JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/11/06

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/11/06 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule North Korea threat: 4) Ambassador Schieffer tells Japanese audience that the US nuclear umbrella will protect Japan 5) Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki calls on North Korea to implement Pyongyang Declaration 6) Japan issues 3rd set of independent sanctions against North Korea that includes full ban on imports from that country 7) Japan's sanctions could have impact on stopping DPRK's flow of illegal money 8) Japan would have legal difficulty carrying out ship searches on high seas if UN sanctions on North Korea include such 9) Government worried that dangerous North Korea might send agents to carry out terrorist acts 10) Prime Minister ABE speculates that cumulative impact of sanctions on North Korea could bring down the Kim regime 11) Upper House also passes its own resolution condemning North Korea 12) Japan's additional sanctions on North Korea will further boost Abe's diplomatic credentials 13) METI to strictly monitor third country trade to make sure North Korea is not getting Japanese imports indirectly 14) Finance Minister Omi says that his ministry will strictly monitor for possible cash remittances to North Korea 15) Speculation that further nuclear testing by DPRK is coming will not die away 16) Atsugi Air Station under SOFA scrutiny for opening pizza parlor to public 17) Four opposition parties agree to consolidate efforts to help campaign of Itokazu for governor of Okinawa 18) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) sponsoring handicapped bill in order to drum up support for by-election on Oct. 22 19) Team of advisors to Prime Minister ABE further beefed up with additional staff 20) Kyodo poll finds people are more cautious about prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni following Abe's recent China and ROK visits Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nihon Keizai & Tokyo Shimbun: Japan to ban all imports from North Korea as well as its ships' entry into Japanese ports Sankei: Japan to ban all imports from North Korea as well as its ships' entry into Japanese ports as sanction measures, tighten regulations on entry into country; US president intends to enhance defense cooperation with Japan: "A powerful UNSC will be essential" TOKYO 00005914 002 OF 012 Akahata: Lawmaker Inoue: Diplomatic solution to North Korea's nuclear test issue essential to avoid war 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) US, China should act together to deal with North Korea's nuclear ambitions (2) "New" Abe: Has he changed his mind? Mainichi: (1) Education Revitalization Council: Discussions should be made open; national debate essential (2) Cluster bombs: Pact banning their use necessary Yomiuri: (1) Education Revitalization Council: We expect proposals different from those of bureaucrats (2) Azadegan oilfield project: Priority given to international cooperation over national interest Nihon Keizai: (1) ABE administration's harsh sanctions on North Korea (2) Education Revitalization Council needs to come up with fresh ideas Sankei: (1) Education Revitalization Council should aim to depart from postwar thinking through drastic reform (2) Transplants: Understanding required to resolve donor shortage Tokyo Shimbun: (1) UN Secretary General-elect Ban should do his best for UN-led preventive diplomacy (2) Chunichi Dragons' CL championship: We want to see them win Japan Series Akahata: Consumer loans: Don't allow life insurance policies to be used as collateral 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, October 11 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) October 12, 2006 08:01 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Suzuki at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). 09:01 Upper House Budget Committee meeting. 12:13 Met with Suzuki at the Kantei. 13:00 Upper House Budget Committee meeting. TOKYO 00005914 003 OF 012 17:06 Upper House plenary session. 17:30 Ceremony at the Kantei honoring people for the creation of safe and secure towns. Then met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki and Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ando. 18:20 Dined with the Emperor and the Empress together with his wife Akie. 20:40 Arrived at the Kantei. 21:03 Security Council meeting. 22:17 Returned to private residence at Tomigaya. 4) Nuclear umbrella of the US has protected Japan, US Ambassador Schieffer says ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) October 12, 2006 US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer yesterday took part in an informal meeting of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai). In connection with North Korea's claim that it conducted a nuclear test, he noted, "The nuclear umbrella of the US has protected Japan. If Japan considers adopting an independent policy, this region (East Asia) will soon be placed in a dangerous situation." Schieffer presumably made this statement out of concern that calls for nuclear arms might arise in East Asia, including Japan. Prime Minister ABE during yesterday's Lower House Budget Committee categorically stated: "I have no intention whatsoever to change our stance that possessing nuclear weapons is not an option. There will be no change at all in Japan's three nonnuclear principles." 5) Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki calls on North Korea to live up to Pyongyang Declaration ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) October 12, 2006 Kim Yong Nam, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Council, categorically stated during an interview with the Kyodo New Agency that the 2002 Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration is still effective. Referring to this statement, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki during yesterday's press conference stressed: "I heard that North Korea is saying that the Declaration is still in effect. It is important for it to implement items stipulated in the Declaration one by one." Regarding Kim's indication of a view that Pyongyang is ready to return to the six-party talks with the removal of financial sanctions as a precondition, Shiozaki urged the North to return to the framework without preconditions, saying, "The basic view of the other five other countries is that the North should return to the six-party talks without preconditions." TOKYO 00005914 004 OF 012 6) Japan decides to ban all imports from North Korea for half year as third independent set of sanction measures; North Korean ships barred entry into Japan NIHON KEIZAI (Top play) (Excerpts) October 12, 2006 The government yesterday held a Security Council meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and decided to independently impose a set of sanction measures on North Korea, which days ago had declared it had tested a nuclear bomb. This action will follow ones taken in July and September respectively. Japan will cut off all imports, for example, of farm products, from North Korea, and also ban North Korean ships from entering Japanese ports. Entry into Japan by those people who are of North Korean nationality will be prohibited, as well. Once the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopts a sanction resolution, Tokyo will come up with a fourth round of sanction measures including financial actions. The prohibition of entry into Japan (by North Korean nationals) was put into force the same day. After obtaining approval of the prohibition of entry into Japan by ships and the ban on imports at a cabinet meeting tomorrow, the government will put them into force on Oct. 14. These actions will be each valid for a half-year. After the meeting, Prime Minister SHINZO ABE emphasized to rAPuPc North Korea itself declared it conducted a nuclear test, that consultations on sanctions measures are progressing at the UN, that Japan is now under mounting threats of missile and nuclear development, and that the North has failed to show a sincere attitude in dealing with the abduction issue, Tokyo now decided to toughen sanctions. Japan's major sanction measures against North Korea First set of sanCQvQ 7 Ban on North Korea's cargb/Q;entry into Japanese ports 7 Ban on North Korean chartered planes' flight :?`forth Korean government officials' entry into Japan Second set of sanction upQ{>QQe with the UN resolution condemning North Korea) TOKYO 00005914 005 OF 012 7 Prevention of remittances to 15 organizations and one individual highly suspected of having links to development of weapons of mass destruction Third set of sanction measures (decided on Oct. 11) before the UNSC adopts a resolution in response to the North's announcement that it conducted a nuclear test 7 Ban on entry into Japan by North Korean ships 7 Ban on all imports from North Korea 7 Ban in principle on entry into Japan by those people who are of North Korean nationality 7) Additional sanctions by Japan on North Korea may be effective in sealing off flow of secret funds SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt) October 12, 2006 The government yesterday decided to impose on North Korea a set of additional sanction measures on its own. The aim was to give additional impetus to the sanctions resolution anticipated to be adopted by the United Nations Security Council later this week. Japan felt it was necessary to show North Korea its strong will in resolving the nuclear issue and the abduction cases, as well. But the hidden reason seems to have been the calculation that the sanctions would be effective in cutting NortQ(QOQ9uQWon of ships difficult under existing law; recognition of state of conflict needed NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) October 12, 2006 The government is negative toward carrying out inspections of ships in seas close to North Korea, which the US is calling for as one sanction item. Though Japan has a legal framework to carry it out, taking such action essentially requires that areas near Japan be in a state of battle. The government judgment is that the present state of affairs does not meet this requirement for invoking such a sanction. The Vessels Inspection Activities Law, which went into force in 2001, stipulates that Japan can independently carry out maritime inspections of ships. The law envisages Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) vessels inspecting ships on the high seas. This would enable MSDF vessels to board and search ships to and from North Korea and urge such ships to change their destinations. The application of the law requires the identification of a contingency in an area surrounding Japan. The government must adopt a basic plan, including a specific activity area and the contents of such an activity, at a cabinet meeting and obtain Diet approval. The problem is the definition of a contingency, because it is extremely vague: "a situation in areas close to Japan that has a serious impact on Japan's peace and security." The provision envisions a possible dispute on the Korean Peninsula. However, the views of government officials are divided over whether this TOKYO 00005914 006 OF 012 provision can be applied to the situation this time. Defense Agency Director General Akio Kyuma during yesterday's Upper House Budget Committee meeting categorically stated, "It is not possible to recognize the current situation as an emergency." 