TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA AND RUSSIA

UNCLAS TOKYO 002371 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: Top stories on Friday morning included the formation of a new political party by five parliamentarians. ¶2. "Do Not Make Concessions on Verification" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun editorialized (8/29): "A closer look at North Korea's statement (on its halt to nuclear disablement) reveals that Pyongyang's short-term goal is heading off rigorous verification (of its nuclear declaration),rather than being delisted as a state sponsor of terrorism. No compromise is warranted on the issue of verification.... Verification of the declaration holds the key to denuclearization. Half- measures on verification would run the risk of enabling North Korea to continue its nuclear programs and hold on to nuclear weapons." ¶3. "Unity Between China and Russia Shaken" On the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held on Thursday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the liberal Asahi wrote (8/29): "...As the post-summit SCO declaration did not mention the issue of recognizing the independence of South Ossetia, something Russia has called for, it was clear that there were pronounced differences among the members in what they expect from the organization. The SCO, which was formed with a view to checking U.S. unipolar domination, appears to be at a crossroads in view of the emergence of a 'new Cold War' between Russia and the West." ¶4. "Do Not Be Duped by Russia" The conservative Sankei's senior writer Takahata argued in a front-page essay (8/29): "...President Bush may now be regretting that he has trusted Russian Prime Minister Putin.... Personal trust between the leaders of superpowers is important, and that cannot be denied. However, easily trusting someone with different values and ideas can boomerang. This is also a historical lesson." ¶5. "Power Vacuum Would Unleash Further Crises" Senior writer Sunohara of the business-oriented Nikkei wrote in a front-page commentary (8/29): "The ongoing crisis in Georgia has reminded the international community not just of America's waning clout but also of what could happen if a 'power vacuum' caused by this decline were to trigger a series of crises across the world. Indeed, North Korea has declared that it has halted nuclear disablement. A possible crisis in nuclear-hungry Iran, politically unstable Pakistan, or Afghanistan cannot be ruled out." ZUMWALT