Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2534
2008-09-16 09:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
ABDUCTIONS: MOFA NOT COUNTING ON A DPRK RESPONSE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0016 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #2534 2600911 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 160911Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7249 INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 1341 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5343 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002534
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: PREL KN JA
SUBJECT: ABDUCTIONS: MOFA NOT COUNTING ON A DPRK RESPONSE
SOON
Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt per 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002534
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: PREL KN JA
SUBJECT: ABDUCTIONS: MOFA NOT COUNTING ON A DPRK RESPONSE
SOON
Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt per 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Soon after Prime Minister Fukuda's sudden resignation
announcement on September 1, the DPRK informed the Japanese
that it will delay standing up its abductions reinvestigation
committee until after it "can confirm the policy of the new
Japanese administration," Foreign Minister Koumura announced
on September 5. (Note: The Japanese had hoped that the DPRK
would launch the reinvestigation sometime before September 9
-- the 60th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK -- to
allow North Koreans resident in Japan to travel to Pyongyang
for the festivities once Japan took the agreed to step of
lifting the ban on charter flights and travel between the two
countries.)
2. (C) The election of a new ruling Liberal Democratic Party
president on September 22, followed by this person's election
to Prime Minister on or around September 24, will probably
not immediately open the door for the DPRK to restart the
abductions investigation, MOFA Northeast Asia Director Shigeo
Yamada told Embassy Tokyo September 16. In fact, with the
possibility of an October or early November general election
in the offing, the DPRK will likely hold off until the
election is over and it can determine what course Japan's new
administration will take. "This will probably take time,"
Yamada assessed.
3. (C) In the meantime, abductee family members have been
harshly critical of PM Fukuda for further delaying possible
abductions progress with his resignation announcement.
During a highly publicized gathering of abductee family
members September 15, Megumi Yokota's parents and others
slammed PM Fukuda for his irresponsible actions --
particularly after he pledged upon taking office last year
that he would resolve the abductions issue "with his own
hands" -- and called on the next PM to make the issue a
priority.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2018
TAGS: PREL KN JA
SUBJECT: ABDUCTIONS: MOFA NOT COUNTING ON A DPRK RESPONSE
SOON
Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt per 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Soon after Prime Minister Fukuda's sudden resignation
announcement on September 1, the DPRK informed the Japanese
that it will delay standing up its abductions reinvestigation
committee until after it "can confirm the policy of the new
Japanese administration," Foreign Minister Koumura announced
on September 5. (Note: The Japanese had hoped that the DPRK
would launch the reinvestigation sometime before September 9
-- the 60th anniversary of the founding of the DPRK -- to
allow North Koreans resident in Japan to travel to Pyongyang
for the festivities once Japan took the agreed to step of
lifting the ban on charter flights and travel between the two
countries.)
2. (C) The election of a new ruling Liberal Democratic Party
president on September 22, followed by this person's election
to Prime Minister on or around September 24, will probably
not immediately open the door for the DPRK to restart the
abductions investigation, MOFA Northeast Asia Director Shigeo
Yamada told Embassy Tokyo September 16. In fact, with the
possibility of an October or early November general election
in the offing, the DPRK will likely hold off until the
election is over and it can determine what course Japan's new
administration will take. "This will probably take time,"
Yamada assessed.
3. (C) In the meantime, abductee family members have been
harshly critical of PM Fukuda for further delaying possible
abductions progress with his resignation announcement.
During a highly publicized gathering of abductee family
members September 15, Megumi Yokota's parents and others
slammed PM Fukuda for his irresponsible actions --
particularly after he pledged upon taking office last year
that he would resolve the abductions issue "with his own
hands" -- and called on the next PM to make the issue a
priority.
SCHIEFFER