Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Afghanistan and North

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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 - AFGHANISTAN AND NORTH
KOREA

1. LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers gave top
or front-page play to a joint report released on Sunday
by Japanese and Chinese scholars that revealed "gaps"
in the perceptions of Japanese and Chinese academics on
several historical issues, including the number of
victims in the 1937 Nanjing Massacre.

2. "We Support Self-Reliant Reconstruction by
Afghanistan" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun argued in an
editorial (1/30): "Moves to shift from settlement only
by military means to reconciliation through dialogue
have emerged. This is a major policy shift, and the
U.S., which is searching for a 'way out,' appears to be
supporting the moves behind the scenes.... Afghanistan
will need to become independent soon. The nation must
accelerate the reinforcement of its armed forces and
police. In order to achieve that goal, the
international community should alter its involvement in
Afghanistan to provide support that is aimed at helping
the nation to become more self-reliant."

3. "North Korea's Intimidating Demands Should Be
Rejected" The conservative Sankei editorialized (2/1):
"Since mid-January, North Korea has been proposing that
the existing Korean War Armistice Agreement be upgraded
to a peace treaty and demanding that the sanctions
against its nuclear tests be lifted in return for its
rejoining the Six-Party Talks. North Korea's recent
firing of artillery shells into the Yellow Sea appears
to be intended to intimidate relevant nations into
accepting such demands. This is dangerous provocation,
and Pyongyang's demands are unreasonable. The relevant
nations must follow the example of the U.S., which has
clearly demonstrated its rejection, and unite in flatly
dismissing North Korea's demands."

ROOS

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