TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS TOKYO 001738 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 - NORTH KOREA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page items in Wednesday morning papers included the first-ever port call by a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ship in China on Tuesday. ¶2. "Efforts to Resolve Abduction Issue to Continue" The liberal Asahi editorialized (6/25): "...We should not forget that delisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism is not the end of the denuclearization process.... Japan will not give the DPRK anything unless Pyongyang takes steps to resolve the abduction issue. This situation will not change even if Pyongyang is delisted.... It is important for the six-party talks to produce substantive results from a nuclear declaration by North Korea." ¶3. "Thorough Verification Necessary" The moderate Yomiuri contended in an editorial (6/25): "The U.S. should thoroughly verify the declaration by North Korea in order to determine whether the contents of the document are sufficient to delist the nation.... The abduction issue should not be set aside following delisting.... Meanwhile, it is also very important to move the stalled six-party talks forward to urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear programs." ¶4. "Assistance to North Korea Should Be Used as Leverage" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun argued in an editorial (6/25): "The U.S. plans to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. Although Japan will lose one of its tools for resolving the abduction issue, it is of no use to lament this. The GOJ should consider the next steps and make further efforts.... Japan needs to win its neighbors' understanding and cooperation on the abductions. In the process of such efforts, Tokyo needs to use its assistance to North Korea as strong leverage to resolve the abduction issue." SCHIEFFER