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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9637

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001818 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST 
DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS 
OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY 
ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/05/06 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Poll on USFJ realignment 
 
(2) Futenma relocation Henoko point plan: One thousand angry 
residents living under planned flight route hold rally; Speakers 
complain about noise pollution 
 
(3) US force realignment following a wild path (Part 1): Based on 
mutual distrust, Japan and the US trying to prevent each other 
from maximizing advantages 
 
(4) Poll on Japan's Constitution 
 
(5) Editorial: Opinion poll reveals growing awareness of need for 
constitutional revision 
 
(6) Interview with Shinzo Abe, chief cabinet secretary: Policies 
should be worked out by government 
 
(7) Japan ratcheting up pressure on North Korea at Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Abe's initiative, with review of tax breaks for pro- 
 
SIPDIS 
Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan; 
Ministries and agencies working together to uncover illegal acts 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Poll on USFJ realignment 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 3, 2006 
 
Questions & Answers 
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) 
 
Q: There's a plan to move about 8,000 US troops from Okinawa to 
Guam in order to alleviate Okinawa's base-hosting burden. The US 
has asked Japan to pay about 900 billion yen, or 75% of its 
estimated cost of new facilities there for them. Do you think 
it's unavoidable for the Japanese government to share the cost? 
 
           T       P       M        F 
Yes       38              47       31 
No        53              47       58 
 
Q: The city of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture polled its 
residents to ask whether they would accept the planned 
redeployment of a carrier-based air wing to Iwakuni base for the 
realignment of US forces in Japan. In that plebiscite, about 90% 
voted against it. Meanwhile, there's an opinion that matters 
related to the nation's diplomacy and security are not 
appropriate for a plebiscite. Do you agree with this opinion? 
 
Yes       20              26       14 
No        68              67       70 
 
(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "No answer" 
omitted. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted April 1-2 over the 
telephone with the aim of calling a total of 1,000 voters across 
the nation on a computer-aided random digit sampling (RDS) basis. 
Answers were obtained from 1,092 persons. 
 
TOKYO 00001818  002 OF 012 
 
 
 
(2) Futenma relocation Henoko point plan: One thousand angry 
residents living under planned flight route hold rally; Speakers 
complain about noise pollution 
 
ASAHI (Page 29) (Slightly abridged) 
April 5, 2006 
 
Residents of Ginoza Village yesterday held a rally in opposition 
to the plan to relocate US forces' Futenma Air Station to Henoko 
Point, Nago, Okinawa Prefecture. The village is located 
approximately 8 kilometers southwest of Henoko Point, right under 
the planned flight route. The relocation issue is now at the 
final stage, but the government is continuing talks only with 
Nago. Put in the dark, another affected local community is 
increasingly becoming impatient and indignant. 
 
An implementation committee organized by senior village officials 
and members of the village assembly hosted the rally. About 1,000 
villagers out of 5,300 took part in it, according to the 
organizer. 
 
In the village, residents of Matsuda Ward are especially 
concerned over the Henoko Point plan, because the ward is located 
right under the planned flight route. 
 
Residents there are already suffering from noise from US forces' 
helicopter drills. Reiko Toma (47) is the mother of one son and 
two daughters. She made a speech at the rally as a representative 
of the residents. She noted, "There is constant noise whether it 
is early in the morning or late at night. The noise is so loud 
that you cannot hear the television." 
 
Fishermen are also deeply concerned. Minoru Koki (41) sees a 
convoy of US forces' amphibious vehicles coming and going in a 
lagoon in the ward. He expressed concern: "Military drills will 
destroy the coral. If the sea around this area is reclaimed, it 
would cause a great deal of damage to the fishing industry." 
 
The village assembly last November adopted a motion opposing the 
Henoko Point plan. There are, however, no signs of the government 
altering the relocation plan substantially. On the contrary, 
under the government's draft revision, including moving the 
planned runway site counterclockwise 10 degrees, the flight route 
will come even closer to the village. The flight route will be 
right over the village under the plan presented by Nago, too. 
 
