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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 003243 
 
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 07/17/07-1 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Earthquake in Niigata-Nagano area: 
4) Hit by earthquake, nuclear reactor near epicenter leaks some 
radioactive water outside the plant 
5) Government sets up emergency headquarters at the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence to handle Niigata earthquake 
6) Prime Minister Abe's rapid response to Niigata earthquake 
designed in part to appeal to voters in upcoming election 
7) One by one political leaders touring earthquake disaster area in 
Niigata 
 
North Korea problem: 
8) Japan, US delegates to the six-party talks meet, agree to 
cooperate in the first stage of North Korea's denuclearization 
9) Assistant Secretary Hill accepts Pyongyang's view of submit a 
report on its nuclear programs prior to rendering nuclear plants 
inoperative 
10) Government remains concerned that US progress on nuclear front 
with the DPRK will leave Japan and the abduction issue behind 
11) North Korea stepping up propaganda criticism of Japan as Upper 
House election nears; No signs of thaw with Pyongyang anywhere 
 
12) Group delivers protest letter to US Embassy in Tokyo on 
comfort-women issue 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei, Tokyo Shimbun & Akahata: 
Quake measuring upper 6 on Japanese scale hits Niigata, Nagano 
 
Nikkei: 
Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry eyes using tax grants 
to promote realignment of public hospitals 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Niigata-Nagano quake: Concerned about earthquake-resisting 
system of nuclear power plants 
(2) Government must not cut last lifeline of welfare benefits 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Niigata-Nagano quake: First priority should be on assistance of 
the weak from disaster 
(2) Agriculture policy in 2007 Upper House race: Competitive policy 
or income compensations for farmers? 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Being prepared key to reducing quake damage 
(2) Don't relax pressure on North Korea to disable its nuclear 
facilities 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Japan must prepare for great earthquakes 
(2) Goal of six-party talks is to disable North Korea's nuclear 
 
TOKYO 00003243  002 OF 009 
 
 
facilities 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Seismic adequacy of nuclear power plants must be rechecked 
(2) Boost public opinion on abductions in 2007 Upper House election 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Niigata-Nagano quake: Are the lessons of the past applied? 
(2) Corporate protection: Shareholders will be scrutinizing how 
companies are managed 
 
Akahata: 
Niigata-Nagano quake: All possible measures must be taken to support 
disaster victims 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, July 16 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 17, 2007 
 
07:56 
Left Haneda Airport on JAL1841. 
 
09:27 
Arrived at Nagasaki Airport. 
 
10:13 
Met with Nagasaki Governor Kaneko at the Nagasaki Municipal Hall. 
 
10:29 
Gave a public speech in front of the Municipal Hall Park. 
 
10:59 
Arrived at Nagasaki Airport. 
 
12:22 
Left the airport on ANA3736. 
 
13:53 
Arrived at Haneda Airport. 
 
14:24 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
15:05 
Left Kantei aboard an SDF helicopter, joined by METI Minister Amari. 
 
 
16:33 
Arrived at Satogaike Ground at Kashiwazaki City, Niigata 
Prefecture. 
 
17:01 
Arrived at TEPCO's facility adjacent to the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa 
Nuclear Power Plant and inspected the plant. 
 
17:38 
Met with Niigata Governor Izumida, Kashiwazaki Mayor Aida, and 
others at Kashiwazaki City Hall. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003243  003 OF 009 
 
 
18:05 
Visited victims at Kashiwazaki Elementary School. 
 
19:00 
Met with New Komeito Representative Ota at Kashiwazaki City Hall. 
 
19:22 
Left Satogaike Ground aboard an SDP helicopter, joined by Amari and 
State Minister in Charge of Disaster Management Mizote. 
 
21:03 
Attended a meeting of relevant cabinet on Niigata Chuetsuoki 
Earthquake at Kantei. 
 
21:24 
Arrived at Kantei residence. 
 
