend the 5 5 meeting. b) Referring to points raised by DG Sasae during a September 1 meeting with embassy DCM Donovan (reported septel), Kashiwabara said that Japanese authorities wanted to know more about the objectives of the proposed meeting. Was the intention to increase pressure on the DPRK, or was there some other goal? c) A second 5 5 meeting, with the same participants, might have the effect of institutionalizing the process, Kashiwabara observed. If that is the intention, MOFA is not sure if that is the best way to proceed. ¶3. (C) Kashiwabara concluded by asserting that the EU was &bitter8 and &upset8 about having been left out of the Kuala Lumpur meeting. The UK, acting on behalf of the EU, had even approached Japan on the subject. DONOVAN