Ward Mayor Akinobu Toma (43) expressed his growing sense of 
alarm: "Looking at talks between Nago and the government, I feel 
that they do not mind sacrificing Matsuda Ward. If we keep mum 
about the development of the talks, things will go from bad to 
worse for us." 
 
(3) US force realignment following a wild path (Part 1): Based on 
mutual distrust, Japan and the US trying to prevent each other 
from maximizing advantages 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 26) (Abridged slightly) 
April 2, 2006 
 
Tokyo and Washington began talks on the realignment of US forces 
in Japan in November 2003. Washington's realignment plan centered 
on two points: (1) relocating the US Army 1st Corps headquarters 
 
TOKYO 00001818  003 OF 012 
 
 
from Washington to Japan and (2) transferring the Fifth Air Force 
Command at Yokota Air Base, which houses USFJ headquarters, to 
Guam. 
 
The global transformation of US forces originated from 9/11, 
which exposed the need for homeland security of the United States 
for the first time. The incident prompted Washington to aim at 
effectively defending the US mainland and blocking terrorists 
from entering the US while constraining military spending. 
 
The news that the Fifth Air Force may disappear shocked Japan. 
 
To begin with, the Fifth Air Force has no power to command a 
major battle. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the force has 
become an integral part in the defense of Japan. It has also 
turned into a mere shell due to major cutback on staff officers. 
In time of an emergency in Japan, the Hawaii-based commander in 
chief, US Pacific Command, is required to take command. 
 
It is proper to regard the Fifth Air Force commander as a 
"peacetime administrator" rather than a "wartime commander." 
 
Japanese and US defense officials were all aware that US forces 
in Japan were nothing more than a paper tiger, and they feared 
that the vague security system would come to light. 
 
The Foreign Ministry rejected the US realignment plan. In the 
event of an armed attack on Japan, the 40,000-strong US Army 1st 
Corps is required to rush to Japan ahead of other forces. Known 
for its outstanding combat power, the area of responsibility of 
the US Army's 1st Corps extends to the Indian Ocean. Japan 
rejected the US plan by citing the bilateral security treaty's 
Far East clause, which stipulates that US forces in Japan can 
make sallies to the area up to the north of the Philippines. 
 
The relocation of the 1st Corps headquarters was eventually 
shelved, and the focus in talks was shifted to closer cooperation 
between US forces in Japan and the Self-Defense Forces and 
Japan's call for alleviating burdens on municipalities hosting US 
bases. 
 
US officials commented angrily at times: "Reducing the burden? 
The word 'burden' really applies to the United States in 
describing Iraq, where so many young American men and women are 
losing their lives." 
 
Looking back on talks with the US, a Japanese official said, "We 
acutely felt America's frustration with US force realignment 
deviating from its original purpose." 
 
The viewpoint of defending Japan was visibly lacking. A Ground 
Self-Defense Force official took this view: "Conflicts could 
occur in the Asia-Pacific (a region producing terrorists). The 
planned relocation of the 1st Corps reflected the US Army's 
desire to command troops from a spot closer to the region." US 
force realignment is intended to strengthen the role of the 
Japanese archipelago, which is serving as frontline command. 
 
After moving the 1st Corps headquarters to Japan, the US 
reportedly intends to upgrade the rank of its commander from 
lieutenant general to general and to place US Forces South Korea 
under US Forces Japan. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001818  004 OF 012 
 
 
The transformation of the US-Japan Security Treaty, which was 
originally intended for the defense of Japan, is now obvious. 
 
There was every reason for Defense Agency officials to underscore 
the need to review the Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense 
Cooperation (which allows the two countries to cooperate within 
the scope of regional crises). 
 
When bilateral talks stalled in February last year, the US 
proposed changing the 1st Corps headquarters to a new US Army 
headquarters known as Unit of Employment X (UEx) with no area of 
responsibility. In reaction, the Defense Agency said: "Japan does 
not need two ground forces. We would like to see US Marines 
removed from Okinawa to overseas." 
 
