JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/06/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 000770 SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/06/09 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) North Korean missile launch: 4) North Korea launches missile that crosses over northern Japan with "satellite" landing in the Pacific Ocean (Yomiuri) 5) UNSC to take up whether to issue resolution denouncing North Korea missile launch, with Russia, China reluctant to take hard stance against act (Mainichi) 6) U.S. for time being will take a hard-line stance toward North Korea after its "provocative act" (Nikkei) 7) Six-Party Talks have been put on indefinite hold following North Korea's nuclear launch (Tokyo Shimbun) 8) Defense Ministry starts analyzing data on North Korean missile launch (Tokyo Shimbun) 9) Japan considering retrieving the rocket booster that landed in the sea (Yomiuri) 10) Government pleased that its handling of the DPRK rocket launch avoided turmoil, even though there were some miscues (Nikkei) 11) Limits of BMD exposed by the North Korean missile launch, and calls have begun to expand the system (Asahi) 12) Former Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa calls for striking North Korea's bases (Tokyo Shimbun) 13) Both ruling and opposition camps denounce North Korea for its provocative act (Yomiuri) 14) Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Hatoyama issues strong protest against North Korea's missile launch (Nikkei) 15) Government on the 10th will work out its own additional sanctions against North Korea (Nikkei) 16) Yomiuri poll finds 78 PERCENT of Japanese wanting tougher sanctions imposed on North Korea; 88 PERCENT feel anxiety about North Korea developing missiles (Yomiuri) 17) Yomiuri poll finds Aso Cabinet support rate up a bit to 24.3 PERCENT , while 66 PERCENT of the public unconvinced by DPJ head Ozawa's staying on in office (Yomiuri) Defense and security: 18) Government decides to send P3-C patrol planes to Djibouti to help out in the war on pirates (Tokyo Shimbun) 19) U.S. military vehicle allegedly involved in hit and run accident in Naha Okianwa that seriously injured three (Akahata) 20) Lower House committee to deliberate the MSDF anti-piracy measures bill on the 14th (Tokyo Shimbun) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: North Korea launches missile Nikkei: North Korea launches Taepodong-2 missile Akahata: JCP Chairman Shii in meeting with non-permanent workers: Struggle will be paid off in future TOKYO 00000770 002 OF 012 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) North Korea's missile launch: Threat should be contained by international unity Mainichi: (1) North Korea's missile launch: North Korea's violation of rule obvious; UNSC should come into line Yomiuri: (1) UNSC must be tough with North Korea Nikkei: (1) UNSC must contain North Korea's reckless act (2) Meaning of 60-year-old NATO Sankei: (1) Impose decisive sanctions on North Korea Tokyo Shimbun: (1) North Korea's missile launch: The North will loose many things (2) Relief of suffers of Minamata disease: Drawing the curtain on the issue too early Akahata: (1) Government's additional economic stimulus package: Consumption tax must not be increased 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, April 4 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 6, 2009 08:30 Took a walk around the official residence. 12:21 Met with crisis management officer Ito at the Cabinet Crisis Management Center at the Kantei. 13:14 Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura at the Kantei. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike joined. Konoike remained. 15:26 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma. 16:19 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto, Konoike and Uruma. 16:39 Arrived at the official residence. Prime Minister's schedule, April 5 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) TOKYO 00000770 003 OF 012 April 6, 2009 08:34 Took a walk around the official residence. 11:38 Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura, crisis Management officer Ito and others at the Cabinet Crisis Management Center at the Kantei. 12:30 Met with Foreign Minister Nakasone, Defense Minister Hamada and Kawamura. 14:06 Security meeting at the Kantei. Finance Minister Yosano remains. 15:13 Met with Kawamura. 15:28 Arrived at the official residence. 16:13 Had a haircut at Barber Sato at Hotel Pacific Tokyo in Takanawa. 17:50 Arrived at the Kantei. 4) North Korea launches missile; Flies over Japan; "Satellite" splashes into Pacific Ocean, according to U.S. information YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) April 6, 2009 North Korea yesterday launched as planned a multi-stage missile, which it claimed to be a satellite launch. After dropping its first-stage booster into the Sea of Japan west of Akita Prefecture, the missile flew over Japan. The Self-Defense Forces did not attempt to intercept it. There was no report of damage in Japan. The government has lodged a sharp protest with North Korea, saying it was a violation of a UN Security Council resolution. The Security Council has decided to hold an emergency meeting at the request of Japan. Although the North announced the satellite launch was a success, the U.S. military released a statement noting that the missile had failed to reach orbit, with its second-stage