4) Water containing radiation flows out from Kashiwazaki-Kariwa 
Nuclear Power Plant due to largest jolt 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
July 17, 2007 
 
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) found from its survey yesterday 
that the spent fuel pool at No. 6 nuclear reactor of their 
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant (in Niigata Prefecture) 
overflowed into the sea. With the overflow containing a small amount 
of radioactive materials, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency 
(NISA) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) takes 
the situation seriously by noting, "It is unprecedented that 
radioactive materials flowed out from a nuclear power plant because 
of an earthquake." 
 
According to NISA, water containing radioactive materials was found 
in the non-radiation controlled area at such places as the third 
floor of the Nuclear Reactor Building at around 12:50 a.m. after the 
occurrence of the earthquake. 
 
The amount of radioactive materials contained in this water was 
found to be lower than that of the cooling water used to remove heat 
from the nuclear reactor. In addition, it was discovered that water 
from the spent fuel pool where spent nuclear fuel is stored in the 
Nuclear Reactor Building overflowed because of the shock of the 
earthquake. TEPCO inferred that this water overflowed from the 
outlet into the sea, noting that the amount would be at least 1.2 
cubic meters. 
 
As of late yesterday, this overflow has stopped, and there were no 
abnormal levels of radiation found in the sea water, TEPCO said. No 
impact on human bodies and the environment has been recognized. 
 
5) Government sets up quake taskforce office in Kantei 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
July 17, 2007 
 
In the wake of an earthquake occurred in the Chuetsu region in 
Niigata and northern Nagano prefectures, the government set up a 
taskforce office at 10:15 a.m. yesterday in the Crisis Management 
Center in the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe ordered relevant ministries and agencies to work 
on confirming the state of damage and administering lifesaving 
 
TOKYO 00003243  004 OF 009 
 
 
measures. After returning to the Kantei from Nagasaki Prefecture, 
where he was campaigning for the July 29 House of Councillors 
election, Abe along with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Akira 
Amari made an inspection tour of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power 
Station in Niigata and other places damaged by the quake. 
 
The government yesterday afternoon dispatched an inspection team 
made up of 26 officials from concerned ministries and agencies. The 
team is led by Kensei Mizote, Minister of State for Disaster 
Management. Last night Abe and cabinet ministers concerned held a 
meeting at the Kantei. They compiled such measures as allowing free 
of charge use of the Hokuriku Motor Expressway since Route 8 cannot 
be used and the continuation of transportation of water and medical 
supplies by helicopters of the Self-Defense Forces and ships of the 
Japan Coast Guard. 
 
In the meeting, Abe instructed to ministers concerned: 
 
"In order to have disaster victims feel relief as early as possible, 
I want you to do your best to secure lifelines and repair the 
traffic network, as well as dispel anxiety of the sufferers." 
 
6) Prime Minister Abe plays up speedy response to the quake, 
visiting disaster-stricken areas; Some think he has Upper House 
election in mind 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 17, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday quickly visited Kashiwazaki City 
in Niigata Prefecture, which was hit by a severe earthquake after 
returning to Tokyo from Nagasaki, where he had been on a campaign 
trail for the House of Councillors election. It was unusual for a 
prime minister to visit quake-hit areas the day the quake occurred. 
He apparently wanted to show the public how speedily his crisis 
management response was. 
 
Abe just arrived at a venue for delivering a speech in Nagasaki City 
from Tokyo at 10:13 a.m. yesterday when the quake occurred in the 
Chuetsu area, Niigata Prefecture. Informed by his secretary of the 
earthquake measuring upper 6 on the Japanese scale, Abe instructed 
to the secretary two points: 1) relevant ministries and agencies and 
local governments would take all possible measures; and 2) top 
priority should be on saving lives. He said, "I will return to Tokyo 
immediately." 
 
He started delivering a speech after 16 minutes after the occurrence 
of the quake, but he stopped his speech in one and a half minutes. 
Cancelling all his planned speeches in Saga and Kumamoto 
prefectures, Abe left Nagasaki Airport for Tokyo. 
 
