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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #4269 2560351
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 130351Z SEP 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7545
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
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RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3155
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 5572
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 2125
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RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 004269
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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PM RESIGNATION AND ITS
IMPACT ON SIX-PARTY TALKS
LEAD STORIES: Lead stories in Thursday morning papers
included fallout from Prime Minister Abe's sudden
announcement that he will step down, including LDP
Secretary General Aso's plan to run in the LDP
SIPDIS
presidential election to choose a successor.
1. "Hope for Progress on Nuclear Dismantlement" Seoul
correspondent Makino of the liberal Asahi wrote (9/12):
"There is a possibility that the resignation of Prime
Minister Abe could have an impact on progress in the
six-party talks concerning North Korea's nuclear
dismantlement, as Japan has been the odd one out in the
forum due to its hard-line position on the abduction
issue. A DPRK source last year noted that an LDP
setback in the July Upper House election and a
resignation of PM Abe would change the situation.... If
steps toward denuclearization are implemented, it will
be more realistic for the US to delist the DPRK as a
state sponsor of terrorism. Japan, however, has been
strongly opposed to delisting because of its position
on the abductions.... Doubts had been raised by some
six-party delegates as to whether the Abe
administration really hoped for progress in the
six-party talks. These officials are now hopeful that a
new administration will change Japan's stance."
SCHIEFFER