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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 000650 
 
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 02/14/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Six-party agreement with North Korea: 
4) President Bush tells Prime Minister Abe by phone that he 
understands Japan's concerns about six-party agreement just 
concluded with North Korea 
5) Bush tells Abe that abduction issue will not be left behind in 
agreement process 
6) Bush to Abe: North Korea's name to be removed from 
terrorist-sponsor list 
7) Abe will keep in close contact with US on issue of removing North 
Korea from terrorist-sponsor list 
8) US is stressing six-party agreement as a diplomatic success 
9) LDP alarmed that US, DPRK relations have surged ahead as 
six-parties reach agreement 
10) Prime Minister Abe to put every effort into moving abduction 
issue forward in working group with North Korea 
11) Abe stresses in e-mail magazine that policy toward DPRK will 
shift from "pressure" to "dialogue" 
12) Vague aspects of six-party agreement being debated in Japan, 
with government avoiding condition of rewarding DPRK 
 
13) Koichi Kato and other LDP lawmakers are sharply critical of 
Abe's hard-lined policy toward North Korea in wake of six-party 
agreement 
 
14) Foreign Minister Aso explains to Diet session that his remark on 
US' Iraq policy was dissimilar to critical statements coming from 
Defense Minister Kyuma     10 
 
WWII issues: 
15) Ambassador to US Kato blasts US Congress for WWII comfort-women 
resolution 
16) LDP panel to present revision of Kono statement on comfort-women 
issue 
 
Defense issues: 
17) North Korea during six-party talks asked US to halt deployment 
of F-22s to Kadena Air Base 
18) Prime Minister Abe on Futenma relocation: During emergency, US 
military aircraft would be allowed to fly over homes near Camp 
Schwab 
 
19) Minshuto President Ozawa continues to stump the regions, 
centering on single-seat districts 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Avalanche hits 10 ski tour members on Hakkoda mountain range 
 
Mainichi: 
US military uses cluster bombs with unexploded munitions in Iraq 
war 
 
Yomiuri: 
 
TOKYO 00000650  002 OF 012 
 
 
Ruling parties plan legislation to enable bank accounts used in 
fraud to be swiftly frozen without court action 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Orient Corp. expects over 200 billion yen net loss in FY2006 
 
Sankei: 
Government aims to take initiative in international negotiations on 
post-Kyoto Protocol on strength of energy-saving technologies 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Chrysler eyes split-up, cut of 13,000 jobs 
 
Akahata: 
JCP-backed candidate for Tokyo gubernatorial election Yoshida 
announces campaign pledges, stressing switch from current Ishihara 
politics 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Broadcasting administration: Order from minister unacceptable 
(2) Negotiations on wage hikes: Give consideration to irregular 
workers 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Labor law for part-timers: Promote improvement in working 
conditions 
(2) National education research gathering: Education system should 
be reformed based on classroom situation 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Relaxed standards for M&A: Make use of it for enhancing 
companies' international competitiveness 
(2) Manifests: Priority should be given to policies in local head 
elections 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Modest demand for wage hikes by major labor unions 
(2) Days when US, Russia enjoy close ties are gone 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Accidents by gas appliances: Consumers must be aware of danger 
more 
(2) Astronaut Wakata to stay long in space station: 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Spring labor offensive: Labor unions' capabilities being tested 
(2) Innocent man in prison: Proper system needed to protect human 
rights 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Six-party agreement: North Korea must sincerely implement 
commitments 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, February 14 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00000650  003 OF 012 
 
 
07:52 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura at Kantei. 
 
09:00 
Attended a Lower House Budget Committee session. 
 
12:12 
Met with Shimomura at Kantei. 
 
13:00 
Attended a Lower House Budget Committee session. 
 
17:09 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki at Kantei. Afterwards, met 
with the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau 
Director-General Sasae and others. Later, attended a meeting of the 
Gender Equality Council. 
 
18:17 
Met with Czech President Klaus and host a dinner party for the 
president. 
 
21:15 
Had a telephone dialogue with US President Bush with Shiozaki and 
others present. 
 
21:42 
Arrived at the Kantei residence 
 
4) Bush understands Japan's concern over abduction issue 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talked with US President Bush yesterday 
evening over the telephone for about 15 minutes at his office. In 
connection with the six-party talks that ended Feb. 13, Bush said he 
fully understands Japan's concern about the abduction issue. Abe 
stressed that Japan would like to keep in touch with the United 
States over the abduction issue. 
 
