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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 001133 
 
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 03/15/07 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Editorial: America's "betrayal" in six-party talks regrettable 
 
(2) Poll on US Iraq policy 
 
(3) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties 
 
(4) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties, national referendum 
bill, upper house election 
 
(5) Kenjiro Monji named ambassador to Iraq 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: America's "betrayal" in six-party talks regrettable 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 15, 2007 
 
The six-party talks are now at a critical turning point. It would be 
suicidal for the six-party talks to accelerate economic aid before 
the North makes a decision on nuclear disarmament. 
 
Along with the demand for nuclear disarmament, the government's 
principle of "no aid to the North without progress on the abduction 
issue" has become public opinion in Japan. Disregard for that 
principle by Washington, which has shared the same perception with 
Tokyo, would leave a deep scar on Japan-US relations. 
 
The US-DPRK talks held recently in New York clearly exposed 
Pyongyang's intention to obtain 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil 
without sealing its nuclear facilities. There is a move in the 
United States to lay Pyongyang's illegal acts on the shelf partially 
despite its clear involvement in the counterfeiting of US bills. We 
find the move regrettable. 
 
A lenient response by the United States might prompt China and South 
Korea to allow the North to postpone the implementation of the 
agreement. In fact, the topic of shipping 400,000 tons of food and 
300,000 tons of fertilizer to the North cropped up in the recent 
North-South cabinet-level talks. The administration of President Roh 
Moo Hyun is trying to eliminate the drive for sanctions that 
followed North Korea's nuclear test, expressing a willingness to 
extend electricity aid with the six-party agreement as the 
leverage. 
 
The six-party agreement deserves some credit in comparison to the 
Agreed Framework adopted in 1994 under the Clinton administration. 
The provision of light-water reactors is not included in the 
six-party agreement, which obligates the North to take initial steps 
within 60 days. 
 
Pitfall in multilateral cooperation 
 
North Korea relies heavily on China for its food and oil. Serious 
pressure on the North by China, the chair of the six-party talks, 
would be highly effective. The question is how the multilateral 
talks would proceed and the system would be run in the future. 
 
The United States held talks with the DPRK in Berlin despite its 
indication that it would not adopt a bilateral approach. This has 
resulted in the six-party talks eventually making concessions to the 
 
TOKYO 00001133  002 OF 007 
 
 
North. Some observers think that as a result, Japan has been 
isolated in the multilateral framework. 
 
Shutting down and sealing nuclear facilities in the North might 
satisfy the United States, but that would be insufficient for Japan, 
which eyes nuclear disarmament. 
 
The emergence of a gap in perceptions of the threat would endanger 
the Japan-US alliance. 
 
US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill tends to lean 
toward multilateral cooperation. Hill appeared before a House public 
hearing on Feb. 28 in which he checked the idea of Japan going 
nuclear, saying regarding the six-party talks: "The absence of this 
process might have resulted in a more dangerous reaction." At the 
same time, some Americans are wary of making compromises with the 
North easily. 
 
Needless to say, the Japan-US alliance is indispensable for 
containing China's rise and Russia's highhandedness. China is a 
major power that has boosted its military spending and conducted an 
anti-satellite missile test. It will do anything in order to get 
energy. 
 
Despite that, the senior US official's words and deeds would foster 
a sense of distrust of the United States in Japan. An alliance rests 
on strong relations of trust. Discord between Japan and the United 
States would only please the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. 
 
Nuclear development is the only diplomatic card Kim Jong Il has. He 
is looking for a chance to throw the six-party agreement into the 
wastebasket. The United States, China, and South Korea must not 
allow the North to delay the implementation of the six-party 
agreement, for such would increase chances of Pyongyang conducting 
another nuclear test. 
 
North Korea must be kept on list of state sponsors of terrorism 
 
The United States must not relax its financial sanctions on the 
North. We believe the US sanctions have proven far more powerful 
than Washington had imagined. Once cut off from the US dollar, a key 
currency, no country can survive. 
 
Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt referred to a Macau bank's 
freeze on North Korean accounts as the "enforcement of the law" to 
crack down on crimes rather than a sanction. By the same token, the 
law must be enforced to punish North Korea for abducting foreign 
nationals. A lack of proper punishment would add to the list of 
rogue states that already includes Iran. 
 
Tokyo and Washington must stand firm. The United States must not 
remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. The 
Bush administration has always referred to abductions as an act of 
terrorism. Delisting North Korea is tantamount to giving in to 
terrorism. America's change of course has deeply disappointed 
Japanese people. It would roll back the strong Japan-US alliance, as 
well. 
 
Japanese people trembled with fear at North Korea's reckless 
actions, including the abductions, and have learned of the 
importance of fighting from the families of abductees. During his 
visit to the United States in April, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe must 
clearly convey Japan's resolve to President George W. Bush. 
 
