TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TRIP TO JAPAN AND

UNCLAS TOKYO 002613 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 - PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TRIP TO JAPAN AND NORTH KOREA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers gave top play to open hearings held yesterday by Government Revitalization Unit teams concerning budget request items, saying that some 50 billion yen for 10 projects was identified as "waste" and needs to be eliminated. ¶2. "Will to Manage Alliance to Be Tested" On President Obama's planned summit with Prime Minister Hatoyama, the liberal Asahi editorialized (11/12): "Neither the U.S. nor Japan is planning to take up the issue of Futenma relocation as a major topic for discussion in the summit. Instead, both sides agreed to seek an expedited settlement of the relocation issue at a cabinet-level consultation forum. While it is not desirable for the whole summit to be spoiled over this issue ... perhaps Prime Minister Hatoyama should explain [to the President] the difficulty and complexity of this issue candidly. Rather than avoiding in-depth discussions, the two leaders should exchange views in a serious manner, especially because this issue touches upon the core of the bilateral alliance. Such an approach is crucial. No matter what decision the prime minister makes, it will take a significant amount of political energy to achieve a breakthrough. It is necessary for both leaders to demonstrate strong political will to settle the matter promptly in order to achieve a breakthrough." ¶3. "U.S. to Send Bosworth to North Korea without Firm Prospects for Resumption of Six-Party Talks" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri wrote (11/12): "The USG has decided to dispatch Special Representative for North Korea Bosworth to Pyongyang by the end of the year, based on the judgment that the DPRK will return to the Six-Party Talks. It is clear that the U.S. announced the visit to record a '[diplomatic] accomplishment' ahead of President Obama's trip to Asia. It is still uncertain whether the Six-Party Talks will resume." ¶4. "Gap Exists between U.S., North Korea over Motives for Bosworth's Visit" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun stated in a report from Seoul (11/12): "In the upcoming talks between Bosworth and North Korean officials, the U.S. plans to concentrate on the issue of resuming the Six-Party Talks. The fact that a specific schedule [for the visit] has not been disclosed apparently means that continued coordination will be necessary between the two sides because there is a gap between the motives of the U.S. and those of North Korea, which places priority on improving its relations with the U.S." ROOS