The talks were proposed by the United States. The two leaders 
affirmed that the six-party talks made headway toward North Korea's 
abandonment of its nuclear programs with an agreement reached this 
time, and they agreed that it would be essential for North Korea to 
translate its promise this time into action. 
 
Meanwhile, the six-party members decided to set up five working 
groups, including one on the normalization of diplomatic relations 
between Japan and North Korea. In this regard, Abe and Bush 
confirmed that Japan and the United States would continue to work 
together for progress in the working groups' discussions. 
 
Bush noted that the Japan-US alliance remains "very close and 
rocksolid," adding, "I'm looking forward to seeing you soon in the 
United States." With this, Bush expressed his expectations for Abe's 
visit to the United States. Abe is scheduled to visit the United 
States during the holidays from late April. 
 
5) Bush in teleconference with Abe: "The abduction issue will not be 
left behind" 
 
 
TOKYO 00000650  004 OF 012 
 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a teleconference with US President 
Bush last night to exchange views on the contents of the joint 
agreement reached at the latest six-party talks and other matters. 
The two leaders regarded the start of the process of denuclearizing 
North Korea as a step forward. They also shared the view that it is 
important for North Korea to implement the measures it has pledged 
to take. In reference to Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese 
nationals, Bush stated: 
 
"We are fully aware of Japan's concern. It is essential to implement 
the joint statement (adopted in September 2005) in a well-balanced 
manner." 
 
According to an official of the Kantei (Prime Minister's Official 
Residence), Bush emphatically said, "The abduction issue must not be 
left behind. Japan will never be isolated." 
 
In response, Abe said: 
 
"The progress made in the six-party talks is attributed to close 
cooperation between Japan and the US. I hope we will continue 
working together on North Korea issues, including the abduction 
issue." 
 
Bush also said: "The US-Japan alliance remains very close and solid. 
I am looking forward to receiving you in the US." 
 
The teleconference, which was held at the request of the US 
government, lasted for about 15 minutes. 
 
In a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget Committee 
yesterday held prior to the teleconference, Abe stated, "Unless 
progress is made on the abduction issue, Japan will not join the 
pledge in the six-party talks to offer energy aid" equivalent to 
50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil in the initial phase, with an 
additional 950,000 tons of oil later. He added, "It will not be 
North Korea but we who will judge whether there was progress." 
 
The prime minister clearly said, "The government has no intention 
for now of removing its independent economic sanctions" such as 
banning the North Korean ferry, Mangyongbong-92, from calling at 
Japanese ports. He was replying to questions by Minshuto (Democratic 
Party of Japan) member Kazuhiro Haraguchi. 
 
In the Budget Committee meeting, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said in 
replying to a question about the energy aid equivalent to 50,000 
tons of heavy oil: 
 
"We are still skeptical (of North Korea's commitments). Although 
agreement was reached to set up five working groups, it is uncertain 
if the agreement will be translated into action. We will consider 
the energy aid worth 50,000 tons of oil for the first time after we 
find out if the plan has turned into a concrete arrangement." 
 
6) US president on removal of North Korea from its designation as a 
terror-sponsoring state: "will take the abduction issue into 
consideration 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000650  005 OF 012 
 
 
February 15, 2007 
 
The six-party agreement mentions that the United States "will begin 
the work of removing" North Korea from its designation as a 
terror-sponsoring state. This item has sparked some Japanese 
government officials into calling on the US to deal with the matter 
carefully. Late yesterday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed to the 
press corps at the Prime Minister's Official Residence: "Before the 
removal, Japan and the US must work in close cooperation." Shortly 
after this, US President George W. Bush told Abe on the phone: "I 
won't leave the abduction issue behind.: 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki stated at a press briefing 
yesterday: "Resolving the abduction issue is one of the important 
elements for (the US) to remove North Korea from the list of 
terror-sponsoring states. This will not change at all." He revealed 
that Special Advisor to the Prime Minister (for National Security 
affairs) Yuriko Koike, now visiting the US, had asked Under 
Secretary of State Nicholas Burns for a cautious approach. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
In the US annual report "Patterns of Global Terrorism," the US has 
designated North Korea as a terror-sponsoring state. Considering the 
Japanese government's request, the annual report has cited Japan's 
abduction issue as one of the reasons for designating North Korea as 
a terror-sponsoring state since its 2003 version. The Abe 
administration, which has attached importance to resolving the 
abduction issue, is becoming increasingly nervous about the moves of 
the US and North Korea, particularly because America's understanding 
about the abduction issue has underpinned the Abe administration's 
policy line of pressuring North Korea. 
 
