Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - North Korea and Burma

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P 180228Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 001898

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 - NORTH KOREA AND BURMA

1. LEAD STORIES: All Tuesday morning papers gave top or front-page
play to Monday's televised debate among the leaders of six major
political parties ahead of the official start of the Lower House
election campaign on Tuesday.

2. "What's Behind North Korea's Staging of Dialogue?" The
business-oriented Nikkei ran a correspondent's report from Seoul
saying (8/18): "North Korea accepted Chinese Vice Foreign Minister
Wu Dawei's visit to Pyongyang following Hyundai Group Chairwoman
Hyun Jung Eun's return to South Korea. Hyun and Kim Jong Il agreed
on the resumption of tourism to Mount Kumgang and Kaesong and the
lifting of restrictions on cross-border travel between the North and
South. However, North Korea also expressed criticism about a joint
military exercise between the U.S. and South Korea. Although North
Korea appears to be taking an increasingly flexible diplomatic
position, it remains unclear whether it is only 'showing' a flexible
position or if this reflects Pyongyang's real intentions. North
Korea's response to Wu's call for the return to the Six-Party Talks
will hold the key for determining Pyongyang's future course of
action."

3. "U.S. to Seek Dialogue with Myanmar's Military Junta?" The
liberal Mainichi wrote from Bangkok (8/18): "The U.S. side gave a
certain amount of credit to Myanmar's military junta for releasing
John Yettaw, an American citizen convicted by the junta, in response
to a request made by Senator Webb when he visited the nation.
Although it will be difficult to rapidly improve relations between
the U.S. and Myanmar as long as democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi
remains in captivity, there is a possibility that the two nations
will step up their behind-the-scene moves to seek dialogue."

ZUMWALT

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