Cablegate: Media Reaction Q G-8 Summit/Unsc Resolution On

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003971

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 G-8 SUMMIT/UNSC RESOLUTION ON
NORTH KOREA - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged the
end Monday of the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.

1. "Make International Cooperation on DPRK Effective" The
top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (7/18):
"It is fair to say that the international community has
stepped up pressure on North Korea. The G-8 summit in St.
Petersburg, Russia, ended with the adoption of a
chairman's statement that condemned North Korea's recent
missile launches, saying: 'These missile launches
intensify our deep concern over the DPRK's nuclear
weapons programs.' The statement urged North Korea to
freeze its missile launches and return immediately and
unconditionally to the six-party talks.

2. "The statement also clarified the need to quickly find
a solution to the abduction issue and urged Pyongyang to
respond to humanitarian concerns from the international
community. The chairman's statement essentially follows
the resolution adopted Saturday by the UN Security
Council. It is, though, a unified condemnation of North
Korea by the leaders of the eight major powers, which
have great responsibility for maintaining the peace and
stability of the international community. The North
Koreans should take this latest warning from the
international community seriously."

3. "Make G-8 Unity Genuine by Using Crises as Leverage"
An editorial in the business daily Nihon Keizai commented
(7/18): "The G-8 summit opened with the world being
buffeted by four crises: North Korea's missile launches,
Iran's nuclear development, Israel's attacks on Lebanon,
and the sharp rise in the price of crude oil. Can the G-8
leaders contain these crises that threaten the global
order and economic stability? Although the international
community had pinned considerable hopes on the G-8
leaders, the meeting fell somewhat short of expectations.

4. "North Korea's ballistic missiles present the greatest
threat to the security of Japan. During talks prior to
the summit, PM Koizumi rightly called on Russian
President Putin, chair of the summit, to show strong
leadership and take a firm stance toward North Korea. It
was a given that North Korea would be on the summit
agenda, and the chairman's summary statement condemned
the missile launches and called on the DPRK to return
unconditionally to the six-party talks."

5. "A Grave Warning to North Korea" The liberal Asahi
wrote (7/17): "The UNSC adopted a resolution condemning
North Korea for its launches of ballistic missiles.
Pyongyang must fully and sincerely accept the gravity of
the UNSC resolution, which was adopted unanimously. The
missile launches threatened regional peace and security,
and the North Koreans must suspend all related
activities. We urge all UN member states to avoid any
involvement in North Korea's missile and WMD programs. We
also urge Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks....

6. "China has a major role to play in getting North Korea
to return to the six-party talks. Beijing opposed a UNSC
resolution that would have included sanctions out of
concern that it would harden Pyongyang's stance and would
not lead to a resolution of the issue. Although the UNSC
did not go beyond a condemnation, China has a growing
responsibility to get North Korea back to the talks.
While North Korea must be open to the world, it is also

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necessary for the US and Japan to keep their own doors
open for dialogue with Pyongyang. We should not forget
that a combination of dialogue and pressure is the way to
resolve the matter."

SCHIEFFER

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