TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PM RESIGNATION AND ITS

UNCLAS TOKYO 004269 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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PM RESIGNATION AND ITS IMPACT ON SIX-PARTY TALKS LEAD STORIES: Lead stories in Thursday morning papers included fallout from Prime Minister Abe's sudden announcement that he will step down, including LDP Secretary General Aso's plan to run in the LDP SIPDIS presidential election to choose a successor. ¶1. "Hope for Progress on Nuclear Dismantlement" Seoul correspondent Makino of the liberal Asahi wrote (9/12): "There is a possibility that the resignation of Prime Minister Abe could have an impact on progress in the six-party talks concerning North Korea's nuclear dismantlement, as Japan has been the odd one out in the forum due to its hard-line position on the abduction issue. A DPRK source last year noted that an LDP setback in the July Upper House election and a resignation of PM Abe would change the situation.... If steps toward denuclearization are implemented, it will be more realistic for the US to delist the DPRK as a state sponsor of terrorism. Japan, however, has been strongly opposed to delisting because of its position on the abductions.... Doubts had been raised by some six-party delegates as to whether the Abe administration really hoped for progress in the six-party talks. These officials are now hopeful that a new administration will change Japan's stance." SCHIEFFER