JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/03/09

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/03/09 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) U.S-Japan relations: 4) President Obama to visit Japan, China in the latter part of this year (Nikkei) 5) Obama's trip to Japan this year underscores priority placed on relationship, aims to further strengthen alliance (Nikkei) Pyongyang rocket: 6) Japan, U.S., South Korea agree that if North Korea launches missile, they will seek new UNSC resolution with sanctions against that country (Asahi) 7) Defense Minister Hamada, Defense Secretary Gates in telephone conference agree to cooperate closely on DPRK missile launch, respond coolly (Tokyo Shimbun) 8) North Korea's "satellite" rocket lacks a control system, hides real intent of testing warhead-capable missile (Sankei) 9) Government analysis about mock-satellite rocket concludes that it could be armed at some point with a nuclear warhead (Sankei) 10) North Korea deploying jets to the area around missile test, likely for MD-reconnaissance purpose (Sankei) 11) EU commander of anti-piracy operations in waters off Somalia welcomes MSDF to the effort of dealing with pirate attacks on commercial ships (Yomiuri) Aso's G-20 diplomacy: 12) Prime Minister Aso announces ODA package for Africa at the G-20 Summit in London (Yomiuri) 13) Aso taking pains to display his diplomatic presence at the G-20 meeting (Nikkei) 14) Japan's presence at the G-20 being outshined by other leaders (Mainichi) 15) Aso ends up at the end of the protocol line at the G-20 (Sankei) 16) Aso meets Russian president briefly at the G-20 and puts in a plug for the northern territories being discussed during Putin visit later this year (Nikkei) 17) Yomiuri's annual poll finds 52 PERCENT of Japanese favoring amending the Constitution (Yomiuri) 18) Government and ruling camp plan to present the supplemental budget with stimulus package to the Diet on April 27 (Tokyo Shimbun) 19) Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Hatoyama emerges as party head Ozawa's chief backer to stay on despite cool attitude of others toward that idea (Yomiuri) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Tokyo Shimbun: G-20 vows 500 billion yen fiscal expansion: IMF funds to be reinforced TOKYO 00000753 002 OF 011 Mainichi: Nikkei: Sankei: G-20 seeks world growth of over 2 PERCENT in 2010 Yomiuri: G-20 aims to push growth up 4 PERCENT through fiscal spending Akahata: Health ministry found to have cut back on nursing-care expenditures, by changing method of recognizing those who need nursing care 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) U.S.-Russia relations reset: Speed up efforts to go to the next stage (2) Yokohama case: History of errors made by law courts Mainichi: (1) U.S.-Russia summit: Take step to abolish nuclear weapons (2) High school baseball tournament: Final game inspiring Yomiuri: (1) Financial summit: Discord concealed with priority given to solidarity (2) U.S.-Russia summit: Fulfill responsibility to prevent nuclear proliferation Nikkei: (1) Financial summit: Resolve to find way to overcome crisis indicated Sankei: (1) G-20 and North Korea: Tighten noose around North Korea to prevent its missile launch (2) New Israeli administration: Avoid friction with international community Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Financial summit: G-20 as center of global economy (2) U.S.-Russia summit: time to take action for nuclear disarmament Akahata: (1) Guam base agreement: Scrap it through conclusive Diet deliberations 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, April 2 &2 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 3, 2009 April 1 Night Attended a summit meeting on a project to protect tropical rain forests, hosted by Prince Charles at his official residence in London. Attended a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Met with Indian Prime Minister Singh at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Attended a dinner party hosted by British Prime Minister Brown. Stayed at the Intercontinental London Park Lane. TOKYO 00000753 003 OF 011 April 2 Morning Attended a breakfast meeting at the Excel Center, the hall for the summit. Posed for photos with other leaders. Chatted with Russian President Medvedev while standing. Attended the first-round plenary session of the financial summit. Afternoon Attended a working luncheon meeting. Attended the second-round plenary session. 4) U.S. President Obama to visit Japan this year to stress importance placed on Japan, aiming to strengthen alliance NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpt) Eve., April 2, 2009 By Tadashi Oishi in Washington President Obama's decision to visit Japan later this year comes from concern that his going only to China for a summit meeting, as agreed on April 1st, would give the impression that he was "bypassing Japan." There are many important policy areas for Japan-U.S. cooperation, including overcoming the financial crisis and finding measures to deal with the piracy problem, so the aim seems to be to express the importance of Japan in a visible way and further strengthen the alliance relationship. 5) President Obama to come to Japan later this year as part of Asia trip that includes China NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt) Eve., April 2, 2009 It was learned today that President Obama plans to visit Japan later this year for a summit meeting with Japan's prime minister. According to a source in the U.S. government, the schedule will now be nailed down in coordination with a planned visit to China. The Japanese government has been informed. Although the timeframe for the visit has not yet been set, the outlook is that it will be after the next general election, according to a U.S. government source, in order to reaffirm with the new administration in Japan such policy courses as the strengthening of the bilateral relationship. 