Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Japan's Draft Legislation On

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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2524 3060202
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 020202Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7192
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002524

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'S DRAFT LEGISLATION ON
INSPECTION OF NORTH KOREA-RELATED CARGO

1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included an Asahi
report indicating that North Korea's abductions of Japanese
nationals were conducted under the direct instructions of North
Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

2. "Cargo Inspection Bill Appropriate" The liberal Mainichi argued
in an editorial (11/2): "The GOJ has submitted a special measures
bill to the Diet that will allow Japan to inspect cargo heading to
and from North Korea. The move was made in response to the UN
Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea, which
conducted a second nuclear test in May. The most notable aspect of
the bill is that it excludes the SDF's involvement and makes it
clear that the Japan Coast Guard and customs authorities will play
major roles in planned inspection activities. This appears to be the
result of the consideration the Hatoyama administration has given to
the Social Democratic Party, which is cautious about the use of the
SDF. Unlike wartime ship inspections, the planned cargo inspections
will be carried out as police activities. The bill submitted by the
GOJ is appropriate; the Coast Guard and customs authorities should
play a central role in the inspections."

3. "GOJ Should Reconsider Using SDF for Cargo Inspections" The
conservative Sankei editorialized (11/2): "The clause on the SDF's
involvement in Japan's cargo inspection activities has been
eliminated from the draft bill. The move was apparently made to give
consideration to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which opposes
any expansion of SDF activities.... As cargo inspections are unified
efforts by the international community to prevent nuclear and
missile-related materials from being transferred, the presence of
the SDF to support the Coast Guard would be important. It would be
regrettable if the Hatoyama administration removed the SDF's
involvement in order to place priority on its coalition partnership
with the SDP.... Along with the Coast Guard, the SDF's participation
is indispensable when implementing the UN Security Council sanctions
resolutions against North Korea."

ROOS

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