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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 006302 
 
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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/31/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Defense and security issues: 
4) Interview with JDA chief Kyuma on North Korea nuclear issue 
5) Kyuma meets with China's military brass, as exchanges resume 
after long hiatus 
6) LDP, Minshuto reach compromise on bill to raise JDA to ministry 
status 
7) Likelihood now that JDA will be raised to a ministry this Diet 
8) Ruling parties' candidate for Okinawa governor Nakaima would 
allow prefecture to accept Futenma relocation 
9) Interview on base issues to local paper by Naha Consulate General 
Kevin Maher 
 
Political flaps: 
10) Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura apologizes to LDP execs 
for causing trouble with his remark about reviewing comfort-women 
issue 
11) LDP policy chief Nakagawa continues to stress constitutional 
right for Japan to possess nuclear arms, though willing to accept 
three no-nuclear principles 
 
Political agenda: 
12) Ruling and opposition camps lock horns in Diet committee over 
amending Basic Education Law 
13) Prime Minister Abe: Postal rebels must approve postal 
privatization first before being reinstated into LDP 
14) Argument for separating souls of war criminals enshrined at 
Yasukuni seems to have faded into background following Abe's trips 
to China, ROK 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Schools' failure to teach compulsory subjects dominate Basic 
Education Law committee discussion; Who should be held responsible - 
the government, boards of education, or schools? 
 
Mainichi: 
Three major consumer loan companies to post huge debts in September 
term 
 
Yomiuri: 
MEXT to expand national university tuition fee exemption program 
starting next spring 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Toshiba Ceramics to tie up with domestic and foreign investment 
funds for MBO 
 
Sankei: 
Lower House committee begins deliberations on bullying, lack of 
required credit units, and education law revision; Government 
oversight to be strengthened 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
 
TOKYO 00006302  002 OF 010 
 
 
Government to help students failing to acquire required credit units 
with 70 hours of extra lessons 
 
Akahata: 
Education law revision a counterproductive approach to bullying 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Buy more natural energy 
(2) Postal privatization: Concrete steps to downsizing essential 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Basic Education Law revision: Look at reality first 
(2) Softbank's number portability fiasco 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Kono Statement: Question is whether "comfort women" were forced 
to provide sexual services against their will 
(2) Surprise discount plan sparks confusion 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Softbank harms public trust in number portability system 
(2) Reinstatement of postal rebels inappropriate 
 
Sankei: 
(1) School bullying resulting in suicides 
(2) Number portability fiasco exposes telecom carriers' 
responsibility 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Bullying and suicides: Break the link 
(2) Softbank must strike balance between fees and credibility 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Law Supporting the Independence of the Handicapped must be 
reviewed 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 30 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
October 31, 2006 
 
09:00 
Met Education Minister Ibuki at Kantei, Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Shiozaki, and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura. Shimomura 
stayed behind. 
 
10:01 
Attended a meeting of the Lower House's Special Committee on the 
Basic Education Law. 
 
12:07 
Met Shimomura at Kantei. 
 
13:00 
Returned to the meeting of the special committee. 
 
17:03 
Attended an LDP executive meeting in the Diet building. 
 
TOKYO 00006302  003 OF 010 
 
 
 
17:58 
Met at Kantei with Nippon Yusen Chairman Kusakari, chairman of the 
Regulatory Reform and Liberalization Promotion Committee. 
 
18:35 
Dined at a restaurant in the Otemachi First Square with members of 
the Seven Companies' Association of media firms, including Yomiuri 
Shimbun President Tsuneo Watanabe and TV Tokyo Advisor Yutaka 
Ichigi. 
 
20:30 
Returned to his private residence. 
 
4) Interview with JDA chief Kyuma on North Korea's nuclear issue 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 31, 2006 
 
-- In the talks on Oct. 18 between you and United States Secretary 
of State Rice, both agreed to launch working-level talks on 
implementing sanctions against North Korea. Are the two countries 
going to start full-scale talks after the mid-term elections in 
early November? 
 
It is not correct to think that the US does not start talks before 
elections, but the US is watching the next move by North Korea. 
 
-- Now that the United Nation Secretary Council has adopted a 
resolution calling for sanctions, including cargo inspections, what 
can Japan do now? 
 
In addition to monitoring (by the Self-Defense Force) and the 
collection and transmission of intelligence, Japan can offer fueling 
service (also to warships from other countries than the US) under 
the Goods Control Law and the Financial Law. 
 
