Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Inter-Korean Summit

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UNCLAS TOKYO 004639

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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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - INTER-KOREAN SUMMIT

LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday dailies led with
Citigroup's announcement that it plans to buy the
outstanding shares of its Japanese brokerage arm Nikko
Cordial via a "triangular merger" by the end of
January.

1. "ROK Should Extract Denuclearization Pledge from
DPRK" The liberal Asahi editorialized (10/3): "...It is
desirable not only for the two Koreas but also for
their neighbors that Seoul and Pyongyang confirm
reconciliation and cooperation and look for peace and
stability during their summit. Although there are many
challenges ahead, we hope that the leaders of North and
South Korea will have fruitful talks.... The joint
declaration issued at the inter-Korean summit of 2000
produced tangible results that helped increase
interchange between the two peoples. However, it did
not do anything to build trust between the two nations
in terms of security or to achieve peace on the
peninsula. President Roh has said that he will work to
realize concrete progress on peace and economic growth.
He should not avoid military issues. It will be
difficult to bring about peace on the Korean Peninsula
only through the efforts of Koreans; understanding and
support from the international community are
indispensable. North Korea's nuclear program deeply
affects other countries, and peace on the Korean
Peninsula will not be possible until this issue is
resolved. President Roh should extract a promise from
Kim Jong Il to abandon his nuclear ambitions."

2. "Inter-Korean Summit Should Present Roadmap for
Denuclearization" The business-oriented Nikkei stated
in an editorial (10/3): "ROK President Roh entered the
DPRK by crossing the DMZ overland to demonstrate the
improved relationship between North and South Korea.
DPRK leader Kim Jong Il, meanwhile, came to greet and
shake hands with Roh without prior notice. Although the
two sides appear to have staged a 'friendly atmosphere'
in order to play up the significance of the first inter-
Korean summit in seven years, it is important for them
to draw up a roadmap for North Korea's complete
denuclearization in order to realize peace on the
Korean Peninsula.... Although Roh wants the summit to
go smoothly and is thus hesitant to make
denuclearization a major focus of discussions, we hope
that the meeting will lead to progress on the issue."

DONOVAN

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