TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA AND CHINA

UNCLAS TOKYO 002214 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 AND CHINA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning included Russian ground troops' advance on Monday into the city of Gori in central Georgia. ¶2. "No Progress without Verification" The liberal Asahi editorialized (8/12): "The USG has decided to postpone delisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.... Delisting was linked to Pyongyang's declaration of its nuclear programs. Although verification should be carried out to determine whether the declaration is complete and correct, no specific agreement has yet been reached on how to do so. The postponement of delisting is a natural decision." ¶3. "North Korea Should Accept Verification First" The moderate Yomiuri stated in an editorial (8/12): "...President Bush set an agreement on verification protocols for North Korea's nuclear declaration as a precondition for delisting. Without such an agreement, it is reasonable to postpone delisting. However, an agreement on verification protocols alone will not be sufficient. It is important to begin verification work. Although delisting can be carried out anytime after August 11, the U.S. should not do so at a stage in which actual verification work has yet to begin." ¶4. "Delays by North Korea Must Not Be Permitted" The business-oriented Nikkei argued in an editorial (8/12): "Secretary of State Rice told the GOJ that the U.S. will not delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism on August 11, the original date. As the decision was made due to Pyongyang's failure to respond in good faith to Washington's policy of flexibility, not only the Bush administration but also the next U.S. administration will have to review U.S. policy toward North Korea." ¶5. "Terrorism in Xinjiang Reflects Ethnic Problems in China" The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (8/12): "...The Chinese government has tried to boost the economy in the Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region and the Tibet Autonomous Region by providing subsidies and hiring ethnic minorities. However, as the unrest in Tibet in March showed, Beijing's policy toward ethnic minorities is not working well, and its oppression of human rights has come to light." SCHIEFFER