booster splashing into the Pacific Ocean. Nevertheless, chances are strong that the North has succeeded in lengthening the flight of its long-range ballistic missile. From a U.S. military early-warning satellite and other information, the government detected that North Korea had launched a missile from its Musudan-ri base facing the Sea of Japan around 11:30 a.m. April ¶5. The government immediately made public the launch. The missile reached the Pacific Ocean after flying over Akita and Iwate prefectures around 11:37 a.m. The fist-stage booster fell into the Sea of Japan some 280 kilometers west of Akita Prefecture. A Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol plane confirmed around 3 p.m. a body of discolored sea water 50 meters wide and 3 kilometers long. Although the SDF had been ready to intercept an incoming projectile using the missile defense (MD) system, it concluded from TOKYO 00000770 004 OF 012 a post-launch analysis that the launched missile would not fall on Japan, so the SDF did not attempt to shoot it down. No debris fell on Japan. 5) Japan, U.S., Britain and France to quickly submit to UN a resolution denouncing North Korea: China, Russia remain cautious MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) April 6, 2009 Following the launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea, Japan and the U.S. along with Britain and France intend to jointly submit to the UN Security Council a resolution denouncing the nation very soon. The envisaged resolution will likely reaffirm sanctions imposed under the resolution 1718, adopted in October 2006. Since China and Russia are taking a cautious stance toward such an action, citing that if what was launched is an artificial satellite, it falls under the exercise of a country's right to develop its own satellite, whether the UNSC will recognize the launched object as an artificial satellite or not holds the key to the adoption of the resolution. Following the launch, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone on the afternoon of April 5 exchanged views with his counterparts of various concerned countries. In response to Nakasone's remark that it is necessary to send a strong message, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton noted in agreement, "I share deep concern over and criticism of the deed of North Korea (with you). It is important for both Japan and the U.S. to take a clear-cut, strong stance." Commenting on Clinton's statement, a senior Foreign Ministry official explained, "She has indicated a strong resolve that the U.S. finds it unacceptable for North Korea trifilng with the dialogue policy line between the U.S. and North Korea." Nakasone also shared an understanding with South Korea's foreign minister that since the launch is unacceptable, being in violation of a UNSC resolution. UNSC resolution 1718 was adopted when North Korea carried out a nuclear test in October 2006. It demands in accordance with the Chapter 7 of the UN Charter that North Korea refrain from carrying out another nuclear test or launching a ballistic missile. It lays down the end of all activities related to a ballistic missile and the placing of a moratorium on a missile launch as well as sanctions, including a ban on exports of luxury goods to North Korea. China and Russia remain cautious about a proposal for a resolution seeking the thorough implementation of the resolution 1718. Some, however, view that China is simply refraining from openly expressing its displeasure with North Korea's action from the perspective of being able to influence that nation. Japan and the U.S. are determined to look into the matter, including the issuance of a chairman's statement, which could be obtained by agreement relatively easily. 6) U.S. to take hard-line stance against North Korea for time being, stressing also importance of six-party talks NIKKEI (Page 6) (Excerpts) April 6, 2009 TOKYO 00000770 005 OF 012 Hiroshi Maruya, Prague Denying North Korea's claimed of a launch of satellite by describing it as the launch of a Taepodong 2 missile, the U.S. Barack administration announced that it would take a hard-lined stance against North Korea by taking such measures as bringing the issue to the UN Security Council. President Obama, who is now visiting the Czech Republic, instructed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice to cooperate with various countries. This is first crisis-management test for President Obama since taking office. The President also stressed the need to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula through the framework of the six-party talks on North Korean's nuclear programs. After referring to North Korea and Iran in his speech on nuclear disarmament, Obama said yesterday in Prague: "We believe in dialogue." Chances are that the Obama administration will look into holding bilateral talks on the missile issue between Washington and Pyongyang, dropping it by one level. According to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, on receiving the first report on the missile launch at 4:30 a.m. on April 5 (11:30 a.m. on April 5, Japan time),President Obama arose and went to discuss the issue with National Security Adviser Jim Jones and other officials. He also talked with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who is in Washington. The statement describing the North's missile launch as a provocative act was released at 6:00 a.m. A little past 9:00 a.m. before delivering a speech, Obama unexpectedly told reporters: "North Korea's action that ignored UN Security Council resolutions damages peace and security of the northeastern part of Asia." He also inserted the North Korean issue in a speech delivered at 10:00 a.m. He announced at 11:00 a.m. that North Korea's missile launch would destabilize the world and the region. He referred to the North Korean issue four times in seven hours after the North launched its missile. 