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UNCLAS TOKYO 000569 
 
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 - SIX-PARTY TALKS - TOKYO 
 
 
LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's Asahi gave top play to 
an alleged agreement between the US and North Korea in 
Berlin in January that Pyongyang would suspend operation 
of its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon in exchange for energy 
and humanitarian assistance. 
 
¶1. "Six-Party Talks at a Turning Point" The liberal Asahi 
editorialized (2/8): "...The six-party talks on North 
Korea's nuclear ambitions will resume today in Beijing. 
Because of past disappointments with North Korea, there 
is no predicting what will result from this round of 
talks. However, remarks by officials involved with the 
talks suggest that there will be some developments this 
time.... Unlike previous rounds of the talks, this time 
the US and DPRK have had extensive bilateral meetings 
beforehand.... We would like to welcome the deepening of 
dialogue between the US and North Korea, which holds the 
key to breaking the stalemate. What is important now is 
to end the crisis and confrontation that arose from 
Pyongyang's ballistic missile launches and nuclear test, 
as well as the UNSC's adoption of a resolution calling 
for sanctions against the DPRK.... The US and North Korea 
have reportedly exchanged notes regarding the North's 
suspension of operations of its nuclear reactor at 
Yongbyon in exchange for energy assistance." 
 
¶2. "US Should Maintain Its Basic Principles on DPRK 
Policy" An editorial in the business daily Nihon Keizai 
commented (2/8): "The six-party talks concerning North 
Korea's nuclear program will resume today in Beijing.... 
We are concerned that the US is showing signs of 
softening its previous position of calling for the 
North's 'complete and irreversible' nuclear abolition. At 
the talks, the US may be drawn to the stance of China, 
South Korea, and Russia to provide energy and economic 
assistance if the North promises to suspend operation of 
its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon.... The policy of 
'dialogue and pressure' will break down should the US and 
other nations provide energy and economic assistance 
before the North details the scope and process of its 
complete denuclearization.... It goes without saying that 
Japan should maintain its own policy of not resuming 
assistance to or normalizing relations with North Korea 
without resolving the abduction issue." 
 
SCHIEFFER