DCM'S JULY 11 MEETING WITH ASSISTANT CHIEF CABINET

S E C R E T TOKYO 003198 SIPDIS SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y////CHANGED CLASSIFICATION///////// E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR ETRD KNNP PGOV KN JA SUBJECT: DCM'S JULY 11 MEETING WITH ASSISTANT CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY ANDO SIPDIS REF: TOKYO 3126 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan for reasons 1.4 (b)/ (d). (S) Summary: The GOJ strongly supports Six Party process efforts to bring about the denuclearization of the DPRK, Assistant Cabinet Secretary Hiroyasu Ando told the DCM on July 11, but it also attaches great importance to the resolution of the abduction issue. Absent progress on the abduction issue, Ando stated, the GOJ will be unable to participate in the work of the Economy and Energy Working Group. In response, the DCM highlighted numerous statements by USG officials, including EAP A/S Hill during his recent visits to Japan, acknowledging the need to make progress on the abduction issue. The DCM said we looked forward to Japanese participation in the Economy and Energy Working Group and reiterated our belief that progress on denuclearization will create a stronger foundation for dealing with the abduction issue. In response to a question, Ando insisted that GOJ investigation of the Chosen Soren is not politically motivated and is being pursued solely as a legal matter. On the unauthorized disclosure of Aegis data, Ando said that the Cabinet Office is determined to improve information security. Although Prime Minister Abe's commission on collective security had almost completed its deliberations, Ando said, the commission's final REPORT may be delayed until after Diet passage of legislation extending Maritime Self Defense forces refueling operations in the Indian Ocean. Ando was not optimistic that the GOJ would completely lift age restrictions on the import of U.S. beef at any foreseeable point in the future, insisting that the U.S. beef industry should be satisfied if the GOJ raised the restriction to 30 months. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During a meeting with the DCM on July 11, Assistant Cabinet Secretary Hiroyasu Ando discussed the GOJ's views on the Six Party process, and its ongoing investigation of the Chosen Soren. Discussion also touched on unauthorized disclosure of Aegis data, the work of the Commission on Collective Security and efforts to further re-open Japan's market to U.S. beef. Abductions in the Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶3. (C) Japan fully supports six party efforts to denuclearize the DPRK, Ando said, but does not wish the abduction issue to be addressed as an afterthought. Without progress on the abduction issue, Japan cannot contribute to the Economy and Energy Working Group, stated Ando, adding that this directive had come from Prime Minister Abe. Ando was skeptical of a Reuters REPORT that North Korea had reopened the abductions investigation. ¶4. (C) The United States takes the abduction issue very seriously, replied the DCM. In fact, A/S Hill has raised this issue numerous times, he added. We believe that progress on denuclearization will translate into progress on abductions, and we look forward to Japanese participation in the Economy and Energy Working Group. When Ando asked about a comment rumored to have been made by the North Koreans that the "time is not ripe" for North Korea to improve its relationship with Japan, the DCM suggested that North Korea pays close attention to domestic politics in Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States. Chosen Soren -------------- ¶5. (C) Turning to the police investigation of Chosen Soren, the General Association of (North) Korean Residents of Japan (reftel),the DCM asked if there had been any reaction from the Korean community in Japan. Ando replied that many ethnic Koreans residing in Japan had criticized the Japanese government's actions as a human rights violation. The investigations and seizure of the Chosen Soren headquarters were based on violations of tax laws, and were not politically motivated, emphasized Ando. Aegis Leak -------------- ¶6. (C) The DCM told Ando that the United States is concerned that the NPA and the Cabinet Intelligence Research Office (CIRO) were not participating in the Bilateral Information Assurance Task Force (BIATF). Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki had promised that the Kantei would make SIPDIS sure all agencies were involved in the BIATF, noted the DCM. He added that we are frustrated with the NPA and CIRO's position that information assurance is a Ministry of Defense (only) issue, especially because the Ministry of Defense does not have a counter-intelligence function. CCS Shiozaki wants progress on information security, replied Ando, explaining that the two officials within the Kantei responsible for the BIATF are Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretaries Kyoji Yanagisawa and Cabinet Secretariat Counsellor Kenichi Takahashi. Beef -------------- ¶7. (C) The DCM reiterated the U.S. position that Japan should agree to international standards for regulating beef imports from the United States. Noting many Japanese distributors are now carrying U.S. beef, and that demand continues to exceed supply, the DCM urged Japan to lift the age restrictions on beef imports from the United States. Japanese research supports the validity of the international standard, pointed out the DCM, asserting that there is no basis for the recent Japanese Government position that it is "politically impossible" to lift age restrictions. ¶8. (C) Japan will "do its best" to comply by the end of the year with the agreement made by former Minister of Agriculture Toshikatsu Matsuoka and Secretary of Agriculture Johanns, stated Ando. Japan feels that moving the age restriction from 20 months to 30 months would satisfy U.S. since before the ban was imposed, 90% of U.S. beef imported to Japan was less than 30 months old. Complete abolishment of age limits will "not be easy," he added. Collective Security -------------- ¶9. (C) The panel led by former Ambassador to the U.S. Shunji Yanai will be ready to make a recommendation on collective security after "a few more sessions," stated Ando. It is probable that the panel will delay the release of its report if it would interfere with Diet deliberations on extending the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law which enables the dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense Forces to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). SCHIEFFER