TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA AND BURMA

UNCLAS TOKYO 001898 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 AND BURMA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: All Tuesday morning papers gave top or front-page play to Monday's televised debate among the leaders of six major political parties ahead of the official start of the Lower House election campaign on Tuesday. ¶2. "What's Behind North Korea's Staging of Dialogue?" The business-oriented Nikkei ran a correspondent's report from Seoul saying (8/18): "North Korea accepted Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei's visit to Pyongyang following Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung Eun's return to South Korea. Hyun and Kim Jong Il agreed on the resumption of tourism to Mount Kumgang and Kaesong and the lifting of restrictions on cross-border travel between the North and South. However, North Korea also expressed criticism about a joint military exercise between the U.S. and South Korea. Although North Korea appears to be taking an increasingly flexible diplomatic position, it remains unclear whether it is only 'showing' a flexible position or if this reflects Pyongyang's real intentions. North Korea's response to Wu's call for the return to the Six-Party Talks will hold the key for determining Pyongyang's future course of action." ¶3. "U.S. to Seek Dialogue with Myanmar's Military Junta?" The liberal Mainichi wrote from Bangkok (8/18): "The U.S. side gave a certain amount of credit to Myanmar's military junta for releasing John Yettaw, an American citizen convicted by the junta, in response to a request made by Senator Webb when he visited the nation. Although it will be difficult to rapidly improve relations between the U.S. and Myanmar as long as democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains in captivity, there is a possibility that the two nations will step up their behind-the-scene moves to seek dialogue." ZUMWALT