JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10//06

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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."


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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.


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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


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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