VZCZCXRO4204
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1102 1130700
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 220700Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3651
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 7398
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9777
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5792
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7994
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1072
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2937
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2239
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8956
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9470
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001102
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 - NORTH KOREA AND ANTI-
WESTERN SENTIMENT IN CHINA
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning include
alleged insider trading by a Nomura Securities employee
and Monday's rocket attack on a Japanese tanker by a
small unidentified vessel off Yemen.
2. "Japan-ROK Summit Should Be Start of New Ties" The
top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri argued (4/22): "The
issue of North Korea's nuclear development is now at a
critical juncture. With this in mind, Japanese and
South Korean leaders agreed to enhance trilateral
coordination with the U.S. and to call for North Korea
to provide a complete and correct nuclear
declaration.... As an accurate declaration of the
volume of plutonium Pyongyang has produced is at the
core of the problem, an easy compromise cannot be
permitted. Accepting a false declaration would allow
North Korea to secretly maintain its nuclear capability
in the future."
3. "Fresh Start Needed" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun
contended (4/22): "Japan, South Korea, and the U.S.
bear heavy responsibility for ensuring stability in
Northeast Asia. Any schism among the three would
prevent them from fulfilling their international roles.
Reaffirmation of enhanced coordination is welcomed....
An easy compromise on the part of the Bush
administration meant to create a 'legacy' before the
President steps down would create problems for the
future. In order to prevent loopholes, close
communications among the three partners are
imperative."
4. "Use Tripartite Coordination to Prod North Korea"
The liberal Asahi contended (4/22): "There used to be a
venue for dialogue on the North Korean nuclear issue
among senior U.S., Japanese, and South Korea officials.
The venue went into disuse in the face of disarray
among the three nations during the tenure of former ROK
President Roh. The three nations should swiftly revive
such a consultative framework. Ensuring progress on the
nuclear front would give Japan greater leeway to
realize progress on the abduction issue."
5. "World Concerned about Rising Nationalism in China"
The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (4/22):
"(The recent attack on a French supermarket in China by
a mob) serves as a reminder of the volatility of the
Chinese market, as whenever China confronts a
diplomatic challenge, protests and demonstrations
against specific foreign enterprises flare up....
Following the recent unrest in Tibet, the Chinese
government has refused to accept international monitors
and has continued to denounce the Dalai Lama. In order
to prevent the spread of unchecked nationalism, the
Chinese government should allow the entrance of
international monitors and free reporting by domestic
and foreign media regarding the situation in Tibet."
SCHIEFFER