-- You remain cautious about invoking the regional contingency law 
to enable Japan's rear support for the US military and ship 
inspections, don't you? 
 
We are not in a tense situation. It is not proper to draw up a basic 
plan (on support for the US military) and obtain Diet approval now. 
When the need arises, we should decide what we should do and then 
lay out a basic plan. 
 
-- It has been reported in South Korea and other countries that 
North Korea is pushing ahead with preparations for another nuclear 
test. Are there any signs to prove such a report? 
 
I have not heard anything yet. But that nation might be making 
preparations before we know. 
 
-- The government acknowledged on Oct. 27 that North Korea had 
conducted a nuclear test. Was it based on the official 
acknowledgement by the US and South Korea? 
 
Although Japan has not received any decisive information, the US 
announced that it has obtained (radioactive) materials, and South 
Korea, which is located closer to the North than Japan, said that it 
detected earthquake waves. These countries have said with confidence 
that Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test. It is therefore proper for 
 
TOKYO 00006302  004 OF 010 
 
 
the government to judge that the North conducted a nuclear test and 
to think that some countermeasures are necessary. 
 
-- Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chairman Shoichi 
Nakagawa's statements over debate on Japan's nuclear option have 
caused controversy. 
 
Even if Japan possessed nuclear weapons, (the result would be to 
only heat up the nuclear arms race, so) it would not serve as a 
deterrent. The US has consistently maintained in the postwar period 
that "since Japan cannot protect itself independently, we will 
protect it under our 'nuclear umbrella." Japan therefore should keep 
its three antinuclear principles." 
 
5) Kyuma meets China's military brass 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 31, 2006 
 
Defense Agency Director General Fumio Kyuma yesterday met at his 
office with a visiting Chinese group of 20 military brass officers 
from the People's Liberation Army of China. They are now visiting 
Japan on a bilateral defense exchange program for field officers. In 
the meeting, Kyuma invited Chinese naval vessels and Chinese Defense 
Minister Cao Gangchuan to visit Japan. A Chinese fleet visit to 
Japan was scheduled for 2003 but has been suspended due to the two 
countries' respective circumstances, such as the worsening of 
bilateral relations. The Chinese delegation responded to the 
invitation, with one of them saying China wants to do so at the 
earliest possible date. In addition, Kyuma stressed the necessity of 
denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. The Chinese delegation also 
expressed strong concern about North Korea's nuclear test. 
 
6) LDP, Minshuto agree to resume deliberations on bill upgrading 
Defense Agency to a ministry 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 31, 2006 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the main opposition 
party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) engaged in a fierce 
battle yesterday over a bill designed to upgrade the Defense Agency 
to the status of a ministry. On the premise of agreeing to carry out 
deliberations on the bill, Minshuto demanded that concentrated 
discussion on a bid-rigging scandal involving the Defense Facilities 
Administration Agency (DFAA) be carried for two days. The LDP 
initially suggested holding a discussion only one day but the 
largest opposition party assumed a hard-line stance of being ready 
to boycott the deliberations on the bill. The LDP, therefore, 
accepted the Minshuto's demand late last night. As a result, the two 
parties reached an agreement to attend the debate on the bills. 
Last evening, Hiroshi Imazu of the LDP, who serves as chief director 
of the House of Representatives Security Committee, and Ryuzo Sasaki 
of Minshuto held talks in the Diet building. Sasaki there told Imazu 
that even if the LDP held a session on the afternoon of Oct. 31, he 
would not attend it, saying, "We cannot yield our demand for a 
two-day debate." Imazu then accepted Minshuto's demand at last. 
 
Minshuto, however, has not make clear its stand toward the bill as 
to whether or not approve of it because the party appears to be 
unwilling to destroy cooperation with the Japanese Communist Party 
and the Social Democratic Party, which have clearly opposed the 
 
TOKYO 00006302  005 OF 010 
 
 
bill, in the Nov. 19 Okinawa gubernatorial election as they have 
jointly backed the same candidate. 
 
In the largest opposition party, however, many lawmakers are in 
favor of the bill upgrading the Defense Agency to a ministry. A 
young conservative lawmaker voiced concern about the fact that the 
party brandished the treat of boycotting the deliberations, saying, 
"People may misunderstand that Minshuto is opposed to the upgrade of 
the Defense Agency to a ministry." 
 