7) North Korea's missile launch to inevitably stall six-party talks TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 7) (Excerpts) April 6, 2009 Motomu Fukuda, Seoul The launch of a long-range ballistic missile by North Korea on April 5 will unavoidably stall the six-party talks. The U.S. has aimed to discuss the missile issue in the six-party talks, but North Korea will undoubtedly fiercely react to this idea. How to deal with the missile issue, in addition to the North's nuclear development issue, has emerged as a new stumbling block to resumption of the six-party talks. New challenge for resuming the talks U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton indicated her eagerness for the first time in February to discuss the missile issue in the six-party talks. She apparently expected international cooperation would pressure North Korea to give up its planned missile launch. Talks have not been held since North Korea refused last December the TOKYO 00000770 006 OF 012 other member countries' request regarding verification of information North Korea gave on its nuclear programs, including taking samples from nuclear facilities. It is difficult to push ahead with this process again. It has become more uncertain about the talks being resumed now that North Korea launched the missile. North Korea announced last month that if the UN Security Council issued a statement criticizing (its missile launch),the six-party talks would come to an end. A diplomatic source said: "A cooling-off period will be needed for the time being." In the event that the North resumed the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel to produce plutonium enough to make weapons, North Korea's denuclearization process will be unavoidably delayed significantly. 8) Defense Ministry begins analysis TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) April 6, 2009 The Defense Ministry has begun analyzing the trajectory of the missile launched yesterday by North Korea. The object fell into waters off Akita Prefecture that is believed to be the first-stage rocket was detected by the Aegis-equipped destroyers Kongo and Chokai in the Sea of Japan. The tracking ended some 2,100 kilometers east of Japan because tracking by the destroyer Kirishima stationed in the Pacific Ocean was blocked by the horizon. The Defense Ministry has begun its analysis by sending the three vessels' magnetic tapes containing data on the missile's trajectory to the Maritime Self-Defense Force fleet command in Yokosuka. If the missile was traveling at the fastest speed at the point the tracking ended, that would mean acceleration by descent, raising the likelihood that it was a ballistic missile. If the projectile reached the speed necessary to be a satellite and there was no change in the speed, the likelihood is that it was a satellite. 9) Government to consider retrieving missile debris YOMIURI (Page 33) (Full) April 6, 2009 The government is going to discuss measures to retrieve some debris of the missile launched by North Korea. The recovery of the missile's engine would help the government estimate the North's level of technology, along with the structure of the nozzle and the type of the fuel. The first-stage booster is believed have fallen into Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) 1,520 meters deep some 280 kilometers west of Akita Prefecture and the second-stage booster on into the high seas in the Pacific. Searching for debris in a country's own EEZ and the high sears does not pose any problem under international law. In 1999, Japan's launch of an H-2 rocket failed. Following this, Japan employed an unmanned vehicle of the Japan Marine Science and TOKYO 00000770 007 OF 012 Technology Center, which is currently the Japan Agency for Marine-Earch Science and Technology, and successfully found the rocket's first-stage engine some 3,000 meters under the sea. 10) No major hitch in government responds to North Korea's missile launch NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) April 6, 2009 Following North Korea's launch of a Taepodong-2 missile, the government's response measures went off without a major hitch yesterday. Many government officials are now feeling relieved as neither the rocket nor its debris fell on Japanese territory. The North's act was based on its prior notice. Although no chaotic situation was created yesterday, like the one caused by the false alarms on the 4th, the event this time has left many kinds of problems behind for the government to mull in dealing with an emergency, as was seen by the poor communication between the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) and the Defense Ministry. Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters at the Kantei yesterday: "We were able to cope with the situation fairly well. We would like to make use of this experience in the future." Telling his aide: "It would be the best not to be upset (by North Korea's launch of a missile)," Aso took a walk in the morning on the 4th and 5th as usual. Aso entered the Cabinet Office's crisis management center in the Kantei immediately after the new of North Korea's missile launch came in and called a meeting to collect information with Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura and others at 12:30 p.m. and then a meeting of the Security Council of Japan at 2:00 p.m. His actions were all prearranged. The government promptly and smoothly reported North Korea's missile launch. The first report was made two minutes after the launch. Ten minutes later, the government announced that the projectile had passed over Japan and was headed toward the Pacific Ocean. The government made use of its experience from the time when Pyongyang launched missiles in 2006. At that time, it took about 20 minutes until an emergency warning was issued. Fearing that the officials concerned would be daunted by the uproar caused by the two false alarms on the 4th, the Kantei side reportedly encouraged the Defense Ministry to try to report the news as promptly as possible with confidence and assurance. 11) Limits of BMD exposed, but some calling for expanding the system ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) April 6, 2009 Japan actually used its ballistic missile defense (BMD) system for the first time in dealing with the missile launched by North Korea on April 5. But this experience has left behind many problems to resolve. Meanwhile, some Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members are calling for an expansion of the BMD system. The question of whether to expand the BMD system is likely to be a controversial issue in reviewing the Defense Program Outline at year's end. TOKYO 00000770 008 OF 012 The unexpected positive result for the Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Force was that the BMD system has now become widely known among the public. This weekend, a number of people visited the ministry's facility in Ichigaya, Tokyo, to look in from outside the ministry at Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles deployed there. A senior official of the ministry's Internal Bureau said: "To be sure, the morale of our troops has been greatly raised." But the event this time has exposed a number of problems. PAC-3 missile units were deployed in Akita and Iwate prefectures, but the missile launched by North Korea flew outside the area protected by the PAC-3 units, which is said to be a radius of only several tens of kilometers. Even if there had been missile debris falling on Japanese territory, it would have been difficult to shoot such down. Under its current plan, the government would deploy PAC-3 missiles only at 16 anti-aircraft artilleries in the Metropolitan area, Chukyo, Kansai, and Kyushu during fiscal 2010. Because North Korea had announced beforehand when and where it would launch a projectile, the Defense Ministry was able to demonstrate its readiness to deal with the situation. North Korea has already fully developed the technology for the Nodong missile. Observers think that the whole of Japan is within range of that missile. In a meeting of the LDP's defense policy subcommittee on the 2nd, lawmakers coming from the Tohoku District called for the BMD system to be expanded and for PAC-3 missile units to be deployed to their region. Even so, it will be impossible to deploy missile units across the nation, due to the need to develop those with expertise to man them, in addition to budgetary restrictions. Since this issue is linked to protecting the residents' lives and assets, the government will be pressed to make a difficult judgment. 12) Former Finance Minister Nakagawa: Attacking enemy base must be discussed TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) April 6, 2009 In the wake of the missile launch by North Korea, former Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) yesterday presented his view that Japan should discuss measures to use against the nuclear threat, such as attacking an enemy base. In response to a question from reporters in Tokyo, Nakagawa said: "I'm not saying that Japan should discuss the option of going nuclear. But I think Japan should discuss measures against the nuclear threat firmly, such as striking an enemy base and the question of shelters in the event of a contingency. What can be done for the security of Japan must be discussed." In 2006, when he was serving as LDP policy research council chairman, Nakagawa said: "Possession of nuclear weapons is not prohibited under the Constitution. There could be an argument that possession of nuclear weapons diminishes the likelihood of being attacked as we could fight back in such an event. There should be discussions naturally." This created a stir. 13) Ruling, opposition camps both criticize North Korea TOKYO 00000770 009 OF 012 YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) April 6, 2009 In the wake of North Korea's missile launch, the ruling and opposition camps yesterday heightened their criticism of North Korea with such expressions as "extremely regrettable." The two chambers of the Diet will adopt resolutions criticizing the North possibly on April 7. The ruling coalition intends to call for strengthening Japan's independent economic sanctions against Pyongyang, as well as adopting a new resolution at the United Nations Security Council. