TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ONE YEAR AFTER DPRK'S

UNCLAS TOKYO 003088 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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ONE YEAR AFTER DPRK'S FIRING OF BALLISTIC MISSILES LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Yomiuri front-paged a telephone poll conducted July 3-5 that showed a decline in public support for the Abe cabinet to 32 percent, down 2.4 points from a week ago. ¶1. "Don't Allow North Korea to Flout UNSC Resolutions" The conservative Sankei editorialized (7/6): "On July 5, 2006, North Korea launched seven ballistic missiles, including a Rodong medium-range missile capable of reaching Japan. Although a Taepodong-2 missile, which is believed to be capable of reaching the US, exploded in flight, the launches reminded us of the danger posed by North Korea.... The UN Security Council (UNSC) met at Japan's behest and adopted Resolution 1695.... The UNSC also adopted Resolution 1718 following North Korea's nuclear test last October.... As if to defy those resolutions, however, Pyongyang displayed its new Musudan intermediate-range missile, which can reach Guam, during a military parade held in April.... Moreover, the DPRK tested missiles three times in May and June, with the US immediately saying that these were short-range missiles and criticizing the launches as violating UNSCR 1718.... The international community cannot allow North Korea to flout the UNSC resolutions." SCHIEFFER