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Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Dprk Nuclear

Published: Fri 27 Jun 2008 08:11 AM
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001771
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 - DPRK NUCLEAR
DECLARATION
1. LEAD STORIES: All Tokyo papers gave top play on
Friday morning to President Bush's notification to
Congress on Thursday of his intent to delist North
Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism following
Pyongyang's submission to China of a declaration of its
nuclear programs.
2. "Declaration Should Lead to Complete
Denuclearization" The liberal Asahi editorialized
(6/27): "North Korea finally produced a declaration of
its nuclear programs. Although details of the document
remain unclear, this is an important step toward the
denuclearization of North Korea.... Although the
submission of the declaration will not reduce the North
Korean nuclear threat, it represents progress on the
road to preventing Pyongyang from producing more
material for nuclear weapons.... What we should do next
is clear. We should resume the six-party talks as early
as possible to decide how to verify the declaration.
Pyongyang should accept inspectors and technicians in
good faith."
3. "Suspicion Cannot Be Allowed to Remain" The liberal
Mainichi's editorial argued (6/27): "...The six-party
talks have reached a turning point, and a step forward
has been taken. However, North Korea's declaration does
not include information about nuclear weapons, the
biggest concern. Information about highly enriched
uranium and technical assistance to Syria will be
reported in a separate document. This cannot be called
a 'complete and correct' declaration.... Thorough
verification of the declaration is necessary.... Japan
should maintain its coordination with the U.S. so as
not to allow North Korea to neglect its commitment to
reinvestigating the abductions of Japanese nationals."
4. "Challenges Remain for Denuclearization" The
moderate Yomiuri's editorial said (6/27): "...Although
the contents of the declaration have yet to be made
public, the declaration appears to be insufficient
based on the U.S. explanation.... The six-party talks,
which are expected to reconvene as early as next week,
should intensively discuss how to verify the
declaration. If North Korea fails to fulfill the six-
party agreement, the U.S. should immediately withdraw
its decision to delist the nation."
5. "U.S. Should Rethink Decision to Delist North Korea"
The business-oriented Nikkei insisted in an editorial
(6/27): "...This is a crisis that could undermine the
foundation of the U.S.-Japan alliance. The situation
could change if North Korea takes effective measures
for verification in the next 45 days and concrete
progress is made on the abduction issue. However, if
Pyongyang fails to do so, the Bush administration needs
to cancel delisting.... We would like to ask President
Bush whether he wants to be remembered in history as a
president who made the decision that led the U.S. to
lose its most important ally in the Pacific."
6. "Insufficient Declaration Unacceptable" The
conservative Sankei editorialized (6/27): "...Although
this was expected, the U.S. decision on delisting is
extremely regrettable, as the declaration by North
TOKYO 00001771 002 OF 002
Korea does not include information about its nuclear
weapons, something that is critically important for
Japan. While the declaration will be carefully
scrutinized, we have to wonder how effectively and
completely this can be done in the 45 days before
delisting goes into effect."
7. "Verification Should Be Carried Out Quickly and
Thoroughly" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun's editorial said
(6/27): "...A declaration has finally been submitted.
The six-party talks will move forward.... It is urgent
that the chief delegates to the talks discuss specific
measures to verify the declaration and conduct onsite
inspections."
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