Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO1285
2007-03-23 04:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION - SIX-PARTY TALKS - TOKYO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 001285
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: Friday morning's Yomiuri and Nihon Keizai
front-paged reports from Beijing that the six-party talks
on North Korea's nuclear programs went into recess
Thursday due to Pyongyang's insistence that the release
of frozen DPRK-linked funds at the Macau-based Banco
Delta Asia be completed before it returns to the table.
UNCLAS TOKYO 001285
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: Friday morning's Yomiuri and Nihon Keizai
front-paged reports from Beijing that the six-party talks
on North Korea's nuclear programs went into recess
Thursday due to Pyongyang's insistence that the release
of frozen DPRK-linked funds at the Macau-based Banco
Delta Asia be completed before it returns to the table.
1. "Does DPRK Intend to Reject Nuclear Dismantlement?"
The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized
(3/23): "In the end, it will not be easy to persuade
North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs. The six-
party talks in Beijing went into recess without any
substantive talks on the North's nuclear dismantlement
due to Pyongyang's delaying tactics. The North stood firm
on its position of not returning to the table until after
confirming the transfer of all its frozen funds,
estimated at about 25 million USD, from the Macau-based
Banco Delta Asia (BDA) to an account in the Bank of China
(BOC). The transfer is taking an unexpectedly long time
partly because of inaccuracies in relevant documents
submitted by North Korea and partly because BOC officials
have reportedly refused to accept the money. During the
talks, China said it would strive to swiftly overcome the
problem in the transfer of the funds, so the North
Koreans knew that this was not an intractable problem.
Nevertheless, Pyongyang stubbornly refused to discuss
nuclear disarmament. North Korea is aiming to outmaneuver
the other parties and get as many concessions as possible
by pretending to take concrete action to dismantle its
nuclear facilities."
2. "Disgusted by North Korea's Stance" An editorial in
the liberal Asahi stated (3/23): "The six-party talks
went into recess without any concrete achievements. This
is because North Korea continued to refuse to return to
the table until after all its funds frozen at BDA,
estimated at 25 million USD, which the US had earlier
agreed to release, have actually been returned....
Moreover, North Korean chief delegate Kim Gye Gwan
returned home without even attending the session on the
last day.... The DPRK's attitude at the latest round was
far too self-centered.... Both Macau and BDA officials
began work to transfer the funds following an accord
reached by the US and North Korea. It appears to have
taken longer than expected to complete the necessary
procedures. That is all there is to it. No one went back
on a promise to return the funds.... Why was Pyongyang so
intransigent? Is it because it harbors such a deep sense
of suspicion toward the US and other nations?"
SCHIEFFER
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: Friday morning's Yomiuri and Nihon Keizai
front-paged reports from Beijing that the six-party talks
on North Korea's nuclear programs went into recess
Thursday due to Pyongyang's insistence that the release
of frozen DPRK-linked funds at the Macau-based Banco
Delta Asia be completed before it returns to the table.
1. "Does DPRK Intend to Reject Nuclear Dismantlement?"
The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized
(3/23): "In the end, it will not be easy to persuade
North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs. The six-
party talks in Beijing went into recess without any
substantive talks on the North's nuclear dismantlement
due to Pyongyang's delaying tactics. The North stood firm
on its position of not returning to the table until after
confirming the transfer of all its frozen funds,
estimated at about 25 million USD, from the Macau-based
Banco Delta Asia (BDA) to an account in the Bank of China
(BOC). The transfer is taking an unexpectedly long time
partly because of inaccuracies in relevant documents
submitted by North Korea and partly because BOC officials
have reportedly refused to accept the money. During the
talks, China said it would strive to swiftly overcome the
problem in the transfer of the funds, so the North
Koreans knew that this was not an intractable problem.
Nevertheless, Pyongyang stubbornly refused to discuss
nuclear disarmament. North Korea is aiming to outmaneuver
the other parties and get as many concessions as possible
by pretending to take concrete action to dismantle its
nuclear facilities."
2. "Disgusted by North Korea's Stance" An editorial in
the liberal Asahi stated (3/23): "The six-party talks
went into recess without any concrete achievements. This
is because North Korea continued to refuse to return to
the table until after all its funds frozen at BDA,
estimated at 25 million USD, which the US had earlier
agreed to release, have actually been returned....
Moreover, North Korean chief delegate Kim Gye Gwan
returned home without even attending the session on the
last day.... The DPRK's attitude at the latest round was
far too self-centered.... Both Macau and BDA officials
began work to transfer the funds following an accord
reached by the US and North Korea. It appears to have
taken longer than expected to complete the necessary
procedures. That is all there is to it. No one went back
on a promise to return the funds.... Why was Pyongyang so
intransigent? Is it because it harbors such a deep sense
of suspicion toward the US and other nations?"
SCHIEFFER