TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - SOUTH KOREAN

UNCLAS TOKYO 005619 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 - SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION LEAD STORIES: All Thursday morning papers gave top coverage to the landslide victory of opposition candidate Lee Myung Bak in Wednesday's South Korean presidential election. ¶1. "Good Opportunity for Improving Regional Coordination" The liberal Asahi editorialized (12/20): "ROK President-elect Lee has not yet clarified his diplomatic stance. Judging from his previous comments, Lee apparently plans to uphold the basic tone of his predecessor's soft line toward North Korea while vigorously demanding that Pyongyang provide an accurate nuclear declaration in return. This position is in line with the six-party talks and should be welcomed as practical.... South Korea's ties with the U.S. have been strained under President Roh, and rebuilding this relationship will be one of tasks awaiting the new president. Lee is expected to jumpstart and deepen trilateral coordination among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. He is also expected to be active in pursuing enhanced cooperation among China, Japan, and his country. Closer bonds among the nations of Northeast Asia will not only benefit South Korea but also contribute to stability and prosperity in Asia as a whole." ¶2. "Change in Policy Toward DPRK?" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri wrote in an editorial (12/20): "At a time when the six-party talks are at a crossroads, South Korea will have a conservative government for the first time in 10 years.... In his policy platform for the campaign, Lee proposed the idea of South Korea offering, together with the international community, massive economic aid to North Korea in return for Pyongyang's surrender of its nuclear program. However, he failed to offer specifics on how to press Pyongyang to give up its nuclear option. In reality, the six-party talks are the only way to promote North Korea's denuclearization. Seoul's provision of massive economic assistance outside of the six-party framework would only delay a resolution of the nuclear issue. From this perspective, Seoul should reconsider its approach toward its neighbor, including reviewing the massive aid package President Roh promised Pyongyang during the October inter-Korean summit." ¶3. "Voters Choose Realism" The liberal Mainichi's editorial argued (12/20): "The six-party process is at a critical stage. At this juncture, the South Korean people selected a leader with a realistic North Korea policy over a government that has called for reunification. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il should firmly accept this reality. President-elect Lee promised to offer aid to North Korea in order to help it achieve a per-capita GDP of $3,000 in exchange for abandoning its nuclear program. This approach does not run counter to the six-party framework. It is hoped that Pyongyang will not try to take advantage of the change in government in South Korea to delay denuclearization steps." SCHIEFFER