MEDIA REACTION Q DPRK - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 001671 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 DPRK - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Tuesday morning's Yomiuri and Sankei front- paged reports that Kanagawa police and MSDF police have questioned senior MSDF officers who belonged to a division in charge of storing and managing Aegis-related information in connection with the recent alleged data leak by an MSDF petty officer. All broadcasters gave top play to the shooting at Virginia Tech, saying that at least 30 people are dead, including the gunman. ¶1. "North Korea: Consider Setting a Time Limit Backed by Sanctions" An editorial in the conservative Sankei stated (4/17): "North Korea did not meet the deadline to implement 'initial steps' toward denuclearization. US and Chinese negotiators have said that the process needs to be given a few more days, and the State Department has said that it will not negotiate a new deadline. New Mexico Gov. Richardson, who visited North Korea last week, told a US TV network that Pyongyang would implement the initial steps sometime this week. As there remains a possibility that the DPRK will take action in the next few days, waiting is one option. If, however, North Korea fails to act or puts forward new conditions, the other members of the six-party talks will have to consider setting a new time limit for strengthening sanctions.... The US should by no means comply with any North Korean demands that all DPRK-linked funds at Banco Delta Asia be deemed legal or that all financial sanctions imposed on North Korea be lifted. Accepting such demands would decisively ruin international trust in the US financial system...." SCHIEFFER