JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06 Index: DPRK's Kim lights nuclear fuse: 1) Prime Minister Abe, President Bush in telephone call vow to push for tough UNSC resolution against North Korea for nuclear weapon test 2) US, Japan to tighten encirclement net around North Korea, work on China, Russia, and South Korea to cooperate 3) US, Japan agree to cooperate to impose effective sanctions on DPRK 4) Shiozaki: Government to enhance intelligence cooperation with US on North Korea nuclear threat 5) Japan eyeing own set of additional sanctions on North Korea 6) Japan, US, ROK foreign ministers in teleconference agree to severe response to North Korea's nuclear test 7) Japan, ROK agree in summit meeting to respond resolutely to North Korea nuclear affront 8) Lower House of Diet to pass today a resolution condemning North Korea for testing nuclear weapon 9) DPRK nuclear test may have been small size, much lesser in scale than Hiroshima bomb 10) Increased North Korea threat to Japan likely to speed up missile defense deployment 11) Japan-ROK summit meeting: Abe, Roh agree to "future-oriented relationship," joint study of history Articles: 1) Abe, Bush agree on telephone to adopt firm UNSC resolution YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) October 10, 2006 (Extra Edition) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a telephone conference with US President George W. Bush last night at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. The two leaders shared the view that the United Nations Security Council should adopt a strong resolution against North Korea. Abe and Bush confirmed that North Korea's nuclear test poses a serous challenge to the nuclear nonproliferation framework. With North Korea's possible possession of nuclear strike capability in mind, Bush said, "US deterrence based on the US-Japan alliance remains firm." 2) Japan, US to further tighten international noose around North Korea, work on China, Russia, South Korea to act together; US may inspect ships independently YOMIURI (Special edition) (Page 2) (Excerpts) October 10, 2006 TOKYO 00005858 002 OF 008 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06 Takashi Sakamoto, Washington North Korea's announcement that it conducted a nuclear test will surely prod the United States to further toughen its policy toward that country. The US government, along with Japan, for the time being aims to get a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution adopted in accordance with Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. In addition, Washington has indicated its intention to take uncommonly harsh sanctions, such as boarding and searching North Korean ships calling at ports of US allies, as well as widening and strengthening financial sanctions against Pyongyang. Apparently, the US intends to urges the North to abandon its nuclear weapons. 3) Tokyo, Washington confirm cooperation to impose effective sanctions On the heels of North Korea's declaration yesterday that it conducted a nuclear test, the Japanese government took action to work in close cooperation with the United States, South Korea, and other countries in order to further impose sanctions on North Korea. Whether Tokyo can get cooperation from other countries, including China and Russia, to encircle Pyongyang and impose effective sanctions is the major focus of attention for now. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki and Foreign Minister Aso yesterday afternoon met with US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and confirmed that both Japan and the US would act in concert to deal with North Korea's nuclear test and call for discussion at the UNSC. After the meeting, Shieffer emphasized to reporters: "The United States, as an ally of Japan and South Korea, reiterated its promise to defend the security of Japan and South Korea. The United States will bring up this issue at the UNSC. The United States is and will be with Japan." Shiozaki commented: "Both sides agreed to act in concert at the UNSC in order to jointly (deal with) the issue. We will keep in close contact to work together in the days ahead, as well." Prime Minister Abe yesterday afternoon met with South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun, and the two leaders agreed to work in close cooperation to deal with the North Korean issue. Japan, the US, and South Korea are now perfectly aligned. Debates at the UNSC will determine the response of the international community. Japan has already started discussions with the US and other countries about the contents of a resolution to be adopted at the UNSC. A senior Foreign Ministry official pointed out yesterday: "Presumably a resolution will be drafted in accordance with the UN Charter's Chapter 7, which stipulates the UNSC's enforcement action." 4) Government collecting intelligence in cooperation with US YOMIURI (Page 4) (Slightly Abridged) Special Edition, October 10, 2006 The government is now doing its utmost to collect and analyze intelligence on North Korea's underground nuclear test in cooperation with the US. TOKYO 00005858 003 OF 008 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06 The government reportedly first obtained indications of a nuclear test by North Korea some time after 10:00 a.m. The Meteorological Agency detected seismic waves presumably caused by a nuclear test around 10:35 a.m. A government source, however, noted, "We received a report shortly after 10:00 a.m. noting that North Korea may conduct a nuclear test or might have already done that." Around 10:30 a.m. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Nakagawa received a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noting that it has received intelligence that the North has begun preparing to conduct a nuclear test. North Korea reportedly informed China in advance of its decision to go ahead with a nuclear test. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki during yesterday evening's press conference said: "We have received reports indicating that a nuclear test has been carried out. We have reached an overall judgment based on such intelligence. Obviously, we are exchanging views with China." The Defense Agency identified indications in July that North Korea was preparing a nuclear test. Since then, it has continued monitoring its moves, using a spy satellite and the Maritime Self-Defense Force's EP-3 electronic intelligence gathering plane. 5) Prime Minister Abe: Japan to impose additional sanctions against North Korea YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) October 10, 2006 (Extra Edition) The government discussed yesterday its response to North Korea's nuclear test. As a result, it has decided to impose additional economic sanctions against the North on its own, as well as to make efforts to have the United Nations Security Council adopt as quickly as possible a resolution based on Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Tokyo regards the DPRK's nuclear test as a serious threat to Japan, and it intends to heighten the pressure on Pyongyang. It also intends to review its own defense system. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, now visiting South Korea, stressed last evening: "We absolutely cannot allow North Korea to develop and produce nuclear weapons. Japan must assume a tough stance toward the North." He also added: "With North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, the world will enter a more dangerous nuclear age. With North Korea having both nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, it has become a serious threat to the entire international community." Abe revealed that he had ordered his government to mull additional economic sanctions against the North, as well as to speed up discussions regarding another UNSC resolution. He stated: "We will closely cooperate with the United States in order to improve the credibility of deterrence of Japan-US alliance. We will also push forward with Japan-US defense dialogue, including a missile defense plan, while closely cooperating with Washington." Chef Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki released a statement last night at a press conference: "We regard North Korea's nuclear test as a grave challenge to our country. Japan can never accept such an act. We will take severe measures quickly against the North. We will take quick action at the TOKYO 00005858 004 OF 008 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06 UNSC, while cooperating with the international community, including the United States. Japan will reaffirm with the United States the Japan-US Security Treaty and strengthen bilateral cooperation." Prior to the release of the statement, the government held a meeting of the Security Council at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and discussed North Korea's aim and the impact on Japan. The government will likely expand its financial measures invoked in September in the wake of the North's firing of missiles in July, as well as to expand measures banning the entry of North Korean ships into Japanese ports. 6) Japanese, US, South Korean foreign ministers agree in telephone conversation to deal with North Korea in stern manner YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) October 10, 2006 Foreign Minister Aso yesterday afternoon participated in a three-party telephone dialogue with US Secretary of State Rice and South Korea Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon to discuss North Korea's nuclear test. The three shared the view that North Korea's nuclear test is a grave challenge to Northeast Asia and the international community and that they should respond to the issue in a stern manner. Rice underscored, "There will be no change in the US involvement in its alliances with Japan and South Korea and security in the region." The three vowed to continue efforts to confirm the facts and keep in close touch with one another. The telephone conference was held for 15 minutes from 0:20 p.m. in response to a call from the US. 7) Japan, South Korea agree to act decisively against North Korea YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) October 10, 2006 (Extra Edition) Seoul, Takashi Toriyama Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met yesterday afternoon in Seoul with South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun at the presidential office. The two top leaders shared the view that North Korea's nuclear test is a serious threat to the security of neighboring countries and the international community. Their countries cannot allow the North to develop and product nuclear weapons. The two countries, therefore, agreed to act decisively against the North. Abe and Roh also agreed to closely cooperate each other so that the United Nations Security Council will be able to adopt a resolution, which would include additional severe measures. In the summit, Abe pointed out: "The nuclear test this time has greatly changed the regional security environment. Proliferation of nuclear missile technology, in addition to proliferation of ballistic missiles will become a threat to the world." Abe also asserted: "Japan and South Korea need to dispatch a strong message. The UNSC should take an immediate firm action against North TOKYO 00005858 005 OF 008 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06 Korea." In response Roh agreed with Abe, saying, "The North's nuclear test violates the South and North Korea Nuclear-Free Declaration. Both Tokyo and Seoul are necessary to take a strong action against Pyongyang. We would like to coordinate views with Tokyo." Yesterday's Japan-South Korea summit, which was conducted for the first time in about 11 months since the one took place last November in Busan, lasted for about two hours. 