Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO2557
2007-06-07 09:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN WELCOMES U.S. ADVICE ON DPRK BROADCASTS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 TOKYO 002557
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV BBG PHUM JA KN KS
SUBJECT: JAPAN WELCOMES U.S. ADVICE ON DPRK BROADCASTS
REF: A. STATE 74428
B. TOKYO 01251
C. TOKYO 06940
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 TOKYO 002557
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV BBG PHUM JA KN KS
SUBJECT: JAPAN WELCOMES U.S. ADVICE ON DPRK BROADCASTS
REF: A. STATE 74428
B. TOKYO 01251
C. TOKYO 06940
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (C) Summary: Legal and technical constraints prevent the
Japanese government from cooperating with foreign
organizations to conduct radio broadcasts into North Korea,
Japanese government officials reiterated on June 5.
Nonetheless, Tokyo will spend USD 1.1 million to undertake
shortwave broadcasts to the DPRK from Australia, Singapore,
and/or Taiwan using private UK and Australian communications
companies. Japan welcomes U.S. advice on programming content
for those privately commissioned broadcasts. End Summary.
--------------
Technical/Legal Restraints Remain
--------------
2. (C) On May 31, Embassy Tokyo delivered Ref A demarche
seeking clarification of remaining technical obstacles to
allowing the United States to broadcast into North Korea from
Japan to MOFA Northeast Asia Division Deputy Director Yutaka
Kashiwabara. The Japanese government response, provided to
Embassy Tokyo on June 5 after coordination with the office of
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on the Abduction Issue
Kyoko Nakayama, reiterated that legal and technical
constraints prevent the Japanese government from cooperating
with foreign organizations to conduct radio broadcasts into
North Korea. The official response consists of two
documents: a written response to the May 31 demarche and an
"Outline of Radio Broadcasts to the DPRK." The
Japanese-language texts of the government's reply have been
forwarded to EAP/J via e-mail; the Embassy's unofficial
translations are at paragraph eight of this cable.
3. (C) Japan's response notes that U.S. public broadcasting
from Japan is not permitted under Japanese law because
foreign organizations are legally prohibited from obtaining
broadcasting licenses. Tokyo officials hold out the
possibility that U.S. broadcasters might be able to conduct
shortwave broadcasts from Japan into North Korea if they
receive airtime from NHK, the sole provider of international
shortwave broadcasts originating from Japan. However, as NHK
is an independent entity, the government cannot compel NHK to
provide airtime for this purpose.
4. (C) Japan's response further indicated that these points
were originally made in Japan's reply to a letter addressed
to the Japanese Embassy in Washington from the International
Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) on January 17, 2007, and during
Senior Advisor Christian Whiton's March 5 Tokyo visit (Ref.
B).
--------------
Broadcast Using Private Firms
--------------
5. (C) According to MOFA and the Cabinet Abduction Office,
Special Advisor Nakayama's May 29 statement to G/SENK
Lefkowitz that Japan would begin broadcasts to North Korea
refers to plans by Japan to commission the Japan Center for
Intercultural Communication to use commercial communications
firms to provide shortwave broadcasts to the DPRK. Tokyo
intends to use VT Communications, a UK firm transmitting from
Singapore or Taiwan, and the Australian CVC Network Ltd. to
undertake nightly (midnight DPRK time) shortwave broadcasts
of 30 minutes duration targeting Japanese abductees who Tokyo
believes are still living in North Korea, as well as to DPRK
citizens. The programming will be in both Japanese and
TOKYO 00002557 002 OF 004
Korean languages and content will be renewed weekly. Tokyo
plans to spend 134 million yen (USD 1.1 million) on that
effort.
--------------
U.S. Advice Welcome
--------------
6. (C) The response notes that, having already cooperated
closely with private organizations in the ROK on broadcasting
into North Korea, Japan would welcome advice from concerned
U.S. organizations in order to enhance the effectiveness of
the broadcasts -- especially recommendations pertaining to
the abduction issue.
--------------
Medium-wave Broadcasts
--------------
7. (C) The Japanese response does not address issues related
to medium-wave broadcasting. However, Tokyo authorities
previously indicated (Ref. C) that such bands are allocated
for domestic use and that there is only a "very slim chance
that Japan's medium-wave frequencies could be used for DPRK
broadcast."
8. (C) Unofficial Embassy translations of the two texts
received from MOFA follow.
