ASSISTANT CABINET SECRETARY ANDO URGES STRONG U.S.

S E C R E T TOKYO 005334 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2016 TAGS: PARM KNNP PREL PGOV JA KN CH SUBJECT: ASSISTANT CABINET SECRETARY ANDO URGES STRONG U.S. STATEMENT ON SANCTIONS Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D) ¶1. (S) On September 15, Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyasu Ando called the DCM to report that Japan will announce its steps to implement UNSCR 1695 during the Koizumi Administration,s last Cabinet meeting on September 19. Ando noted that he had briefed Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe earlier that morning on this subject, and that he would meet with PM Koizumi this afternoon on this matter. CCS Abe expressed his belief that the U.S. and Japan should be in step on measures to implement UNSCR 1695, according to Ando. As a result, Ando urged the U.S. to issue a statement which, at minimum: 1) welcomed Japan,s announcement, 2) reiterated the steps that the USG had already taken, and 3) urged other countries to follow suit. ¶2. (S) In a follow-up conversation with the DCM, Ando stressed the importance of solidarity on the North Korea issue. He said that the Japanese government was working closely with Australia and believed it was highly likely that Canberra would issue a public statement supporting Japan,s measures, possibly at the Ministerial level. SCHIEFFER