TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS TOKYO 000029 SIPDIS 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 LEAD STORIES: Lead stories on Monday morning included a decision by the opposition DPJ not to submit to the Upper House during the current Diet session a censure motion against Prime Minister Fukuda even if the ruling coalition puts the GOJ's new antiterrorism bill to a second vote in the Lower House to enact the legislation. ¶1. "U.S. Should Be Tough with North Korea" The moderate- conservative Yomiuri editorialized (1/7): "...The U.S. and Japan are urging North Korea to completely abandon its nuclear programs. However, Pyongyang has yet to produce a 'complete and correct declaration' of its nuclear programs as agreed on at the six-party talks. North Korea is still continuing to develop nuclear weapons. If North Korea is able to miniaturize nuclear warheads and load them onto Rodong missiles, which can reach Japan, Tokyo will face a more serious threat. The North Korean nuclear issue is mainly being handled in bilateral talks between the U.S. and DPRK. Japan needs to call on Washington to be tough toward Pyongyang. The U.S. should not easily delist the DPRK as a state sponsor of terrorism unless progress is made on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea." DONOVAN