MEDIA REACTION - SIX-PARTY TALKS - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 006918 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 - SIX-PARTY TALKS - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: There were no papers published Monday morning because of a press holiday. Broadcasters gave top coverage to prospects for a resumption of the six-party talks, saying that the Chinese have told the GOJ that the resumption would be pushed back from December 16 to December 18. ¶1. "US Lowers Hurdle to Prioritize Resumption by Year's End" The top circulation, moderate Yomiuri's Washington correspondent wrote (12/10): "The six-party talks are likely to be reconvened for the first time in 13 months, as the Chinese government has sounded out participants on a resumption on December 16. It appears that Washington has moderated its stance toward Pyongyang in order to reopen the talks by year's end.... Behind Washington's strong desire to resume the multinational forum lies the difficult position the Bush administration finds itself in following the Republican losses in the midterm elections. Regarding the countries Bush once dubbed the members of an 'Axis of Evil,' the administration has been forced to change course on Iraq. It is also being pressed to hold direct dialogue with Iran. Without a quick resumption of the six-party talks, there is a danger that the administration's foreign policy will be deemed a complete failure. In order to deflect Democratic criticism and restore the American people's confidence in the administration, Bush urgently needs to reconvene the talks." SCHIEFFER