TOKYO 00001133  003 OF 007 
 
 
 
(2) Poll on US Iraq policy 
 
ASAHI (Page 9) (Full) 
March 15, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage, rounded off) 
 
Q: In March four years ago, America started the Iraq war. At this 
point, do you think America's war with Iraq was right, or do you 
otherwise think it was wrong? (Figures in parentheses denote the 
results of a previous survey taken Oct. 2-3, 2004.) 
 
Right       12       (16) 
Wrong       75       (71) 
 
Q: US President Bush announced a new strategy in January to send 
more troops to Iraq in order to stabilize public security in Iraq. 
Do you think sending reinforcements to Iraq will lead to the 
stabilization of public security in Iraq? 
 
Yes       15 
No        70 
 
Q: The Bush administration, upholding its war on terror, started 
military operations in Afghanistan and later expanded the scope of 
such military operations to Iraq. Do you think this has led to 
antiterror deterrence? 
 
Yes       24 
No        57 
 
Q: The Iraq Special Measures Law's four-year validity is to expire 
in July. Do you support extending this law to continue the Air 
Self-Defense Force's mission in Iraq? 
 
Yes       19 
No        69 
 
 
Q: Do you think the Japanese government should continue to cooperate 
with the Bush administration on its Iraq policy? 
 
Yes       18 
No        69 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted March 10-11 over the 
telephone on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. 
Respondents were chosen from among the nation's voting population on 
a three-stage random-sampling basis. Valid answers were obtained 
from 1,788 persons (52% ). 
 
(3) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
March 13, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage. Parentheses denote the results of the 
last survey conducted Feb. 3-4.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Abe cabinet? 
 
TOKYO 00001133  004 OF 007 
 
 
 
Yes                                      39.9       (40.3) 
No                                       42.2       (44.1) 
Don't know (D/K) + no answer (N/A)       17.9       (15.6) 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the previous question) 
What's the primary reason for your approval of the Abe cabinet? Pick 
only one from among those listed below. 
 
The prime minister is trustworthy 
27.4       (25.1) 
Because it's a coalition cabinet of the Liberal Democratic Party and 
the New Komeito 
6.7       (5.6) 
The prime minister has leadership ability 
1.9       (2.1) 
Something can be expected of its economic policies 
4.5       (2.4) 
Something can be expected of its foreign policies 
8.4       (15.5) 
Something can be expected of its political reforms 
6.4       (5.1) 
Something can be expected of its tax reforms 
0.7       (2.0) 
Something can be expected of its administrative reforms       3.0 
   (4.3) 
There's no other appropriate person (for prime minister) 
37.8       (33.3) 
Other answers (O/A) 
2.2       (4.0) 
D/K+N/A 
1.0       (0.6) 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the first question) What's 
the primary reason for your disapproval of the Abe cabinet? Pick 
only one from among those listed below. 
 
The prime minister is untrustworthy 
10.3       (9.8) 
Because it's a coalition cabinet of the Liberal Democratic Party and 
the New Komeito 
6.6       (5.5) 
The prime minister lacks leadership ability 
34.8       (30.4) 
Nothing can be expected of its economic policies 
13.7       (14.5) 
Nothing can be expected of its foreign policies 
2.4       (1.7) 
Nothing can be expected of its political reforms 
10.3       (10.7) 
Nothing can be expected of its tax reforms 
8.9       (4.5) 
Nothing can be expected of its administrative reforms 
5.9       (10.3) 
Don't like the prime minister's personal character       3.5 
(8.0) 
O/A 
3.0       (4.2) 
D/K+N/A 
0.6       (0.4) 
 
Q: The Liberal Democratic Party has decided to reinstate Seiichi 
Eto, a former House of Representatives member who voted against 
 
TOKYO 00001133  005 OF 007 
 
 
postal privatization and left the LDP. The LDP will recognize him as 
a proportional representation candidate in this summer's election 
for the House of Councillors. Do you support his comeback to the 
LDP? 
 
Yes           17.4 
No            63.3 
D/K+N/A       19.3 
 
Q: Within the LDP, there is an opinion that the cabinet should be 
shuffled before this summer's House of Councillors election. Do you 
agree? 
 
Yes           55.9 
No            25.2 
D/K+N/A       18.9 
 
Q: The Abe cabinet has been in office for nearly six months. What do 
you think about Prime Minister Abe's leadership ability? 
 
