VZCZCXRO5528
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #2613 3160436
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120436Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7478
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 7376
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1195
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1808
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3075
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8474
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7956
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002613
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 - PRESIDENT OBAMA'S TRIP TO JAPAN AND
NORTH KOREA
1. LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers gave top play to open
hearings held yesterday by Government Revitalization Unit teams
concerning budget request items, saying that some 50 billion yen for
10 projects was identified as "waste" and needs to be eliminated.
2. "Will to Manage Alliance to Be Tested" On President Obama's
planned summit with Prime Minister Hatoyama, the liberal Asahi
editorialized (11/12): "Neither the U.S. nor Japan is planning to
take up the issue of Futenma relocation as a major topic for
discussion in the summit. Instead, both sides agreed to seek an
expedited settlement of the relocation issue at a cabinet-level
consultation forum. While it is not desirable for the whole summit
to be spoiled over this issue ... perhaps Prime Minister Hatoyama
should explain [to the President] the difficulty and complexity of
this issue candidly. Rather than avoiding in-depth discussions, the
two leaders should exchange views in a serious manner, especially
because this issue touches upon the core of the bilateral alliance.
Such an approach is crucial. No matter what decision the prime
minister makes, it will take a significant amount of political
energy to achieve a breakthrough. It is necessary for both leaders
to demonstrate strong political will to settle the matter promptly
in order to achieve a breakthrough."
3. "U.S. to Send Bosworth to North Korea without Firm Prospects for
Resumption of Six-Party Talks" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
wrote (11/12): "The USG has decided to dispatch Special
Representative for North Korea Bosworth to Pyongyang by the end of
the year, based on the judgment that the DPRK will return to the
Six-Party Talks. It is clear that the U.S. announced the visit to
record a '[diplomatic] accomplishment' ahead of President Obama's
trip to Asia. It is still uncertain whether the Six-Party Talks will
resume."
4. "Gap Exists between U.S., North Korea over Motives for Bosworth's
Visit" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun stated in a report from Seoul
(11/12): "In the upcoming talks between Bosworth and North Korean
officials, the U.S. plans to concentrate on the issue of resuming
the Six-Party Talks. The fact that a specific schedule [for the
visit] has not been disclosed apparently means that continued
coordination will be necessary between the two sides because there
is a gap between the motives of the U.S. and those of North Korea,
which places priority on improving its relations with the U.S."
ROOS