--------------
Japan's Response
--------------
Begin text:
June 4, 2007.
Policy Planning Office, Secretariat of the Headquarters on
the Abduction Issue
1. Details of Radio Broadcasts to the DPRK. (Please find
below)
2. Cooperation with the United States in Radio Broadcasts
to the DPRK
We believe it would be very beneficial to the implementation
of radio broadcasting to the DPRK to obtain cooperation from
concerned organizations in your country, which have
considerable achievements in radio broadcasts to the DPRK.
In addition, in terms of the resolution of the abduction
issue, we also believe coordination between our two countries
is significant for enhancing the transmission of outside
information to the DPRK. We have already obtained
cooperation from private groups broadcasting to the DPRK from
the ROK on matters like programming. We would also
appreciate advice from concerned organizations in your
country.
3. U.S. Public Broadcasting from Japan
Our legal framework prohibits foreign organizations from
obtaining (radio station) licenses to broadcast in Japan.
On the other hand, it is possible for shortwave broadcasters
in your country to broadcast from Japan by exchanging airtime
with Japanese shortwave broadcasters. In this case, the
Japanese government itself does not possess airtime to
exchange because it does not conduct its own shortwave
broadcasts. Only NHK is able to provide airtime, because it
alone conducts international shortwave broadcasts in Japan.
TOKYO 00002557 003 OF 004
In view of the fact that NHK is a public broadcaster
independent from the government, the government is not able
to require NHK to provide organizations of your country with
its airtime. We have already explained this position when we
were approached by the BGG (IBB) in your country concerning
an exchange of airtime between our two countries. (Please
refer to the reply from the Government of Japan to a January
17, 2007 letter from the IBB to the Japanese Embassy in the
United States. Moreover, we explained our position to
Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy for Human Rights in North
Korea Whiton during his visit to Japan on March 5, 2007.)
Consequently, it is very regrettable that we believe there
are limits to the extent of cooperation the Japanese
Government can offer on this matter.
(Note) As you will see below, broadcasting the Japanese
Government will conduct at this time will employ shortwave
broadcasting facilities outside Japan, not domestic
facilities.
End text
-------------- --------------
Outline of Radio Broadcasts to the DPRK, June 2007
-------------- --------------
Begin text
Policy Planning Office, Secretariat of the Headquarters on
the Abduction Issue
1. Objective
The objective of this government broadcast to the DPRK is:
- To secure the safety and realize the return to Japan of
all surviving abductees in the DPRK by communicating to them
the voices of their families, and by informing them of
governmental efforts on the abduction issue and of events at
home and abroad.
- To secure the safety of abduction victims by conveying
to DPRK citizens who have difficulty obtaining information
that would allow them to accurately understand the situation
surrounding the DPRK, information about the situation at home
and abroad, including information pertaining to the abduction
issue and information that will deepen understanding of our
country in order.
2. Radio Program
Program Contents
- Calls to and encouragement of abductees from their
families
- Initiatives and activities of the government, the
families of abductees, and concerned groups on the abduction
issue
- Events in Japan, international circumstances
surrounding Japan and news reports and analysis on
international circumstances surrounding the DPRK
- Music
Languages: Japanese and Korean
Broadcast Time and Duration: Daily at 23:00 (midnight
Pyongyang time). (Exact broadcast time is still under
discussion.)
Duration will be 30 minutes each for Japanese and Korean
programs. The contents will be changed weekly.
3. Broadcasting Method:
TOKYO 00002557 004 OF 004
Although access to overseas information is strictly limited
in the DPRK, shortwave radio broadcasts appear to be somewhat
common and to be a relatively effective source of
information. Because it is difficult to use shortwave
broadcasting facilities in Japan, we will broadcast
programming to the DPRK from overseas shortwave broadcast
facilities.
4. Conducting the Broadcasts
- The Government of Japan has commissioned the Japan
Center for Intercultural Communication (JCIC) to carry out
the broadcasts
- The JCIC is scheduled to entrust shortwave radio
broadcasting to 1) VT Communications, UK and 2) CVC Network
Ltd., Australia.
- Transmitting Station: We are scheduled to use
transmitting stations in Singapore or Taiwan for VT
Communications and in Australia for CVC Network Ltd.
- Frequency: We are still coordinating with the
transmitting companies.
5. Budget Allocation
134 million yen (104 million yen for programming and 30
million yen for broadcasting) is allocated in the fiscal 2007
budget.