During the telephone conversation, Bush told Abe: "I have fully 
understood Japan's concern about the abduction issue. I think it is 
important for the joint statement as a whole to be implemented in a 
well-balanced manner." US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer told 
reporters after delivering a speech in Tokyo: "We've stated only 
that we will begin the process leading to removal. Before any 
removal, we need to verify North Korea's moves and gain proof that 
(support for terrorism and the like) will not occur in the future. A 
long road lies ahead before that." Late yesterday, when asked 
whether he had worked on the US in some way or other, he made only 
this comment: "The US has understood well that the abduction issue 
is an extremely important issue." 
 
7) Abe reveals plan to work closely with US in removing North Korea 
from list of nations sponsoring terrorism 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
In the wake of the adoption of the agreed document by the parties to 
the six-party talks, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed a plan 
yesterday to urge the United States to remove North Korea from its 
list of nations sponsoring terrorism based on progress on the 
abduction issue. He said: "To us, the abduction issue is extremely 
crucial. The United States is well aware of that. In moving along 
the road, Japan will naturally work and discuss things closely with 
the United States." 
 
Abe was responding to a question from a reporter at his official 
residence. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000650  006 OF 012 
 
 
8) US emphasizes diplomatic achievements in six-party talks 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
Hideya Yamamoto, Washington 
 
The US Bush administration praised the agreement reached at the 
six-party talks on Feb. 13 in Beijing, which incorporates a promise 
by North Korea to shut down its main nuclear reactor. The 
presidential statement said: "It is the best chance to reach a 
diplomatic resolution." Many critics in the United States, though, 
doubt that North Korea will implement its commitments. The Bush 
administration will find it necessary to monitor the entirety of 
North Korea's nuclear development programs, including uranium 
enrichment. 
 
The Bush government rejected the Agreed Framework accord in 1994 
with North Korea, which had allowed the North time to develop 
nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stressed at a 
press conference the differences between the latest agreement and 
the 1994 accord, citing that the agreement was reached at the 
multinational talks and set a deadline for Pyongyang's 
implementation of the commitments. 
 
The presidential statement pointed out that this "is the first step 
toward implementation of the agreement." Presidential Spokesman Tony 
Snow stated: "North Korea's implementation of disabling its nuclear 
facilities is a condition for economic, humanitarian and energy 
assistance." He revealed the US position that if the North violates 
the agreement, it will be possible to suspend aid and apply 
additional sanctions. 
 
Michael Green, Japan Affairs director of the Center for Strategic 
International Studies, said: "North Korea returned to the six-party 
talks because of a lot of pressure from China and other countries. I 
assume that North Koreans aim to delay the implementation of its 
commitments by splitting up the pressure, taking advantage of the 
working groups." He denied the possibility of visits to Pyongyang by 
senior US government officials, including the secretary of state, 
which had occurred during the Clinton administration. 
 
9) LDP alert to possibility of US, North Korea bypassing Japan; 
Government stresses priority on abduction issue 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
February 15, 2007 
 
The agreement reached at the six-party talks incorporated the 
shutting down of North Korea's nuclear facilities and other issues. 
A number of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members yesterday 
expressed concern about the specifics of the agreement. They are 
alert to the possibility of the US and North Korea proceeding with 
talks bypassing Japan. The government is making desperate efforts to 
dispel such a concern, while underscoring its stance of focusing on 
the settlement of the issue of the abductions of Japanese citizens. 
 
Following a Korean Central News Agency report that the agreement was 
reached on the temporary shutting down of nuclear facilities, 
Katsuei Hirasawa during the LDP Foreign Affairs Division meeting 
yesterday expressed concern, "North Korea's interpretation of the 
agreement may be that it can resume nuclear development anytime." 
 
TOKYO 00000650  007 OF 012 
 
 
Shigeru Ishiba said, "North Korea is using the six-party talks as a 
means to buy time until it can miniaturize nuclear weapons." 
 
