Cablegate: Media Reaction Q North Korea - Tokyo

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P 010420Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002447

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

1. LEAD STORIES: All Friday morning papers front-paged
the early-morning passage in the DietQs Lower House of
two pension-related bills.

2. "G-8 Foreign Ministerial at Potsdam: Strengthen Ties
to Deal with DPRK" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
editorialized (6/1): "...Foreign ministers from the G-8
nations, meeting in Potsdam, Germany, agreed that their
nations would work together to realize North Korea's
denuclearization and resolve issues over its abductions
of foreign nationals. Will this G-8 agreement apply
pressure on Pyongyang? What should be done to make G-8
cooperation stronger and even closer? At the foreign
ministerial, FM Aso said that Japan's patience was not
limitless, and that we should not shy away from stepping
up pressure on North Korea. Aso's remarks were a matter
of course, given that the North has yet to implement the
'initial steps' toward denuclearization. The question,
however, is what the other members of the G-8 will do, as
their positions are different.... Although it is
important to urge the North to abandon its nuclear
programs at the six-party talks, Japan has become anxious
about a perception gap among the parties negotiating with
the DPRK. For example, the US is apparently inclined to
attach more importance to nonproliferation than to
Pyongyang's denuclearization. Japan is the country most
exposed to the serious nuclear threat from North Korea,
and as such it can hardly accept any move to recognize
Pyongyang's possession of nuclear weapons as a fait
accompli."

SCHIEFFER

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