TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN'S DRAFT LEGISLATION ON

UNCLAS TOKYO 002524 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 - JAPAN'S DRAFT LEGISLATION ON INSPECTION OF NORTH KOREA-RELATED CARGO ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included an Asahi report indicating that North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals were conducted under the direct instructions of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. ¶2. "Cargo Inspection Bill Appropriate" The liberal Mainichi argued in an editorial (11/2): "The GOJ has submitted a special measures bill to the Diet that will allow Japan to inspect cargo heading to and from North Korea. The move was made in response to the UN Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea, which conducted a second nuclear test in May. The most notable aspect of the bill is that it excludes the SDF's involvement and makes it clear that the Japan Coast Guard and customs authorities will play major roles in planned inspection activities. This appears to be the result of the consideration the Hatoyama administration has given to the Social Democratic Party, which is cautious about the use of the SDF. Unlike wartime ship inspections, the planned cargo inspections will be carried out as police activities. The bill submitted by the GOJ is appropriate; the Coast Guard and customs authorities should play a central role in the inspections." ¶3. "GOJ Should Reconsider Using SDF for Cargo Inspections" The conservative Sankei editorialized (11/2): "The clause on the SDF's involvement in Japan's cargo inspection activities has been eliminated from the draft bill. The move was apparently made to give consideration to the Social Democratic Party (SDP),which opposes any expansion of SDF activities.... As cargo inspections are unified efforts by the international community to prevent nuclear and missile-related materials from being transferred, the presence of the SDF to support the Coast Guard would be important. It would be regrettable if the Hatoyama administration removed the SDF's involvement in order to place priority on its coalition partnership with the SDP.... Along with the Coast Guard, the SDF's participation is indispensable when implementing the UN Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea." ROOS