TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS TOKYO 001312 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 ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers led with Prime Minister Aso's press conference on Wednesday, during which he revealed Japan's plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. The papers also gave front-page play to the agreement reached on Wednesday among the five permanent UN Security Council members, Japan, and South Korea on a new resolution regarding North Korea. ¶2. "North Korea Should Immediately Release American Journalists" The liberal Mainichi editorialized (6/11): "North Korea has sentenced two female American journalists to 12 years in labor prison... North Korea should immediately release them in order to dispel suspicion about Pyongyang using the two detained Americans as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the U.S. It is natural for the U.S. government to place priority on the protection of its citizens. We hope, however, that the U.S. will not accept Pyongyang's nuclear tests and missile launches as a result... Although the U.S. government has clearly stated that it will deal with the detention problem separately from North Korea's missile and nuclear issues, we wonder whether the U.S. can maintain this position. We hope the U.S. will not fall into a trap set by North Korea and that the unity among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea will not become flawed." ZUMWALT