TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - DPRK NUCLEAR PROGRAM

UNCLAS TOKYO 001790 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 - DPRK NUCLEAR PROGRAM AND U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included a plan among Japan, China, and South Korea to hold a joint medical response drill in October aimed at dealing with a possible influenza pandemic. ¶2. "U.S., China Enhance Security Coordination" A correspondent for the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri reported from Beijing (6/30): "Secretary of State Rice's agreement with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang on enhanced bilateral cooperation on such diplomatic items as the six-party talks on North Korea, cross-Strait relations, and Iran's nuclear development leaves the impression of a 'honeymoon' between the two countries. While bilateral friction may be unavoidable in the future over such issues as control of the Pacific Ocean, now is the time for the two powers to enhance coordination on security issues with global implications." ¶3. "DPRK Utilizes Wasted Structure" A Seoul-based reporter for the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri commented (6/28): "The destruction of the cooling tower at Yongbyon was carried out not as part of the agreed- upon nuclear disablement process but as a step that constitutes the removal of nuclear facilities whose details will be worked out in the six-party talks. The U.S. and North Korea agreed to use the dramatic impact of the destruction to advance the six-party talks. However, while the U.S. is determined to have North Korea denuclearize, the DPRK appears to have no intention of giving up its nuclear arsenal. Finding a solution to this basic disagreement will not be easy." ¶4. "'Action-for-Action' Principle Should Be Discarded" On the U.S. decision to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism in return for its submission of a nuclear declaration, the Beijing bureau chief of the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri wrote (6/29): "The concurrent actions taken by the U.S. and North Korea appear to be disproportionate. In its nuclear declaration, North Korea only mentioned its plutonium- related activities and stopped short of providing any information concerning nuclear weapons or uranium enrichment. It successfully secured delisting, which it wanted badly, by playing a substance-free card.... The Bush administration, impatient for a foreign policy accomplishment, took action concurrently. Washington has been hamstrung by the 'action for action' principle.... The concurrent yet asymmetrical actions taken by the two countries makes clear that a rogue state can take advantage of the promise of 'action for action' in order to advance diplomacy to its own liking." SCHIEFFER