TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - ZIMBABWE AND NORTH

UNCLAS TOKYO 001754 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 - ZIMBABWE AND NORTH KOREA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top items on Thursday morning included the announcement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura on Wednesday that more than 1,400 civil servants received cash, beer coupons, and other forms of inducements from taxi drivers when being driven home late at night on taxpayer money and that about 150 of them have been punished for malfeasance. ¶2. "U.S. Cannot Do Anything About Zimbabwe" A Washington-based reporter for the conservative Sankei wrote (6/26): "The Bush administration is openly displaying its irritation with Zimbabwean President Mugabe's plan to go ahead with Friday's presidential run-off. However, the U.S. does not appear to have effective tools beyond relying on a statement by the UN Security Council.... Given its emphasis on democratization and human rights, the Bush administration may find the current situation in Zimbabwe intolerable, as some 60 opposition supporters were recently murdered by Mugabe followers. Still, as there does not appear to be in the offing any additional UN punitive measures or a unilateral response by the U.S., only the tough rhetoric by the U.S. administration stands out." ¶3. "Don't Let DPRK Get Away With Breaking Commitments" In a front-page commentary, the conservative Sankei's Tokyo correspondent Yuasa stated (6/26): "...One should not betray an ally. If North Korea is removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, DPRK leader Kim Jong Il will think that speaking with a forked tongue and breaking a commitment is not so bad.... Only the President can make a policy turnaround. Japan should lobby Congress to apply pressure on President Bush. Prime Minister Fukuda should visit Washington to press him. If these measures fail to bear fruit, why not ask presidential candidates Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain for help? It all depends on how serious the prime minister is about stopping delisting. Otherwise, the U.S.-Japan alliance could be placed at risk." SCHIEFFER