Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO1571
2008-06-09 09:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN-DPRK: TALKS TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 11-12
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #1571 1610901 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 090901Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4887 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 3785 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE 9784 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/USFJ IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001571
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2018
TAGS: PREL JA KN
SUBJECT: JAPAN-DPRK: TALKS TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 11-12
REF: TOKYO 1548
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer per 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001571
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2018
TAGS: PREL JA KN
SUBJECT: JAPAN-DPRK: TALKS TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 11-12
REF: TOKYO 1548
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer per 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: Japan and the DPRK held informal discussions
June 7 and will meet formally in Beijing June 11-12 to
discuss abductions and other outstanding bilateral issues.
MOFA Asia DG Saiki and DPRK Ambassador Song Il-ho agreed on
the importance of both sides' achieving results, MOFA told
Embassy Tokyo. The North Koreans approached the June 7
discussions with a "serious attitude" and, significantly, did
not claim that that the abductions issue had already been
resolved when DG Saiki raised it. End Summary.
2. (C) Japan and the DPRK agreed during a recent "informal
exchange of views" (reftel) to hold formal discussions in
Beijing June 11-12, MOFA Northeast Asia Director Shigeo
Yamada told Embassy Tokyo. During the nearly three-hour
talks on June 7, MOFA Asia Director General Akitaka Saiki
stressed to his DPRK counterpart Ambassador Song Il-ho the
need to make progress on the abductions issue; absent
progress, Japan-DPRK relations will not improve.
Significantly, the North Koreans did not deploy their "the
abductions issue has already been resolved" response, Yamada
added.
3. (C) Overall, the North Koreans took a serious attitude
during the informal talks, and Ambassador Song agreed with DG
Saiki's statement that "it is important for both sides to
achieve results," Yamada continued. The North Koreans'
serious attitude was reminiscent of the last round of Working
Group talks in Mongolia last September, and "this represents
a small step forward," Yamada explained. The issue of the
JAL hijackers still in North Korea was not discussed, Yamada
said.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2018
TAGS: PREL JA KN
SUBJECT: JAPAN-DPRK: TALKS TO TAKE PLACE JUNE 11-12
REF: TOKYO 1548
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer per 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: Japan and the DPRK held informal discussions
June 7 and will meet formally in Beijing June 11-12 to
discuss abductions and other outstanding bilateral issues.
MOFA Asia DG Saiki and DPRK Ambassador Song Il-ho agreed on
the importance of both sides' achieving results, MOFA told
Embassy Tokyo. The North Koreans approached the June 7
discussions with a "serious attitude" and, significantly, did
not claim that that the abductions issue had already been
resolved when DG Saiki raised it. End Summary.
2. (C) Japan and the DPRK agreed during a recent "informal
exchange of views" (reftel) to hold formal discussions in
Beijing June 11-12, MOFA Northeast Asia Director Shigeo
Yamada told Embassy Tokyo. During the nearly three-hour
talks on June 7, MOFA Asia Director General Akitaka Saiki
stressed to his DPRK counterpart Ambassador Song Il-ho the
need to make progress on the abductions issue; absent
progress, Japan-DPRK relations will not improve.
Significantly, the North Koreans did not deploy their "the
abductions issue has already been resolved" response, Yamada
added.
3. (C) Overall, the North Koreans took a serious attitude
during the informal talks, and Ambassador Song agreed with DG
Saiki's statement that "it is important for both sides to
achieve results," Yamada continued. The North Koreans'
serious attitude was reminiscent of the last round of Working
Group talks in Mongolia last September, and "this represents
a small step forward," Yamada explained. The issue of the
JAL hijackers still in North Korea was not discussed, Yamada
said.
SCHIEFFER