7) 'Defense Ministry' bill likely to pass Diet during current 
session 
 
TOKYO (Page 2) (Full) 
October 31, 2006 
 
A government-introduced package of legislative measures, including a 
bill revising the Defense Agency Establishment Law to upgrade the 
agency to the status of a ministry, is now likely to pass the Diet 
at its current session ending Dec. 15. The House of Representatives 
Security Affairs Committee yesterday held a meeting of its senior 
directors from the ruling and opposition parties to schedule 
deliberations. As a result, the legislation will enter into 
full-fledged deliberations on Nov. 7 and is expected to pass the 
lower chamber after Nov. 10. 
 
The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) called 
for a two-day session of intensive deliberations over the Defense 
Facilities Administration Agency's bid-rigging scandal. The ruling 
coalition insisted on a one-day session of intensive deliberations 
but has now complied with the DPJ's request. The DPJ therefore 
agreed to deliberate on the legislation. 
 
However, the DPJ is expected to vote against the legislation in 
consideration of a possible impact on the opposition camp's joint 
struggle in Okinawa Prefecture's gubernatorial election scheduled 
for Nov. 19. 
 
8) Nakaima may accept Futenma relocation within Okinawa 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 31, 2006 
 
Former Okinawa Electric Power Co. Chairman Hirokazu Nakaima, 67, who 
has now announced his candidacy for Okinawa Prefecture's 
gubernatorial election scheduled for Nov. 19 as an independent new 
face recommended by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic 
Party and the New Komeito, held a press conference in Naha City 
yesterday and remarked for the first time that he would likely 
accept relocating the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within 
Okinawa Prefecture. Nakaima has so far avoided clarifying his 
standpoint about where to relocate the airfield. 
 
Meanwhile, Keiko Itokazu, 59, currently seated on the House of 
Councillors, is an independent new face recommended by anti-LDP and 
anti-Komeito parties, including the Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto), the Japanese Communist Party, and the Social Democratic 
Party (Shaminto). Itokazu is calling for relocating the airfield 
elsewhere outside Okinawa Prefecture or overseas. The two candidates 
have now made clear the difference between their respective 
assertions. 
 
 
TOKYO 00006302  006 OF 010 
 
 
9) US Consul General Kevin Maher in Okinawa: Dangers will be 
eliminated with realization of Futenma relocation 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
October 28, 2006 
 
Interviewer: Go Watanabe 
 
-- During the relocation work for the US Marine Corps Air Station 
Futenma, there was an arrest. 
 
Consul General Maher: "It is my understanding that one reason why 
the previous Henoko relocation plan was derailed was a campaign by 
opponents of the relocation plan. One reason why the United States 
has accepted a new relocation plan is because the Japanese 
government has insisted that it is confident it can make the plan 
come true, and another reason is our judgment that the plan is 
feasible. Given these things, my understanding about the removal of 
a sit-in protest staged in front of the gate is that the Japanese 
government demonstrated its strong will to implement the plan. I 
respect the right to protest, but a protest movement should be 
staged legitimately and peacefully." 
 
-- How will you plan to remove dangers of the Futenma airfield? 
 
"If the objective of the US military transformation is simply to 
'reduce the burden,' it is possible to close Futenma airfield 
immediately, but the current security environment is not so 
favorable. I know, of course, that the citizens of Ginowan City are 
concerned about safety and noise. Realistically, the best approach 
would be to implement the plan as quickly as possible." 
 
-- Why are you going to deploy Patriot missiles at Kadena Air Base? 
 
"We've decided to deploy them from a comprehensive standpoint, 
taking into account such factors as the Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) 
plan to deploy the PAC-3, and the plan to deploy the X-Band radar 
and the Aegis ship. If you ask whether these things are for the 
defense of the Kadena base or for the defense of Okinawa, our answer 
is to defend both. Our role is to defend Japan, as well as to 
contribute to peace and security in the Far East. At the same time, 
Japan's role is to provide facilities to us. In order for us to 
fulfill our duties, we need bases, and we need to defend bases." 
 
-- What is your plan to return the bases located south of Kadena? 
 
"We will make a master plan by next March, but I've no idea at 
present how detailed it can be. Regarding the functions of the 
facilities south of Kadena that are planned to be returned to Japan, 
we need to decide where the necessary portion of the functions will 
be relocated to which units that will stay in Okinawa. Regarding the 
functions of Naha Port, our plan is to relocate them to a reclaimed 
area in Urasoe City. Regarding others, our basic idea is to combine 
them in US military facilities. For instance, the Kadena Munitions 
Depot, (Camp) Hansen, and (Camp) Schwab Depot." 
 
-- The Guam relocation plan shows the relocation of a Marine Corps 
combat unit. Is there a possibility that drills for that unit will 
be carried out in Okinawa? 
 
