TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA AND RUSSIA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002358 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 RUSSIA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Lead stories on Thursday morning included the discovery of the body of a Japanese aid worker who was kidnapped earlier in Afghanistan by an armed group, as well as a secret accord forged among U.S., European, and Japanese monetary authorities in March concerning the defense of the dollar. ¶2. "North Korea's Blackmail Cannot Be Accepted" The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (8/28): "It is a matter of course for the U.S. not to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism until it accepts a rigorous nuclear verification regime. Washington should not be fooled by North Korean blackmail and should not be quick to make concessions. The concerned parties should apply coordinated pressure on North Korea to press it to accept verification with the possible suspension of economic and energy assistance in mind." ¶3. "March Toward Denuclearization Must Not Be Stopped" The liberal Mainichi argued in an editorial (8/28): "What is important is not to halt the process toward denuclearization. To that end, U.S.-DPRK dialogue is necessary. China as the chair of the six-party talks will also need to persuade North Korea.... Nuanced differences in approach toward North Korea within the Bush administration concern us somewhat. Assistant Secretary of State Hill and Secretary of State Rice are seen as being relatively positive about delisting North Korea. President Bush, by contrast, showed a harder line when he met with his ROK counterpart earlier this month.... President Bush and conservatives in Congress are concerned that North Korea, through its nuclear cooperation with Syria, poses a threat to Israel. It is certain that this factor is serving as a brake on delisting ahead of the U.S. presidential election." ¶4. "Do Not Be Deceived by North Korea" The top- circulation, moderate Yomiuri insisted (8/28): "...Verification without allowing the collection and measurement of samples of nuclear materials is not feasible. Verification must at least ascertain the volume of plutonium possessed by North Korea. Leaving this point ambiguous would allow North Korea to secretly maintain a nuclear program. Without a stringent verification protocol, learning a full account of Pyongyang's uranium enrichment and nuclear proliferation would be impossible." ¶5. "EU Diplomacy to Be Tested" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun claimed in an editorial (8/28): "Europe holds the key to tamping down the heated rivalry between the U.S. and Russia.... It must offer a basic strategy toward preventing further escalation when an emergency EU summit is held shortly." ¶6. "Russia No Longer Qualified to Be G8 Member" The conservative Sankei editorialized (8/28): "We must declare that Russia has lost its qualification to be a member of the G8, which embraces freedom and democracy.... It is important to keep Russia involved in the international community. However, Russia should be reminded that the international standing that it has pursued in the post-Cold War era will be lost unless it stops its illegal actions." TOKYO 00002358 002 OF 002 ZUMWALT