When a prime minister visits local areas, a small plane stands ready 
for emergencies in Air Self-Defense Force Iruma base in Saitama 
Prefecture. Abe and his aides considered using that plane, but they 
instead chose to use a commercial aircraft. As a result, he was able 
to arrive at Haneda Airport before 2:00 p.m. yesterday. Arriving at 
the Kantei, Abe told reporters, "I want to see with my own eyes the 
quake-hit areas. I also would like have the victims feel relieved." 
After about 40 minutes, he left for Niigata on a SDF helicopter from 
the Kantei's roof. 
 
7) Earthquake off Chuetsu District: Party head-class officials of 
 
TOKYO 00003243  005 OF 009 
 
 
both ruling and opposition camps visiting disaster site in 
succession due in part to calculated motives with Upper House 
election just ahead 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
July 17, 2007 
 
Following widespread damage caused by an earthquake occurred off the 
Chuetsu district in Niigata Prefecture, both ruling and opposition 
parties have set up their countermeasures headquarters. Party heads 
have also visited the disaster site in succession. This is the 
second natural disaster that occurred during the Upper House 
election campaign period, following Typhoon No.4 (Man-Yi). Senior 
officials of all political parties had to extensively change their 
stumping tours. Aware of the eyes of voters, both the ruling and 
opposition parties stressed their stance of taking all possible 
measures to face the disaster. 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited quake victims evacuated at 
Kashiwazaki Primary School in Kashiwazaki City, where he bumped into 
Yukio Hatoyama, secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ or Minshuto), who ended the inspection of the site. They 
crossed, simply exchanging bows in silence. It was a scene 
symbolizing officials of ruling and opposition parties racing to 
disaster sites. 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has set up a countermeasures 
headquarters led by Secretary General Shoichi Nakagawa. Nakagawa was 
making a stumping tour in Akita City at the time of the quake. After 
making a street-corner speech, he flew into Niigata by helicopter. 
He joined Lower House member Tadayoshi Nagashima, mayor of Yamakoshi 
Village at the time when the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake hit his 
village in October 2004, and received a briefing at the Niigata 
Prefectural Government Office. 
 
New Komeito head Akihiro Ota left from Haneda Airport to Asahikawa 
Airport, Hokkaido just after 10:00 in the morning. He returned to 
Haneda Airport at 2:30 in the afternoon and visited an evacuation 
center in Kashiwazaki by land. 
 
DPJ head Ozawa in the afternoon phoned Hatoyama from the party 
headquarters and ordered him to inspect the disaster site. Hatoyama 
was in a Shinkansen bullet train bound for Niigata City, when the 
quake happened. He was trapped in the train at one point. Ozawa told 
reporters, "I want the government to take sufficient measures. We 
will do our utmost wherever possible." 
 
8) Japan, US delegates to the six-party talks meet, agree to 
cooperate in the first stage (of North Korea's denuclearization) 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 14, 2007 
 
Prior to the meeting next week in Beijing of the chief delegates to 
the six-party talks on North Korea, Assistant Secretary of State 
Hill, the US envoy to the talks, met on July 13 with his 
counterpart, Kenichiro Sasae, director general of the Foreign 
Ministry's Asia and Oceanic Affairs Bureau. The two officials agreed 
to jointly keep in step for the time being. However, In contrast to 
the US side, which revealed a positive stance of starting talks on a 
peace arrangement on the Korean Peninsula by the end of the year, 
Japan continues to seek progress on the abduction issue, cautioning, 
 
TOKYO 00003243  006 OF 009 
 
 
"It is important to first complete the measures in the first stage." 
The difference in the stanced of the two governments could carry 
over into the main talks that start on July 18. 
 
In the meeting, both officials agreed on the view that it was 
crucial the North Korea implement as quickly as possible the 
measures in the initial phase. On the measures in the next step as 
well, the two confirmed that at the meeting next week: "We will have 
in depth discussion on rendering inoperative all existing nuclear 
facilities listed in the nuclear program." On the abduction issue, 
too, Assistant Secretary Hill promised cooperation. He expressed his 
hopes for a "implementing agreed matters in a balanced way," 
including at the Japan-DPRK and Japan-US-related working groups. 
 