6. Schedule
Broadcasting is scheduled to start in July 2007. However,
broadcasting from Australia is scheduled to start in
Septmber.
End Text.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV BBG PHUM JA KN KS
SUBJECT: JAPAN WELCOMES U.S. ADVICE ON DPRK BROADCASTS
REF: A. STATE 74428
B. TOKYO 01251
C. TOKYO 06940
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (C) Summary: Legal and technical constraints prevent the
Japanese government from cooperating with foreign
organizations to conduct radio broadcasts into North Korea,
Japanese government officials reiterated on June 5.
Nonetheless, Tokyo will spend USD 1.1 million to undertake
shortwave broadcasts to the DPRK from Australia, Singapore,
and/or Taiwan using private UK and Australian communications
companies. Japan welcomes U.S. advice on programming content
for those privately commissioned broadcasts. End Summary.
--------------
Technical/Legal Restraints Remain
--------------
2. (C) On May 31, Embassy Tokyo delivered Ref A demarche
seeking clarification of remaining technical obstacles to
allowing the United States to broadcast into North Korea from
Japan to MOFA Northeast Asia Division Deputy Director Yutaka
Kashiwabara. The Japanese government response, provided to
Embassy Tokyo on June 5 after coordination with the office of
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on the Abduction Issue
Kyoko Nakayama, reiterated that legal and technical
constraints prevent the Japanese government from cooperating
with foreign organizations to conduct radio broadcasts into
North Korea. The official response consists of two
documents: a written response to the May 31 demarche and an
"Outline of Radio Broadcasts to the DPRK." The
Japanese-language texts of the government's reply have been
forwarded to EAP/J via e-mail; the Embassy's unofficial
translations are at paragraph eight of this cable.
3. (C) Japan's response notes that U.S. public broadcasting
from Japan is not permitted under Japanese law because
foreign organizations are legally prohibited from obtaining
broadcasting licenses. Tokyo officials hold out the
possibility that U.S. broadcasters might be able to conduct
shortwave broadcasts from Japan into North Korea if they
receive airtime from NHK, the sole provider of international
shortwave broadcasts originating from Japan. However, as NHK
is an independent entity, the government cannot compel NHK to
provide airtime for this purpose.
4. (C) Japan's response further indicated that these points
were originally made in Japan's reply to a letter addressed
to the Japanese Embassy in Washington from the International
Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) on January 17, 2007, and during
Senior Advisor Christian Whiton's March 5 Tokyo visit (Ref.
B).
--------------
Broadcast Using Private Firms
--------------
5. (C) According to MOFA and the Cabinet Abduction Office,
Special Advisor Nakayama's May 29 statement to G/SENK
Lefkowitz that Japan would begin broadcasts to North Korea
refers to plans by Japan to commission the Japan Center for
Intercultural Communication to use commercial communications
firms to provide shortwave broadcasts to the DPRK. Tokyo
intends to use VT Communications, a UK firm transmitting from
Singapore or Taiwan, and the Australian CVC Network Ltd. to
undertake nightly (midnight DPRK time) shortwave broadcasts
of 30 minutes duration targeting Japanese abductees who Tokyo
believes are still living in North Korea, as well as to DPRK
citizens. The programming will be in both Japanese and
TOKYO 00002557 002 OF 004
Korean languages and content will be renewed weekly. Tokyo
plans to spend 134 million yen (USD 1.1 million) on that
effort.
--------------
U.S. Advice Welcome
--------------
6. (C) The response notes that, having already cooperated
closely with private organizations in the ROK on broadcasting
into North Korea, Japan would welcome advice from concerned
U.S. organizations in order to enhance the effectiveness of
the broadcasts -- especially recommendations pertaining to
the abduction issue.
--------------
Medium-wave Broadcasts
--------------
7. (C) The Japanese response does not address issues related
to medium-wave broadcasting. However, Tokyo authorities
previously indicated (Ref. C) that such bands are allocated
for domestic use and that there is only a "very slim chance
that Japan's medium-wave frequencies could be used for DPRK
broadcast."
8. (C) Unofficial Embassy translations of the two texts
received from MOFA follow.
--------------
Japan's Response
--------------
Begin text:
June 4, 2007.
