Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - North Korea and China

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DE RUEHKO #2214 2250424
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P 120424Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002214

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 CHINA

1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning
included Russian ground troops' advance on Monday into
the city of Gori in central Georgia.

2. "No Progress without Verification" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (8/12): "The USG has decided to postpone
delisting North Korea as a state sponsor of
terrorism.... Delisting was linked to Pyongyang's
declaration of its nuclear programs. Although
verification should be carried out to determine whether
the declaration is complete and correct, no specific
agreement has yet been reached on how to do so. The
postponement of delisting is a natural decision."

3. "North Korea Should Accept Verification First" The
moderate Yomiuri stated in an editorial (8/12):
"...President Bush set an agreement on verification
protocols for North Korea's nuclear declaration as a
precondition for delisting. Without such an agreement,
it is reasonable to postpone delisting. However, an
agreement on verification protocols alone will not be
sufficient. It is important to begin verification work.
Although delisting can be carried out anytime after
August 11, the U.S. should not do so at a stage in
which actual verification work has yet to begin."

4. "Delays by North Korea Must Not Be Permitted" The
business-oriented Nikkei argued in an editorial (8/12):
"Secretary of State Rice told the GOJ that the U.S.
will not delist North Korea as a state sponsor of
terrorism on August 11, the original date. As the
decision was made due to Pyongyang's failure to respond
in good faith to Washington's policy of flexibility,
not only the Bush administration but also the next U.S.
administration will have to review U.S. policy toward
North Korea."

5. "Terrorism in Xinjiang Reflects Ethnic Problems in
China" The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized
(8/12): "...The Chinese government has tried to boost
the economy in the Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region and
the Tibet Autonomous Region by providing subsidies and
hiring ethnic minorities. However, as the unrest in
Tibet in March showed, Beijing's policy toward ethnic
minorities is not working well, and its oppression of
human rights has come to light."

SCHIEFFER

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