Earlier at Narita Airport, Hill stressed that above all, 
denuclearization was currently the crucial agenda item, saying, "No 
matter what instruments are used, without denuclearization, peace is 
impossible.  We cannot sign a peace agreement unless 
denuclearization comes first."  However, he announced that talks to 
move toward a peace agreement that would end the truce agreement for 
the Korea War would start in November in Washington. The talks would 
involve China and the Republic of Korea, and Hill hinted at the 
concept of further speeding up the US-North Korean dialogue. 
 
Within the Japanese government, there is deep-seated alarm that the 
US might get even further out front, taking advantage of these 
talks. Prime Minister Abe, on July 13 in a campaign speech in 
Aomori, restated his thinking that the highest priority item, even 
in the Upper House election, was progress on the abduction issue, 
saying, "Until the day comes when all of the abductees set foot on 
Japanese soil and reunite with their blood relatives, I will 
continue to tackle this issue with an iron will." 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki, as well, in a press conference on 
the same day, positioned the restarted talks as "an important 
opportunity to confirm that the measures in the first stage are 
being carried out quickly, as well as to start efforts heading into 
the second stage." In addition, he referred to the issue of 
providing North Korea with energy assistance, stating, "We must have 
confirmation that there is progress in Japan-North Korean relations, 
including the abduction issue." He stressed that there was no change 
in the government's policy course of giving priority to progress on 
the abduction front. 
 
9) Hill concurs with North Korea's view that prior to rendering 
nuclear facilities inoperative, the North would submit a report on 
its nuclear programs 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 15, 2007 
 
Assistant Secretary of State Hill, who is the chief US delegate to 
the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear problem, met with 
the press corps on July 14 in Kanagawa Prefecture, where he was 
staying. On the question of the North's denuclearization, he stated, 
"Prior to the denuclearization of the nuclear facilities, there will 
be a report on the nuclear program." He then added: "The report will 
be given early in the next stage. It will either be in several weeks 
or in two or three months." The US government thus has gone along 
with the view of North Korea. 
 
Obtaining a report from North Korea on its nuclear programs is 
 
TOKYO 00003243  007 OF 009 
 
 
expected to be difficult because of suspicion that it is enriching 
uranium (HEU). The US government at first assumed that 
denuclearization and the report would occur in tandem. 
 
On North Korea's proposal, presented by the North Korean military 
delegate to Panmunjom, for US-DPRK military, Hill said: "Such would 
not be military but would be direct government-to-government talks." 
He indicated his thinking that the proposal would not be taken up. 
 
He stressed: "The peace settlement talks will occur in parallel to 
the six-party talks, and they will not be substitute for them." 
There is a strong possibility that the peace talks will include the 
two Koreas, China and the United States. He gave consideration in 
his statement to remaining concerns in the Japanese government. 
 
10) Japanese government concerned abduction issue may be left 
behind 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 16, 2007 
 
The Japanese government welcomes North Korea's announcement that it 
has shut down its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon, but it intends to 
watch carefully how disarmament would proceed from now. If a certain 
level of progress is made on the initial step of North Korea's 
denuclearization under the February six-party agreement, the weight 
of discussion in the six-party talks to resume on July 18 will be 
shifted to "the next step." Japan may find itself in a more 
difficult situation for its stance of offering no aid before 
progress is made on the abduction issue. 
 
A senior Foreign Ministry official said in even tones yesterday 
about the North's statement: "It is no more than Pyongyang's 
implementation of what it pledged in (an international accord) 
February. I am neither surprised nor pleased at it." The United 
States had presented an optimistic outlook about whether the North 
would implement the first step. In the agreement, however, Pyongyang 
should have shut down its nuclear facility in mid-April, three month 
ago. Keeping this in mind, Japan will wait for the results of the 
monitoring and verification work by an inspection team of the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 
 
Japan has decided to keep the policy of offering no aid unless 
progress is made on the abduction issue, even if discussion is 
shifted to 950,000 tons of heavy oil in aid to the North in return 
for its shutting down of the reactor, as the "next step" stipulated 
in the planned six-party talks. Based on the view that "other 
countries must be expecting Japan to join the aid," as noted by a 
Foreign Ministry source, Japan expects the US and other countries, 
in anticipation of Japan's aid, to urge North Korea to move the 
abduction issue forward. 
 