Policy Planning Office, Secretariat of the Headquarters on
the Abduction Issue
1. Details of Radio Broadcasts to the DPRK. (Please find
below)
2. Cooperation with the United States in Radio Broadcasts
to the DPRK
We believe it would be very beneficial to the implementation
of radio broadcasting to the DPRK to obtain cooperation from
concerned organizations in your country, which have
considerable achievements in radio broadcasts to the DPRK.
In addition, in terms of the resolution of the abduction
issue, we also believe coordination between our two countries
is significant for enhancing the transmission of outside
information to the DPRK. We have already obtained
cooperation from private groups broadcasting to the DPRK from
the ROK on matters like programming. We would also
appreciate advice from concerned organizations in your
country.
3. U.S. Public Broadcasting from Japan
Our legal framework prohibits foreign organizations from
obtaining (radio station) licenses to broadcast in Japan.
On the other hand, it is possible for shortwave broadcasters
in your country to broadcast from Japan by exchanging airtime
with Japanese shortwave broadcasters. In this case, the
Japanese government itself does not possess airtime to
exchange because it does not conduct its own shortwave
broadcasts. Only NHK is able to provide airtime, because it
alone conducts international shortwave broadcasts in Japan.
TOKYO 00002557 003 OF 004
In view of the fact that NHK is a public broadcaster
independent from the government, the government is not able
to require NHK to provide organizations of your country with
its airtime. We have already explained this position when we
were approached by the BGG (IBB) in your country concerning
an exchange of airtime between our two countries. (Please
refer to the reply from the Government of Japan to a January
17, 2007 letter from the IBB to the Japanese Embassy in the
United States. Moreover, we explained our position to
Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy for Human Rights in North
Korea Whiton during his visit to Japan on March 5, 2007.)
Consequently, it is very regrettable that we believe there
are limits to the extent of cooperation the Japanese
Government can offer on this matter.
(Note) As you will see below, broadcasting the Japanese
Government will conduct at this time will employ shortwave
broadcasting facilities outside Japan, not domestic
facilities.
End text
-------------- --------------
Outline of Radio Broadcasts to the DPRK, June 2007
-------------- --------------
Begin text
Policy Planning Office, Secretariat of the Headquarters on
the Abduction Issue
1. Objective
The objective of this government broadcast to the DPRK is:
- To secure the safety and realize the return to Japan of
all surviving abductees in the DPRK by communicating to them
the voices of their families, and by informing them of
governmental efforts on the abduction issue and of events at
home and abroad.
- To secure the safety of abduction victims by conveying
to DPRK citizens who have difficulty obtaining information
that would allow them to accurately understand the situation
surrounding the DPRK, information about the situation at home
and abroad, including information pertaining to the abduction
issue and information that will deepen understanding of our
country in order.
2. Radio Program
Program Contents
- Calls to and encouragement of abductees from their
families
- Initiatives and activities of the government, the
families of abductees, and concerned groups on the abduction
issue
- Events in Japan, international circumstances
surrounding Japan and news reports and analysis on
international circumstances surrounding the DPRK
- Music
Languages: Japanese and Korean
Broadcast Time and Duration: Daily at 23:00 (midnight
Pyongyang time). (Exact broadcast time is still under
discussion.)
Duration will be 30 minutes each for Japanese and Korean
programs. The contents will be changed weekly.
3. Broadcasting Method:
TOKYO 00002557 004 OF 004
Although access to overseas information is strictly limited
in the DPRK, shortwave radio broadcasts appear to be somewhat
common and to be a relatively effective source of
information. Because it is difficult to use shortwave
broadcasting facilities in Japan, we will broadcast
programming to the DPRK from overseas shortwave broadcast
facilities.
4. Conducting the Broadcasts
- The Government of Japan has commissioned the Japan
Center for Intercultural Communication (JCIC) to carry out
the broadcasts
- The JCIC is scheduled to entrust shortwave radio
broadcasting to 1) VT Communications, UK and 2) CVC Network
Ltd., Australia.
- Transmitting Station: We are scheduled to use
transmitting stations in Singapore or Taiwan for VT
Communications and in Australia for CVC Network Ltd.
- Frequency: We are still coordinating with the
transmitting companies.
5. Budget Allocation
134 million yen (104 million yen for programming and 30
million yen for broadcasting) is allocated in the fiscal 2007
budget.
6. Schedule
Broadcasting is scheduled to start in July 2007. However,
broadcasting from Australia is scheduled to start in
Septmber.
End Text.
SCHIEFFER