6) Japan, U.S., South Korea to aim at UNSC resolution with sanctions if North Korea launches missile ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) April 3, 2009 Yoshihiro Makino, Seoul Japan, the United States, and South Korea have decided that in the event North Korea launches a ballistic missile under the name of a satellite, they would immediately call a UN Security Council meeting for the purpose of adopting a new resolution asking all countries to strictly implement a sanctions resolution adopted in 2006 in the wake of the North's nuclear test. According to some relevant sources, this policy course was proposed by the United States in a trilateral meeting held in Washington on March 27. Japan and South Korea basically agreed to the plan. Further, President Barack Obama conveyed this policy to South Korean President Lee Myung Bak in a U.S.-ROK summit held in London on April TOKYO 00000753 004 OF 011 2, according to South Korean government authorities. The position of China and Russia, permanent UN Security Council members with veto power, is that a satellite launch does not constitute a violation of past UN resolutions. As such, adopting a new sanctions resolution seems difficult. (Japan, the U.S., and South Korea) are believed to have decided to aim at a resolution reconfirming the past resolution that has a better chance for adoption. The reality is that many countries have not implemented the 2006 UN sanctions resolution. "Reconfirming (the old resolution) would be as significant as adopting a new one," a concerned source said. It is still unclear whether China and Russia will agree to a resolution of such contents. Many observers think the Security Council would settle in the end on a chairman's statement which has no binding force. 7) Hamada, Gates confirm that Japan, U.S. will calmly deal with North Korean missile launch in close cooperation TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) April 3, 2009 Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on the phone yesterday. In their conversation, the two leaders confirmed that in the event North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile in the guise of a satellite, Japan and the United States would deal with the matter in close cooperation. Secretary Gates told Hamada: "The situation this time would provide a chance for our two countries to improve our operational coordination and cooperation. I would like to see continued cooperation in missile defense (MD)." Defense Minister Hamada replied: "I agree with you." Secretary Gates also said: "Washington is ready to announce that the launch, although the North is claiming to be a satellite, would be a violation of UN Security Council resolutions." The telephone conversation took place at the request of the U.S. side. 8) N. Korea seems to have no ground control facility for its "satellite" SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) April 3, 2009 North Korea has now entered the final stage of preparations to launch an advanced Taepodong-2 long-range-ballistic missile that it claims to be an "artificial satellite." But it has yet to be confirmed that North Korea has a ground-based receiving and controlling station that is needed to adjust the orbit of a "satellite" if it deorbits, sources familiar with military affairs between Japan and the United States revealed yesterday. This means that "its payload, given it is a satellite, cannot be controlled after it is launched," according to a government source. This seems to indicate that North Korea will test-fire a missile as a means of delivering a warhead rather than putting a "satellite" in orbit. TOKYO 00000753 005 OF 011 In February, North Korea announced plans to launch the "Kwang Myong Song 2," an experimental communications satellite, on the "Unha 2," a launching vehicle. In March, North Korea joined the Space Treaty, which stipulates basic rules for its signatories to use outer space, and that country also joined the Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space, asserting that its planned missile launch is intended to "use outer space for peaceful purposes." But the United States and South Korea still have not confirmed the existence of any ground control facility despite intensified surveillance with reconnaissance satellites, according to the sources familiar with military affairs between Japan and the United States. A control facility adjusts an orbited satellite by moving it up or down. According to the sources and experts, a large receiving antenna and a tracking radar system are needed on the ground to stabilize an orbiting satellite. Meanwhile, North Korea may insist that it has only to orbit a satellite even though it does not have any control facilities. However, a government source notes that once a satellite is launched, it cannot play any role without facilities to control it. "Even if its warhead payload is a satellite, it will soon fall out of orbit and burn up," a person connected to the U.S. government said. 9) North Korean missile launch may be a test for loading nuclear warhead; Observation helped government's response SANKEI (Page 4) (Excerpts) April 3, 2009 There is strong analysis that North Korea has no facility to control a satellite's orbit. As a result, the view has emerged in the government that the purpose of the planned missile launch is a test for loading a nuclear warhead rather than for the operation of a satellite. This view is said to have propelled the government's steps to date, such as the deployment of PAC-3 ground-to-air guided missiles. Japan, the United States and South Korea intend to demand that Pyongyang, which claims the missile to be a satellite, disclose such information as to whether it has a control facility. The government has not been totally free from doubt from