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UNCLAS TOKYO 004639 
 
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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - INTER-KOREAN SUMMIT 
 
 
LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday dailies led with 
Citigroup's announcement that it plans to buy the 
outstanding shares of its Japanese brokerage arm Nikko 
Cordial via a "triangular merger" by the end of 
January. 
 
¶1. "ROK Should Extract Denuclearization Pledge from 
DPRK" The liberal Asahi editorialized (10/3): "...It is 
desirable not only for the two Koreas but also for 
their neighbors that Seoul and Pyongyang confirm 
reconciliation and cooperation and look for peace and 
stability during their summit. Although there are many 
challenges ahead, we hope that the leaders of North and 
South Korea will have fruitful talks.... The joint 
declaration issued at the inter-Korean summit of 2000 
produced tangible results that helped increase 
interchange between the two peoples. However, it did 
not do anything to build trust between the two nations 
in terms of security or to achieve peace on the 
peninsula. President Roh has said that he will work to 
realize concrete progress on peace and economic growth. 
He should not avoid military issues. It will be 
difficult to bring about peace on the Korean Peninsula 
only through the efforts of Koreans; understanding and 
support from the international community are 
indispensable. North Korea's nuclear program deeply 
affects other countries, and peace on the Korean 
Peninsula will not be possible until this issue is 
resolved. President Roh should extract a promise from 
Kim Jong Il to abandon his nuclear ambitions." 
 
¶2. "Inter-Korean Summit Should Present Roadmap for 
Denuclearization" The business-oriented Nikkei stated 
in an editorial (10/3): "ROK President Roh entered the 
DPRK by crossing the DMZ overland to demonstrate the 
improved relationship between North and South Korea. 
DPRK leader Kim Jong Il, meanwhile, came to greet and 
shake hands with Roh without prior notice. Although the 
two sides appear to have staged a 'friendly atmosphere' 
in order to play up the significance of the first inter- 
Korean summit in seven years, it is important for them 
to draw up a roadmap for North Korea's complete 
denuclearization in order to realize peace on the 
Korean Peninsula.... Although Roh wants the summit to 
go smoothly and is thus hesitant to make 
denuclearization a major focus of discussions, we hope 
that the meeting will lead to progress on the issue." 
 
DONOVAN