Cablegate: Media Reaction Q North Korea - Tokyo

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UNCLAS TOKYO 006048

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: Wednesday morning's Yomiuri gave top play
to a report saying that the GOJ is considering allowing
Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to follow suspicious
ships during inspections under the UN Security Council
resolution calling for sanctions on North Korea.

1. "South Korea's Sunshine Policy Fails to Prevent North
Korean Nuclear Test" The top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri editorialized (10/18): "The US has announced that
it has confirmed North Korea's nuclear test. This
reinforces the gravity of the problem for the
international community, particularly Japan. Top priority
should be given to applying a brake to the North Korean
nuclear threat by imposing effective sanctions on that
country in accordance with the resolution adopted by the
UN Security Council (UNSC). South Korea joined the US and
Japan in signing on to the UNSC resolution. South Korea's
circumstances dictate that it should make every effort to
halt North Korea's nuclear development. Following the
adoption of the resolution by the UNSC, the ROK
government issued a statement welcoming and supporting
the resolution. It is unclear, though, exactly what
sanctions the South will impose on the North.... Rather
than halting North Korea's nuclear development, however,
Seoul's Sunshine Policy has actually helped it along. The
ROK-DPRK joint statement on denuclearization has been
abrogated, exposing the Sunshine Policy as a complete
failure.... Secretary of State Rice will be visiting
Japan, South Korea, and China to coordinate the
implementation of sanctions, and there will be a
trilateral foreign ministerial in Seoul among the US,
Japan, and South Korea. Through close strategic dialogue,
the US and Japan should call on South Korea to reconsider
the Sunshine Policy."

SCHIEFFER

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