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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001774 
 
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 06/27/08 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
North Korea problem: 
4) U.S. announces North Korea has turned over nuclear declaration, 
starting delisting process  (Mainichi) 
5) President Bush says that U.S. will continue to pressure North 
Korea to resolve the abduction issue  (Nikkei) 
6) Prime Minister Fukuda: Japan will continue to cooperate closely 
with the U.S. on North Korea issues  (Mainichi) 
7) Despite loss of leverage on abduction issue caused by delisting 
decision, Japan will continue to place priority on cooperating with 
U.S. on DPRK issues  (Asahi) 
8) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura in telephone conversation with 
NSC Adviser Hadley calls the U.S. delisting decision a "shock to the 
Japanese people"  (Yomiuri) 
9) U.S. decision to remove DPRK from terror-sponsoring list a big 
blow for Fukuda diplomacy  (Yomiuri) 
10) U.S. delisting decision a shock to the Japanese people: Sankei 
(Sankei) 
11) Abductee families are "dissatisfied" by the U.S.' removal of 
DPRK from terror list, say they have "lost confidence" in Japanese 
government, too  (Nikkei) 
12) Japan desperately seeking new "card" to play against North Korea 
on abduction issue, hoping to use 45-day window of the delisting 
process  (Yomiuri) 
 
13) Fierce reactions to U.S. delisting decision coming from the 
ruling parties  (Mainichi) 
14) Assistant Secretary Hill, MOFA Director General Saiki: Six-Party 
Talks to resume with focus on the means of verifying North Korea's 
nuclear report  (Nikkei) 
15) Hill in press remark stresses continued U.S. cooperation to 
resolve the abduction issue  (Mainichi) 
 
16) G-8 foreign ministers meeting dominated by discussion of North 
Korea's denuclearization and cooperation to help stabilize 
Afghanistan  (Nikkei) 
 
17) Foreign Minister Koumura meets his British and Italian 
counterparts for bilateral talks at the G-8 foreign ministers confab 
 (Nikkei) 
 
18) Naha district court orders central government to pay noise 
compensation to residents around Futenma Air Station, but steers 
clear of stopping aircraft flights  (Sankei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi:  Mainichi: Yomiuri: Nikkei: Sankei: Tokyo Shimbun: Akahata 
U.S. to take North Korea off terrorism list: Six-party talks to be 
resumed soon 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Lead nuclear declaration by North Korea to complete 
 
TOKYO 00001774  002 OF 011 
 
 
denuclearization 
(2) Goodwill pulls out of labor dispatch business: A chance to 
change the industry 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) North Korea hands in nuclear declaration: No suspicions can be 
left unsettled; Find breakthrough on abduction issue using North 
Korea's pledge to reinvestigate issue 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) North Korea hands in nuclear declaration: Many challenges still 
remain before denuclearization 
(2) U.S. leaves interest rates unchanged: U.S. financial policy a 
turning point 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) U.S. should reconsider decision to delist North Korea 
(2) Creating a useful test of emissions trading 
 
Sankei: 
(1) North Korea's nuclear declaration: Insufficient report 
unforgivable 
(2) Mislabeling Chinese eels as domestic: There seems to be no end 
to false labeling cases 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) North Korea's nuclear declaration: Immediate and strict 
verification needed 
(2) IWC plenary meeting: Moves underway to normalize organization 
 
Akahata: 
(1) North Korea hands in declaration: Strengthen diplomatic efforts 
with aim of realizing denuclearization 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, June 26 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 27, 2008 
 
09:31 
Met Mainichi Shimbun President Yutaka Asahina at the Kantei. Later 
met Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka. 
 
10:25 
Met Waseda University President Katsuhiko Usui and others. Met 
Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Ota, joined by Assistant Deputy 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka. Saka stayed behind. 
 
11:20 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura, joined by Deputy Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. Attended an award ceremony for 
contributors to establishing gender-equality society. 
 
12:15 
Met Machimura. 
 
13:00 
Attended a ministerial meeting on soaring oil prices 
 
14:42 
 
TOKYO 00001774  003 OF 011 
 
 
Attended a forum on energy conservation in households sponsored by 
METI at the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka. 
 
15:55 
Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
16:31 
Met Chairman Funada of the research council on realizing a nation 
based on the creativity of science and technology. 
 
17:03 
Met ASJA International Chairman Tan Jong Lek and others. Followed by 
Machimura. 
 
17:59 
Met at the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka with LDP Diet Affairs 
Committee members, including Chairman Oshima, with Machimura and 
Secretary General Ibuki present. 
 
