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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TOKYO 003547 
 
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 08/03/07-1 
 
 
Index: 
 
¶1. Top headlines 
¶2. Editorials 
¶3. Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
¶4. Abe Cabinet reaches new support low of 22% in Fuji-Sankei poll, 
with non-support rate at 64.8% 
 
ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting: 
¶5. ASEAN ARF closes after having given consideration to North Korean 
abduction and comfort-women issues 
¶6. Members of ASEAN ARF "disappointed in US" due to absence of 
Secretary Rice for second time since 2005 
 
SIPDIS 
¶7. North Korea uses soft-line diplomacy at ASEAN ARF with every 
country but Japan, with which delegate engages in sharp exchanges of 
criticisms 
¶8. Japan, North Korea trade nasty barbs at ASEAN ARF meeting 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
MHLW to suspend Fullcast over illegal job placement practices 
 
Mainichi: 
132.91 million yen in pension money pocketed by Social Insurance 
Agency employees in 1995-2006 
 
Yomiuri: 
Nominations of key officials, including BOJ president, to be 
canceled if opposition DPJ votes them down in Upper House 
 
Nikkei: 
Over half of Japan's population living in three major urban areas of 
Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya 
 
Sankei: 
FNN poll: Cabinet support rate record-low at 22%; Over 50% favor 
early Lower House dissolution 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Government considering meeting DPJ amakudari plan halfway 
 
Akahata: 
Japan needs more doctors; Country ranks 27th among 30 OECD members 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) LDP must further tighten Political Funds Control Law 
(2) News Corp.'s purchase of Wall Street Journal raises question 
about freedom of press 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Sweeping tax reform essential 
(2) News Corp.'s purchase of Dow Jones: Multiple operations key to 
media realignment 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) DPJ can't play politics with Antiterrorism Law 
 
TOKYO 00003547  002 OF 006 
 
 
(2) Asashoryu punishment: Dignity essential for yokozuna 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Expectation and concern over Kansai Airport 
(2) Japan Sumo Association needs to take a hard look at itself 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Antiterrorism Law: DPJ must become responsible party that 
prioritizes national interests 
(2) International unity essential for resolving Afghanistan hostage 
incident 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Budget request guidelines need drastic approach 
(2) Take bold political steps for relief of people suffering from 
hepatitis C induced by contaminated blood products 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Abe cabinet unqualified to propose consumption tax hike 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, August 2 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 3, 2007 
 
09:57 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
11:26 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba, and afterwards met 
with Shimomura. 
 
13:56 
Met with Deputy Foreign Minister Yabunaka and MOFA Southeast and 
Southwest Asian Affairs Department Director-General Atsumi. 
 
16:04 
Met with Education Minister Ibuki. Later, met with Cabinet 
Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
17:40 
Met with Lower House members Hachiro Okonogi and Yasukazu Hamada. 
 
18:59 
Dined with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki, Shimomura, Suzuki, and 
Matoba at the Japanese restaurant "Senbazuru" at Hotel New Otani. 
 
20:49 
Arrived at Kantei residence. 
 
4) Poll: Cabinet support hits low of 22% 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Lead paragraph) 
August 3, 2007 
 
Fuji News Network (FNN) conducted a public opinion survey of 
political attitudes from July 31 through Aug. 1 after the July 29 
election for the House of Councillors. According to findings from 
the survey, the approval rating for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and 
his cabinet was 22.0%, the lowest ever since the Abe cabinet came 
 
TOKYO 00003547  003 OF 006 
 
 
into office. The figure renewed the Abe cabinet's all-time low. 
Meanwhile, the disapproval rating for the Abe cabinet was 64.8%, 
breaking 60% for the first time. The survey shows that 56.0% want 
the prime minister to dissolve the House of Representatives for a 
general election at an early date. In addition, more than half of 
those surveyed presume that Abe will step down within the year. Abe 
has now clarified his intention to stay on. Yet, the figures shown 
in the survey are severe for him. 
 
