DEMARCHE ON FREEDOM BROADCASTING FROM JAPAN TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 006227 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2016 TAGS: BBG PHUM PGOV PREL KS KN JA SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON FREEDOM BROADCASTING FROM JAPAN TO NORTH KOREA REF: STATE 166931 Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JOSEPH R. DONOVAN FOR REASONS 1. 4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) Embassy Tokyo Political Deputy October 25 met with MOFA Northeast Asia Division Director Shigeo Yamada to deliver reftel message regarding broadcasting into North Korea from Japan. Yamada responded that the determination of whether Japan can permit, participate in, and/or finance such broadcasts involves technical, legal, and regulatory questions that he can not answer without consulting with other ministries and experts. He undertook to share our requests with the appropriate authorities and promised to respond. ¶2. (C) In response to Political Deputy's questions, Yamada confirmed that a Japanese private organization, "Sukuukai" (National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea -- NARKN),has been making its own broadcasts known as "Shiokaze" ("sea breeze") into North Korea. These shortwave broadcasts do not originate in Japan or from ships, but come from "somewhere else" that he claimed is unknown to him. These broadcasts are privately financed and do not receive assistance from the Japanese government. ¶3. (C) Yamada concurred that the idea of broadcasting into North Korea has merit and should be further explored. He said that despite the difficulties of receiving radio transmissions inside the North, many defectors have reported that they listened to and were influenced by shortwave broadcasts. ¶4. (C) On a separate matter, Yamada reported that the Diet has adopted a new North Korea Human Rights Law that, among other things, designates one week in December as "North Korea Human Rights Week." He believes that Japanese Ambassador in charge of Human Rights Fumiko Saiga will be in Tokyo during that week and wondered whether Special Envoy for Human Rights in North Korea Jay Lefkowitz would be able to visit Tokyo at the same time. He said that it would be very beneficial if Special Envoy Lefkowitz could meet with Ambassador Saiga and others at MOFA to discuss the North Korea situation. SCHIEFFER