MEDIA REACTION - NEW US IRAQ POLICY/NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS TOKYO 000111 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 - NEW US IRAQ POLICY/NORTH KOREA - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Yomiuri front-paged a report from Washington on the outline of a TV speech President Bush was scheduled to make Thursday morning, Japan time, which reportedly calls for the dispatch of an additional 20,000 US troops to Iraq and for plans to transfer responsibility for maintaining security from the US military to the Iraqi government by November. ¶1. Most TV networks during their Thursday noon broadcasts gave prominent play to President Bush's primetime speech on his new Iraq policy. There were no immediate TV commentaries. ¶2. "Bush Calls for Iraqis to Take the Lead" Quasi- governmental broadcaster NHK's noon news program gave top play to the presidential address, with Washington correspondent Arioka saying it indicated the president's determination to restore order in Iraq and win the war on terrorism as soon as possible. Arioka said: "While admitting 'defects' in his previous Iraq policy and considering the results of the recent midterm elections, the president sought public understanding for sending an additional 20,000 US troops to Iraq. During the 20-minute address, President Bush also warned Iran and Syria not to meddle in Iraq's internal affairs." ¶3. NHK quoted Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki as welcoming President Bush's new Iraq policy. He expressed hope that the new US Iraq policy would successfully lead to the restoration of order there and said that the GOJ would continue to assist in the country's reconstruction through the deployment of an Air Self-Defense Force unit on a transport mission and through other humanitarian projects. ¶4. "Bush's Final Gamble to Win Iraq War" Most commercial networks carried similar correspondent reports on President Bush's plans. The reports predicted deepening friction between the Bush administration and the Democratic Party. ¶5. "Don't Disrupt International Unity Against DPRK" The conservative Sankei editorialized (1/11): "PM Abe, who was visiting Europe, met with British Prime Minister Blair and agreed on the need to apply international pressure on North Korea to resolve the North's nuclear and missile ambitions as well as the abduction issue.... It is important for the world community, based on Japan's strong ties with the US and Britain, to apply pressure on Pyongyang to bring about progress on these issues. Nonetheless, a move is afoot in Japan to 'tear' the net that encircles the North, as former LDP Vice President Yamasaki arrived in Pyongyang Tuesday for talks with senior North Korean officials. Before his departure for the DPRK, Yamasaki told Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki that he wanted to meet senior North Korean officials and discuss the Pyongyang Declaration that PM Koizumi and Kim Jong Il concluded in 2002. The senior LDP lawmaker has been critical of the Abe administration's intensification of pressure on the North, pointing out the absence of diplomatic channels between the two nations.... PM Abe said that Yamasaki should follow Japan's basic policy on North Korea. We would warn Yamasaki not to play into the North's divide-and-conquer strategy or disrupt the present international unity against Pyongyang." DONOVAN