PM FUKUDA AND PRESIDENT LEE MARK "NEW ERA" IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000547 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/29/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV JA KN SUBJECT: PM FUKUDA AND PRESIDENT LEE MARK "NEW ERA" IN JAPAN-ROK RELATIONS Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Japan Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and ROK President Lee Myung-bak marked a "new era" in bilateral relations and agreed to resume "Shuttle Diplomacy" during a February 25 summit in Seoul. The two sides tentatively agreed that Lee would visit Tokyo April 20-21. The two leaders offered general, conciliatory remarks on historical differences while avoiding specific discussion of contentious issues. Fukuda proposed that the two countries begin planning for preliminary consultations on a free trade agreement. Lee stressed the need to strengthen bilateral and trilateral cooperation in denuclearizing the DPRK. Both leaders called on Pyongyang to submit a complete and comprehensive nuclear declaration. End Summary. -------------- New Era -------------- ¶2. (C) On February 27, Foreign Ministry Northeast Asia Division Deputy Director Shigetoshi Nagao briefed Embassy Tokyo on the summit meeting conducted by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and President Lee Myung-bak on February 25 in Seoul. Nagao observed that the 50-minute discussion at the Blue House, which he described as a "good meeting," marked a "new era" in bilateral relations. Fukuda thanked Lee for choosing to hold his first conversation as ROK President with a Japanese leader. The discussion, which took place following Lee's inauguration ceremony, covered four main topics: shuttle diplomacy, history, economic ties, and North Korea. -------------- Shuttle Diplomacy -------------- ¶3. (C) Fukuda and Lee agreed to resume the so-called "Shuttle Diplomacy." Nagao said that Japan had "almost confirmed" the dates for the ROK President's visit to Tokyo. Fukuda agreed to a South Korean proposal for the two leaders to meet April 20-21, Nagao reported, and was waiting for Seoul to confirm. Fukuda would reciprocate with a return trip to South Korea during the "latter half of the year." Lee also accepted Fukuda's invitation to attend the G-8 Outreach meeting July 7-9 in Hokkaido. -------------- History -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Nagao, Fukuda made general statements about historical differences, noting that it is "important to recognize past facts as facts, and to look into history directly and to think about how the other side will think." The Prime Minister further suggested that Tokyo and Seoul "think together how to deal with the future." Lee reportedly agreed, noting his desire to "manage the bilateral relationship in a stable manner." Nagao said the two men avoided discussing specific contentious issues such as Comfort Women, Yasukuni Shrine, or the Liancourt Rocks. -------------- Economic Relations -------------- ¶5. (C) The President and Prime Minister agreed to strengthen bilateral economic ties, Nagao observed. Fukuda proposed that the two countries begin planning for preliminary consultations on a free trade agreement. Nagao said those first steps would include logistical and administrative matters such as when and where the talks would take place, and at what level. Fukuda and Lee agreed to consider forming a business roundtable and to encourage consultations amongst entrepreneurs. -------------- North Korea TOKYO 00000547 002 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (C) Lee called for Japan and the ROK to strengthen bilateral and Tokyo-Seoul-Beijing trilateral cooperation in denuclearizing the DPRK, according to Nagao. Separately, the ROK leader also saw the need to maintain the health of the Japan-DPRK, ROK-DPRK, and United States-DPRK relationships. The leaders shared the view that Pyongyang must submit a complete and comprehensive nuclear declaration. Fukuda expressed support for Lee's overall policy toward the North, including Seoul's proposal to raise the per capita income of North Koreans to USD 3000 in ten years. Nagao said that Fukuda did not raise the abduction issue. SCHIEFFER