MEDIA REACTION Q NORTH KOREA - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 006352 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 NORTH KOREA - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Yomiuri front-paged plans by the USG and GOJ to demand at an early stage of the resumed six-party talks that North Korea clarify its intention to completely dismantle its nuclear program. ¶1. "Six-Party Talks: First, Stop the Situation from Worsening" The liberal Asahi editorialized (11/2): "North Korea will return to talks with the international community.... At least for the time being, dialogue is back on track, and this is a welcome development.... Nevertheless, this does not mean that there has been movement toward a resolution of the North Korean nuclear crisis. Pyongyang has agreed to sit down at the table, but the crisis itself remains unchanged. It is not clear what the North Koreans are thinking in returning to the six-party talks, though they are likely seeking economic assistance after ratcheting up the crisis by launching missiles and testing a nuclear weapon. They must not be allowed to repeat this kind of brinkmanship.... North Korea is continuing to make nuclear material and develop missiles. It will not be easy to get that country to abandon the military projects on which the regime has staked its survival. Given the circumstances, our priority now should be to keep the situation from worsening, which means getting Pyongyang to freeze its nuclear program and to forgo any further nuclear tests." SCHIEFFER