Cablegate: Media Reaction Q North Korea - Tokyo

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P 080701Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8336
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RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4438
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UNCLAS TOKYO 005830

SIPDIS

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: MEDIA REACTION Q NORTH KOREA - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Mainichi front-paged a
plan by Yasukuni Shrine to alter exhibits at its Yushukan
war museum to deflect US criticism.

1. "DPRK Trying to Maximize 'Nuclear Card'" The
conservative Sankei's front-page commentary by senior
writer Takahiro Namura said (10/6): "Pyongyang's
statement that it will conduct a nuclear test has many
similarities to the words of 'intimidation' used in
previous North Korean announcements concerning the
country's nuclear program. Moreover, Pyongyang issued the
announcement at a time when worldwide suspicions about a
North Korean nuclear test were already on the rise, thus
maximizing concern. For the DPRK, the statement has been
an effective diplomatic card.

2. "It appears that the North Koreans are trying to guage
the reactions from Japan, China, and South Korea, which
will hold summits soon; and from from the US, which will
very shortly have mid-term elections.... Shigeru Izumi, a
Japanese expert on Korean affairs, notes that the
statement is not only unclear about the date of a test
but also leaves the door open to not conducting one at
all.... Izumi says that Pyongyang's goal is direct talks
with the US."

DONOVAN

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