MEDIA REACTION Q RICE VISIT TO TOKYO - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 006081 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION Q RICE VISIT TO TOKYO - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: All six Thursday morning papers front-paged Secretary of State Rice's talks with Foreign Minister Aso SIPDIS following her arrival in Tokyo Wednesday afternoon. ¶1. "Now Is the Time to Demonstrate the Deterrence of US- Japan Alliance" An editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai commented (10/19): "Amid reports that the DPRK will conduct a second nuclear test, Secretary of State Rice visited Japan Wednesday afternoon for talks with Foreign Minister Aso and other GOJ officials, during which she stated that the US remains firmly committed to the defense of Japan.... North Korea, which has said that it will take countermeasures in response to the resolution adopted by the UN Security Council (UNSC), poses a real threat to Japan. Demonstrating the effectiveness of the US-Japan alliance and coordinating closely on policy will serve as diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang.... The inspection of North Korean cargo, which is stipulated in UNSC Resolution 1718, will be a matter of discussion for the immediate future. While the US, Britain, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are expected to take part in maritime inspections, Japan and South Korea will be pressed to make a decision. While the specifics have yet to be nailed down, it is a matter of course that Japan, which is directly threatened by North Korea, should play a meaningful role." ¶2. "Deterrence of US Nuclear Umbrella Reaffirmed" The top- circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (10/19): "Japan must ensure the viability of the US nuclear umbrella to deal with North Korea's nuclear arms. Secretary of State Rice, who arrived in Tokyo Wednesday SIPDIS afternoon, told Foreign Minister Aso that the US has 'the will and the capability to meet the full range of its deterrent and security commitments to Japan' under the US- Japan Security Treaty. Secretary Rice emphasized the deterrent function of the US nuclear umbrella, indicating that US forces will lead the defense of Japan in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack. Rice apparently made the statement to try not only to bring North Korea under control but also send a strong message to China that Beijing should press Pyongyang more strongly to abandon its nuclear program. The US nuclear umbrella is the only protection for Japan, which does not possess nuclear arms.... To ensure that it functions as a reliable deterrent, constant efforts to strengthen the US- Japan alliance are needed. One such effort is Japan's active participation in inspections of North Korean cargo based on UNSC Resolution 1718." SCHIEFFER