Cablegate: Media Reaction Q North Korea/Iran - Tokyo

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UNCLAS TOKYO 006318

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/IRAN - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: All Wednesday morning papers gave top play
to an announcement Tuesday by the Chinese Foreign
Ministry that the US, China, and the DPRK have agreed to
resume the six-party talks shortly.

1. "Sanctions Pushed North Korea to Return to the Six-
Party Talks" An editorial in the business-oriented Nihon
Keizai commented (11/1): "We believe Resolution 1718,
adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council (UNSC),
was instrumental in getting the DPRK to decide to return
to the six-party talks. Although the resolution calls for
North Korea's unconditional return to the multilateral
forum, that is not its only purpose; the ultimate aim is
to seek Pyongyang's complete, verifiable, and
irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear and missile
programs. The international community must not be taken
in by North Korea's attempt to play its favorite 'card'
and ease sanctions."

2. "Don't Allow North Korean Nuclear Arms to Become Fait
Accompli" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
editorialized (11/1): "Are the sanctions imposed by the
international community showing some results? The Chinese
Foreign Ministry announced that the DPRK would return to
the six-party talks. Representatives from the US, China,
and North Korea reportedly agreed during informal talks
in Beijing to an early resumption of the multilateral
forum. Assistant Secretary of State Hill, who heads the
US delegation, suggested that the talks would resume in
November or December. Until recently, North Korea had
called on the US to lift its financial sanctions as a
precondition for returning to the talks.... Although A/S
Hill said North Korea agreed to return to the talks
unconditionally, it is still unclear whether Pyongyang
will unconditionally discuss the abandonment of its
nuclear program in the event the talks resume."

3. "Iraq Quagmire: Don't Sink Maliki" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (11/1): "More than 100 US troops lost their
lives in Iraq in October alone, the worst monthly total
since the national election there in January 2005.
Security continues to worsen. What is more tragic is the
number of Iraqi fatalities, with nearly 1,000 dead in
just the first half of October.... The primary cause of
the deteriorating security situation is the conflict
between Sunnis and Shiites, as well as intra-sectarian
conflicts.... In order to stabilize the situation,
cooperation from neighboring countries will be essential,
including Iran and Syria. Even though (Iran's) nuclear
development and state sponsorship of terrorism are
issues, the US position of refusing to talk with Tehran
and Damascus reduces the possibility of reaching a
breakthrough in Iraq. The new Iraq must not be allowed to
sink. The Maliki government must work harder, while the
US needs to be more flexible in its diplomacy."

SCHIEFFER

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