A government source, though, commented: "North Korea might take no 
move before seeing what impact the outcome of the House of 
Councillors election will have on the Abe administration." 
 
A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday: "(Further 
progress under the disarmament accord) depend on what measures the 
US and Japan in particular will take in order to drop their hostile 
policies toward our country." 
 
A meeting of the Japan-North Korea working group on normalization of 
 
TOKYO 00003243  008 OF 009 
 
 
bilateral diplomatic ties is an opportunity for Japan to press North 
Korea to resolve the abduction issue. But the possibility is also 
slim that a working group meeting will be held on the sidelines of 
the upcoming six-party talks. The focus of discussion might be on 
energy aid, with Japan being unable to see progress on the abduction 
issue. 
 
11) North Korea, with eye on Upper House election, intensifying 
criticism of Japan 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
July 15, 2007 
 
North Korea is carefully watching the impact that the upcoming House 
of Councillors election will have on the government led by Prime 
Minister Abe, who is waging an uphill campaign. Pyongyang has 
severely criticized Japan almost every day since early July. On July 
18, the six-party talks will resume in Beijing, but the DPRK seems 
determined not to take any action before the Upper House election, 
leaving no hope for a thaw in relations. 
 
The Rodong Daily News, the organ of the North Korean Communist 
Party, carried a comment on Japan's Upper House election on July 11 
in which it referred to the possibility that the prime minister 
would step down. The daily wrote: "In the event that the Liberal 
Democratic Party loses the election, the Abe administration might be 
unable to survive." 
 
According to sources related to the six-party talks, Vice Foreign 
Minister Kim Gye Gwan, North Korea's chief negotiator, told United 
States Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the US top 
negotiator, when he visited Pyongyang: "The North will wait and see 
how things go until the Upper House election ends." As shown from 
this remark, North Korea apparently is highly interested in how the 
election ends up. 
 
Since then, the North has lashed out at Japan more harshly and 
frequently than before. 
 
In a statement and on other occasions, the North Korean government 
has begun to bitterly attack Japan not only for its stance of 
prioritizing a settlement of the abduction issue but also for its 
move to auction off the land and building of the headquarters of the 
General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). A 
statement issued by the North Korean Foreign Ministry on July 1 
expressed hostility toward the Abe administration, saying: "The Abe 
administration is behaving irrationally in an attempt to drive the 
relationship between North Korea and Japan into the worst possible 
situation and to prevent progress in the six-party talks." 
 
In response to the North's criticism of Japan, a senior Foreign 
Ministry official commented: "This proves that Pyongyang has begun 
to have an interest in Japan." It is unlikely, though, that North 
Korea will present any material that will work favorably for Prime 
Minister Abe in the six-party talks starting on July 18. 
 
From the beginning, North Korea has been moving to drive Japan into 
isolation in the framework of the six-party talks. In addition, the 
Upper House election is unlikely to be a positive element to improve 
relations between Japan and North Korea in the six-party talks. 
 
12) Letter of protest against "comfort women" resolution lodged with 
 
TOKYO 00003243  009 OF 009 
 
 
US Embassy in Tokyo 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 14, 2007 
 
In reaction to the adoption of the so-called wartime comfort-women 
resolution by the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, a group 
consisting of 223 lawmakers, local assembly members, intellectuals, 
and others, "Ianfu Mondai no Rekishiteki Shinjitsu o Motomeru Kai" 
(council to seek the truth of the comfort women issue; represented 
by Satoru Mizushima, president of Nihon Bunka Channel Sakura) lodged 
a letter of protest calling for the withdrawal of the resolution 
with the US Embassy in Tokyo on July 13. The protest said; "The 
resolution was based on incorrect information that is not in line 
with the truth. We hope you will verify it once again." The group 
plans to send the same letter of protest shortly to all House 
representatives. 
 
SCHIEFFER