MEDIA REACTION - SIX-PARTY TALKS - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 000569 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 - SIX-PARTY TALKS - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Asahi gave top play to an alleged agreement between the US and North Korea in Berlin in January that Pyongyang would suspend operation of its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon in exchange for energy and humanitarian assistance. ¶1. "Six-Party Talks at a Turning Point" The liberal Asahi editorialized (2/8): "...The six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions will resume today in Beijing. Because of past disappointments with North Korea, there is no predicting what will result from this round of talks. However, remarks by officials involved with the talks suggest that there will be some developments this time.... Unlike previous rounds of the talks, this time the US and DPRK have had extensive bilateral meetings beforehand.... We would like to welcome the deepening of dialogue between the US and North Korea, which holds the key to breaking the stalemate. What is important now is to end the crisis and confrontation that arose from Pyongyang's ballistic missile launches and nuclear test, as well as the UNSC's adoption of a resolution calling for sanctions against the DPRK.... The US and North Korea have reportedly exchanged notes regarding the North's suspension of operations of its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon in exchange for energy assistance." ¶2. "US Should Maintain Its Basic Principles on DPRK Policy" An editorial in the business daily Nihon Keizai commented (2/8): "The six-party talks concerning North Korea's nuclear program will resume today in Beijing.... We are concerned that the US is showing signs of softening its previous position of calling for the North's 'complete and irreversible' nuclear abolition. At the talks, the US may be drawn to the stance of China, South Korea, and Russia to provide energy and economic assistance if the North promises to suspend operation of its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.... The policy of 'dialogue and pressure' will break down should the US and other nations provide energy and economic assistance before the North details the scope and process of its complete denuclearization.... It goes without saying that Japan should maintain its own policy of not resuming assistance to or normalizing relations with North Korea without resolving the abduction issue." SCHIEFFER