Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Iran and Inter-Korean Relations

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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
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UNCLAS TOKYO 001984

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 - IRAN AND INTER-KOREAN RELATIONS

1. LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Yomiuri and Mainichi gave top play
to the results of their respective latest nationwide opinion surveys
both projecting a landslide DPJ victory in Sunday's general
election.

2. "Policy Turnaround by Ayatollah Khamenei" On Wednesday's remarks
by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei that the anti-government
demonstrations staged by reformists following the presidential
election in June were not launched at the instruction of foreign
forces such as the U.S. and Britain, the top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri wrote from Tehran (8/28): "Iran's conservatives justified
their crackdown on reformists based on the judgment that they were
anti-revolutionary 'agents for the U.S. and Britain.' The change in
this view reflects Khamenei's position of seeking a reasonable
settlement. Khamenei has apparently made a policy turnabout in
anticipation of growing criticism over the trials of reformists. One
view holds that Khamenei is trying to distance himself from the
ultra conservatives led by President Ahmadinejad. "

3. "Inter-Korean Dialogue Possible only After Progress on Nuclear
Front" On North Korea's recent 'dialogue offensive,' the liberal
Asahi editorialized (8/28): "By drawing South Korea into dialogue,
the DPRK hopes to use [inter-Korean rapprochement] to realize talks
with the U.S. However, it is not acceptable for North Korea to try
to change the situation without taking any steps toward surrendering
its nuclear programs.... The basic situation will not change unless
North Korea returns to the Six-Party Talks and makes clear its
position of fulfilling past [Six-Party] agreements. North Korea
should realize this."

ROOS

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