Regarding the inclusion in the agreement of the start of efforts to 
delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terror, Masahiko Komura 
pressed a senior Foreign Ministry official: "Does the agreement say 
that the designation will not be lifted unless the abduction issue 
is settled?" Keishiro Fukushima, chairman of the Foreign Affairs 
Division, stated, "I want Japan and the US to make efforts to settle 
the abduction issue so that Japan will not be left behind." 
 
The government intends to continue to cooperate with the US and 
other countries as well as to exert all-out efforts to resolve the 
abduction issue through a taskforce to be created anew for Japan and 
North Korea to  normalize relations. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 
conveyed these policies to Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau 
Director General Kenichiro Sasae, chief delegate to the talks, who 
just has returned home. 
 
Prime Minister Abe yesterday evening underscored to reporters: 
"Those who are opposing my policy of giving priority to the 
abduction issue say that we must not miss the bus, but what are they 
going to obtain if they catch the bus? I want them to think 
carefully who will be left behind if we get on the bus." He thus 
countered the point made by those who are concerned about Japan 
being isolated. 
 
10) Six-party talks agreement: How should progress on abduction 
issue - premise for providing aid to Pyongyang -- be defined? Prime 
minister to exert every effort in taskforce to discuss Japan-North 
Korea issues 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
February 15, 2007 
 
The Japanese government intends to exert an all-out effort to bring 
progress to the abduction issue, while limiting Japan's 
participation in providing energy aid to North Korea, as decided at 
the six party talks. However, the future course of a taskforce for 
Japan and North Korea to discuss the abduction issue is fraught with 
many unclear aspects. Given the agreement reached at the six-party 
talks, there is concern that Japan might find itself isolated. The 
Abe administration, whose showcase policy slogan was tackling the 
abduction issue, is now pressed to weave through a difficult course 
in setting up the taskforce. 
 
Referring to heavy fuel oil aid to the North, Prime Minister Abe at 
a Lower House Budget Committee session yesterday underscored, "Japan 
cannot possibly provide energy to the North without progress on the 
abduction issue, whether it is 50,000 tons or 950,000 tons." He thus 
expressed his position that progress on the abduction issue is the 
premise for the provision of not only 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil 
in exchange for its shutting down and sealing its nuclear facilities 
as a preliminary measure but also the provision of 950,000 tons as a 
reward to the North's disabling such facilities as a second step of 
the agreement. 
 
However, asked by Kazuhiro Haraguchi of the Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) regarding what constitutes progress on the 
abduction issue, the prime minister simply answered, "We will make 
that decision." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000650  008 OF 012 
 
 
Some government officials are concerned about this issue with one 
senior Foreign Ministry official noting, "If abductees return to 
Japan, then it can be said that progress has been made. However, it 
would be difficult to make a decision in the event the North just 
pledges to carry out another investigation." 
 
However, the prime minister's view appears to be that the agreement 
at the six-party talks will rather apply pressure on the North to 
deal with the abduction issue. 
 
11) Prime Minister Abe shifts stance from pressure to dialogue 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated in his e-mail magazine, "The Prime 
Minister of Japan and His Cabinet," dated Feb. 15: "Japan, in 
cooperation with other countries of the world, has pressured North 
Korea. I hope to see this effort lead to dialogue." Abe, who had 
until recently emphasized the pressure policy toward North Korea, 
now revealed that he would shift his previous stance in response to 
the latest round of the six-party talks. However, he stressed that 
"I won't concede easily" on the abduction issue. 
 
12) North Korea aid sparks controversy; Government avoids touching 
on requirements for quid pro quo 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
The ambiguous nature of the agreed document adopted by the six-party 
talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programs stirred controversy 
at the Lower House Budget Committee session, a Liberal Democratic 
Party foreign affairs joint meeting, and other venues yesterday. The 
opposition camp focused attention on a set of conditions for a quid 
pro quo in return for implementation of initial steps toward the 
abandonment of nuclear facilities by North Korea and grilled the 
government on how Japan would deal with aid. Some LDP lawmakers 
expressed wariness about the abduction issue being put aside due to 
the six-party agreement. 
 
