Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO2972
2007-07-01 23:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPANESE ANGST ABOUT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON NORTH

Tags:  PREL PARM KNNP JA NK 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002972 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2017
TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP JA NK
SUBJECT: JAPANESE ANGST ABOUT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON NORTH
KOREAN NUCLEAR ISSUE

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reason: 1.4 (b) (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002972

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2017
TAGS: PREL PARM KNNP JA NK
SUBJECT: JAPANESE ANGST ABOUT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS ON NORTH
KOREAN NUCLEAR ISSUE

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reason: 1.4 (b) (d).


1. (C) Summary: Most Japanese media, academic and
political sources cite A/S Hill,s June 21-22 Pyongyang visit
as a first step toward denuclearizing the DPRK. Some
observers, however, remain skeptical about the DPRK's
intention to shut down its nuclear facilities, and there is
widespread worry over A/S Hill's bilateral contact with the
DPRK. Although several sources tell Embassy Tokyo they view
A/S Hill's Pyongyang visit as intentionally downplaying the
abduction issue and leaving Japan out of Six-Party
negotiations, this notion has been rebutted by Prime Minister
Abe and mitigated by A/S Hill's continuing "celebrity8
status in Japan. End Summary.


2. (C) Overall media coverage of A/S Hill's Pyongyang visit
was positive, but analysts believe that it is unlikely the
DPRK will dismantle its nuclear facility without making
unreasonable demands in future negotiations. A Mainichi
editorial said that while it appeared A/S Hill took some
preliminary steps toward dismantling North Korea,s nuclear
program, "actions are more important than words.8 Foreign
Minister Aso reflected that skepticism in a June 22 press
conference, observing that A/S Hill,s visit to North Korea
would ¬ immediately settle things.8 Prime Minister Abe
offered a similarly guarded public statement on June 25,
saying Japan &must carefully monitor whether North Korea
will actually carry out that action.8


3. (C) Other editorials expressed concern with what they
claimed to be an attempt to exclude the abduction issue from
the Six-Party process. Asahi observed that Japan has little
direct contact with Pyongyang, forcing Tokyo to &stake its
only chance for achieving success on the abduction issue on
progress in the bilateral dialogue between the U.S. and North
Korea.8 Mainichi reporter Koichi Yonemura took a different
tack, telling us it was widely recognized in Japan that to
mix the nuclear and abduction issues was &illogical and
inconsistent.8


4. (C) DPRK expert Hajime Izumi of Shizuoka University told
Embassy Tokyo that A/S Hill,s visit to Pyongyang, because it
took place before the shutdown of the nuclear facilities,
called into question the legitimacy of Six-Party discussions
and gave the international community an &excuse to criticize
the visit.8 Meanwhile, Masaharu Nakagawa, Deputy Chairman
of DPJ Abduction Issue Strategy, warned that if the U.S.
continued its bilateral dialogue with North Korea, the
Six-Party Talks might become a faade.


5. (C) On June 24, Prime Minister Abe publicly dismissed
reports that Japan had been kept in the dark about A/S
Hill,s mission and stressed that Japan and the U.S. have an
&unshakable alliance.8 Tadasu Yano, Policy Secretary to
LDP Councilor Ichita Yamamoto, told us that the LDP was
generally satisfied with A/S Hill,s visit to Pyongyang.
Finally, media contacts have observed that concern over A/S
Hill's Pyongyang visit has also been mitigated by his
continuing &celebrity8 status in Japan.
SCHIEFFER