the beginning. In Security Council meetings, held as necessary since early February, Prime Minister Taro Aso has repeatedly instructed relevant government agencies to make completely certain that what the North was planning to launch was not a satellite. In August 1998, when the North launched a Taepodong-1 ballistic missile, Pyongyang continued to insist that it was satellite Kwangmyongsong-1. The Korean Central News Agency reported on October 1 that year that the satellite was visible to naked eyes anywhere in North Korea. In reaction, a Japan-U.S. military affairs source mockingly said: "What kind of eyesight does it take to see the satellite that is flying at an altitude of nearly 300 kilometers?" This time around, the North has again stubbornly insisted that it is about to launch a satellite. Helped by strong analysis that the TOKYO 00000753 006 OF 011 North does not have a ground station to control a satellite, the government has concluded that even if a satellite is mounted on the warhead, it is the same as a missile launch basically. 10) North Korea moves fighters to area near missile base to reconnoiter MD system SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 3, 2009 North Korean fighters are reconnoitering the Self-Defense Force's (SDF) missile defense (MD) system, according to informed sources yesterday. North Korea is apparently aiming to get information on the position of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) Aegis-equipped destroyers now stationed in the Sea of Japan and other details of Japan's MD system. It has also been learned that the North has mobilized its fighters to the area near the base in which North Korea are preparing to launch a long-range ballistic missile, which it claims a satellite. The SDF is on high alert, keeping in mind a possible provocative action by Pyongyang before a missile is launched. The SDF has completed preparations to shoot down an upgraded long-range Taepodong-2 ballistic missile that North Korea plans to launch or its booster in the event that such objects fall on Japanese territory or waters. Two Aegis-equipped destroyers have been deployed to the Sea of Japan. The SDF has also been making stricter precautions by mobilizing electronic reconnaissance aircraft, such as the MSDF's EP3 designed to collect signals from North Korean telecommunications and electronic equipment. North Korea has moved Mig-23 and other fighter planes from another base to an area near the missile-launch base in Musudan-ri located near the Sea of Japan as of April 1. On the 2nd, several fighters flied over the Sea of Japan. The flights are seen to have been aimed to check the position of the two destroyers and the flight conditions of EP-3. The North Korean fighters have not entered the Air Defense Identification Zone, in which unauthorized incursions are subject to scrambles by Air Self-Defense Force's fighters. North Korea has about 590 combat aircraft, including Mig-23 and Mig-29. 11) EU commander welcomes MSDF's activities in Somalia waters YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) April 3, 2009 Saki Ouchi, Northwood, Britain British Royal Navy Rear Adm. Phillip Jones, who commands the headquarters for "Operation Atalanta," an antipiracy campaign of the European Union, welcomed the security activities of Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers in waters off Somalia. "Even if there are 100 naval ships, that is not enough to ensure perfect security," Jones told the Yomiuri Shimbun in an interview on April 1 at the headquarters in Northwood. "Every country's contribution is important," the admiral added. According to the headquarters, the "danger zone" in waters off Somalia is 4 million square kilometers, about 10 times larger than Japan. There are eight EU naval vessels in Somalia waters. In TOKYO 00000753 007 OF 011 addition, there are also vessels from such countries as Japan, China, and Russia, convoying their respective merchant ships. All included, there are about 25 naval vessels being engaged in warning activities. "It's important for various countries to share the big picture of what is going on in the sea," Jones said, stressing the importance of collaborations. He also said the EU naval forces are about to carry out unprecedented cooperation with China and other countries that are under different political regimes, noting that such cooperation is for such purposes as: 1) coordinating to use vessels and other limited resources in an effective way; and 2) sharing experiences for what was effective in cracking down on pirates. Asked about cooperation with the MSDF, he said, "They are trying to learn our experiences in a serious manner." With this, he indicated that there is no problem about cooperation with the MSDF. 12) Prime Minister Aso announces ODA to Asia YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) April 3, 2009 Hiroshi Oyama, London Prime Minister Taro Aso yesterday announced that Japan would continue contributing to recovery of the world economy, revealing the plan to provide Asian countries with as much as 2 trillion yen in official development assistance (ODA),as well as additional economic stimulus measures, during a series of meetings with leaders of the second financial summit. Aso stressed that in order for economic recovery, Asia needs to become an open growth center. He formally announced his government's policy of providing as much as 2 trillion yen in ODA, including 300 billion yen in yen loans for emergency financial aid to Asian countries. He also revealed that Japan would extend 22 billion dollars in two years to developing countries by using trade insurance. 