8) Lower House to adopt resolution condemning North Korea for its nuclear test possibly today; Ruling, opposition camps agree to take harsh measure YOMIURI (Page 4) (Almost Full) Special edition, October 10, 2006 Both the ruling and opposition camps are harshly condemning Pyongyang for its conducting an underground nuclear test. The outlook is that the Lower House will adopt a resolution condemning North Korea as early as today. The Liberal Democratic Part (LDP) yesterday set up a North Korean Nuclear Test Countermeasures Headquarters headed by Secretary General Nakagawa. It then intermittently held emergency senior staff meetings of the ruling parties, including New Komeito Secretary General Kitagawa, at its headquarters. Participants in the staff meeting reaffirmed their stance of dealing with the issue in a stern manner in the Diet and conveyed their determination to the opposition parties. Both camps have decided that chairmen of the Diet Policy Committees of the ruling and opposition parties will confer on the issue of adopting a resolution this morning. The ruling parties have also issued a statement, which went: "If North Korea has really conducted a nuclear test, it will be a serious threat to our country, Northeast Asia and the international community. It is absolutely impossible to accept such a deed. We should take action in cooperation with the international community for an immediate adoption of a resolution of sanctions against that nation by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),based on UN Charter's Chapter 7." It also urged North Korea, to unconditionally return to the six-party talks at an early date and settle its nuclear, missile, abduction and other issues. The statement also noted: "If it does not change its attitude, the international community should not hesitate to take enforcement measures, including severe economic sanctions. Our country should strengthen the current economic sanctions imposed on Pyongyang." Commenting on the execution of a nuclear test by North Korea during Prime Minister Abe's China-North Korea visits, LDP Executive Council Chairman Niwa told a press conference at the party headquarters: "It is very regrettable. I see no stance in Korea of responding to a call for dialogue at all." LDP Policy Affairs Research Council Chairman Nakagwa also noted: "Did North Korea carry out the test during the prime minister's visits to China and South Korea accidentally or on purpose? To begin with, I cannot understand its intention to conduct a nuclear test. It is important for us to deal with the issue in a cool-headed and stern manner." TOKYO 00005858 006 OF 008 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06 The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) yesterday set up a North Korea Nuclear test Countermeasures Headquarters led by deputy party head Naoto Kan. Meeting the press in Tokyo on the afternoon of the same day, DPJ chief Ozawa told a news conference: "The international community must cooperate and take severe restraint measures against Pyongyang. Various problems could occur, such as counteractions. All Japanese must take a stern attitude and be prepared to protect peace seriously." He rapped the government's North Korea policy to date: "I say there has been no strategy. If it has been confirmed that the test really occurred, the government should be perplexed." Kan told reporters in Atsugi City, Kanagawa: "The act of North Korea this time is utterly in violation of the Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration. The government has no other choice but to act, based on the perception that the Declaration has virtually been annulled." 9) N-test possibly a small one YOMIURI-Extra edition for press holiday (Page 3) (Abridged) October 10, 2006 Seismic waves were measured at various locations after North Korea reportedly carried out an underground nuclear test. However, the size of the explosion estimated from the seismic waves varied considerably at various observing locations. The tremor registered a magnitude of 3.58 to 3.7 on the Richter scale in South Korea, 4.2 in the United States, and 5.1 in Japan. The detonation calculated in terms of energy from the various estimates shows a wide difference of more than 100 times. Accordingly, it is difficult to specify its power at this point. However, its power is believed to be considerably smaller than the 15-20 kiloton yield of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs. "Looking at the magnitudes of nuclear tests conducted in the past by the United States and the former Soviet Union, it's possible to surmise that the bomb tested this time had an explosive effect of 0.5 to 3 kilotons-several times smaller than the Hiroshima atomic bomb," says University of Tokyo Earthquake Research Institute Professor Katsuyuki Abe. If the tunnel used for the nuclear test was large, however, the energy from the explosion could have been absorbed, resulting in a low magnitude, another expert said. At any rate, the explosive power of the bomb tested this time was small for a nuclear weapon. However, it is certain that it was several dozen times more powerful than the largest conventional weapon. 