Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO403
2007-01-30 07:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION - RESUMPTION OF SIX-PARTY TALKS
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UNCLAS TOKYO 000403
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - RESUMPTION OF SIX-PARTY TALKS
IN BEIJING - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Tuesday morning's Tokyo Shimbun front-paged
press remarks Monday by Vice Foreign Minister Yachi, in
which he indicated that Japan and North Korea might set
up a forum to discuss the normalization of bilateral
relations, including the abduction issue, on the
sidelines of the six-party talks, which are likely to
resume on February 8 in Beijing.
UNCLAS TOKYO 000403
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - RESUMPTION OF SIX-PARTY TALKS
IN BEIJING - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Tuesday morning's Tokyo Shimbun front-paged
press remarks Monday by Vice Foreign Minister Yachi, in
which he indicated that Japan and North Korea might set
up a forum to discuss the normalization of bilateral
relations, including the abduction issue, on the
sidelines of the six-party talks, which are likely to
resume on February 8 in Beijing.
¶1. "Japan Should Strengthen Joint Stance with US at Six-
Party Talks" An editorial in the conservative Sankei
commented (1/30): "The US and the DPRK will begin
bilateral talks Tuesday in Beijing concerning financial
sanctions to open the way for a resumption of the six-
party talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Both
sides claim good results were achieved at preliminary
talks held two weeks ago in Berlin, raising hopes for
further progress at the financial talks. Nonetheless,
they agreed to hold the talks, originally set for New
York, in Beijing, which is advantageous to Pyongyang.
Moreover, it appears that the US will legitimize and
unfreeze some of the roughly 50 North Korean accounts at
a Macau bank that have been frozen since September 2005.
There is no denying the impression that the talks are
progressing in the North's favor. Japan, which is
concerned about the abduction issue, continues to take a
hard-line stance toward the North. Should Washington take
a conciliatory stance to Pyongyang, the unity between the
US and Japan could falter, playing into the hands of
North Korea. Now is the time for the USG and GOJ to firm
up their joint stance toward the North.... The
international community's trust in the US would crumble
if Washington were to yield to Pyongyang's unjustified
demands."
SCHIEFFER