13) Aso aims to demonstrate presence in financial summit by announcing assistance plan for developing countries NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) April 3, 2009 Nakayama, London Group of 20 (G-20) economies' leaders held their second-round meeting (on April 1-2) in London. The framework of G-20 financial summit is now likely to be set in as a regular forum for industrialized and emerging countries to discuss global challenges. Those calling for expanding the Group of Eight (G-8) summit may be encouraged by this development. The amount of time given to each speaker is limited in an international conference joined by more than 20 leaders. In the financial summit, Prime Minister Aso announced Japan's new plans to provide developing countries with 22 billion dollars in financial assistance for trade and Asian countries with 20 billion dollars in government official assistance (ODA) funds. Aso apparently was aiming to play up his presence, anticipating that the G-20 will become a major international forum. TOKYO 00000753 008 OF 011 In the latest G-20 summit, though, U.S. President Barack Obama, who made his debut on the international stage, was in the limelight. Bilateral meetings held by Obama were reported in the media of various countries. Meanwhile, Japan, which is saddled to the issue of North Korea's expected missile launch, was unable to hold bilateral summit meetings with any UN permanent member nations, including the U.S. and Russia. 14) G-20 closes: Cooperation with sources of contention left unsettled MAINICHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) April 3, 2009 Participants in the 2nd emergency summit (financial summit) joined by leaders of the Group of 20 Nations (G-20) reached an agreement that participating countries take a concerted action to bring the ailing global economy around and realize a growth rate of over 2 PERCENT in 2010. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates the growth of the global economy in 2009 to be between minus 0.5 PERCENT and minus 1 PERCENT . It is indispensable to implement economic stimulus measures, including large-scale public spending, in order to achieve the goal. Whether G-20 nations can shore up the global economy through concerted action depends on how they are going to tackle the task of reaching the goal Japan presence slight Since Prime Minister Taro Aso is confident that the strong assets he brings are the domestic economy and his diplomacy, his enthusiasm for the financial summit is more robust than that of most other leaders. During the first round of the financial summit in Washington in November last year, he came up with a proposal for extending loans to the IMF worth up to 100 billion dollars and encouraged other participants to make similar contributions. He was once eager to host the next fnancial summit in Japan. His pet argument is that drastic public spending is necessary to shore up the economy. He had thought that showing Japan's presence, by explaining his efforts, such as that he has ordered the compilation of additional stimulus measures, including a fiscal 2009 extra budget, would lead to Japan fulfilling a leading role. However, it was London that was picked as the host nation for the ongoing summit. The G-20 was the venue for. President Obama's first European tour since taking office. The scheduled launch of a long-range ballistic missile by North Korea is close at hand. As such, Aso during summit meetings with various countries focused on promoting international cooperation over the missile issue. He had to refrain from discussing economic issues. For this reason, Aso during the dinner meeting on the 1st made a strong appeal on the importance of stimulus measures, based on Japan's experience after the collapse of the bubble economy. He tried to enhance Japan's presence by announcing assistance to developing countries and measures to promote trade, saying, "Japan wants to assist Asia as the growth center." Japan will expand Asia-bound official development assistance (ODA) to roughly 20 billion dollars. It will also expand trade insurance for trade with developing countries to about 22 billion dollars over TOKYO 00000753 009 OF 011 two years. 15) G-20: Prime minister at bottom of protocol order SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) April 3, 2009 Morimichi Imabori, London, Prime Minister Taro Aso has been placed at the bottom of the protocol order at the G-20. The rank order of participants in terms of the order of their making a statement and the like is decided in the order of head of state and then chief executive, as well as in accordance with the length of the time since taking office. Prime Minister Aso is the chief executive. His tenure is the shortest among the 20 leaders. For this reason, he is the first among the G-20 leaders to enter the conference hall for the financial summit-related meetings and the last person to leave. He is taking it as a matter of fact, saying, "That is the rule." However, some sources accompanying Aso on his visit to London said with a sigh, "Japan is a major donor, and yet ..." 16) Aso chatted with Russian president while standing NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 3, 2009 Prime Minister Taro Aso chatted with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev while standing for a short time at an interval during the financial summit on April 2. Medvedev indicated that the Northern Territorial issue would be discussed when Prime Minister Putin visits Japan in May. He said: "Economic issues are expected to be high on the agenda, but we would like to discuss other important pending issues, as well." Aso said: "I am looking forward to talking in the next G-8 summit in Italy in July about what we discussed in our previous meeting." He expressed his anticipation about progress on the territorial issue in their next meeting, keeping in mind that he had asked the president in their February meeting in Sakhalin to present Russia's reply on the issue of ownership of the Northern territories in the next G-8 summit. 