Cablegate: Media Reaction Q North Korea - Tokyo

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UNCLAS TOKYO 006184

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: Tuesday morning's Asahi front-paged an
informal GOJ decision to deploy Japan Coast Guard cutters
to carry out inspections of North Korean cargo in view of
an anticipated US delay in participation. According to
the daily, Maritime Self-Defense Force ships will be
mobilized only to monitor suspicious ships.

1. "Secretary Rice's Visit: Stronger International 'Net'
Around DPRK Needed" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
editorialized (10/24): "From the standpoint of
strengthening the international 'net' around North Korea
following its nuclear test, we cannot be satisfied with
the results of Secretary of State Rice's recent visit to
Japan, South Korea, China, and Russia. These five
countries were unable to hammer out specific measures to
implement Resolution 1718, which was adopted unanimously
by the UN Security Council (UNSC).... Even though the
five countries were in agreement that they would not
accept North Korea's nuclear test or its possession of
nuclear weapons, their failure to apply strong pressure
can hardly be called the delivery of a 'strong message'
to the Kim Jong Il regime.... The US, Japan, South Korea,
China, and Russia need to move quickly to create specific
sanctions based on Resolution 1718. At the same time,
cooperative relationships should be established among
them to share intelligence and block the movement into
and out of North Korea of 'materials, people, and money'
linked to sales of WMD and ballistic missiles.... Even if
Pyongyang returns to the six-party talks, it will not
readily relinquish its nuclear weapons. As time passes,
North Korea will be able to mass-produce nuclear weapons
using its abundant supplies of uranium and its existing
nuclear facilities. Strengthening the international 'net'
around North Korea is an urgent task for Japan, which is
directly threatened by its nuclear and missile programs."

SCHIEFFER

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