Up to expectations                   18.9       (16.2) 
Beyond expectations                   2.2        (2.0) 
Short of expectations                45.1       (42.8) 
No expectations from the start       30.7       (34.5) 
D/K+N/A                               3.1        (4.5) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)                  39.9      (35.1) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)     16.9      (15.4) 
New Komeito (NK)                                 3.1       (2.9) 
Japan Communist Party (JCP)                      3.1       (2.6) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto)        1.6       (2.0) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto)       0.1        0.5 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon)          0.2       (0.1) 
Other political parties, groups                  ---       (---) 
None                                            32.4      (39.8) 
D/K+N/A                                          0.7       (1.6) 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted March 10-11 by Kyodo 
News Service on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. 
Among randomly generated telephone numbers, those actually for 
household use with one or more eligible voters totaled 1,482. 
Answers were obtained from 1,040 persons. 
 
(4) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties, national referendum 
bill, upper house election 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 13, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. Bracketed figures denote 
proportions to all respondents. Parentheses denote the results of a 
previous survey conducted Feb. 17-18.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Abe cabinet? 
 
Yes       38       (37) 
No        41       (40) 
 
Q: Why? (One reason only. Left column for those marking "yes" on 
previous question, and right for those saying "no.") 
 
TOKYO 00001133  006 OF 007 
 
 
 
The prime minister is Mr. Abe       17 (6)        6(2) 
It's an LDP-led cabinet             26(10)       19(8) 
From the aspect of policies         23 (9)       60(25) 
No particular reason                31(12)       13 (5) 
 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)                    32       (29) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)       12       (13) 
New Komeito (NK)                                   3        (2) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP)                     2        (2) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto)          1        (2) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto)         0        (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon)            0        (0) 
Other political parties                            0        (1) 
None                                              45       (45) 
No answer (N/A) + don't know (D/K)                 5        (6) 
 
Q: Do you appreciate the Abe cabinet's efforts for economic policy 
measures? 
 
Yes       22 
No        54 
 
Q: Do you appreciate the Abe cabinet's efforts for the nation's 
social divide? 
 
Yes       16 
No        62 
 
Q: Do you appreciate the Abe cabinet's efforts for educational 
reform? 
 
Yes       37 
No        43 
 
Q: Do you appreciate the Abe cabinet's efforts for Asia diplomacy? 
 
Yes       39 
No        40 
 
 
Q: Do you think Mr. Abe has appropriately accounted for his 
political beliefs and ideas? (Parentheses denote the results of a 
survey taken Nov. 11-12, 2006.) 
 
Yes       24       (31) 
No        66       (55) 
 
Q: Do you think a national referendum law should be created? 
 
Yes       68 
No        19 
 
A: Do you support Prime Minister Abe's idea of legislating a 
national referendum bill into law during the current Diet session? 
 
Yes       48 
No        32 
 
Q: Do you think the LDP can win in this summer's election for the 
 
TOKYO 00001133  007 OF 007 
 
 
House of Councillors under Prime Minister Abe? (Parentheses denote 
the results of a survey taken Jan. 20-21.) 
 
Yes       42       (44) 
No        34       (28) 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted March 10-11 over the 
telephone on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. 
Respondents were chosen from among the nation's voting population on 
a three-stage random-sampling basis. Valid answers were obtained 
from 1,788 persons (52% ). 
 
(5) Kenjiro Monji named ambassador to Iraq 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 7, 2007 
 
The government decided on March 6 at a cabinet meeting on the 
appointment of Kenjiro Monji, a former Defense Ministry director 
general, as ambassador to Iraq, and other appointments. It will 
officially announce them on March 8. 
 
Kenjiro Monji, ambassador to Iraq: Graduated from the University of 
Tokyo; entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in 1975; has 
been attached to the Secretariat of the Defense Minister since March 
2007, after serving as National Security Policy Division director 
and a Defense Ministry director general; age 54; born in Fukuoka 
Prefecture. 
 
Shigeru Endo, ambassador to Tunisia: Completed graduate school at 
Waseda University; joined MOFA in 1974; has been ambassador to 
international organizations in Geneva and consul general in Geneva 
since August 2003, after serving as Energy Resources Division 
director and deputy director general of MOFA Middle Eastern and 
African Affairs Bureau; age 58; Fukushima Prefecture. 
 
Osamu Shiozaki, ambassador to Honduras: Graduated from Keio 
University; entered MOFA in 1973; has been consul general in Ho Chi 
Minh since July 2003, after serving as director of the External 
Research Department of the National Space Development Agency 
(currently the Japan Aerospace Explanation Agency or JAXA) and 
consul general in New York; age 59; Tokyo. 
 
Yukihiro Maekawa, ambassador to Ecuador: Left Sophia University in 
mid-course; joined MOFA in 1968; has been councilor of the Embassy 
in Spain since February 2005, after serving as analyst of the First 
Analysis Division and councilor of the Embassy in Paraguay; age 62; 
Nagasaki. 
 
SCHIEFFER