The proposed UEx might infringe on the Far East clause, and the 
Defense Agency insisted on resolving the Okinawa base issue. 
 
Looking back, a Japanese negotiator noted: 
 
"The acceptance of the 1st Corps had to come in hand in hand with 
alleviating the burden on Okinawa. The two countries eventually 
forced themselves to agree to implementing everything that is 
mentioned in their interim report -- from the relocation of 
Futenma Air Station to the transfer of a carrier-borne aircraft 
unit from Atsugi to Iwakuni -- although they might force greater 
burdens on local communities." 
 
Such developments offer a glimpse into the two countries' 
determination not to allow each other to monopolize the benefits. 
US force realignment talks also exposed mutual distrust behind 
the Japan-US alliance, which is supposed to rest on relations of 
trust. 
 
Five months have passed since Tokyo and Washington produced their 
interim report on US force realignment. In anticipation of 
greater burdens, base-hosting municipalities have hardened their 
attitude, and questions remain about close cooperation between 
the US military and the SDF. Rough-and-ready bilateral talks also 
forced the two countries to defer their deadline for the final 
report from March 31 to April or later. 
 
(4) Poll on Japan's Constitution 
 
YOMIURI (Pages 15) (Full) 
April 4, 2006 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage.) 
 
Q: What's your interest in the Constitution of Japan? If there's 
anything you are particularly interested in, pick as many as you 
like from among those listed below. 
 
The Emperor and imperial household                     30.9 
Japan's war renunciation, Self-Defense Forces          49.3 
Equality, discrimination                               16.4 
Freedom of speech, press, and all other forms of expression 
                                                       11.1 
Information disclosure                                 16.4 
Privacy protection                                     25.3 
The right to live in peace, social welfare             16.9 
Environmental disruption                               24.0 
 
TOKYO 00001818  005 OF 012 
 
 
The rights to assemble, demonstrate, and strike         2.0 
Electoral system                                       12.7 
The right of access to the courts                      12.5 
Official visits to Yasukuni Shrine                     27.8 
Constitutional revision                                16.2 
Separation of the three powers of administration, legislation, 
and judicature                                          4.1 
Local autonomy                                         12.0 
The Diet's bicameral system                             8.4 
The process and background of establishing the Constitution 
                                                        5.7 
Other answers (O/A) + nothing in particular (NIP) + no answer 
(N/A)                                                   9.1 
 
Q: These days, the Diet and various political parties have been 
pursuing debate on the Constitution. Do you favor this move? 
 
Yes                           42.2 
Yes to a certain degree       29.2 
No to a certain degree        11.0 
No                            10.2 
N/A                            7.5 
 
Q: Do you think it would be better to amend the Constitution? 
 
Yes       55.5 
No        32.2 
N/A       12.3 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) 
Why? Pick as many reasons as you like from among those listed 
below. 
 
Because it's a US-imposed constitution                  33.6 
In order to expressly stipulate Japan's right of self-defense and 
the existence of the Self-Defense Forces            32.5 
Because there are too many cases claiming rights while neglecting 
obligations                                  25.3 
Because the conventional way of reading or applying the 
Constitution's provisions would lead to confusion if and when 
there is a need to meet situational changes             32.9 
Because Japan is expected to make international contributions, 
and there are also various challenges Japan cannot meet under its 
present-day constitution.                           47.4 
O/A                                                      1.5 
N/A                                                      1.9 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question) 
Why? Pick as many reasons as you like from among those listed 
below. 
 