18:36 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) U.S. to delist North Korea as state sponsor of terrorism; 
Six-party talks to resume 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Lead paragraph) 
June 27, 2008 
 
In return for North Korea's provision of a declaration of its 
nuclear programs to China following an agreement at the six-party 
talks, U.S. President George W. Bush announced on June 26 at the 
White House that his administration has decided to remove North 
Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and has notified 
the Congress of its decision. The Bush administration also started 
procedures to lift some sanctions against Pyongyang under the U.S. 
Trading with the Enemy Act. North Korea on the 26th presented the 
nuclear declaration to China, the host nation of the Six-Party 
Talks, based on the six-party agreement. With Washington taking 
action to delist the North as a state sponsor of terrorism, which 
the DPRK sees as symbolic of Washington's hostile policy against it, 
the North Korean nuclear issue and relations with the U.S. have now 
entered a new phase. Japan, which has called on Washington to make a 
cautious decision on delisting Pyongyang, will likely find it 
increasingly difficult to resolve the issue of abductions of 
Japanese nationals by North Korean agents. 
 
5) U.S. to continue pressure: Bush 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
June 27, 2008 
 
WASHINGTON-U.S. President Bush, meeting the press at the White House 
in the wake of North Korea's declaration of its nuclear programs, 
announced that the United States will delist North Korea as a state 
sponsor of terrorism and call off its application of the Trading 
with the Enemy Act to North Korea. Touching on the issue of Japanese 
nationals abducted to North Korea, Bush said the United States "will 
not forget" the abducted Japanese people, adding that the United 
States will cooperate closely with Japan and will continue to 
pressure North Korea for a solution. Bush noted that the period of 
45 days until the delisting becomes effective will be an important 
period for North Korea to show a serious cooperative stance. He also 
 
TOKYO 00001774  004 OF 011 
 
 
indicated that the United States would carefully watch North Korea's 
action. 
 
6) Fukuda emphasizes close contact with U.S. 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
June 27, 2008 
 
The government is taking North Korea's declaration of its nuclear 
programs and the United States' steps to delist the North as a state 
sponsor of terrorism as progress toward a settlement of the nuclear 
issue. The government also plans to apply pressure on Pyongyang 
during the 45 days before the North is delisted by calling for the 
thorough verification of its declaration. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda last evening told reporters at his 
official residence: "There still remains the abduction issue. We are 
going to deal with the matter while keeping close contact (between 
Japan and the United States) as before." A reporter pointed out the 
possibility that Japan might lose its "card" of talks with the 
North. In response Fukuda said, "I don't think that way at all." 
Tokyo wants to swiftly determine the timeframe and form of the 
North's reinvestigation into the abduction issue, as was agreed upon 
in recent Japan-DPRK talks. 
 
7) Japan to prioritize cooperation with U.S. 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
June 27, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda, in his reply to a question from reporters, 
remarked yesterday that he does not think at all that Japan will 
lose leverage for dealing with the issue of Japanese nationals 
abducted to North Korea with the United States delisting North Korea 
as a state sponsor of terrorism. The government has opposed 
delisting North Korea with no progress on the abduction issue. 
However, the government judges that it would be better for Japan and 
the United States not to get out of step now. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura called White House National 
Security Adviser Hadley yesterday evening and told him that the 
Japanese people are shocked even though the delisting is in line 
with a determined course of action. Machimura asked Hadley to answer 
Japan's concern over the abduction issue. 
 
Foreign Minister Koumura, in reply to a question from reporters, 
answered yesterday evening that North Korea's declaration of its 
nuclear programs was "good in itself." He added: "The question is 
what is in it. We will have to verify it sufficiently." 
 
A senior official of the Foreign Ministry explained: "We didn't want 
delisting, but if there is the impression that there is a fissure in 
the Japan-U.S. alliance, that'll be playing right into the hands of 
North Korea." The United States also showed consideration for Japan, 
with U.S. President Bush underscoring in his statement yesterday 
that the United States will continue to cooperate with Japan on the 
abduction issue. 
 
8) Machimura: Delisting decision a shock to Japanese people 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 27, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00001774  005 OF 011 
 
 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura had a telephone conversation with 
NSC Advisor for National Security Affairs Stephen Hadley last night 
and said regarding the U.S. decision to delist North Korea as a 
state sponsor of terrorism: 
 
"Although the decision is in line with a fixed policy course, the 
Japanese people have been greatly shocked by it. I hope that the 
U.S., keeping this in mind, will deal with the issues of North 
Korea's nuclear program and Japanese nationals abducted by North 
Korean agents." 
 
