TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS TOKYO 000606 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: Front-page items on Thursday morning included an announcement on Wednesday by the Japanese government that it has reached an agreement with the Ukraine government to purchase Ukraine's 30 million tons of greenhouse gas emission rights. ¶2. "North Korea Refuses U.S. Food Aid" The moderate Yomiuri's correspondent report from Washington said (3/19): "DOS Acting Spokesperson Wood told reporters on Tuesday that North Korea has notified the U.S. of its rejection of food aid from the U.S... North Korea, which is making preparations for a ballistic missile launch by claiming it is a satellite, appears to have taken a tougher line toward the U.S., which is calling for a halt to the firing." ¶3. "Information Control Rather than Food?" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun wrote from Seoul (3/19): "North Korea's rejection of U.S. food aid will further harden Washington's attitude toward Pyongyang. There is the view that Pyongyang made the move to prevent information about the nation from leaking out of the country through individuals monitoring food aid distribution activities." ZUMWALT