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