Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO1651
2007-04-16 04:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA/US-JAPAN ALLIANCE -
how-toVZCZCXRO6196 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #1651 1060428 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 160428Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2667 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 0690 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4218 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6599 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1617 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2674 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3936 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001651
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 - NORTH KOREA/US-JAPAN ALLIANCE -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's liberal Mainichi front-
paged a report from Washington that the Department of
State issued a statement urging North Korea to implement
the "initial steps" toward denuclearization, including
immediately accepting IAEA inspectors and taking measures
to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear complex.
UNCLAS TOKYO 001651
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 - NORTH KOREA/US-JAPAN ALLIANCE -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's liberal Mainichi front-
paged a report from Washington that the Department of
State issued a statement urging North Korea to implement
the "initial steps" toward denuclearization, including
immediately accepting IAEA inspectors and taking measures
to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear complex.
1. "Six-Party Talks: DPRK Fails to Implement Initial
Steps" An editorial in the top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri commented (4/16): "Saturday's 60-day deadline for
the DPRK to take 'initial steps' toward its nuclear
dismantlement, as stipulated in the February six-party
agreement, has come and gone. North Korea did not suspend
its nuclear activities or seal off the Yongbyon nuclear
complex in time. Moreover, IAEA inspectors have not yet
been allowed back into the country to monitor and verify
the shutdown of the nuclear facility. North Korea should
immediately meet its commitment by shutting down the
facility and accepting IAEA inspectors. Until that
happens, South Korea should not provide 50,000 tons of
fuel oil to North Korea as aid in return for its
denuclearization.... If North Korea tries to put off
following through on its commitments, there will be no
choice but to go back to applying pressure on it."
2. "Can PM Abe's Visit Normalize US-Japan Alliance?" The
businessQoriented Nihon Keizai editorialized (4/16):
"Prime Minister Abe will visit the US starting on April
26 for talks with President Bush. Abe's visit may be a
bit late considering the widening perception gap between
the two countries over security.... Although the two
leaders can verbally confirm a strong US-Japan alliance,
this gap can hardly be closed so long as the Bush
administration remains stuck in Iraq, unable to deal with
other issues.... Despite the February six-party accord,
it is not clear whether North Korea will abandon its
nuclear program. Neither is there is an accord that
restricts Pyongyang's development of ballistic missiles.
There is therefore a need to be ready to cope with a
contingency so long as the Kim Jong Il regime remains in
power, and the US-Japan alliance is important in this
respect. The country that stands to benefit most from any
strategic disagreements between the two allies is North
Korea."
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 - NORTH KOREA/US-JAPAN ALLIANCE -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's liberal Mainichi front-
paged a report from Washington that the Department of
State issued a statement urging North Korea to implement
the "initial steps" toward denuclearization, including
immediately accepting IAEA inspectors and taking measures
to shut down the Yongbyon nuclear complex.
1. "Six-Party Talks: DPRK Fails to Implement Initial
Steps" An editorial in the top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri commented (4/16): "Saturday's 60-day deadline for
the DPRK to take 'initial steps' toward its nuclear
dismantlement, as stipulated in the February six-party
agreement, has come and gone. North Korea did not suspend
its nuclear activities or seal off the Yongbyon nuclear
complex in time. Moreover, IAEA inspectors have not yet
been allowed back into the country to monitor and verify
the shutdown of the nuclear facility. North Korea should
immediately meet its commitment by shutting down the
facility and accepting IAEA inspectors. Until that
happens, South Korea should not provide 50,000 tons of
fuel oil to North Korea as aid in return for its
denuclearization.... If North Korea tries to put off
following through on its commitments, there will be no
choice but to go back to applying pressure on it."
2. "Can PM Abe's Visit Normalize US-Japan Alliance?" The
businessQoriented Nihon Keizai editorialized (4/16):
"Prime Minister Abe will visit the US starting on April
26 for talks with President Bush. Abe's visit may be a
bit late considering the widening perception gap between
the two countries over security.... Although the two
leaders can verbally confirm a strong US-Japan alliance,
this gap can hardly be closed so long as the Bush
administration remains stuck in Iraq, unable to deal with
other issues.... Despite the February six-party accord,
it is not clear whether North Korea will abandon its
nuclear program. Neither is there is an accord that
restricts Pyongyang's development of ballistic missiles.
There is therefore a need to be ready to cope with a
contingency so long as the Kim Jong Il regime remains in
power, and the US-Japan alliance is important in this
respect. The country that stands to benefit most from any
strategic disagreements between the two allies is North
Korea."
SCHIEFFER