DPRK CARGO INSPECTION: JAPAN COAST GUARD TO LEAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001448 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019 TAGS: ELTN EWWT MOPS PBTS PGOV PHSA PINR PREL PTER JA, KS, KN SUBJECT: DPRK CARGO INSPECTION: JAPAN COAST GUARD TO LEAD REF: TOKYO 1414 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James P. Zumwalt, reasons 1.4(b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) The draft special measures bill authorizing Japan to inspect DPRK ship cargo (reftel) identifies the Japan Coast Guard as the lead operational agency, according to Ministry of Defense (MOD) Defense Policy Bureau Director General Takamizawa. The Maritime Self-Defense Forces (MSDF) will supplant the efforts of the Coast Guard if the situation warrants, but would operate under the maritime security authorities granted under Article 82 of the Self Defense Forces Law. Ruling coalition Diet members will approve an outline of the draft bill in a 26 June project team meeting. ¶2. (C) Takamizawa said the draft legislation identifies cargo inspection as a law enforcement activity and, as such, the Coast Guard would take the lead role. The legislation indicates that the MSDF will be used "in case of special need," but is purposefully vague about clearly defining what this means. Additionally, the bill would not require Diet approval in the event a JMSDF dispatch is deemed necessary. ¶3. (C) The bill will send a "powerful message to the DPRK and China," according to Takamizawa, and he hoped that the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) would not attempt to forestall its passage. The Coast Guard is ready to go, related Takamizawa, and the JMSDF stands ready to back them up. Takamizawa said he thought the law would be passed smoothly. (Note: As reported reftel, while mainstream DPJ members may be ready to support the bill, left-leaning elements within the party are expected to object to the legislation's JMSDF provisions. Pressure is high on the government and ruling party to pass the law prior to the 28 July end of the Diet session. End note.) ZUMWALT