VZCZCXRO2904
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1084 1120240
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 210240Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3617
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7373
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9753
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5771
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7969
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1047
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2912
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2236
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8932
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9447
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001084
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 - U.S.-ROK SUMMIT AND
GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS
1. LEAD STORIES: Lead stories on Monday morning include
a further decline in public support for Prime Minister
Fukuda.
2. "U.S.-ROK Coordination Reaffirmed, Yet Tasks Remain"
The liberal Asahi's Washington correspondents wrote
(4/20): "Turning around bilateral relations, which were
strained under the tenure of former ROK President Roh,
was the top item on the agenda during Saturday's summit
between President Bush and President Lee. As the U.S.
rolled out the red carpet for Lee, a 'successful
summit' was preordained. However, the two nations have
just begun to redefine their bilateral alliance, and
progress on this front will depend on their future
efforts."
3. "U.S., ROK Enhance Alliance While Eying Global
Strategy" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri's
Washington-based reporter argued (4/21): "President
Bush's agreement with ROK President Lee to suspend
reductions in U.S. troops in South Korea reflects his
desire to rebuild the bilateral alliance. While sending
the Lee administration and North Korea a clear message
that Washington will maintain its security commitment
on the Korean Peninsula, President Bush is hoping to
include South Korea in America's global strategy to
deal with such challenges as security in Asia, nuclear
proliferation, and the war on terrorism."
4. "Japan, South Korea Should Follow Suit" The business-
oriented Nikkei said in an editorial (4/20):
"Enhancement of the U.S.-ROK alliance is encouraging
for Japan, given that coordination among the U.S.,
Japan, and South Korea is a cornerstone for assuring
security in Northeast Asia. Above all, close tripartite
cooperation is essential in order to deal with North
Korea's nuclear program and abductions of Japanese
citizens. As President Lee is to hold a summit with
Prime Minister Fukuda in Tokyo on Monday, it is time
for Japan and the ROK to reinforce their own bilateral
coordination."
5. "International Coordination Urgently Needed to Deal
with Food Crisis" The business-oriented Nikkei
editorialized (4/21): "The volume of food that can be
procured through existing frameworks has declined in
view of the surge in food prices. Emergency assistance
is urgently needed to help those who are facing
difficulty in securing enough to eat. Following up on
World Bank President Zoellick's proposal for $500
million in food aid through the UN, President Bush
pledged $200 million in aid.... However, such measures
for developing countries are ad-hoc in nature. In the
long-run, the international community needs to take a
concerted approach and look into measures to strike a
balance between food supply and demand on a global
scale."
SCHIEFFER