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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003755 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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: MEDIA REACTION Q LAUNCHING OF NORTH KOREAN 
MISSILES - TOKYO 
 
 
LEAD STORIES: All six Thursday morning papers gave top 
play to North Korea's launch of its seventh missile on 
Wednesday at around 5:22 p.m. (Japan time), as well as to 
Japan's UN Security Council (UNSC) proposal of a 
resolution censuring Pyongyang for the launches. 
 
¶1. These six papers carried editorials strongly 
protesting North Korea's Wednesday launches into the Sea 
of Japan. 
 
¶2. "Protest Against North Korea's Reckless Act" The 
liberal Asahi editorialized (7/6): "North Korea launched 
six missiles Wednesday morning and another later in the 
evening, breaching the Pyongyang Declaration reached with 
Japan in 2002 and in defiance of international calls for 
halting missile launches. We strongly protest the North's 
reckless and irresponsible act.... All seven missiles 
fell into the Sea of Japan near the Russian Far East. The 
North Korean missile launches were apparently aimed at 
intimidating neighboring countries by making a show of 
all the missiles the DPRK has capable of attacking 
foreign nations. 
 
¶2. "The North fired the missiles, well aware that the 
launches would draw strong protests from the 
international community. The launches revealed a 
stalemate in its diplomacy. North Korea used its 
'missile' card to bring the US to direct talks at a time 
when Washington is tightening its financial sanctions and 
faulting the North's human rights abuses.  Also, Japan is 
currently applying pressure on the North over the 
abduction issue. The North timed the launch to coincide 
with the Fourth of July in the US and shortly after the 
Bush-Koizumi summit and days before the G-8 summit in 
Russia. It is clear that the North fired the missiles as 
an act of provocation." 
 
¶3. "'Fireworks Display' by a Poverty-Stricken Nation" An 
editorial in the conservative Sankei commented (7/6): 
"Did North Korea fire missiles in despair? Or were the 
launches a calculated act? It appears that the North 
fired successive missiles in defiance of international 
calls for a suspension of launches.... It is said the 
test-firing of a Taepodong long-range ballistic missile 
capable of reaching Alaska failed. At a time when most 
North Koreans are starving, the firing of these high- 
priced missiles is like a fireworks display by a poverty- 
stricken nation.... 
 
¶4. "PM Koizumi had previously said that Japan would take 
strict measures if the North were to launch missiles. The 
GOJ should take one effective punitive measure after 
another.... Japan's missile defense is not yet 
functional. The ASDF plans to deploy a PAC-3 system at 
the end of this year, while the MSDF is expected to 
install SM-3 systems on board Aegis ships starting the 
end of next year. Until then, Japan cannot help but 
depend on US deterrents for Japan's peace and security. 
It is reassuring that the White House has announced that 
the US will take all measures necessary to protect its 
territories and allies." 
 
¶5. "A Serious Challenge to the International Community" 
The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized 
(7/6): "North Korea's launching of missiles posed a 
serious challenge to Japan's security, as well as to 
international peace.... The North fired the missiles at a 
 
TOKYO 00003755  002 OF 002 
 
 
time when it continues to reject calls to return to the 
six-party talks and also when it is reportedly developing 
nuclear weapons. Should the North Koreans successfully 
miniaturize nuclear weapons and load them onto ballistic 
missiles, it would pose an extremely serious threat to 
the international community.... It is only natural that 
Japan impose as many effective retaliatory measures as 
possible on the North. 
 
¶6. "The North most probably launched the missiles as part 
of its brinkmanship to bring the US to bilateral talks. 
However, the US is not likely to comply with such a 
threatening tactic. The US is adamant on its refusal to 
have direct dialogue with North Korea, further tightening 
its hard-line stance toward Pyongyang.... Members of the 
international community can no longer neglect Pyongyang's 
reckless missile launches. Members of the world community 
should join hands to prevent the North from developing 
and proliferating weapons of mass destruction, including 
nuclear weapons and missiles.... We hope that South 
Korea, which is reconciliatory toward the North, will 
join Japan and the US in tightening an iron ring around 
the North." 
 
¶7. "Threatening Will Only Deepen Isolation" An editorial 
in the liberal Tokyo Shimbun commented (7/6): "North 
Korea's firing of missiles were an extremely provocative 
act. The successive missile launches were totally 
unacceptable as they posed a serious threat to world 
peace and security.... Japan announced a ban on the visit 
of the North Korean passenger-cargo ferry Man Gyong Bong- 
92 to Japanese ports for six months and other restrictive 
measures. The US and other UN members started discussing 
the referral of North Korea to the UNSC.... 
 
¶8. "Pyongyang should realize that it brought these 
retaliatory measures upon itself.... The UNSC will 
shortly discuss the North Korean missile launch issue, 
and it will also be taken up at the G-8 summit, which 
will begin on July 15 in Russia. North Korea lacks 
international common sense. Patient diplomatic efforts 
will be necessary to recreate a new order of peace and 
stability in Northeast Asia." 
 
SCHIEFFER