TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - RUSSIA AND NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS TOKYO 002223 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 - RUSSIA AND NORTH KOREA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Wednesday morning included the decision made on Tuesday by Russian President Medvedev to end Russia's military operations in Georgia. ¶2. "Russia Should Completely Pull out of Georgia" The conservative Sankei editorialized (8/13): "Russian President Medvedev announced a halt to Russia's military operations in Georgia, where the two nations have been engaged in an armed conflict over South Ossetia.... We would welcome the move if Russia accepts a cease-fire as Medvedev stated and if no more civilian casualties occur. Russia should swiftly withdraw its troops.... Whatever reasons it had, Russia began a military campaign in Georgia, a sovereign state, without the approval of the international community. This can be termed a clear act of aggression. It is natural for the international community to strongly call on Russia to end its military operations." ¶3. "Patience Needed" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun stated in an editorial (8/13): "The USG has postponed delisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. This decision is reasonable, as no concrete progress has been made on verification of North Korea's nuclear declaration.... The Bush administration has lacked foresight. Even though an agreement was reached a month and a half ago, verification work has yet to begin, as no specific measures to verify the declaration have been put forward.... Although President Bush, whose term ends in January, appears to be hopeful about realizing a diplomatic achievement, giving in would create a fait accompli on North Korea's possession of nuclear arms.... The U.S. should not make any easy concessions but instead should come up with specific verification measures with no loopholes." SCHIEFFER