THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S COURTESY CALL ON PRIME

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