Kazuhiro Haraguchi of the largest opposition party Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) asked when 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil 
(HFO) would be provided to North Korea, asking: "Will the parties 
not provide 50,000 tons of oil unless working groups (on 
normalization of Japan-DPRK relations and other subjects) are 
established?" Whether Japan, which has decided not to join the 
50,000-ton oil aid program, can have a hand in deciding on when to 
start providing aid remains unclear. Haraguchi's question reflected 
concern over other counties beginning to provide aid before the 
Japan-DPRK working group is set in motion. 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso replied, "Once (the working groups) become 
certain to function, 50,000 tons of oil would be provided as the 
first step." Aso, however, stopped short of clearly mentioning that 
the opening of the working groups was a condition for the aid. 
 
The agreed document stipulates that additional aid equivalent to 
950,000 tons of HFO will be provided to North Korea once the country 
completes declaring all nuclear programs and disables all existing 
nuclear facilities. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000650  009 OF 012 
 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated that Japan would not join the 
950,000-ton aid program unless there were progress on the abduction 
issue. Haraguchi asked the definition of "progress," saying, "Will 
the government regard a sincere response at the working group a form 
of progress? Or will it provide aid only after the abduction issue 
is settled once and for all? There is a wide gap between the two." 
The prime minister simply replied, "We will make an appropriate 
decision on progress." 
 
Meanwhile, in the LDP foreign affairs joint meeting, Katsuei 
Hirasawa noted, "South Korea thinks Japan will join the 950,000-ton 
aid program. A senior Foreign Ministry official sought 
understanding, saying, "Although South Korea wants to see Japan join 
the program, the country is clearly aware of Japan's position." 
Upper House Policy Board Chairman Yoichi Masuzoe pointed out the 
passivity of the six-party agreement preventing the abduction from 
seeing a settlement, saying: "A failure to make progress on the 
abduction issue would deal a serious blow to the Abe administration. 
I hope the agreement will not result in a worst-case scenario." 
 
13) Koichi Kato raps government's North Korea policy; Prime Minister 
expresses strong displeasure 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Asia Diplomacy and Security 
Vision Research Council, chaired by Koichi Kato, yesterday held a 
board meeting in the Diet building. A number of participants voiced 
their criticism or skepticism of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policy 
of prioritizing the North Korea abduction issue with one noting: 
"The situation is developing quickly. The prime minister must change 
his thinking that the nuclear and abduction issues must be treated 
as a set." Another said, "I wonder if government has a clear-cut 
direction regarding its North Korea policy." The meeting brought 
together several participants, such as former LDP Vice President 
Taku Yamasaki and former Defense Agency Director General Gen 
Nakatani, as well as Kato. 
 
Prime Minister Abe yesterday evening expressed his strong 
displeasure with those opposed in the LDP to his policy of Japan not 
taking part in providing energy aid to North Korea. He said, "I 
would ask those who are opposing my decision to carefully think 
about who would have to be left behind if we get on the bus." 
 
Families of victims of abductions by North Korea are against the 
provision of assistance to that nation. The prime minister once 
again stressed his resolve to tackle the abduction issue. 
 
The prime minister lashed out at those who are criticizing his 
decision, "They say I should not miss the bus, but what do they want 
to gain by getting on the bus." He was replying questions to 
reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. 
 
14) Aso, Kyuma at odds 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
"What I said is often lumped in with Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma's 
comments, but I have never said, 'The use of force was a mistake.' I 
don't like my words being mixed up with his." 
 
TOKYO 00000650  010 OF 012 
 
 
 
This comment came from Foreign Minister Taro Aso regarding his own 
statement raising questions about US Iraq policy during a Lower 
House Budget Committee session. 
 
Kyuma immediately shot back, saying: "Mr. Aso indicated as if I had 
said 'a mistake.' Don't get the wrong idea; there is a slight 
difference in the nuance." 
 
15) Japanese ambassador to the US criticizes resolution denouncing 
Japan 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
Hideya Yamamoto, Washington 
 
At a press conference on Feb. 13, Japanese Ambassador to the United 
States Ryozo Kato mentioned a US resolution denouncing Japan over 
the sex-slave issue and criticized it: "It is not based on facts." 
Referring to Japan's efforts made so far to deal with the issue, 
including the release of an official statement on the military 
comfort women issue, Kato expressed concern that "it will have an 
adverse effect that is essentially unnecessary on Japan-US 
relations." He added that he is lobbying US legislators and 
government officials. 
 
