Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO3635
2007-08-08 23:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN'S REACTION TO N/S KOREA SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003635
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2017
TAGS: PREL JA KS KN PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S REACTION TO N/S KOREA SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003635
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2017
TAGS: PREL JA KS KN PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S REACTION TO N/S KOREA SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d).
1. (U) Japan has responded positively to news that South
Korean President Roh Moo Hyun will meet North Korean leader
Kim Jong Il at a summit in Pyongyang August 28-30. Japan
hopes dialogue between the two Korean leaders will lead to a
"relaxation of tensions," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told
reporters on August 8. Japan also hopes the summit will
"push forward multilateral efforts to denuclearize the
peninsula and lead to enduring peace and stability in
Northeast Asia," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki
said in a separate news conference the same day. Abe and
Shiozaki both called for South Korea's "understanding" that
the abduction issue remains a top priority for the Government
of Japan (GOJ).
2. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Northeast Asia Division
Principal Deputy Director Kashiwabara told Embassy political
officer that although the GOJ would likely ask President Roh
to press Kim Jong Il on the abduction issue, the GOJ would
not be surprised if the issue gets "left over" at the summit.
3. (C) ROK Embassy DCM Kim Young-sun told A/PolMin shortly
after the announcement that the ROK welcomed Japan's response
to the summit news, noting the summit was in line with
Japan's interests and adding that Japan, of course, would
continue to have "its own issues" (read abductees) with North
Korea. Asked if Japan had asked the ROK to weigh in on those
"issues" with North Korea at the summit, Kim demurred comment.
4. (U) Meanwhile the Japanese press, citing an unnamed
"senior MOFA official," commented that it was unlikely the
summit would have any positive influence on Six-Party Talks
or Japan-DPRK relations. Other reports, again sourced to
unnamed GOJ officials, repeated the refrain that the summit
may further sideline Japan in the Six-Party Talks and hinder
Japan's efforts to bring back any remaining abductees.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2017
TAGS: PREL JA KS KN PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S REACTION TO N/S KOREA SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons: 1.4 (b)(d).
1. (U) Japan has responded positively to news that South
Korean President Roh Moo Hyun will meet North Korean leader
Kim Jong Il at a summit in Pyongyang August 28-30. Japan
hopes dialogue between the two Korean leaders will lead to a
"relaxation of tensions," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told
reporters on August 8. Japan also hopes the summit will
"push forward multilateral efforts to denuclearize the
peninsula and lead to enduring peace and stability in
Northeast Asia," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki
said in a separate news conference the same day. Abe and
Shiozaki both called for South Korea's "understanding" that
the abduction issue remains a top priority for the Government
of Japan (GOJ).
2. (C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Northeast Asia Division
Principal Deputy Director Kashiwabara told Embassy political
officer that although the GOJ would likely ask President Roh
to press Kim Jong Il on the abduction issue, the GOJ would
not be surprised if the issue gets "left over" at the summit.
3. (C) ROK Embassy DCM Kim Young-sun told A/PolMin shortly
after the announcement that the ROK welcomed Japan's response
to the summit news, noting the summit was in line with
Japan's interests and adding that Japan, of course, would
continue to have "its own issues" (read abductees) with North
Korea. Asked if Japan had asked the ROK to weigh in on those
"issues" with North Korea at the summit, Kim demurred comment.
4. (U) Meanwhile the Japanese press, citing an unnamed
"senior MOFA official," commented that it was unlikely the
summit would have any positive influence on Six-Party Talks
or Japan-DPRK relations. Other reports, again sourced to
unnamed GOJ officials, repeated the refrain that the summit
may further sideline Japan in the Six-Party Talks and hinder
Japan's efforts to bring back any remaining abductees.
SCHIEFFER