TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS TOKYO 002326 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 Wednesday morning papers gave top play to yesterday's announcement by the administrative reform minister that some 2.5 trillion yen will be pared down from the 15 trillion-yen supplementary budget that was compiled by the former LDP administration. ¶2. "Do Not Repeat Talks That Allow North Korea to Escape from Denuclearization" On DPRK leader Kim Jong Il's reported comment to Chinese Premier Wen that his country is prepared to hold multilateral talks, including the Six-Party Talks, depending on the outcome of U.S.-DPRK talks, the business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (10/7): "Holding talks with North Korea will be meaningless if they do not lead to denuclearization.... U.S.-DPRK dialogue could be acceptable if it is aimed at achieving a breakthrough. However, the U.S. previously made the mistake of removing North Korea from the terror-sponsor list even though there was no concrete progress on the nuclear front. The U.S. must not make easy concessions again." ¶3. "North Korea Should Return to Six-Party Talks" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri asserted in an editorial (10/7): "China has been cautious about implementing sanctions against North Korea. It can be said that this attitude was partially responsible for creating the present situation. China may have judged that there would be a negative effect on its foremost priority of ensuring 'stability' if the North Korean regime was weakened as a result of sanctions. In reality, stability in East Asia, including China, has been undermined in the face of North Korea's continued nuclear development. In order to avoid making the same mistake, China should vigorously enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1874." ¶4. "DPRK Should Declare Return to Six-Party Talks" The liberal Mainichi insisted (10/7): "We should never compromise on the position that the September 2005 Six-Party joint statement is still valid.... If North Korea claims it is invalid, we must, as President Obama stated in his UN Speech, 'stand together and demonstrate' that international rules are not empty promises.... Kim Jong Il should return to the Six-Party Talks without hesitation and rescue his country by obtaining practical benefits in exchange for denuclearization." ¶5. "North Korea's Return to Six-Party Talks Indispensable" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun argued (10/7): "It cannot be denied that over the past 15 years, the U.S. and China have gone to great lengths to seek a settlement every time North Korea causes nuclear and missile problems. If such a pattern becomes fixed, the Six-Party Talks will end up being a rubber stamp venue that merely endorses plans laid out by the U.S. and China." ZUMWALT