TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - U.S.-ROK SUMMIT AND

UNCLAS TOKYO 001084 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 - U.S.-ROK SUMMIT AND GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Lead stories on Monday morning include a further decline in public support for Prime Minister Fukuda. ¶2. "U.S.-ROK Coordination Reaffirmed, Yet Tasks Remain" The liberal Asahi's Washington correspondents wrote (4/20): "Turning around bilateral relations, which were strained under the tenure of former ROK President Roh, was the top item on the agenda during Saturday's summit between President Bush and President Lee. As the U.S. rolled out the red carpet for Lee, a 'successful summit' was preordained. However, the two nations have just begun to redefine their bilateral alliance, and progress on this front will depend on their future efforts." ¶3. "U.S., ROK Enhance Alliance While Eying Global Strategy" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri's Washington-based reporter argued (4/21): "President Bush's agreement with ROK President Lee to suspend reductions in U.S. troops in South Korea reflects his desire to rebuild the bilateral alliance. While sending the Lee administration and North Korea a clear message that Washington will maintain its security commitment on the Korean Peninsula, President Bush is hoping to include South Korea in America's global strategy to deal with such challenges as security in Asia, nuclear proliferation, and the war on terrorism." ¶4. "Japan, South Korea Should Follow Suit" The business- oriented Nikkei said in an editorial (4/20): "Enhancement of the U.S.-ROK alliance is encouraging for Japan, given that coordination among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea is a cornerstone for assuring security in Northeast Asia. Above all, close tripartite cooperation is essential in order to deal with North Korea's nuclear program and abductions of Japanese citizens. As President Lee is to hold a summit with Prime Minister Fukuda in Tokyo on Monday, it is time for Japan and the ROK to reinforce their own bilateral coordination." ¶5. "International Coordination Urgently Needed to Deal with Food Crisis" The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (4/21): "The volume of food that can be procured through existing frameworks has declined in view of the surge in food prices. Emergency assistance is urgently needed to help those who are facing difficulty in securing enough to eat. Following up on World Bank President Zoellick's proposal for $500 million in food aid through the UN, President Bush pledged $200 million in aid.... However, such measures for developing countries are ad-hoc in nature. In the long-run, the international community needs to take a concerted approach and look into measures to strike a balance between food supply and demand on a global scale." SCHIEFFER