9) Government on alert for possible terrorist activities by North Korean agents, instructs police, SDF to tighten security measures YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) October 12, 2006 The government yesterday raised the level of alert, based on the judgment that the risk of terrorist activities by North Korean agents has increased following Japan's imposition of strict sanctions on that nation. The National Police Agency (NPA) instructed prefectural police headquarters to strengthen their crisis-management and quick-response systems. It also set up a security headquarters under the NPA director general yesterday. In addition, NPA has ordered the Defense Agency (JDA) and the Self-Defense Force (SDF) to make preparations to be able to take quick action in times of emergency. North Korea remains confidence, as seen from an official's statement that the international community's moves toward sanctions against his country are tantamount to a declaration of war. In the government, there is a growing concern that North Korea might launch destructive operations in Japan in reaction to the stricter sanctions. As possible targets for destructive or obstructive operations by agents, some list power plants, communication facilities and transport facilities, which have a serious impact on the people's livelihood if they are destructed, as well as SDF and US military bases. In a House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting yesterday, National Public Safety Commission Chairman Mizote stated: "I have instructed prefectural police headquarters on what measures should be taken to prevent various types of illegal activities by North Korean agents, including destructive operations against Japan." The JDA issued an order under the name of Joint Staff Chief Takashi Saito to the Ground, Maritime and Air Self Defense Forces on Oct. 9 to reinforce their quick-response systems. Specifically, the JDA includes measures to deal with an emergency, such as an increase in the number of personnel at each station and restrictions on SDF members' prolonged outings. Assuming that North Korean spy boats might appear in waters near Japan, if it is judged that only the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) alone cannot deal with the situation, the JDA plans to quickly instruct the Maritime Self-Defense Force to mobilize escort vessels or P3C patrol aircraft for joint operations with the JCG against the spy boats based on the Self Defense Force Law. 10) Prime minister: Harsh sanctions on North Korea might destroy Kim regime YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) October 12, 2006 In a House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting yesterday, Prime Minister ABE stated, "Due to its development of nuclear weapons, TOKYO 00005914 007 OF 012 North Korea will gradually face more severe conditions for its survival." He thus indicated that harsher sanctions on North Korea by the international community could push the Kim regime to collapse. The prime minister said: "North Korea, drawing international attention for arming itself with nuclear weapons, might have begun to believe it has grown into a country that can negotiate with the United States, but such a view is an illusion. . . . The North Korean government should make utmost efforts to improve the lives of its people instead of producing nuclear weapons." 11) Upper House also adopts resolution condemning North Korea YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) October 12, 2006 In its plenary session yesterday, the House of Councillors unanimously adopted a resolution denouncing North Korea's nuclear test and calling on the North to scrap its nuclear weapons and nuclear program. The House of Representatives adopted a similar resolution on Oct. 10. The resolution condemning Pyongyang's nuclear development as a direct threat to the peace and safety of the entire Northeast Asian region, including Japan, as well as a serious challenge to the peace and safety of the international community. 12) Government decides to invoke additional sanctions: Preemptive move to orchestrate Japan's independent stance with aim of demonstrating ABE diplomacy MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) October 12, 2006 The government yesterday evening decided to independently invoke additional sanctions against North Korea. It judged that by doing so at that time, it would be able to demonstrate the efficacy of Prime Minister Abe's diplomacy by issuing such while coordination of views on adoption of a sanctions resolution by the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) was entering the home stretch. Some government officials took the view that such sanctions should be adopted after the international community judged that North Korea had actually carried out a nuclear test. However, the government has allowed itself to take this risk, based on the calculation that if it waits any longer and the invocation of sanctions coincides with the UNSC adoption of a North Korea resolution, then its sanctions would lose their individuality. An aide to Prime Minister ABE explained the reason for the quick decision, "The UNSC is acting quickly. It was necessary for us to show that Japan is spearheading the move before the Council adopts its resolution." The government had originally considered the possibility of independently invoking sanctions as early as on Oct. 9, when ABE was scheduled to return home from his visits to China and South Korea. However, some suggested that the test might turn out to be a failure or North Korea might be faking the test, using conventional explosives. Foreign Minister Aso noted, "It is better to refrain from Japan alone going ahead. North Korea is claiming that it has carried out a nuclear test, but the possibility of its claim being false cannot be ruled out." TOKYO 00005914 008 OF 012 Abe aims at displaying leadership in the diplomatic field, following the recent visits to China and South Korea. He directly ordered the inclusion of the abduction issue in the announcement of the government decision to invoke sanctions against North Korea regarding its nuclear test. With the two Lower House by-elections close at hand (voting on Oct. 22),ABE appears to be motivated by the desire to hold a commanding lead in the election campaigns by showing a resolute stance to North Korea. 