Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Death of Former Rok President Kim

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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1922 2320035
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200035Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5985
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UNCLAS TOKYO 001922

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 - DEATH OF FORMER ROK PRESIDENT KIM
DAE-JUNG

1. LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Asahi led with projections
concerning the August 30 general election, saying that the DPJ may
win as many as 300 seats, while the ruling LDP could lose almost
half of its current seats.

2. "Debate to Continue over Pros and Cons of Sunshine Policy" On the
death of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, the
top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (8/20): "The death
[of Kim Dae-jung] that followed the earlier suicide by former
President Roh, who supported the Sunshine Policy, probably dealt a
severe blow to North Korea.... ROK President Lee has urged North
Korea to make the decision to abolish its nuclear programs and
proposed the start of bilateral talks to reduce conventional forces.
These proposals are aimed at rectifying the defects of the Sunshine
Policy, which called for the peaceful coexistence of the two Koreas
while stopping short of taking measures to mitigate military
tension. The Sunshine Policy will only receive a positive appraisal
when North Korea gives up on its nuclear weapons and takes steps
toward inter-Korean dialogue for permanent peace on the Korean
Peninsula."

ROOS

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