Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO6632
2006-11-20 10:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  PREL MARR UNSC JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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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).

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