13) METI to strictly monitor imports of North Korean products via third countries MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) October 12, 2006 Following the government decision to invoke a blanket ban on imports from North Korea, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) yesterday revealed its policy of strictly monitoring possible imports of North Korean products via third countries. It will call for far-reaching country-of-origin labeling and strengthen efforts to crack down on false labeling. If it notices a sharp increase in imports of specific items from third countries after the invocation2qhp"aih Korea will conduct another nuke test will not go away NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Full) October 12, 2006 Two days has now passed since North Korea proclaimed that it had conducted a nuclear test. Yet, no radioactive gasses have been detected in the atmosphere. The government therefore remains unable to obtain final confirmation. Still, the government has become increasingly alarmed, presuming that North Korea will likely proceed with a second nuclear test. Despite no readouts of abnormal seismic waves or radioactive substances, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, meeting the press yesterday afternoon, stressed that the gover&~(Uht on the alert, with the Self-Defense Forces flying aircraft on a monitoring mission. TOKYO 00005914 009 OF 012 There are three reasons for such a deep-seated conjecture pointing to the possibility of North Korea going ahead with another nuclear test. First, nuclear powers tend to conduct a series of nuclear tests during a certain period. Nuclear testing is intended to see if nuclear weapons will detonate as designed. So they need to confirm the power of several nuclear bombs with different explosive yields and different detonating systems. In addition, they also need to detonate some nuclear bombs of the same type in order to confirm the quality of mass-produced weapons. Second, some sources in the international community are saying the underground nuclear test proclaimed by North Korea on Oct. 9 ended in failure. If that is true, North Korea needs to conduct another test and make it work right North Korea has already acquired technical know-how for producing nuclear weapons. Even so, the bomb-which North Korea tried to detonate in its Oct. 9 test-might have been defective. Furthermore, the US government remains cautious in confirming the nuclear test. As it stands, the United States seems to be intentionally ignoring the North Korean nuke test by remaining silent. This stance can be taken to mean that the United States by not acknowledging the fact about the nuclear test itself, will try to baffle North Korea's attempt to have the international community acknowledge that it is now a nuclear power and use this to gain an edge in talks it wants to pursue with the United States. If that conjecture is correct, North Korea would need to carry out more nuclear tests in order to advertise its success at home and abroad. The North Korean Foreign Ministry yesterday hinted at the likelihood of another test. Government officials will likely become edgy for a while. 16) US Atsugi Naval Air Station to suspend openings of cafeterias to Japanese public; Taking out pizzas violates SOFA ASAHI (Page 38) (Full) October 12, 2006 US Atsugi Naval Air Station (Yamato and Ayase Cities in Kanagawa Prefecture) has decided to temporary suspend biweekly openings of its cafeterias since Yokohama Customs Office has complained that some visitors have purchased and taken out large quantities of pizzas, which the office claims violates the US-Japan. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA),which prohibits taking tax-free items out of US installations. The base started on Sept. 16 the openings of cafeterias every other Saturdays at the proposal by the commander in the hope of deepening cultural exchanges with residents in the region. On the opening day, about 1,000 visitors came to the base to buy cheap goods. However, once tax-free items are taken out of the base, they become taxable. Base officials urged visitors not to take them out, but some Japanese reportedly have taken out large quantities of cheap pizzas. Yokohama Customs Office said that it had overlooked the issue when the base only carried out the openings of the pizza parlor twice a year -- one in spring and the other in fall. The office reportedly TOKYO 00005914 010 OF 012 made a complaint because the number of such openings has increased. The base side reportedly is disappointed with the customs office's position, saying, "It is difficult to realize our objective to deepen cultural exchanges with regional residents." It will now only open its cafeterias once a month, starting in November, while reminding Japanese visitors not to take anything out. 17) Four opposition parties band together for Okinawa election TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) October 12, 2006 Four opposition parties held a rally in Tokyo yesterday for Keiko Itokazu, an independent House of Councillors member who will run in Okinawa Prefecture's Nov. 19 gubernatorial election. The rally was held with the participation of opposition leaders from the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party (Shaminto),and the New Party Nippon (Shinto Nippon). In the rally, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama concluded that the Japanese and US governments' agreement on a plan to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in Nago City was "deceitful." He clarified that the DPJ would do its best to win the election. 