Hadley reportedly emphasized: 
 
"The main reason President Bush held the press conference (on the 
morning of June 26, local time) was because he wanted to appeal 
directly to the Japanese people that Japan and the U.S. will 
cooperate (in dealing with North Korea)." 
 
9) U.S. removal of North Korea from list of terrorist-sponsoring 
nations deals a heavy blow to Fukuda diplomacy, even though there is 
modicum of appreciation for tackling the nuclear issue 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
June 27, 2008 
 
The U.S. government's planned removal of North Korea from the list 
of terrorist-sponsoring nations after receiving its nuclear 
declaration effectively takes away the diplomatic card being used to 
resolve Japan's abduction problem, and for the Fukuda 
administration, some see this as a heavy blow. On the other hand, 
within the ruling camp, some lawmakers see this development as a 
positive step. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda yesterday met with Vice Foreign Minister 
Yabunaka at the official residence and said: "The U.S. (President) 
went to the trouble of calling me by phone, and told me that the 
U.S. and Japan would continue to tackle the abduction issue 
together." He praised the phone call on the 25th from President 
Bush. However, even within the Foreign Ministry, there are icy 
views, with one official confiding, "The President's telephone call 
was nothing but a defense mechanism so that the U.S. would not be 
inundated by fierce reactions to the delisting decision." 
 
On the question of the decision by Japan to unilaterally remove or 
ease a part of its sanctions have brought out strong voices of 
doubt. One source connected to Japan-DRPK relations said: "Since 
Japan went first in its plan to ease sanctions, it can no longer 
tell the U.S. to stop theirs. What a mess." Even from within the 
ruling camp, voices of criticism are emerging, with one junior 
lawmaker saying, "This would have been inconceivable under the Abe 
administration, which was severe toward North Korea." Although 
Komeito's head Ota gave his measured appreciation for the nuclear 
declaration, he stressed, "The abduction issue must never be let to 
falter." 
 
10) Machimura: "Japanese people shocked at U.S. plan to delist North 
Korea as terrorism sponsor," voices concern about abduction issue 
left behind 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) 
June 27, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00001774  006 OF 011 
 
 
 
North Korea on June 26 handed over a declaration of its nuclear 
programs and activities to China, which chairs the six-party talks. 
In return, the U.S. government notified Congress of its decision to 
delist the North as a state sponsor of terrorism. On the issue of 
North Korea's past abductions of Japanese citizens, President Bush 
emphasized: "The United States will never forget the abduction of 
Japanese citizen by North Korea." Now that Tokyo has lost an 
effective card, i.e., the sanctions, in negotiating with Pyongyang, 
it is uncertain to what extent the government will be able to press 
the other side to comply with its promises, including the 
implementation of a reinvestigation into the abduction issue. The 
government will be put to the test in how it responds to this new 
issue. 
 
The U.S. government's decision to remove North Korea from its list 
of terrorist-sponsoring states has deprived Japan of an effective 
card in pressing the DRPK for a settlement of the abduction issue, 
dealing it a serious blow. Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka 
Machimura, conversing by phone last night with NSC Adviser Stephen 
Hadley, stressed: "The Japanese people are greatly shocked" by the 
U.S. decision to delist the North. Some lawmakers in the Liberal 
Democratic Party have begun to take the pessimistic view that Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda's stance of giving priority to "dialogue" over 
"pressure" might result in undercutting the abduction issue. 
 
In response to a question by reporters at the Kantei last night, 
Fukuda brushed off concerns that Japan might lose its leverage in 
promoting negotiations with North Korea due to the U.S. plan to 
delist North Korea, saying: "That's not my way of seeing it." 
 
11) North Korea to be removed from U.S. list of state sponsors of 
terrorism: Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North 
Korea disappointed; Distrust building up toward Japanese government, 
as well 
 
NIKKEI (Page 43) (Excerpts) 
June 27, 2008 
 
The U.S. government on June 26 announced that President Bush had 
notified Congress of his intention to delist North Korea from the 
U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. The families of abductees, 
who have been pinning their hopes on the U.S. using its "power" to 
tackle the abduction issue, expressed despair and disappointment 
with one member saying, "(President Bush) said that he would never 
forget the abduction issue, but we are now disappointed." Although 
the families showed a degree of understanding about the difficulty 
of this diplomatic issue, they aimed their distrust at the Japanese 
government, as well, for having gone along with the U.S. decision to 
remove Pyongyang from the blacklist. 
 
