Cablegate: Media Reaction - Us-Dprk Talks in New York -

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UNCLAS TOKYO 000994

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 - US-DPRK Talks in New York -
TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers front-paged
North Korea's abrupt cancellation of the Wednesday
afternoon session of Japan-DPRK working-group talks on
diplomatic normalization in Hanoi.

1. "Japan Wary About US-DPRK Talks" The business-oriented
Nihon Keizai editorialized (3/8): "The US and North Korea
ended their two-day working-group talks on normalization
in New York.... Although the two sides are believed to
have confirmed an agreement for Pyongyang to shut down
and seal its nuclear facilities by mid-April, details of
the talks are not clear. US-DPRK bilateral talks will be
meaningless if they do not get North Korea to accept real
verification of its actions. Superficial progress alone
cannot be abided.... Should the US regard a nuclear
freeze on the part of North Korea as the attainment of
one of Washington's national security goals for the time
being, this will be extremely difficult for Japan to
swallow, as Tokyo has been demanding that the DPRK
completely eliminate all its nuclear weapons and
programs.... If a perception gap between Tokyo and
Washington arises over the threat posed by North Korean
nukes, the US-Japan alliance will face a crisis."

SCHIEFFER

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