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

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here.
SCHIEFFER