10) Japan faced with growing threat, mulls frontloading missile defense YOMIURI-Extra edition for press holiday (Page 2) (Full) October 10, 2006 The government has a growing sense of crisis about North Korea's nuclear test as a threat to Japan's national security. North Korea is presumably still incapable of payloading a missile with a nuclear bomb. In Japan, however, it is certain that there will be a rise of calls for reviewing Japan's defenses. TOKYO 00005858 007 OF 008 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06 Concerning the nuclear test conducted this time, a senior official of the Defense Agency notes that Japan's national security would face a serious crisis should North Korea become a nuclear power. In particular, if North Korea becomes capable of launching nuclear attacks with missiles, Japan will then be exposed to a serious nuclear threat. North Korea has already deployed about 200 Rodong intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a range of about 1,300 kilometers-enough to cover Japan almost in its entirety. In July this year, the North fired seven ballistic missiles and demonstrated its actual warfare capability. In the case of the Rodong, however, the maximum weight of its warhead is said to be about one ton. The Rodong needs to be miniaturized so that it can payload a nuclear weapon. "We wonder if they have the technical know-how to miniaturize a nuclear weapon as a warhead, and that's something else," Defense Agency Director General Kyuma said. "They are probably still unable to do so," the defense chief added. Furthermore, very high technologies are necessary for manufacturing a comparatively small detonator fit for missile payloading. In addition, technologies for heightening the reliability of a warhead's detonator are also necessary. "It will still take North Korea some time to deploy nuclear missiles," a senior official of the Defense Agency. There is no doubt that North Korea will try to miniaturize nuclear weapons. Before that, if North Korea's nuclear technologies flow out overseas, nuclear weapons could go into the hands of third countries and terrorists. Meanwhile, the government is introducing a ballistic missile defense (MD) system. However, the MD shield is planned to be deployed at only some bases for the time being. Japan is not ready to intercept the Rodong, whose speed is over 3 kilometers per second. Japan will begin to deploy the ground-launched Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) and the sea-launched Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) late in the current fiscal year and afterward. In late August, US Forces Japan (USFJ) sent an Aegis-equipped vessel loaded with the SM-3 for deployment to Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. However, one ship alone cannot cover all over Japan. The PAC-3 will go operational at the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture for the first time in Japan. However, its deployment to mainland bases will be after that. There may be rising calls for moving up the deployment schedule. After North Korea's missile launches in July, there were discussions within the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party about the advisability of acquiring a first-strike capability against missile sites in North Korea. The argument died down, since it was strongly feared to conflict with the Constitution. However, the debate is expected to be reignited in the wake of the nuclear test this time. 11) Leaders of Japan and South Korea agree to build a future-oriented relationship; Joint study of history may be launched before the end of year YOMIURI (Early edition) (Page 2) (Excerpts) October 10, 2006 TOKYO 00005858 008 OF 008 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06 Hidetoshi Ikebe, Seoul Prime Minister Abe and President Roh Moo Hyun of South Korea in their meeting yesterday agreed to build a future-oriented relationship in order to improve bilateral relations that have been strained by such events as former Prime Minister Koizumi's repeated visits to Yasukuni Shrine. As part of this effort, the two leaders agreed to launch a joint committee to study history for a second term before the end of the year. They also reached agreement to work together to deal with the abduction issue. Abe invited Roh to visit Japan. In response, Roh said, "I'd like to visit Japan at an appropriate time." Speaking of the future of bilateral relations, Roh stated: "Japan-South Korea relations will definitely affect the order of East Asia. I believe Prime Minister Abe's visit to South Korea will give us a fresh opportunity to rebuild bilateral ties. I want to open the path for a future-oriented (relationship)." In addition, Roh indicated that the major factors that have strained bilateral ties have been (1) visits to Yasukuni Shrine, (2) school history textbooks, and (3) wartime comfort women. In response, Abe emphasized: "Japan has conducted itself in the 60 years of the postwar period based on reflection of the suffering and scars our country left on Asian nations. I take seriously the South Korean people's sentiment toward the history involving both countries." On the Yasukuni issue, Roh referred to a concept now floated in Japan of constructing a national memorial facility and asked, "Isn't it possible to make that a reality?" But Abe took a cautious view about constructing such a facility, saying: "The reason why I have visited Yasukuni Shrine is to express respect for the dead and pray for lasting peace. My shrine visits are never intended to glorify past militarism or honor the Class-A war criminals." Abe then indicated his intention not to state whether he will visit the shrine in the future, telling the president: "I want to deal with the matter appropriately so that both sides can overcome political difficulties, as well as from the standpoint of promoting healthy progress in bilateral relations." SCHIEFFER