"The plan will take shape in the weeks ahead, so I have no idea 
about details. If a combat unit is deployed in Guam, I think there 
 
TOKYO 00006302  007 OF 010 
 
 
is a possibility that it will have drills in Okinawa under a unit 
deployment program (UDP). However, I don't think that the scale of 
drills conducted in Okinawa or the number of times of drills will 
expand." 
 
-- Will anything other than the headquarters of the US Marine Corps 
in Okinawa be relocated to Guam? 
 
"There's no such relocation plan. If there is an increase in Marine 
Corps personnel in Guam, Marines will be sent from the US mainland. 
The US military transformation plans to enable the Marine Corps to 
flexibly respond to a crisis in the area near Guam, Okinawa, and 
Hawaii. Even after the headquarters is relocated to Guam, the combat 
unit and the functions of the Futenma base will remain in Okinawa. 
In Okinawa, the Futenma base must be relocated by 2014. The package 
deal (concerning the relocation of Futenma and Marines) must be kept 
in mind." 
 
10) Shimomura apologizes to ruling party execs 
 
TOKYO (Page 2) (Full) 
October 31, 2006 
 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hakubun Shimomura met with Liberal 
Democratic Party Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Toshihiro Nikai and 
New Komeito Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshio Urushibara in the 
Diet yesterday afternoon to offer his apologies for his recent 
remarks over the issue of comfort women. Shimomura said, "I troubled 
many people, and I intend to be more careful." 
 
Shimomura had suggested the necessity of reinvestigating the facts 
about former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono's statement that 
admitted to the now-defunct Japanese military's compelling of 
comfort women. 
 
11) LDP policy chief Nakagawa: Japan can possess nuclear weapons 
constitutionally, but in reality Japan has three nonnuclear 
principles 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 31, 2006 
 
Referring to the question of whether Japan should debate a nuclear 
option in a speech delivered yesterday in Numazu City, Shizuoka 
Prefecture Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Policy Research Council 
Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa stated: 
 
"According the government's interpretation of the Constitution, 
nuclear weapons are included in minimum necessary armaments. 
However, there are the three nonnuclear principles in Japan. In view 
of the actual policy, Japan is not allowed to possess nuclear 
weapons, but the government says Japan can have them 
constitutionally." 
 
Commenting on North Korea's nuclear test, he underscored the need 
for a debate on whether or not Japan should possess nuclear weapons, 
noting: 
 
"What should we do if missiles come from the North? In order to 
prevent such a situation, Japan needs to cooperate with the United 
States and China. And we should debate on a nuclear option now." 
 
 
TOKYO 00006302  008 OF 010 
 
 
In a lecture meeting yesterday at a Tokyo hotel of the Asia Research 
Institute, which is chaired by former Ambassador to the US Kuriyama, 
LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa stated on the fact that 
policy chief Nakagawa and others have advocated the need for Japan 
to consider a nuclear option: "We must not suppress views calling 
for study (of policy issues)." He indicated that the party would 
allow to individual politicians to speak their personal views. 
 
12) Basic Education Law Special Committee intensively discusses 
students' lack of required credit units and bullying; Ruling 
coalition accelerates debate on review of boards of education 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 31, 2006 
 
The Lower House Basic Education Law Special Committee began 
deliberations yesterday on Basic Education Law revision with 
discussion centering on problems associated with schools, such as 
high school students' lack of required credit units and students' 
bullying resulting in suicides. The government and the ruling 
coalition are accelerating the argument calling for reviewing 
prefectural boards of education by criticizing them. The approach 
seems to reflect their intention to shield the government and the 
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry from 
criticism. 
 
Responsibility and authority 
 
In yesterday's education committee session, education minister 
Bunmei Ibuki lashed out at prefectural boards of education regarding 
their responses to bullying, saying: "They lack a sense of 
responsibility. In the event idealistic arguments (do not work), the 
system must be reviewed." Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also described 
schools' failure to teach compulsory subjects as a violation of the 
rules. Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) Diet Affairs Committee 
Chairman Yoshihiko Noda pursued the education ministry's 
responsibility, arguing, "If only one school had failed to meet the 
requirements, that could be settled with an apology of the principal 
of that school, but violations have occurred throughout the 
country." In response, Ibuki said, "I am to blame partially." At the 
same time, he ruled out legal responsibility. 
 
