FUKUDA-ROH SUMMIT FOCUSES ON DPRK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 005329

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KS JA
SUBJECT: FUKUDA-ROH SUMMIT FOCUSES ON DPRK


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Classified By: A/DCM Mike Meserve per 1.4 (b/d)

Summary
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1. (C) Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met November 19 with ROK
President Roh Moo-hyun, and the bulk of their conversation
was focused on the DPRK. PM Roh underlined the importance of
dialogue and generosity in dealing with the DPRK and
explained that Kim Jong-il desires a security guarantee from
the United States and economic cooperation with Japan. PM
Fukuda stressed that progress on the abduction and nuclear
issues must precede normalization with the DPRK, and that
with normalization will come Japanese economic cooperation.
With the exception of Japan's offer to return the remains of
Korean soldiers conscripted in WWII, historical issues were
not a feature of the summit meeting. Fukuda's performance
with Roh (as well as his other Asian summit meetings) was
greeted by the Japanese press as the advent of the "Second
Fukuda Doctrine" of stressing the importance of Asian
diplomacy. End Summary.

DPRK
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2. (C) Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met for approximately 50
minutes with ROK President Roh Moo-hyun on November 19 in
Singapore. The bulk of the two leaders' discussion focused
on the DPRK, MOFA Northeast Asia Principal Deputy Director
Takeshi Akahori told Embassy Tokyo Political Section Deputy.
President Roh briefly reviewed his October summit meeting
with Kim Jong-il, noting that Kim recognizes the importance
of improving relations with both Japan and the United States.
Kim also understands that economic development is critical
for the DPRK, and that Japanese economic assistance is a key
aspect of this, Roh told Fukuda.


3. (C) More than anything, the DPRK wants a "security
guarantee" from the United States, President Roh continued.
In Roh's analysis, this guarantee outweighs even the
importance of the DPRK's nuclear ambitions. While pressure
can sometimes be useful, "dialogue, generosity and
positivity" will yield better results with North Korea, Roh
explained.


4. (C) Fukuda stressed that Japan's basic position is that
resolving the abductions problem and settling the issue of
the "unfortunate past" are key to normalizing Japan-DPRK
relations. Within this context, Japan wants to take steps to
ensure that the nuclear and missile issues are also resolved
and, to this end, cooperation with the United States and
South Korea is critical. With the resolution of the
abductions and nuclear issues can come normalization, and
with it economic cooperation. PM Fukuda expressed his hope
that North Korea not lose this current chance to improve
relations with Japan. With the cooperation of the United
States and South Korea, and within the framework of the Six
Party Talks, Fukuda expressed his hope that our countries can
join together and resolve the issues before us.

Historical Issues
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5. (C) One notable result of the summit was Fukuda's offer to
Roh to return the remains of approximately 100 Korean
conscripts who fought for the Japanese during World War II,
MOFA's Akahori said. The remains have been interred at
Yutenji Temple in Tokyo for nearly 40 years, and only
recently had they been identified and the whereabouts of
living relatives in Korea ascertained. Japan will return the
remains in early 2008.


6. (C) Unlike previous Japan-ROK summit meetings, the
subjects of Takeshima/Tokdo and Yasukuni Shrine did not come
up, Akahori continued. Instead, President Roh referred in
general terms to the desire of the Korean people, who are
"close to the Japanese historically and geographically," to
continue to improve relations in a future-oriented manner.
Recognizing that this would likely be President Roh's last
summit meeting with a Japanese Prime Minister, PM Fukuda
offered his thanks, to which President Roh replied that "it
has been a tough five years," Akahori said.

Reaction in Japan Generally Favorable
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7. (C) The reaction to Fukuda's Asia summitry, including with
President Roh, PRC Wen Jiabao and others (septel),was
favorably reported by the Japanese press. Most editorials
credited Fukuda's successful meetings to his emphasis on
developing positive relations with Asia, and his approach to
Japan's relations with Korea, China and the rest of the
region is being billed as the "Second Fukuda Doctrine" (the
first "Fukuda Doctrine" being that of his father, former
Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, in the 1970's).
DONOVAN