Because the Constitution has already taken root in the nation 
                                                         36.3 
Because the Constitution is of a pacifist nature, Japan can be 
proud of it                                              51.5 
Because the Constitution guarantees fundamental human rights and 
democracy                                                26.7 
Because the Constitution can be interpreted or applied in a 
flexible way with the change of the times                20.5 
Because revising the Constitution may pave the way for Japan to 
turn into a military power                               34.2 
O/A                                                       1.0 
N/A                                                       0.7 
 
TOKYO 00001818  006 OF 012 
 
 
 
Q: The Constitution's Article 9 stipulates that Japan renounces 
war and will never maintain any war potential. The government has 
so far responded to relevant problems with its interpretation and 
application of the article. What do you think the government 
should do about Article 9 from now on? Pick only one from among 
those listed below. 
 
The government should continue with its interpretation and 
operation of Article 9                                     32.6 
The government's conventional way of responding to problems with 
its constitutional interpretation and operation has now reached 
its limit, so Article 9 should be amended                  39.3 
The government should strictly abide by Article 9 and should not 
respond to problems via interpretation or operation        20.9 
O/A                                                         0.2 
N/A                                                         7.0 
 
Q: The Constitution's Article 9 does not directly stipulate 
anything about having an organization for self-defense. Do you 
think the Constitution should expressly stipulate the Self- 
Defense Forces' existence? 
 
Yes                           46.8 
Yes to a certain degree       24.4 
No to a certain degree        11.4 
No                            11.3 
N/A                            6.1 
 
Q: The government has been taking the position that although 
Japan has the right to collective self-defense, the Constitution 
does not allow Japan to exercise this right. What do you think 
about this? Pick only one that is closest to your opinion from 
among those listed below. 
 
The Constitution should be amended so that Japan can exercise the 
right of collective self-defense                     26.9 
The Constitution should be reinterpreted so that Japan can 
exercise the right of collective self-defense            22.7 
Japan should continue as it has done and need not be allowed to 
use the right of collective self-defense                 43.5 
O/A                                                       0.1 
N/A                                                       6.7 
 
Q: The Constitution stipulates the Diet shall consist of two 
houses, namely the House of Representatives (lower chamber) and 
the House of Councillors (upper chamber). There are various 
arguments about this bicameral parliamentary system. Pick only 
one that is closest to your opinion. 
 
The House of Councillors should be abolished, leaving only one 
chamber                                                  27.8 
The two-chamber system should be maintained, and the House of 
Representatives' role and authority should be strengthened 
                                                          8.8 
The two-chamber system should be maintained, and the House of 
Councillors' role and authority should be strengthened   16.9 
The Diet should maintain its current two-chamber system as is 
                                                         40.7 
O/A                                                       0.8 
N/A                                                       4.9 
 
Q: If there's anything you think it would be better to revise in 
 
TOKYO 00001818  007 OF 012 
 
 
the Constitution or add to the Constitution, pick as many as you 
like from among those listed below. 
 
The Emperor's status                                       24.2 
Japan's maintenance of armed forces for self-defense       27.4 
Proactive international cooperation                        21.9 
Right to know government information                       18.3 
Privacy protection                                         27.6 
Respect for family                                         11.5 
The right to live in a good environment                    27.6 
The prime minister's strengthened powers to deal with 
emergencies, etc.                                          12.4 
The lower and upper houses' respective roles               13.5 
Central and local government roles                         25.2 
Establishment of a constitutional court                     4.5 
O/A                                                         0.1 
NIP                                                        16.4 
N/A                                                         2.9 
 
Q: What idea do you think it would be desirable to emphasize in 
the Constitution? Pick up to three from among those listed below. 
 
Tradition, history                                 29.2 
Nature, environmental protection                   40.3 
Contributions to the international community       26.3 
Peace and its importance                           67.7 
Individual freedom and its importance              12.6 
Social equality and its importance                 24.0 
Education, culture, science & technology           25.2 
Economic affluence                                 15.3 
O/A                                                 0.1 
NIP + N/A                                           4.9 
 
Q: The Constitution has a procedural stipulation for amendments. 
But there is no law governing a referendum or any other specific 
procedures for constitutional reform. Are you in favor of 
establishing a law to stipulate such procedures? 
 