Shigeo Iizuka (70), brother of Yaeko Taguchi (22 at the time of the 
abduction) and the chairman of the Association of the Families of 
Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, told reporters in Tokyo yesterday 
evening, "I feel helpless as things are decided far away from us." 
He expressed anxiety: "The designation of North Korea as a state 
sponsor of terrorism has been our biggest leverage (among the 
measures at Japan's disposal to tackle the abduction issue). If the 
Japanese government also lifts sanctions, what will it use as a 
bargaining chip? (The delisting of North Korea from the list) 
represents a backward step in resolving the issue." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001774  007 OF 011 
 
 
Members of the association visited the U.S. and sought cooperation 
from President Bush and the Congress on resolving the abduction 
issue. President Bush said that he would never forget the abduction 
issue. However, Iizuka expressed his dissatisfaction, "Looking at 
the result, it is inconsistent." 
 
Sakie Yokota (72), the mother of Megumi Yokota (13 at the time of 
abduction), who actually met with President Bush about two years 
ago, indicated some understanding of the difficulties of 
negotiations with North Korea, "I know that diplomacy is delicate." 
But she then stressed: "It is too early to remove North Korea from 
the list. It is very regrettable." 
 
She added, "The abduction and nuclear issue are equally important." 
She said with a painful look: "Our country cannot help its people. 
What kind of country is it? I do not want the Japanese government to 
disappoint us. We want it to now tackle the issue seriously." 
 
Takeshi Matsumoto (61), elder brother of Kyoko Masumoto (29 at the 
time of abduction), yesterday evening expressed his frustration "Why 
is it necessary for the U.S. to press ahead with talks with North 
Korea by lowering the barriers against North Korea?" Kiyoko Arimoto 
(82), the mother of Keiko Arimoto (23 at the time of abduction), 
urged the Japanese side regarding its future response, "I do not 
want the Japanese government to fall in line with the U.S. delisting 
of North Korea and lift its sanctions against that country." 
 
12) Japan loses effective card in negotiating with North Korea on 
abduction issue; 45-day delisting process key 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 27, 2008 
 
The U.S. began to take procedures on June 26 to take North Korea off 
its list of terrorism sponsors. During the period of 45 days until 
the U.S. delisting decision comes into effect, the Japanese 
government intends to strictly verify the declaration produced by 
Pyongyang on its nuclear programs and step up efforts to bring about 
progress on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean 
agents. But now that the U.S. has implied its willingness to take a 
more conciliatory stance toward the North by giving up an effective 
diplomatic card, the options Japan can take have been narrowed. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura said in a press conference last 
night: "North Korea needs Japanese funds and technologies." He 
indicated that economic and energy aid will become more influential 
as Japan's diplomatic card. 
 
The joint statement issued in the six-party talks in September 2005 
specified that if North Korea complies with the promise it made in 
the statement to scrap all its nuclear programs, the countries 
concerned will provide the nation with economic and energy aid. But 
Japan, which is expected to become the largest financial donor to 
the North, has made it clear that it will not extend aid before 
progress is made on the abduction issue. This policy stance is 
expected to be Japan's major trump card in future negotiations with 
the North. 
 
The most critical juncture for Japan in negotiations with North 
Korea is August 11, after the delisting process ends. Until then, 
Japan wants to bring about specific progress on the abduction issue 
in cooperation with the U.S. in the six-party talks and bilateral 
 
TOKYO 00001774  008 OF 011 
 
 
talks with the North. 
 
Despite Japan's repeated opposition to delisting prior to progress 
on the abduction issue, the U.S. easily went ahead with the 
decision. Many Japanese are dissatisfied with this. A government 
official who once served as prime minister grumbled: "The U.S. gave 
priority to relations with North Korea over the Japan-U.S. 
Alliance." 
 
What has disappointed Japan further is the lack of inclusion in the 
North's declaration of its nuclear weapons despite Japan's demand. 
 
The Japanese government intends to officially remain cool and 
maintain and strengthen cooperation with the U.S., as a senior 
Foreign Ministry official said: "If we allow North Korea to believe 
that a crack has appeared between Japan and the U.S., that will just 
benefit North Korea." 
 
13) Some ruling party members taking harsh view; Negative impact on 
Japan-U.S. alliance feared 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
June 27, 2008 
 
A harsh view is spreading across the political community, including 
the ruling bloc, in reaction to the United States' announcement to 
begin steps to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura in a press conference 
yesterday emphasized Japan's intention to resolve the abduction 
issue in cooperation with the United States, saying: "(The 
delisting) was expected. The United States has said that it would 
make efforts for the settlement of the abduction issue in its own 
position." Taku Yamasaki, chair of the Parliamentary League to 
Promote Diplomatic Normalization between Japan and North Korea and a 
former LDP vice president, too, positively described the delisting 
as a "process necessary for the denuclearization of the Korean 
Peninsula." 
 
