U/S BURNS AND U/S JOSEPH MEETING WITH DEFMIN KYUMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 006632 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2011 TAGS: PREL MARR UNSC JA SUBJECT: U/S BURNS AND U/S JOSEPH MEETING WITH DEFMIN KYUMA Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, reasons 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan's main goal is a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma told Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, SIPDIS Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph, and Ambassador Schieffer during a November 6 meeting. The United States and Japan were successful in passing UN Security Council Resolution 1718 quickly, and North Korea's willingness to return to the Six Party Talks is a positive sign. In addition to North Korea issues, Kyuma said Alliance Transformation and the upgrade of the Japan Defense Agency to a Ministry are two big items on his agenda. END SUMMARY. North Korea -------------- ¶2. (C) The United States and Asia cannot permit "deplorable actions" such as the North Korean missile launches and nuclear test, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma told Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, SIPDIS Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Robert Joseph, and Ambassador Schieffer during a November 6 meeting. The United States and Japan cooperated well to get UN Security Council Resolution 1718 passed quickly, and with China's participation. As Japan's main goal is realizing a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula, it is positive that North Korea shows a willingness to return to the Six-Party Talks. ¶3. (C) We have sent a message to North Korea that they must dismantle their nuclear program and return to the terms of the September 19, 2005 Joint Statement, U/S Burns told Kyuma. That is the basis for our holding the Six Party Talks. U/S Joseph added that the United States and Japan are in total agreement on UNSC Resolution 1718. Both countries agree that this resolution and its sanctions must continue until North Korea meets all of the demands of the Security Council. As Secretary of State Rice made clear, the inspection regime SIPDIS will focus on preventing the trade of Weapons of Mass Destruction and of Ballistic Missiles. The United States wants to seize the opportunity this resolution provides in order to deploy an effective detection mechanism, so that if North Korea ships any fissile material we can detect those shipments, Joseph added. Ballistic Missile Defense -------------- ¶4. (C) The United States and Japan will deepen our cooperation on missile defense, U/S Joseph continued. We can accelerate SM-3 deployment as well as joint development of an extended range SM-3. Kyuma responded that during his first tenure as Defense Minister ten years ago, he pressed for missile defense cooperation. The development of missile defense systems has progressed to the point that he is confident enough to assure the Japanese public that we are on the way to developing a multi-layer system that will protect them. At the same time, Kyuma said, the Japan Defense Agency has financial restrictions on its budget, so it may have difficulty keeping up with the United States. He expressed appreciation for the recent U.S. deployment of a PAC-3 battalion to Kadena AB and the SM-3 capable USS Shiloh to Yokosuka Naval Base. Japan Defense Agency Upgrade -------------- ¶5. (C) When asked his assessment of the prospects for transformation of the Japan Defense Agency to a Ministry, Kyuma responded that becoming a Ministry will allow them to propose policies and laws, and to act more quickly when there are Cabinet meetings. Most Japanese support the upgrade, Kyuma stated, and he hopes that it will be approved by the Diet in the near future. Defense Policy Review Initiative -------------- ¶6. (C) Japan is the United States' most important ally in the region, U/S Burns told Kyuma, and our recent agreement on the Defense Policy Review Initiative (DPRI) is the most historic defense agreement between our two countries in thirty years. Kyuma responded that when he took the job of Defense Minister, he was advised to put all his efforts into DPRI. Since the Okinawa gubernatorial election is drawing near, he is restraining his public statements. However, he assured the United States that Japan fully intends to implement the 2 2 decisions. NATO Engagement -------------- ¶7. (C) The United States recognizes that Japan is always ready to be our partner, including in Iraq and Afghanistan, U/S Burns told Kyuma. At the NATO Summit in November, NATO leaders will discuss the idea of initiating global partnerships in training, strategy and doctrine with Japan, Australia and South Korea. NATO leaders will fully support this venture, U/S Burns explained. ¶8. (U) U/S Burns and U/S Joseph cleared this message. SCHIEFFER