THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S COURTESY CALL ON PRIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003593

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STATE FOR D, AND EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2027
TAGS: PREL KS KN JA
SUBJECT: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S COURTESY CALL ON PRIME
MINISTER'S ADVISOR FOR THE ABDUCTION ISSUE KYOKO NAKAYAMA


Classified By: Deputy Secretary John Negroponte, for reason 1.4(B)(D)


1. (C) Prime Ministerial Advisor for Abductions Kyoko
Nakayama emphasized the importance of the abduction issue in
a meeting with the Deputy Secretary on August 3. She asked
for continuing support from the United States in resolving
the issue. Councillor Nakayama also asked for understanding
of Japanese feelings regarding de-listing of North Korea from
the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, asking that the U.S.
not change the designation without resolution of the
abduction issue.


2. (C) The Deputy Secretary reassured Councillor Nakayama
that the U.S. would continue to use every opportuity to urge
North Korea to adequately respond to Japanese concerns on the
abduction issue. He said that the President personally cares
very deeply about this issue, noting that he had discussed it
with the President many times. The Deputy Secretary
emphasized that the U.S. had agreed to "begin the process" of
considering whether to change North Korea's designation as a
State Sponsor of Terrorism, but pointed out that more
progress would be needed in Six-Party Talks before the U.S.
could consider removing the designation. The Deputy
Secretary said he wanted to make clear that the USG had made

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no decision regarding North Korea's designation, but had only
agreed to discuss the matter with North Korea.


3. (C) The Deputy Secretary said that he hoped his meeting
with Councillor Nakayama would serve as a reaffirmation of
the strong U.S. interest in the abductee issue, and he
assured her that the U.S. would coordinate very closely with
Japan on this issue as we move forward in the Six-Party Talks.


4. (U) August 3, 2007; 14:55; Tokyo, Japan.


5. (U) Meeting Participants:

U.S.
Deputy Secretary Negroponte
Ambassador Schieffer
Deputy Assistant Secretary David Sedney, Dept of Defense
James Zumwalt, Director of Japan Affairs, Dept of State
Kaye Lee, Special Assistant
Ted Wittenstein, Special Assistant
James Pierce, A/POLMIN, US Embassy (Notetaker)
Paul Hersey, Interpreter

Japan
Councillor Kyoko Nakayama
Tadao Ando, Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary
Shinichi Nishimiya, Director-General, North American Affairs
Bureau, MOFA
Takeo Mori, Director, First North America Division, MOFA
Seiji Suzuki, Assistant to the Chief Cabinet Secretary
Interpreter
SCHIEFFER