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner, New Komeito yesterday held a meeting of their task force on the North Korean missile issue at LDP headquarters. In the meeting, the two ruling parties released a statement that stated that the launching was "completely unforgivable." They also called for quickly looking into additional sanction measures by Japan. LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda stated: "We want to come up with the contents of sanction measures before the end of this week if possible." According to an attendee, New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa demanded that the government clarify the details of its false alarms on April 4. Yukio Hatoyama, secretary general of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),told reporters in Matsuzaka City, Mie Prefecture: "My party shares the view that (North Korea's missile launch) is a violation of UNSC resolutions. I think it is necessary to take tougher steps." Regarding the government's misreport, he said: "We should thoroughly clear this issue up in such occasions as intensive deliberations at budget committee sessions." In a statement, Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii criticized North Korea's missile launch, but he said: "I will clarify our party's view after ascertaining what was launched." as to whether North Korea violated a UNSC resolution. Social Democratic Party Secretary General Shigeno refrained from referring to this point. People's New Party Secretary General Hisaoki Regarding the government's false alarms, Kamei said: "The government respond without errors." 14) "We strongly protest": DPJ secretary general releases statement NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) April 6, 2009 Following the launch of a Taeopodong-2 missile by North Korea, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama on April 5 released a statement, which went: "It is very regrettable. We strongly protest the launch, recognizing it as violation of the UN Security Council's (UNSC) resolution." The statement also calls on the government to take a stern and uncompromising measure and pursue strong diplomatic talks, including a response at the UNSC. 15) Government to adopt additional sanctions on the 10th: Total export ban; Existing measures to be extended for an additional year NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 6, 2009 Following the launch of a Taeopodong-2 missile, the government on April 5 held a security meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Taro Aso. TOKYO 00000770 010 OF 012 Participants agreed to speed up efforts to adopt Japan's own sanctions. The government will adopt at a cabinet meeting on the 10th a ban on Japanese port calls by North Korea vessels and extension of existing punitive measures, such as an import ban, for an additional year. It will also come up with a total export ban. It intends to determine how harsh sanctions should be, while monitoring moves of various countries at UN Security Council meetings. Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura during a press conference stressed, "We want decide our response promptly, while pinning down moves of the international community." The current bans on port calls by North Korean vessels and imports from the nation will expire on the 13th. Kawamura announced that those bans will be extended for an additional year, instead of six months as in the past. Japan currently prohibits exports to North Korea of luxury goods, such as automobiles and beef, and goods that could lead to the development of weapons of mass destruction. According to trade statistics tallied by the Finance Ministry, imports from North Korea have been zero since 2007. Exports dropped to about 800 million yen in 2008. Chances are high that simple extension of punitive measures is already within the range of North Korea's expectations. The government is envisaging a step of inviting public comments, after adopting a sanctions policy at a cabinet meeting, so as to make all trade items subject to the export ban. If its policy obtains support from the international community, the government will look into adopting additional sanctions. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Special Committee on Measures to Deal with Abduction Issue is considering its own sanctions, including lowering the upper limit on bank remittances to the nation and an end to reduced tax rates to and exemption from the fixed property applied to facilities of the (pro-Pyongyang) General Federation of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon or Chosen Soren). However, what a country can do by applying sanctions on its own is limited. The prime minister understands that pressure would not produce results without the international community's encirclement net. The government will likely have difficulty balancing between domestic opinions that tend to support stronger pressure and moves of the international community. 