Yes                   68.7 
No                     7.0 
Can't say which       20.3 
N/A                    4.1 
 
Q: There are now proposals to introduce a framework of larger 
regional administrative units reorganizing and integrating the 
nation's 47 prefectures into "doshu" units. The idea is to 
transfer government roles-excluding diplomacy and defense-to each 
new administrative entity called "Do" or "Shu." Are you in favor 
of introducing this "doshu" system? 
 
Yes                           17.5 
Yes to a certain degree       19.3 
No to a certain degree        24.1 
No                            25.2 
N/A                           13.9 
 
Polling methodology 
    Date of survey: March 11-12. 
    Subjects of survey: 3,000 persons chosen from among all 
eligible voters throughout the country (at 250 locations on a 
stratified two-stage random-sampling basis). 
    Method of implementation: Door-to-door visits for face-to- 
face interviews. 
 
TOKYO 00001818  008 OF 012 
 
 
    Number of valid respondents: 1,812 persons (60.4% ) 
    Breakdown of respondents: Male-50% , female-50% ; persons in 
their 20s-12% , 30s-13% , 40s-17% , 50s-22% , 60s-20% , 70 and 
over-16% ; big cities (Tokyo's 23 wards and government-designated 
cities)-22% , major cities (with a population of more than 
300,000)-19% , medium-size cities (with a population of more than 
100,000)-23% , small cities (with a population of less than 
100,000)-22% , towns and villages-14% . 
 
(5) Editorial: Opinion poll reveals growing awareness of need for 
constitutional revision 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
April 4, 2006 
 
The unsettled international situation and circumstances 
nces 
surrounding Japan's national security have led voters to seek 
change and support revision of the Constitution, including 
Article 9. 
 
In the latest Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey on the Constitution, 
56% of respondents answered that the nation's top law should be 
amended. This marks the ninth consecutive year that more than 50% 
of respondents have supported constitutional reform. As one of 
the reasons, they cited Japan's inability to deal appropriately 
with new issues, such as international contributions, under the 
present Constitution. In fact, this has been the top reason since 
¶1993. 
 
The international situation has become more fluid since the end 
of the Cold War in 1989. New threats surfaced with the Sept. 11, 
2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Given the unstable 
international situation, the perception that Japan has to fulfill 
its responsibilities and play its role for the sake of peace and 
stability in the world has gradually taken root among the public. 
 
In the survey, more than 70% of the respondents said that the 
Constitution should clearly mention the existence of the Self- 
Defense Forces. More than half indicated that Japan should be 
allowed to exercise the right of collective self-defense. Among 
those who supported constitutional reform, 64% favored revising 
Article 9. 
 
The volatility of the international situation has also become 
prominent in East Asia in recent years. The environment 
surrounding Japan's national security has become increasingly 
unstable and opaque due to such factors as North Korea's nuclear 
and missile development and China's rapid military buildup. 
 
Voters seem to have a common view forged by historic changes in 
the international situation that the Constitution should 
incorporate a national security clause not only for fulfilling 
Japan's responsibility of international contribution but also for 
the defense of Japan. 
 
In pursing such a course of action, it is natural for a "normal 
country" to define the nature and role of the SDF in the 
Constitution. 
 
For the SDF to function smoothly on international peacekeeping 
missions and for the security of the country and Asia, Japan must 
enhance cooperative relations with the United States in the 
 
TOKYO 00001818  009 OF 012 
 
 
spirit of the Japan-US alliance. The realignment of US forces in 
Japan will require closer and more flexible cooperation between 
the two countries. 
 
If Japan cannot exercise the right of collective defense, the 
Japan-US alliance will not be able to fully function. 
 
Needless to say, revision of the Constitution does not mean a 
revival of militarism. In the opinion poll, nearly 70% said the 
Constitution should underscore the "importance of peace." This 
pacifism is not the sort seen in the old movements that opposed 
the SDF and called for protection of the Constitution. Society 
must pursue proactive pacifism that utilizes the SDF to help 
create peace. 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party compiled its own draft revision of 
the Constitution last fall, featuring inclusion of the national 
right to possess a military for self-defense (jieigun). In its 
set of constitutional proposals, Minshuto (Democratic Party of 
Japan) also called for constitutional revision to allow Japan to 
use force under some conditions, such as participation in 
activities of UN multilateral forces. 
 