16) Some LDP lawmakers to propose review of Kono statement 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
The Parliamentary Group to Consider Japan's Future and History, made 
up of like-minded lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP), decided yesterday to compile before the end of February a set 
of proposals calling for a review of the statement by then Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono and the so-called "comfort women," the 
Japanese euphemism for foreign women who were forced into sexual 
slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army. The group is led by former 
Education Minister Nariaki Nakayama. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has 
said that the Kono Statement remains in effect. Eriko Yamatani, 
special advisor to the prime minister, also attended yesterday's 
meeting. 
 
17) North Korea urged US to give up F-22 deployment to Kadena 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
In the recent round of six-party talks held until Feb. 13 over North 
Korea's nuclear programs, North Korea called on the United States to 
give up its plan to deploy the newest Stealth fighter, the F-22 
Raptor, to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture, sources revealed 
yesterday. The US Air Force plans to station 12 F-22 fighters 
temporarily at Kadena. Actually, their arrival in Okinawa has been 
delayed. This fact is therefore believed to denote the United 
States' softening of its attitude in its policy toward North Korea. 
 
In the six-party talks, North Korea criticized the United States for 
its policy of regarding North Korea as an enemy, according to the 
sources. North Korea urged the United States to call off its planned 
deployment of F-22 fighters to Kadena and to suspend its joint 
 
TOKYO 00000650  011 OF 012 
 
 
training exercises with South Korea. The planned F-22 deployment to 
Kadena is intended to "constrain North Korea against its nuclear 
test," according to a senior official of the Foreign Ministry. The 
US delegation avoided discussing these matters in the six-party 
talks. However, the arrival of these F-22 stealth fighters has been 
delayed due to bad weather. They were initially scheduled to arrive 
at Kadena on Feb. 10. On Feb. 13, the US Air Force explained that 
their arrival has been delayed due to a problem with the navigation 
system software and that they would arrive in several days. 
 
"The United States prioritized reaching an agreement in the 
six-party talks, so the United States showed consideration so as not 
to irritate North Korea," a Japanese government source said 
yesterday. 
 
18) Emergency flights above residential areas likely: Abe 
 
TOKYO (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
In connection with the issue of relocating the US Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Prime Minister 
Abe, sitting in on the House of Representatives Budget Committee in 
its meeting yesterday, was asked about an intergovernmental 
agreement reached between Japan and the United States on a plan to 
build a V-shaped pair of airstrips in a coastal area of Camp Schwab, 
a US military base in the northern Okinawa city of Nago, as an 
alternative for Futenma airfield. In reply, Abe stated that the 
newly planned airfield is designed for US aircraft to avoid flying 
above populated areas. "However," Abe added, "they may not do so in 
an emergency." With this, Abe admitted that US military aircraft 
could fly above residential areas in an emergency. 
 
Abe's reply before the committee is what denoted his understanding 
that it would be unavoidable for US military aircraft to fly above 
residential areas only when they are in an emergency. 
 
19) Minshuto President Ozawa continues to visit single-seat 
constituencies as part of Upper House election campaigning 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2007 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Ichiro Ozawa has 
continued his stumping tour of electoral districts where single 
seats are up for grabs in the House of Councillors election in July. 
With the aim to strengthen local organizations and a policy line of 
attaching priority to a united front of opposition parties, Ozawa 
revisited Akita yesterday, following his trip to Aomori on Feb. 13. 
Accompanied by Rengo (Japan Trade Unions Confederation) Chief of 
Secretariat Nobuaki Koga, Ozawa has stepped up approaches to local 
 
SIPDIS 
labor unions and companies. 
 
Ozawa has already visited six constituencies this month. He is 
expected to go to Mie and Iwate prefectures this weekend. In a 
meeting yesterday to exchange views between the largest opposition 
party and Rengo Akita, Ozawa gave a pep talk: "I want you to tell me 
everything about policy matters. Minshuto's organizational base is 
weak. So let's cooperate with each other." 
 
Of the 29 single-seat districts up for election, Minshuto has picked 
candidates for 21. Ozawa, who has set the goal of winning more than 
 
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15 seats, intends to speed up his tour of the constituencies, 
saying: "Only five months are left until the Upper House election 
(on July 22)." 
 
But the more Ozawa focuses on winning, the more discord he creates 
in the opposition camp. On Feb. 5, when negotiations with the Social 
Democratic Party (SDP) on the election fell apart, the SDP Akita 
prefectural chapter decided to file its own candidate. Minshuto, 
however, strongly reacted, with Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama 
saying, "Can a SDP-backed candidate win a race?" 
 
SCHIEFFER