17) Poll: 52 PERCENT favor constitutional revision YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) April 3, 2009 According to findings from a recent face-to-face nationwide public opinion survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun on March 14-15, a total of 51.6 PERCENT or a majority of the respondents think it would be better to amend the Constitution, with 36.1 PERCENT thinking it would be better not to amend it. In a survey taken in March last year, negative answers accounted for 43.1 PERCENT , with affirmative ones at 42.5 PERCENT . In the survey this time, however, those in favor of constitutional revision again outnumbered those not. This is presumably because many more people actually feel a gap between the Constitution and the realities, given such factors as an increasing number of overseas missions for the Self-Defense Forces TOKYO 00000753 010 OF 011 and political stagnation resulting from the standoff between the ruling and opposition parties in the Diet that has been divided with the ruling camp dominating its lower chamber and the opposition camp controlling its upper chamber. The "Constitution" survey has been conducted since 1981. In the 1993-2007 polls, those in favor of amending the Constitution outnumbered those not. However, the proportion of those in favor of amending the Constitution began decreasing after peaking at 65.0 PERCENT in 2004. Last year, affirmative answers were less than negative ones. This time around, the pro-revision percentage rebounded. In the survey, respondents were also asked about Constitution Article 9, which stipulates that Japan renounces war and possesses no war potential. In response to this question, 38 PERCENT said "it should be amended because interpretation or implementation can no longer meet the realities," up from 31 PERCENT in last year's survey. "Meet the realities with interpretation or implementation" accounted for 33 PERCENT (36 PERCENT in last year's survey),and "strictly abide by the Constitution, avoid meeting the realities with interpretation or implementation" at 21 PERCENT (24 PERCENT in last year's survey). 18) Government, ruling coalition to submit supplementary budget for fiscal 2009 as early as April 27 TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) April 3, 2009 The government and ruling parties yesterday launched coordination with an eye to submitting to the Diet a supplementary budget for fiscal 2009 as early as April 27. The outlook originally was for the extra budget to be submitted after the consecutive holidays in May. The government and ruling camp appear to have determined to speed up the submission plan, aiming at early passage of the extra budget. It is being rumored in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that the House of Representatives would be dissolved in May, after the extra budget clears the Diet. Prime Minister Aso, too, expressed his intention in a press conference on March 31 that if deliberations on the budget were prolonged by protests from the opposition bloc, he would dissolve the Lower House. However, should the passage of the budget be delayed even after Aso decides to dissolve the Lower House in May, the Lower House election will come close to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election (July 12),a situation that the New Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, wants to avoid. The LDP appears to have given consideration to the New Komeito by moving up presentation of the budget to late April. The supplementary budget may clear the Diet in the middle of May if the government and ruling camp can win cooperation from the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). A senior LDP member said: "(The prime minister's decision to dissolve the Lower House) will reach a crucial stage in mid-May." 19) DPJ's Hatoyama and close to President Ozawa back him, but rest of party cool YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) TOKYO 00000753 011 OF 011 April 4, 2009 In an attempt to ease criticism of Ichiro Ozawa's decision to continue serving as president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),party lawmakers close to Ozawa are actively engaged in activities to support Ozawa, holding study sessions with experts critical of the investigation of the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors. The study group called "Group to Realize a Change in Government" led by DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama invited Nobuo Gohara, a professor emeritus at Meijo University and former prosecutor, to a study session held at Hatoyama's office in Tokyo to hear questionable points in the special investigation squad's prosecution regarding the Political Funds Control violation scandal involving Ozawa's fund management organizations. The study session was attended by about 30 DPJ members, including members from another group made up of junior House of Representatives members, called the Isshin-kai. Hatoyama has revealed that his party will set up an investigation team of experts from outside the party and verify the use of Ozawa's political funds, the way the investigation was carried out by the prosecutors, and media reports. On the night of April 1, Hatoyama invited Ozawa to his meeting with the DPJ vice presidents, providing a meeting between Ozawa and vice presidents who dealt with the fundraising scandal. Ozawa has been mostly staying at a hotel in Yaesu, Tokyo. He has often met party employees and lawyers, except holding regular press conferences and meeting Upper House Steering Committee Chairman Takeo Nishioka and Lower House member Takeshi Shina representing Iwate Prefecture, Ozawa's home town. According to a source connected with the DPJ, since the party accepted his decision to remain in his party post, Ozawa appears to be paying more attention to developments in the prosecution's case rather than to moves in the party. ZUMWALT