Ruling bloc on offensive over patriotism 
 
Former education minister Tadamori Oshima of the Liberal Democratic 
Party, who took the floor as the first questioner, pressed Minshuto 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, who had presented the Minshuto 
 
SIPDIS 
plan, for revision talks, saying, "Reflecting the Minshuto plan on 
the government plan would serve the interests of society and the 
general public." Oshima's call was intended to shake the Minshuto's 
strategy to prolong deliberations, although the ruling coalition 
thinks revision was out of the question. 
 
The focus of Basic Education Law revision was the description of 
"patriotism," which is specified in both the ruling and Minshuto 
plans. The Minshuto plan simply reads, "to nurture a mind to love 
Japan." The difference with the government plan that reads, "to 
nurture an attitude that loves the nation and homeland," did not 
become clear. The LDP, which thinks that all contentious points have 
been discussed, aims to obtain Lower House approval in early 
November. 
 
 
TOKYO 00006302  009 OF 010 
 
 
Views held by the government and Minshuto over educational issues 
 
Issue 
¶1. Government 
¶2. Minshuto 
 
A lack of required credit units 
 
¶1. The results are attributable to schools' encouragement to violate 
rules in a bid to achieve good results in college entrance 
examinations. (Prime Minister Shinzo Abe) 
 
¶2. The matter concerns not only some schools and boards of education 
but also the government and the education ministry. (Diet Affairs 
Committee Chairman Yoshihiko Noda) 
 
Bullying 
 
¶1. There is a tendency that teachers and boards of education play 
key roles in bullying and hide bullying incidents. (Education 
minister Bunmei Ibuki) 
 
¶2. It is not clear about who is responsible. Interviews have been 
insufficient. (Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama) 
 
Basic Education Law 
 
¶1. I am skeptical about handing educational rights to chiefs to be 
selected in elections. (Education minister Ibuki) 
 
¶2. A system must be established in which ombudsmen will audit it 
under the responsibility of municipalities. (Secretary General 
Hatoyama) 
 
13) Prime Minister Abe: Supporting postal privatization a condition 
for postal rebels to return to LDP 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 31, 2006 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa 
said that if postal rebels want to rejoin the LDP, they should 
support the government's postal privatization plan. Asked by 
reporters yesterday at his office (Kantei) about his view on 
Nakagawa's remarks, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe responded: "It is only 
natural for them to agree to my policies, which are included in my 
policy speech. My policy speech stipulates the (postal-privatization 
plan)." Abe indicated that he would agree to the reinstatement of 
postal rebels if they approve postal privatization. 
 
14) Idea of separately enshrining Class-A war criminals now up in 
air following prime minister's visits to China, South Korea 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 31, 2006 
 
Uncertainty is looming over the idea of removing the souls of 
Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni Shrine. Debate on the idea 
appeared to gather momentum following the proposal made by Japan 
War-Bereaved Association Chairman Makoto Koga, a Liberal Democratic 
Party member. But deliberations have been low key since the LDP 
presidential election. Views in the bereaved association are split. 
 
TOKYO 00006302  010 OF 010 
 
 
In addition, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's meetings with the Chinese 
and South Korean leaders have lowered the issue's priority on the 
political agenda. Abe successfully brought about summits with China 
and South Korea under the strategy of stopping short of whether he 
would visit Yasukuni Shrine 
 
In a speech at the Fukushima Prefecture War-Bereaved Association's 
convention held in Fukuoka yesterday, Koga said, "We must work out a 
way under which anyone can pay homage without any hesitation." Koga 
thus indicated his willingness to continue to advocate the idea of 
separately enshrining Class-A war criminals, although he did not 
directly refer to it. 
 
In his policy statement released this May with an eye on the 
presidential race, Koga advocated the idea of unenshrining Class-A 
war criminals and called on association members to look into the 
idea. Koga, who distanced himself from former Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi, also stressed the need to improve Japan's 
relations with China and South Korea, which were strained over 
Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. 
 
Removing the war criminals enshrined at Yasukuni is the "third way" 
that can satisfy the bereaved association, which is calling for the 
prime minister's annual visit to the shrine, and serve to restore 
the strained relations with China and South Korea. 
 
However, with an eye on the House of Councillors election next 
summer, many bereaved association executives want to avoid fissures 
in their organization as a result of stepping into the delicate 
issue. Furthermore, the birth of the Abe administration has turned 
around the situation. Abe's meetings with the Chinese and South 
Korean leaders moved relations with the two countries in the 
direction of improvement, resulting in placing the idea of 
unenshrining war criminals in limbo. 
 
SCHIEFFER