JAPAN'S REACTION TO N/S KOREA SUMMIT ANNOUNCEMENT

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