18) Minshuto submits to Lower House bill revising Law to Support the Handicapped MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) October 12, 2006 The main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) submitted yesterday to the House of Representatives a bill amending the Law to Support the Handicapped, which was just put into force in April. Main features of the bill include: suspending for the time being the new system under which the handicapped have to pay 10% of total support service charges and restore the conventional one under which the handicapped should pay based on their incomes. Moreover, in order to maintain those services, the central and regional municipalities would provide them with necessary assistance. Since narrowing the income gap in society is the largest opposition party's campaign pledge for the Oct. 22 Lower House by-elections, the party is trying to play up its effort by submitting the bill aimed at reducing the burden of the handicapped. Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama repeatedly stressed in his speeches SIPDIS supporting the party's candidates for the by-elections, saying: "I wonder how the handicapped will survive under the law. We must give consideration to them." A main member of the group drafting the revision bill said, "We considered the by-election. The bill will become a symbol of the party's campaign pledges for the by-elections." 19) Special Advisor Nemoto, 10 junior bureaucrats to strengthen Kantei functions MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) October 12, 2006 TOKYO 00005914 011 OF 012 As part of effort to bolster the functions of the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei),the government has formed a taskforce in charged of economic and policy affairs under the leadership of Special Advisor to Prime Minister SHINZO ABE on Fiscal Policy Takumi Nemoto. The group, made up of ten junior bureaucrats from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other ministries, is commonly called "Takumi Team." It is in charge of drafting specific strategy for economic growth. In addition to economic strategy, the team is looking into the possibility of promoting "an Asia Gateway" aimed to have Japan become a bridge between Asian and the rest of the world through economic, information and cultural exchanges. Nemoto underscored: "We would like to play a part of the Kantei-lead management and accelerate the pace of policy-making effort." However, its relations with the government's Economic and Fiscal Policy Council remain unclear. Nemoto has not revealed the division of roles, saying, "The council is an engine for the reform drive. We will cooperate with it. It is not necessary" to decide on how to cooperate. The issue will likely be resolved from now on. 20) Poll: Public cautious about Abe's Yasukuni Shrine visit after his visits to China, South Korea TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) October 12, 2006 Kyodo News conducted a telephone-based spot nationwide public opinion survey on Oct. 10-11 after Prime Minister SHINZO Abe's recent visits to China and South Korea. The issues of historical perception and Yasukuni Shrine were brought up in his talks with the Chinese and South Korean leaders. In response to this, 56.6% answered that the prime minister should not visit Yasukuni Shrine, up 5.3%age points from 51.3% in a previous survey taken right after the ABE cabinet's inauguration. Meanwhile, 32.6% urged the prime minister to visit the shrine, down 0.4 points. Respondents were also asked if they appreciated the prime minister's visits to China and South Korea. In response to this question, a total of 83.2 answered "yes," broken down into "yes" and "yes to a certain extent." Negative answers-"not very much" and "no"-totaled 13.1%. However, when asked if they thought Japan's relations with China and South Korea would change for the better, 35.9% answered "yes," with 48.7% saying they "can't say which." The public gives high marks to Abe's China and South Korea visits this time, during which he agreed with the two countries' leaders to improve relations. However, the public is increasingly cautious about the prime minister's Yasukuni visits, a primary factor that has caused Japan's relations with the two countries to go from bad to worse. There are not so many people taking an optimistic view of Japan's future relations with China and South Korea. This shows that the public's careful wait-and-see attitude toward the ABE cabinet, focusing their attention on whether it will be able to reconstruct Japan's Asia diplomacy. The rate of public support for the ABE cabinet was 62.7%, slightly down from 65.0% in a previous survey. The nonsupport rate was 19.5%. In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stood at 43.5%, with the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) reaching 22.6%. The New Komeito TOKYO 00005914 012 OF 012 party, an LDP-allied coalition partner, was at 3.5%. The Japanese Communist Party was at 2.2% ; the Social Democratic Party (Shaminto) at 1.6% ; the People's New Party (Kokumin Shinto) at 1.2% ; the New Party Nippon (Shinto Nippon) at 0.1% ; and none at 24.2%. SCHIEFFER