MEDIA REACTION Q SIX-PARTY TALKS - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 001129 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 SIX-PARTY TALKS - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers front-paged an anticipated Treasury Department announcement concerning its investigation into the Macau-based Banco Delta Asia, with the dailies speculating that Washington will officially lift part of its financial sanctions on North Korea. ¶1. "Six-Party Talks: Concern About Possible US Betrayal" The conservative Sankei editorialized (3/15): "The six- party talks in Beijing are at a critical juncture. Accelerating economic aid to North Korea before it has made the decision to give up its nuclear weapons would be suicide for the six-party talks. Japan's position of no aid without a settlement of the abduction issue and its call for denuclearization have great acceptance among the public here. Should the US, which shares a common awareness of North Korea, dismiss Japan's position, this would do deep and irreperable damage to the US-Japan relationship. It was obvious that the DPRK tried in its recent working-group meeting in New York to obtain 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil while putting off sealing its nuclear facilities. It is regrettable that even though North Korea's involvement in the counterfeiting of US currency is obvious, there are moves in the US to put some of Pyongyang's illicit activities on the back burner. Leniency on the part of the US might lead China and South Korea to accept the North's attempt to postpone shutting down and sealing its nuclear facilities.... Moreover, if the US acquiesces and agrees to accept only the shutdown and sealing of North Korea's nuclear facilities, Japan will not be readily convinced. Should the US and Japan come to perceive the threat differently, their alliance will face a crisis." SCHIEFFER