A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH JAPAN VFM YACHI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 004655

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV JA KN
SUBJECT: A/S HILL'S MEETING WITH JAPAN VFM YACHI

Classified By: Charge d' Affaires Joseph R. Donovan. Reasons 1.4 (B) (
D)


1. (C) Summary. Japan places the utmost importance on the
U.S.-Japan relationship and is firmly committed to the
alliance, VFM Yachi told visiting EAP A/S Hill on September

26. New PM Fukuda,s first overseas visit will be to the
United States, not to China or South Korea. Yachi expressed
disappointment with the September Six-Party Working Group on
Normalization of Japan-DPRK Relations, the outcome of which
set back MOFA plans to resolve the abductions issue and
advance Japan-DPRK relations. The United States has warned
North Korea not to put Washington in the position of having
to choose between Tokyo and Pyongyang, A/S Hill said. A/S
Hill asked Japan to urge India and the PRC to act responsibly
on Burma, where developments are becoming "dangerous." End
Summary.

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Reaffirm U.S.-Japan Alliance
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2. (C) During a September 26 Tokyo stopover en route to the
September 27-30 Six-Party Talks in Beijing, A/S Hill reviewed
U.S.-Japan relations, Burma, and the abduction issue with
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi. Yachi said
that Tokyo places the utmost importance on the U.S.-Japan
relationship, and assured A/S Hill that Japan would maintain
its firm commitment to the alliance. Newly elected PM Yasuo
Fukuda plans to make his first overseas visit to the United
States (in contrast to former PM Abe, whose first visits were
to China and South Korea). A/S Hill responded that
Washington looks forward to hosting the PM at the earliest
opportunity. The United States placed great value on its
relationship with outgoing PM Abe, and looks forward to
working with Mr. Fukuda.

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Abductions
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3. (C) Yachi said that Japan had been "very disappointed"
with the September round of the Six-Party Working Group on
Normalization of Japan-DPRK Relations. Before the meeting,
Yachi and MOFA Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
Director-General Kenichiro Sasae had hoped to convince former
PM Abe to allow Japan to "take a step forward" in Japan-DPRK
relations. However, the outcome of the Ulaanbaatar
discussions left them unable to approach Abe. Expressing his
own disappointment, A/S Hill said that the North Koreans had
promised in Geneva that they had a specific new plan to offer
Japan, namely that Pyongyang was prepared to open a new
investigation into the abduction issue. The A/S promised to
talk to North Korean Six-Party Talks negotiator Kim Gye Gwan
about why that didn't happen.


4. (C) Noting that he would meet later that same day with
Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on the Abduction Issue
Kyoko Nakayama, A/S Hill said that the United States
understands the importance of the abduction issue to Japan.
Nakayama, according to the VFM, worries how new PM Fukuda
will address the abduction issue. Nakayama will seek
assurances that the U.S. position on the abduction issue will
not change, Yachi noted.

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Japan-DPRK
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5. (C) A/S Hill told Yachi that, during a recent meeting in
New York, the United States warned North Korea not to put
Washington in the position of having to choose between Tokyo
and Pyongyang. North Korea would never have relations with
the United States or its Northeast Asian neighbors without
having good relations with Japan, Hill said he told Kim Gye
Gwan. At the upcoming Six-Party meeting in Beijing, the
United States would encourage the DPRK to take advantage of
an important opportunity to make changes in Japan-DPRK
relations by reaching out to the new Tokyo administration.


TOKYO 00004655 002 OF 002


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FM Visit
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6. (C) PM Fukuda, according to Yachi, had spoken to President
Bush by telephone earlier that day. New FM Masahiko Komura
planned to visit Washington later in the week, Yachi
continued. He opined that the new Fukuda Cabinet would be
"good for the Foreign Ministry." A/S Hill said that the
United States looks forward to working with the new
government, in which Washington feels it has many friends.
Among other topics, the Secretary hopes to discuss Tokyo's
proposals on climate change, A/S Hill added.

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Burma
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7. (C) A/S Hill asked Japan to use its influence with India
and the PRC to restrain the Burmese authorities, who were
preparing to use army and police units to control the
demonstrations. A/S Hill characterized the situation as
"dangerous." Yachi agreed and promised to use MOFA,s
channels to urge the Burmese authorities to act with
restraint.


8. (U) A/S Hill has cleared this message.
DONOVAN