It is the duty of the nation's politicians to come up with a new 
constitution that will match the needs of the times without 
lagging behind public awareness. 
 
(6) Interview with Shinzo Abe, chief cabinet secretary: Policies 
should be worked out by government 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 4, 2006 
 
-- What sort of nation are you aiming for? 
 
"Soon after the end of World War II, the government set up the 
goal of making Japan once again a country free from concerns 
about a lack of clothing, food, and housing. I think this goal 
has been achieved satisfactorily. I want to make Japan into a 
country whose people can be proud. Japan must be a nation that is 
trusted, depended on, and respected by the rest of the world. 
 
"Japan has won a certain level of appreciation for its 
considerable financial contributions, such as official 
development assistance (ODA), but it might be necessary to 
consider a little more seriously providing other types of aid, 
for instance, assistance to settle disputes or to rebuild peace." 
 
-- Are you going to maintain the policy of establishing a "small 
government"? 
 
"We advocated the slogan of building a 'small government' for the 
first time in the general election campaigning last year. A 
`small government' can be interpreted as a simple and effective 
government. Private-sector vitality should be utilized as much as 
possible. It is also necessary to keep a close check to see if 
government funds have not been spent wastefully. 
 
"On social security, keeping some safeguards is necessary. 
Although it is important to thoroughly streamline what can be 
done, we must not allow the quality of benefits to be undermined. 
We will not establish a society in which the people must take 
care of themselves with their own funds after retirement." 
 
TOKYO 00001818  010 OF 012 
 
 
 
--Some criticize Japan as a bureaucrat-led state. 
 
"It is bureaucrats' task to provide options, while making a final 
judgment is the government's duty. Our party assumed political 
power by setting forth quite vague policies, while government 
offices worked out details for the policies without giving other 
options. 
 
"However, the government has presented policies it should take, 
though it exchanges views with government offices in 
Kasumigaseki. The government is likely to seek to offer some 
additional options. The government should venture into 
(government offices) with a totally fresh mind-set and should 
work out policies based on that. The policymaking process must be 
revealed to the people. 
 
-- What is necessary in order to strengthen the functions of the 
Prime Minister's Office? 
 
"The National Security Council did not work satisfactorily as an 
arena for discussing diplomatic and security issues in a 
comprehensive manner. The panel should meet more frequently to 
make its presence more significant. It is also necessary to 
enhance the function of the staff. It is vital to set up a 
strategically and politically influential security or economic 
cooperation council." 
 
-- What role do you think Japan should play in Asia? 
 
"In mapping out Asia policy, Japanese people, with tunnel vision, 
tend to focus only on East Asia, China, and South Korea, but 
having a wider field of vision is necessary. Japan should 
consider how influential it is in Asia under this context. 
 
"Spreading common values is necessary, such as freedom, 
democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. It will also be 
imperative for Japan to hold an annual conference, for example, 
at the foreign ministry level, with countries that share common 
values, including India and Australia, and joined also by the US. 
In addition, it is necessary to speed up negotiations to conclude 
an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with Southeast Asia." 
 
"How are you going to promote policy toward China? 
 
-- "China is one of the key platforms in Asia (for Japan). That 
nation is Japan's indispensable economic partner, and both 
countries have profited from Japan's exports to and investment in 
China. To be sure, China has constituted a destabilizing factor 
in the region. China has increased its national defense budget by 
double-digits for the 18th consecutive year. That nation does not 
share such basic values as freedom and human rights. The rule of 
law has yet to be established, either. 
 
