JAPAN-ROK STRATEGIC DIALOGUE FOCUSES ON ROADMAP

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001605

SIPDIS

STATE PASS USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER
NSC FOR KTONG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PREL ETRD JA KN KS
SUBJECT: JAPAN-ROK STRATEGIC DIALOGUE FOCUSES ON ROADMAP
FOR DPRK DENUCLEARIZATION

REF: A. TOKYO 0547

B. TOKYO 1150

C. TOKYO 0164

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)


1. (C) Summary. Tokyo and Seoul called for Six-Party Talks
(6PT) participants to develop a roadmap for DPRK
denuclearization during the June 5 Japan-ROK Strategic
Dialogue discussions in Tokyo. Both sides agreed on the
difficulty of persuading the DPRK to submit a complete
declaration. The ROK argued that 6PT members must receive
the DPRK declaration "even if the amount of plutonium is less
than what we expected," but noted the need to verify North
Korea's claims. According to Japanese Foreign Ministry
officials, the South Korean delegation stated Seoul's wasted
billion dollar investment in the light-water reactor project
made resolution of the HEU question more important than the
plutonium. Failure to address HEU in the declaration would
leave Seoul's government open to strong domestic criticism.
On bilateral issues, Tokyo and Seoul played down a recent
textbook controversy and agreed to begin consultations on an
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on June 25 - talks
designed to lead to full-fledged negotiations. End Summary.



2. (C) On June 10, MOFA Northeast Asia Division Deputy
Director Shigetoshi Nagao briefed Embassy Tokyo on the Tenth
Japan-ROK Strategic Dialogue, which took place on June 5 in
Tokyo. Vice Minister Mitoji Yabunaka met ROK counterpart VFM
Kwon Jong-rak for over six hours, including a 2.5-hour
discussion and a 2-hour working dinner. According to Nagao,
Japan and South Korea used the dialogue to follow up on the
February and May 2008 summit meetings between Prime Minister
Yasuo Fukuda and President Lee Myung-bak (Refs A, B). Former
VFMs Shotaro Yachi and Cho Jung-pyo conducted the last
dialogue on January 8 in Seoul (Ref C).

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North Korea
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3. (S) Discussion on the North Korean nuclear issue occupied
2 hours of the 2.5-hour discussion and, according to Nagao
covered three topics: DPRK nuclear weapons, plutonium, and
the highly enriched uranium (HEU) program.

-- Nuclear Weapons Program: Both sides agreed that, while the
February and October 2007 Six-Party Talks (6PT) agreements
obligated Pyongyang to declare and abandon its nuclear
weapons program, it would be difficult to persuade the DPRK
to include all details of its nuclear program in the
declaration. Yabunaka and Kwon expressed the view that work
should begin on a roadmap for denuclearization before the
declaration would be issued.

-- Plutonium: Nagao observed that, while neither side
discussed the issue very much, Japan noted that the amount of
plutonium North Korea plans to declare is small. The Tokyo
delegation claimed that the IAEA has questioned the
completeness and correctness of the declaration that North
Korea is prepared to submit. The ROK responded that the 6PT
must receive the DPRK declaration "even if the amount of
plutonium is less than what we expected," but noted the need
to verify North Korea's claims.

-- HEU: As reported by Nagao, Kwon stated that the HEU
problem is more serious than the plutonium issue because the
ROK,s more than one billion dollar investment in the
light-water reactors had been wasted because of the HEU
controversy. Failure to address HEU in the declaration would
subject the Seoul government to strong domestic criticism.


4. (C) Yabunaka and Kwon concurred on the importance of the

TOKYO 00001605 002 OF 002


United States, Japan, and the ROK maintaining a united front
toward the DPRK, which would seek to take advantage of any
differences in the trilateral relationship.

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Bilateral Issues/EPA
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5. (C) Yabunaka and Kwon discussed ways to conclude an
agreement that would permit both countries to conduct
maritime research in the disputed waters surrounding the
Liancourt Rocks (called Takeshima in Japan and Dok-to in
Korean). Tokyo and Seoul agreed to hold further
consultations on the issue during the latter half of 2008,
Nagao reported. Each side played down a recent textbook
controversy raised by May 27 media reports noting that the
Japanese Ministry of Education plans to issue an educational
document claiming that the Liancourt Rocks are an "integral
part of Japan." Nagao said the South Korean delegation
conveyed "some concern" about the report, while Tokyo
explained that no decision had been made. On economic
issues, Tokyo and Seoul agreed to begin consultations on an
Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on June 25 - talks Nagao
said were designed to eventually lead to full-fledged
negotiations.
SCHIEFFER