Cablegate: Media Reaction Q North Korea - Tokyo

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UNCLAS TOKYO 006142

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: Monday morning's moderate Tokyo Shimbun
front-paged a report from Moscow concerning Secretary of
State Rice's meeting Saturday with Russian President
Putin.

1. "Will North Korea Abandon Its Nuclear Program?" An
editorial in the moderate Tokyo Shimbun commented
(10/22): "North Korea is engaged in a diplomatic tug-of-
war with its neighbors after conducting a nuclear test.
Can Kim Jong Il change course and abandon his country's
nuclear program? China holds the key.... UNSC Resolution
1718 applies to the movement into or out of North Korea
of 'people, materials, and money' linked to WMD
development. The US will further tighten financial
sanctions, while Japan has implemented measures going
beyond what is called for in the UNSC resolution. The
European Union (EU) has also pledged that it will
implement 1718 in a resolute manner. It is China that
holds the key. Chinese President Hu stated, 'North Korea
must be made to face the strong reaction of the
international community,' a very weighty statement given
that China holds the power of life or death over its
neighbor.... If in the end Kim Jong Il has no intention
of giving up North Korea's nuclear program, China must
take another step. This could entail conveying to North
Korea that Beijing would not be displeased with a change
of leadership there so long as the DPRK does not fall
into chaos."

SCHIEFFER

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