Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO67
2009-01-13 08:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
DPJ DIET MEMBER MEETS WITH DPRK OFFICIAL IN BEIJING
how-toVZCZCXRO5366 PP RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHKO #0067 0130850 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 130850Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9975 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 4156 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 5594 RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 1806 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 2365 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/USFJ PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000067
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KN JA
SUBJECT: DPJ DIET MEMBER MEETS WITH DPRK OFFICIAL IN BEIJING
Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt per 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000067
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KN JA
SUBJECT: DPJ DIET MEMBER MEETS WITH DPRK OFFICIAL IN BEIJING
Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt per 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: A DPRK official recently told opposition DPJ
Diet Member Yoshihiro Kawakami that disablement activities at
Yongbyon will cease if Japan does not provide its share of
heavy fuel oil. The official also said that the DPRK is
prepared to launch its abductions reinvestigation committee
once Japan acts on its pledge to partially lift its
unilateral sanctions (although Japan's understanding of its
agreement with the North is that it will partially lift
sanctions only after the DPRK officially launches the
committee). Kawakami -- who represents the pro-dialogue
group within the DPJ and is close to party leader Ichiro
Ozawa -- told Embassy Tokyo that his party will seek to
improve ties with the DPRK and separate the abductions issue
from denuclearization should it take power, a point he also
made to his DPRK interlocutor. End Summary.
2. (C) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Upper House Diet
Member Yoshihiro Kawakami met in late December with Kim Song
Gi, DCM of the DPRK's Embassy in Beijing, to discuss
Japan-DPRK relations and bilateral ties under a possible DPJ
government. Kawakami is senior among the DPJ legislators who
support dialogue with the DPRK and seek to separate the
abductions issue from denuclearization, and is part of an
informal and bipartisan group of Diet Members (that includes
senior LDP politician Taku Yamasaki) who are pushing for
improved ties with the DPRK. Kawakami is also close to DPJ
leader Ichiro Ozawa.
3. (C) During their nearly two-hour meeting, Kim told
Kawakami that, in the event that Japan does not "provide its
share of heavy fuel oil," the DPRK will halt disablement
activities at Yongbyon (which Kim said are "90 percent
complete,") Kawakami related to Embassy Tokyo January 13.
Kim also told Kawakami that substitute HFO from "Australia or
elsewhere" would be unacceptable. "If Japan can't hold up
its end of the bargain, then North Korea will press for
Japan's removal from the Six Party process," Kim told
Kawakami.
4. (C) On the issue of abductions, Kawakami relayed that Kim
told him that the DPRK's reinvestigation committee is set up
and ready to go; "all we need is for Japan to do as it
promised: partially lift its restrictions on charter flights
and travel between the two countries." Kawakami noted to
Embassy Tokyo that this DPRK position is at odds with Japan's
understanding of the deal reached in August 2008 by MOFA Asia
DG Saiki and Kim Song Ho: that Japan would partially lift
sanctions only after the DPRK formally announced the
launching of the reinvestigation committee.
5. (C) Kawakami told Embassy Tokyo that DPJ leader Ozawa
"fully supports" dialogue with the DPRK, and that the DPJ
will pursue this policy in the event that it takes power; "I
told as much to Kim," Kawakami added. Although the DPJ has
its share of anti-DPRK hardliners (such as Lower House
members Hiroshi Nakai and Shu Watanabe),"they get it and
understand the need to not let abductions hamstring progress
on denuclearization," Kawakami stressed.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR KN JA
SUBJECT: DPJ DIET MEMBER MEETS WITH DPRK OFFICIAL IN BEIJING
Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt per 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: A DPRK official recently told opposition DPJ
Diet Member Yoshihiro Kawakami that disablement activities at
Yongbyon will cease if Japan does not provide its share of
heavy fuel oil. The official also said that the DPRK is
prepared to launch its abductions reinvestigation committee
once Japan acts on its pledge to partially lift its
unilateral sanctions (although Japan's understanding of its
agreement with the North is that it will partially lift
sanctions only after the DPRK officially launches the
committee). Kawakami -- who represents the pro-dialogue
group within the DPJ and is close to party leader Ichiro
Ozawa -- told Embassy Tokyo that his party will seek to
improve ties with the DPRK and separate the abductions issue
from denuclearization should it take power, a point he also
made to his DPRK interlocutor. End Summary.
2. (C) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Upper House Diet
Member Yoshihiro Kawakami met in late December with Kim Song
Gi, DCM of the DPRK's Embassy in Beijing, to discuss
Japan-DPRK relations and bilateral ties under a possible DPJ
government. Kawakami is senior among the DPJ legislators who
support dialogue with the DPRK and seek to separate the
abductions issue from denuclearization, and is part of an
informal and bipartisan group of Diet Members (that includes
senior LDP politician Taku Yamasaki) who are pushing for
improved ties with the DPRK. Kawakami is also close to DPJ
leader Ichiro Ozawa.
3. (C) During their nearly two-hour meeting, Kim told
Kawakami that, in the event that Japan does not "provide its
share of heavy fuel oil," the DPRK will halt disablement
activities at Yongbyon (which Kim said are "90 percent
complete,") Kawakami related to Embassy Tokyo January 13.
Kim also told Kawakami that substitute HFO from "Australia or
elsewhere" would be unacceptable. "If Japan can't hold up
its end of the bargain, then North Korea will press for
Japan's removal from the Six Party process," Kim told
Kawakami.
4. (C) On the issue of abductions, Kawakami relayed that Kim
told him that the DPRK's reinvestigation committee is set up
and ready to go; "all we need is for Japan to do as it
promised: partially lift its restrictions on charter flights
and travel between the two countries." Kawakami noted to
Embassy Tokyo that this DPRK position is at odds with Japan's
understanding of the deal reached in August 2008 by MOFA Asia
DG Saiki and Kim Song Ho: that Japan would partially lift
sanctions only after the DPRK formally announced the
launching of the reinvestigation committee.
5. (C) Kawakami told Embassy Tokyo that DPJ leader Ozawa
"fully supports" dialogue with the DPRK, and that the DPJ
will pursue this policy in the event that it takes power; "I
told as much to Kim," Kawakami added. Although the DPJ has
its share of anti-DPRK hardliners (such as Lower House
members Hiroshi Nakai and Shu Watanabe),"they get it and
understand the need to not let abductions hamstring progress
on denuclearization," Kawakami stressed.
SCHIEFFER