Cablegate: Media Reaction Q North Korea/G-8 Summit

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UNCLAS TOKYO 003882

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION Q NORTH KOREA/G-8 SUMMIT
- TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers front-paged a
series of terrorist bombings at train stations in Mumbai,
India, Tuesday evening.

1. "Continued Diplomatic Effort Needed for Adoption of
Resolution on North Korea" The business daily Nihon
Keizai editorialized (7/12): "The adoption at the UNSC of
a draft resolution condemning North Korea's missile
launches has been postponed. It is important for members
of the international community to join hands and swiftly
express their opposition to the missile launches, but
doing so will take time, as coordination with China and
Russia is proving difficult, and China currently has a
diplomatic mission in North Korea. Nonetheless, the
matter cannot be put off forever.

2. "While strengthening cooperation with the US and
European nations and aiming to have a resolution adopted
at an early date, Japan should also make continued
diplomatic efforts to have a strong message to Pyongyang
adopted at the coming G-8 summit in Russia.... Looking at
the reaction of other countries to the North Korean
missile launches, it is hard to comprehend South Korea's
response.... The ROK is saying that Japan is
overreacting. Is it not the case that Seoul is under-
reacting?"

3. "Heavy Responsibility for Putin at G-8 Summit" An
editorial in the liberal Asahi commented (7/12): "This
year's G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, will be much
tenser than past meetings, as the North Korean missile
launches and the WTO Doha Round stalemate will be
addressed along with such other global issues as rising
crude oil prices and Iran's nuclear development.... The
coming summit will be an opportunity for Russia to
reemerge as a key player in world affairs.... Although
the UNSC is the primary forum for addressing the North
Korean missile launches, the leaders gathered in Russia
should discuss the issue frankly, which would add
significance to the annual summit.

4. "President Bush has emphasized the need for a
diplomatic solution to both the North Korean and Iranian
issues. If Russian President Putin opts for cooperation
over power games, the G-8 summit can become an event of
unity, which would then entice Chinese President Hu into
the fold. Although Russia is not a WTO member, Moscow
will be asked to join the trade organization if President
Putin plays a key role in breaking the stalemated Doha
round talks.... The international community is also
pinning its hopes on Putin's leadership in reaching a new
accord on energy, which would lend momentum to the
discussions of other issues. The summit cannot be allowed
to signal the beginning of an era of enmity and
division."

SCHIEFFER

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