16) Poll: 78 PERCENT back stronger sanctions against N. Korea YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) April 5, 2009 The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey from the afternoon of April 3 through the evening of April 5 around the time of North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile. In the poll, 78 PERCENT of respondents answered "yes" when they were asked if they thought the Japanese government should toughen its sanctions against North Korea because of its missile launch, with only 16 PERCENT saying there was no need to do so. As seen from these figures, the public generally backs the Japanese government's plan to increase sanctions on its own against North Korea. The public also was asked if it felt uneasy about North Korea's TOKYO 00000770 011 OF 012 ongoing development of ballistic missiles. To this question, 88 PERCENT answered "yes," with 11 PERCENT saying "no." Among those feeling uneasy about North Korea's missile development, the proportion of those calling for stepping up Japan's sanctions on North Korea rose to 80 PERCENT . This can be taken as showing that the public wants to halt North Korea's missile development by imposing stronger sanctions on North Korea. 17) Poll: 66 PERCENT unhappy with Ozawa staying on as DPJ head; Cabinet support slightly up to 24.3 PERCENT YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) April 6, 2009 According to findings from a telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun on April 3-5, a total of 66 PERCENT , or nearly two-thirds of all respondents, answered "no" when they were asked if they concurred with Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ozawa's decision to remain as party head even though his secretary has been indicted for illicit political donations. There was no marked change from the last survey (68 PERCENT ) taken March 25-26 shortly after the prosecutors' indictment of Ozawa's secretary, and there are still calls for Ozawa's resignation. In the meantime, the rate of public support for Prime Minister Aso's cabinet was 24.3 PERCENT , slightly up from the 23.2 PERCENT rating in the last survey. However, the nonsupport rate also increased from 64.5 PERCENT in the last survey to 66.5 PERCENT in the survey this time. Public dissatisfaction with Ozawa does not seem to be a tailwind for the Aso cabinet. In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party dropped to 27.2 PERCENT from 31.0 PERCENT in the last survey. The DPJ increased to 24.2 PERCENT from 21.2 PERCENT . In the public's preference of political parties for proportional representation in the next election for the House of Representatives, the LDP and the DPJ were on a par at 31 PERCENT in the last survey. In the survey this time, however, the LDP dropped to 28 PERCENT , with the DPJ at 31 PERCENT , the same as in the last survey. The gap between the two parties has expanded. 18) Gov't decides to send P-3Cs to Djibouti TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) 9Full) April 4, 2009 The government decided yesterday to send Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol aircraft to Djibouti in the eastern part of Africa next month for an antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia by invoking an action for maritime security operations under the Self-Defense Forces Law. In response, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone met with Djibouti Foreign Minister Youssouf yesterday afternoon at the Foreign Ministry and concluded a status of forces agreement that stipulates SDF personnel to be stationed in Djibouti. The SDF's P-3C patrols will be sent on an actual overseas mission for the first time. The MSDF is expected to send two P-3Cs. More than 100 MSDF personnel, including maintenance service crewmen, will be based at Djibouti Airport, and the two P-3Cs are expected to engage in warning activities with MSDF vessels already deployed to Somalia waters. TOKYO 00000770 012 OF 012 The agreement is for the P-3C and MSDF vessel crew, stipulating privileges including exemption from criminal indictment and civil claims for damages. 19) U.S. military vehicle suspected of hit-and-run incident in Naha AKAHATA (Page 15) (Full) April 5, 2009 At around 6:05 a.m., April 4, three pedestrians were hit by a car when they were crossing Route 58 at a crosswalk at Matsuyama, Naha City. The car fled the scene. The three were all hurt seriously, with fractures and other injuries, but all were conscious and the injuries were not life-threatening, local police said. The Naha Police Station of Okinawa prefectural police is investigating the incident, suspecting it to be a hit-and-run incident. However, the vehicle that fled the scene had a "Y" license plate used by U.S. military personnel and civilian employees, according to reports by eyewitnesses. The prefectural police will ask the U.S. military for investigative cooperation. According to the Naha Police Station, the three injured persons are a woman, 23, of the city, a man, 22, of Yaese Town, and a 23-year-old restaurant employee from Urasoe City. The incident took place at a crossing with traffic lights on a road with three lanes each way. The car is believed to have come straight through. The local police are now checking the traffic lights and the cause of the accident. 20) Antipiracy bill debate to start April 14 TOKYO SHUIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) April 4, 2009 The House of Representatives Rules and Administration Committee yesterday held a meeting of its senior directors from the ruling and opposition parties. In the meeting, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to enter into parliamentary deliberations on an antipiracy bill, following the government's explanation of the legislation's purpose and interpellations in a plenary sitting of the House of Representatives on April 14. ZUMWALT