AMBASSADOR AND JDA MINISTER KYUMA DISCUSS DPRK,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 006164 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2016 TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV KN JA SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND JDA MINISTER KYUMA DISCUSS DPRK, DPRI, BMD Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, Reason: 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Japan Defense Agency (JDA) Minister Fumio Kyuma emphasized Japan's commitment to working with the U.S. on North Korea and Alliance Transformation during an October 20 meeting with the Ambassador. Kyuma said that Japan is eager to discuss accelerated Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) deployments in response to recent DPRK provocations, but emphasized that the current focus should be to find a diplomatic formula to get North Korea back to the Six-Party Talks. Kyuma said that once current North Korea tensions pass, his primary responsibility will be to implement the May 1 Defense Posture Review Initiative (DPRI) Roadmap. The Ambassador highlighted the importance of early action on DPRI and thanked Kyuma for his leadership in securing Diet passage of a one-year extension on the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) deployment to the Indian Ocean. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During an October 20 courtesy call with the Ambassador, JDA Minister Fumio Kyuma highlighted the legal and operational advances the U.S.-Japan alliance has made over the past decade. Kyuma noted that he led efforts during his last tenure as Defense Minister in 1996-1997 to update the U.S.-Japan Defense Guidelines and to initiate bilateral BMD cooperation. The work put in since that time in both areas, he continued, has fully prepared the alliance to meet the recent challenges posed by North Korea. Nevertheless, Kyuma stated that Japan's top priority right now is to persuade Pyongyang to return to the Six-Party Talks framework. PAC-3 Procurement -------------- ¶3. (C) On BMD cooperation, Kyuma reiterated Japan's desire to accelerate the purchase and deployment of BMD assets. The Ambassador noted progress in fulfilling Japan's request to accelerate the procurement of PAC-3 missiles. He urged Japan to move quickly to commit to the purchase, explaining that a delay beyond January 8 would cause the assembly line to be shut down. Restarting the line in order to fulfill Japan's order, he continued, would result in significantly higher costs. Kyuma said he had not been fully briefed on the issue, but would instruct his staff to explore appropriate options. DPRI -------------- ¶4. (C) Kyuma asserted that his number one priority once the North Korea situation settles down is implementation of the May 1 DPRI Roadmap. Before becoming Minister, Kyuma noted that he had raised with DUSD Lawless the issue of visas for foreign laborers involved in DPRI-related construction on Guam. Given the shortfalls in the local labor force, Kyuma said U.S. flexibility on using third-country workers would allow for significant cost savings. The Ambassador noted that the United States recognizes the labor market issues involved and would be open to innovative approaches to resolving them. OEF Extension -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador welcomed the October 19 Diet Lower House vote to extend the MSDF mission to the Indian Ocean for another year. Kyuma noted that the bill was on track for formal approval by the end of the month. He expressed similar optimism over passage of a draft law to upgrade JDA to full ministry status. The Ambassador remarked that with JDA's upgrade to ministry status, it was nice that Kyuma had a chance to engage with Secretary of State Rice while she was TOKYO 00006164 002 OF 002 here. SCHIEFFER