"We have kept the door open (to China). One nation absolutely 
should not cut off talks due to a single problem. I hope China 
will take a step forward. There is still a risk over historical 
perceptions, but politicians must hammer out some measures to 
contain the risk. Dialogue is the best way for Japan and China to 
protect the foundation of their relations." 
 
(7) Japan ratcheting up pressure on North Korea at Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Abe's initiative, with review of tax breaks for pro- 
 
SIPDIS 
 
TOKYO 00001818  011 OF 012 
 
 
Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan; 
Ministries and agencies working together to uncover illegal acts 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
April 4, 2006 
 
The Japanese government has begun taking action to boost pressure 
on North Korea. The aim is to extract concessions from North 
Korea on the abduction issue. The leading actor in this move is 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe. But the move is meeting with 
a strong backlash from Pyongyang, which has described the 
situation as entering "a dangerous stage." In the previous round 
of government-to-government talks, Tokyo and Pyongyang agreed to 
resume dialogue at an early date, but when it will be reopened 
remains to be seen. The psychological war between the two 
countries is only escalating. 
 
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications yesterday 
issued to local governments a notice dated April 1 regarding tax 
breaks for facilities owned by the pro-Pyongyang General 
Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun). The 
issuance followed the Fukuoka High Court's ruling in February 
denying Kumamoto City's property tax reduction for one of the 
Chongryun facilities, which the court said did not serve the 
public. The MIC notice places Chongryun-affiliated facilities on 
the list of the targets for a review of the tax breaks. 
 
Ministry officials concerned had been reluctant about specifying 
Chongryun in the list, but their opposition was brushed off by 
Abe and Senior Vice Minister Yoshihide Suga. 
 
On April 3, a law-enforcement team composed of senior officials 
from six ministries and agencies held a plenary session and 
discussed such measures as prevention of illegal exports of 
products convertible to military purposes. The team was 
established at the request of Abe to boost pressure on North 
Korea by strictly applying existing laws to that country. 
 
The Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) is also showing 
signs of shifting its emphasis to North Korea as evidenced by the 
recent replacement of the cabinet intelligence director, the key 
post for intelligence analysis in Kantei. The official who 
assumed the post as of April 1 was Hideshi Mitani, former 
director of the National Policy Agency's Foreign Affairs and 
Intelligence Department. There was a recommendation for an 
official from the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry for 
the post, but Abe chose Mitani from among several candidates, 
giving high marks to him for his performance as an expert on the 
North Korean situation. This appointment was unusual in view of 
Mitani being younger than the past officials who had been picked 
for the post. 
 
Mitani served as secretary to then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, 
and he and Abe assisted Mori together. Mitani was also a member 
of the law-enforcement team's parent body, the informal task 
force under the supervision of Abe. 
 
The government will possibly next week release the results of the 
DNA analysis that will determine whether the man alleged to be 
the former husband of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North 
Korean agents, is a South Korean national also abducted by North 
Korean agents. This analysis has become possible in Japan owing 
to Abe's efforts made to obtain cooperation from the South Korean 
 
TOKYO 00001818  012 OF 012 
 
 
Embassy in Tokyo. 
 
Abe firmly believes that Japan's dialogue approach is 
insufficient to prompt concessions from North Korea. From a 
strategic point of view, he thinks it is necessary to bring North 
Korea to the negotiating table while falling in line with the 
United States, which is intensifying pressure on the North by 
using financial sanctions and the human rights issue. 
 
North Korea is becoming increasingly belligerent toward Japan and 
the US. According to the Korean Central News Agency, North Korean 
media denounced Japan's North Korea policy on March 26: "It has 
entered a dangerous phase. If it boosts its hostility policy, 
tough measures will be taken against it." 
 
Pyongyang has resisted not only dialogue with Japan but it also 
has refused to return to the six-nation talks. But given Chinese 
President Hu Jintao's planned meeting with US President Bush in 
Washington on April 20, "There is a possibility of the six-party 
talks and Japan-DPRK dialogue being resumed as early as in May, 
if China mediates between the US and North Korea," a government 
official commented. 
 
SCHIEFFER