Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Japan-Rok Relations And
VZCZCXRO6894
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1946 1970214
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150214Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5828
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8850
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 1224
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 7071
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9433
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2582
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4364
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2418
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0354
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0765
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001946
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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN-ROK RELATIONS AND
NORTH KOREA
1. LEAD STORIES: All Tuesday morning papers front-paged
the GOJ release of a middle school textbook manual that
effectively describes two ROK-controlled islets in the
Sea of Japan as Japanese territory.
2. "Calmness Needed to Deal with Territorial Dispute"
The liberal Mainichi editorialized (7/15): "It is
unfortunate that Japan and South Korea are arguing over
guidelines for children's education.... Territorial
disputes tend to become emotional. This matter should
be discussed calmly by governments at a diplomatic
venue. Yet another emotional confrontation will not
lead to a solution."
3. "Teach Children that Islets are Japanese Territory"
The conservative Sankei argued in an editorial (7/15):
"A territorial issue is something that has a direct
bearing on Japan's sovereignty. Paying diplomatic
consideration to a manual for children's education will
create problems for the future of Japan's public
education."
4. "Future Outlook for Korean Peninsula Uncertain"
(7/15): "The recent session of the six-party talks
appeared to provide a clear timetable for assistance
for North Korea, though there remain many ambiguities
on the core issue of verification of its nuclear
declaration.... Faced with the abduction issue, Japan
finds itself in a difficult situation. The U.S., which
Japan has relied on, is making one concession after
another in a hurried attempt to score an accomplishment
on the nuclear front before President Bush leaves
office. China is also hesitant about causing waves over
North Korea in view of the Summer Olympics."
CEKUTA