5) ARF wraps up, expressing "humanitarian concerns" in its statement 
regarding "abductions," "former comfort women" 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Abridged) 
August 3, 2007 
 
Aya Kimura, Aihiro Makino, Akihito Sugii, Manila 
 
The meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) joined by a total of 
27 countries including ASEAN members, Japan, the United States, 
China, and North Korea, closed yesterday, issuing a statement 
welcoming North Korea's shutdown of its nuclear facilities. The 
statement also mentioned the "importance of measures to deal with 
humanitarian concerns." A high-level official of the host nation 
Philippines explained that the term "humanitarian concerns" was 
included in the statement as a "compromise to satisfy both Japan and 
North Korea." 
 
According to some Philippine officials, the Japanese side insisted 
on including in the chairman's statement the issue of abductions of 
Japanese nationals by North Korea. North Korean officials asked for 
reconsideration, with one official arguing, "When it comes to 
humanitarian issues, we, too, are concerned about the wartime 
comfort women issue." As there was intense horse-trading behind the 
scenes between the two countries, the Philippine government 
reportedly decided to use the language "humanitarian concerns" in 
order to avoid naming certain countries. 
 
Japan has stressed the need to resolve the abduction issue at 
international conferences and in bilateral talks. In order to 
counter this, North Korea took up the abduction issue, to which the 
Japanese government is somewhat hesitant about making a direct 
rebuttal, at the ARF meeting this time, one of the few international 
conferences the North attends, apparently encouraged by the US 
House's recent approval of the so-called "wartime comfort women" 
resolution. According to a source familiar with the ARF Meeting, 
however, the North did not directly mention the abduction issue in 
the ARF session. 
 
According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Aso 
stated: "Japan is ready to play a leading part in the six-party 
talks, including participation in economic and energy assistance (to 
North Korea) if Japan-North Korea relations, including the abduction 
issue, make progress." He also again made it clear that Japan was 
ready to discuss the abduction issue and the issue of settling the 
past events together. 
 
According to a source familiar with the ARF Meeting, North Korean 
Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun balked at Japan for its past colonial 
rule, its upgrading the Defense Agency to the ministry status, and 
its move for constitutional revision. On the nuclear issue, Pak 
emphasized the propriety of the development of nuclear weapons, 
arguing, "Our country has been exposed to the nuclear threat from 
 
TOKYO 00003547  004 OF 006 
 
 
the big power." On the implementation of the February six-party 
agreement, he urged Japan and the United States to take action now. 
He also called on the US to delist North Korea as a country sponsor 
of terrorism. Aso against asked for permission to take the floor and 
rebutted, "What the North Korean side has stated now included 
something that goes against the facts. Our country cannot accept 
it." 
 
Meanwhile, after the session, the deputy director-general of North 
Korea's Foreign Ministry bureau praised Aso's remark that Japan 
would deal with the abduction issue and the issue of settling the 
past together, by saying: "It has been unusual in recent years that 
the Japanese foreign minister suggested the past issues should be 
also discussed in normalizing relations." 
 
6) Some countries disappointed at Secretary Rice's non-attendance at 
ARF meeting 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Full) 
August 3, 2007 
 
US Secretary of State Rice did not attend the meeting of the ASEAN 
Regional Forum (ARF) because she was visiting the Middle East. This 
was her second non-attendance to the ARF meeting, following her 
absence in 2005, when she assumed the post of secretary of state. 
ASEAN indicated understanding about her non-attendance with Foreign 
Minister Yeo of Singapore saying, "The United States bears a big 
responsibility in dealing with in the Middle East as well as Iran." 
But President Bush, too, has delayed his first summit talks with 
ASEAN leaders, which at one point were planned for September. Some 
connected with ASEAN voiced disappointment. 
 
US Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte, on behalf of Rice, attended 
the foreign ministerial between ASEAN and the US held on Aug. 1 
prior to the ARF meeting. He emphasized there: "In terms of East 
Asia policy, relations with ASEAN are vitally important." 
 
Singapore, which took over the role of the host nation of ASEAN from 
the Philippines yesterday, had been energetically making 
arrangements to host in September summit talks between President 
Bush and heads of ASEAN as a commemorative event celebrating the 
30th anniversary of the beginning of dialogue between ASEAN and the 
US. But it has now been forced to delay the talks because of the US 
side's circumstances. 
 
