Cablegate: Media Reaction Q North Korea - Tokyo

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UNCLAS TOKYO 004101

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 - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Yomiuri front-paged a
report that the GOJ is considering revising an ordinance
of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law to require
some companies in Japan with business ties with North
Korea to disclose the export destinations of about 40
materials that could aid Pyongyang in the development of
missiles and weapons of mass destruction.

1. "Financial Sanctions on North Korea: National Will
Must Be Made Clear" An editorial in the top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri commented (7/24): "North Korea's nuclear
program and missiles pose an exceptional threat to the
security of Japan, and every means must be taken to
eliminate that threat. Following its imposition of a six-
month ban on visits by the North Korean ferry Man Gyong
Bong-92 to Japanese ports, the government has placed
financial sanctions on the DPRK. The GOJ will now
identify companies and individuals involved with North
Korean missile and WMD development and 'blacklist' them
in an official gazette. These firms and individuals will
not be allowed to transfer money to North Korea, and any
bank accounts they hold in Japan will be frozen....

2. "North Korea continues to refuse to return to the six-
party talks unless the US lifts its own financial
sanctions, which have apparently dealt it a serious blow.
The US and Japan, joined by countries like Britain,
France, and Australia, could become the core members of a
coalition of the willing.... There is a need to increase
the number of countries that will implement the UNSC
resolution on North Korea. Pyongyang continues to hold
that it is not bound in any way by the resolution. With
the DPRK refusing to comply with international calls to
return to the six-party talks and freeze its missile
program, it is necessary to expand the targets of
financial sanctions."

SCHIEFFER

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