In order to maintain a presence in the region, relations with the US 
are vitally important for ASEAN. Nonetheless, Bush likewise pushed 
aside his initial plan to attend the summit talks with ASEAN, 
following Rice. All this is presumably attributable to the 
relatively sinking status of ASEAN as China and India are rising. 
 
One ASEAN diplomatic source commented, "We understand Iraq is 
important, but (the US) should turn its eye to Southeast Asia." 
Another source said, "The present-day US has no policy toward 
Southeast Asia." 
 
7) Japanese, North Korean foreign ministers in verbal warfare at ARF 
meeting 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 3, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00003547  005 OF 006 
 
 
Takashi Nakayama, Manila 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso and his North Korean counterpart Pak Ui 
Chun crossed swords over contentious bilateral issues, including 
Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals, in the ministerial 
meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum 
(ARF) in the Philippines on August 2. 
 
Aso led off by saying: "I expect a favorable cycle to be created in 
relations between Japan and North Korea, as well as in the six-party 
talks by North Korea showing a sincere attitude in Japan-North Korea 
normalization working group meetings." He then called on North Korea 
to positively address the abduction issue. 
 
According to Japanese delegates, pointing out Japan's recent moves, 
such as the upgrade of the Defense Agency to ministry status, moves 
for constitutional revision, and missile defense, Pak criticized 
Japan by using the words "the revival of the Great East Asia 
Co-prosperity Sphere." Referring also to Japan's move to auction off 
the land and building of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of 
Korean Residents in Japan, or Chongryon, Pak complained that Japan 
is now "in an inhumane state." 
 
In reaction, Aso assailed: "North Korea's remarks include parts that 
go against the facts, so we cannot accept them." 
 
8) Japan, North Korea engage in verbal battle at ARF, but the North 
takes flexible stance toward other countries 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 3, 2007 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso and his North Korean counterpart Pak Ui 
Chun traded verbal jabs over bilateral issues during the plenary 
session of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum 
(ARF) in Manila. Pak, however, was friendly toward other 
participants and succeeded in avoiding international isolation to 
some extent. As it stands, soured relations between Japan and North 
Korea were underscored in the ARF meeting, where the North played up 
its flexible stance. 
 
During the ARF meeting on Aug. 2, Pak made a strong attack on Japan, 
using such words as "the revival of the Great East Asia 
Co-prosperity Sphere." In reaction, Aso said: "North Korea's remarks 
go against the facts and are totally unacceptable." 
 
Although the expression "concerns about the abduction issue" was 
inserted in the statement issued in the ASEAN+3 (Japan, China and 
South Korea) meeting in January, the statement this time used this 
expression: "Humanitarian concerns in the international community," 
apparently reflecting consideration by the Philippines, the chair of 
the session, to North Korea. 
 
Foreign Ministry spokesman Mitsuo Sakaba said: "I do not take it as 
a retrograde step," but in order to resolve the abduction issue, 
there will be no other way but for Japan to "continue to bring forth 
the issue to the international community," as Sakaba said. 
 
It has been reported that North Korea asked the Philippines in high 
working-level ARF talks in May to incorporate Japan's wartime 
comfort women issue in its chairman's statement. In an attempt to 
send Japan into isolation, the North demonstrated a hard-nosed 
 
TOKYO 00003547  006 OF 006 
 
 
diplomatic stance to Japan. 
 
Meanwhile, Pak contacted representatives from countries other than 
Japan in a soft manner. Pyongyang's efforts to improve relations 
with ASEAN countries reflect its desire to emerge from its current 
isolated position, on the strength of high international evaluations 
of its denuclearization moves. 
 
In the 2000 ARF meeting in Bangkok, as well, North Korea also 
engaged in vigorous diplomacy. But with the change of government in 
the US, the North was described as a part of the "axis of evil" and 
was eventually driven into international isolation. In the latest 
meeting, Pyongyang showed its eagerness to take a more multilateral 
diplomatic stance, in order to prevent a repetition of the failure 
in 2000. 
 
SCHIEFFER