New Komeito Representative Akihiro Ota made requests to the 
government, saying to reporters: "Although we can give a positive 
assessment to North Korea's declaration of its nuclear programs to a 
certain extent, what is in it is more important. Measures to resolve 
the abduction issue must not waver." 
 
However, one leading LDP lawmaker in a rare criticism of Washington, 
stated: "the United States is repeating the same thing." He implied 
the precedent in which the former Clinton administration failed to 
stop North Korea's nuclear development despite its "conciliatory 
policy" toward that country, as seen in then Secretary of State 
Albright's visit to Pyongyang in the closing days of the 
administration. The LDP executive expressed his discontent with the 
United States, noting, "With the Bush presidency approaching its 
end, the U.S. administration has excessively owered the barrier for 
North Korea." 
 
The Fukuda administration is trying to keep pace with the United 
States, which wants to move the nuclear issue forward despite no 
progress having been made on the abduction issue. Tokyo is motivated 
by its desire to place high priority on the Japan-U.S. alliance. 
 
But some ruling and opposition party members fear that Washington's 
 
TOKYO 00001774  009 OF 011 
 
 
decision to delist the North might negatively impact not only on the 
abduction issue but also the Japan-U.S. alliance. 
 
Takeo Hiranuma, chair of the parliamentary league on the abduction 
issue, commented: "We fear that (the delisting) might cause a the 
very foundation of the Japan-U.S. alliance to split." Meanwhile, DPJ 
President Ichiro Ozawa in a press conference pointed out the 
imbalance in the alliance, saying: "I think (the people) have come 
to realize once again that Japan's wishful thinking is not taken 
into consideration when (the United States) reaches a decision." 
 
14) Saiki, Hill agree to resume six-party talks as early as possible 
to discuss verification of North's nuclear declaration 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 27, 2008 
 
Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General 
Akitaka Saiki and U.S Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill 
met last night in Kyoto. The Japanese and U.S. chief negotiators to 
the six-party talks agreed that the verification of North Korea's 
declaration of its nuclear programs is important. They confirmed a 
policy of resuming the six-party talks as early as possible in order 
to discuss how to verify the declaration. 
 
15) A/S Hill emphasizes cooperation for resolving abduction issue 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 27, 2008 
 
Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General 
Akitaka Saiki, Japan's chief delegate to the six-party talks, held a 
meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Assistant Secretary of State 
Christopher Hill, at a Kyoto hotel yesterday. A/S Hill told Saiki 
that in the wake of Pyongyang's declaration of its nuclear 
activities, the United States will begin steps to take North Korea 
off its list of terrorism-sponsoring nations, while stressing the 
U.S. stance to continue extending cooperation for the settlement of 
the abduction issue. The two shared the need to hold the next round 
of the six-party talks quickly in order to reach an agreement on how 
to verify the North's declaration. 
 
The meeting coincided with China's announcement on the North's 
declaration, narrowly allowing the United States to inform Japan of 
its planned steps to delist the North in advance. Foreign Minister 
Masahiko Koumura is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice on June 27. 
 
16) G8 foreign ministerial: Chairman's statement to urge North Korea 
to abandon nuclear weapons, calls for cooperation to stabilize 
Afghan 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 27, 2008 
 
The Group of Eight (G8) foreign ministers' two-day meeting opened 
yesterday evening in Kyoto. In an evening session last night, the 
foreign ministers discussed the situations of Afghanistan and Burma 
(Myanmar), as well as the war on terror. After the meeting, they 
released a joint statement. A chairman's statement, which will be 
adopted this afternoon, is expected to urge North Korea to 
completely abandon its nuclear weapons. 
 
TOKYO 00001774  010 OF 011 
 
 
 
A joint statement on Afghanistan proposed the creation of a 
framework for coordination on aid programs by the G8 countries, and 
the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
 
The aim is to eradicate breeding grounds for terrorism in 
Afghanistan. The G8 foreign ministers in the joint statement called 
on countries neighboring Afghanistan to fulfill constructive roles 
to bring about stability to that country. 
 
The G8 foreign ministerial will discuss the North Korean issue this 
morning. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will explain 
Washington's policy of delisting Pyongyang as a state sponsor of 
terrorism. Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura will then ask G8 other 
members for cooperate to resolve the abduction issue. 
 
17) Japanese, British, Italian foreign ministers agree that 
attention should be paid to North Korea even after nuclear 
declaration 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 27, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura met yesterday with his British 
counterpart David Miliband and his Italian counterpart Franco 
Frattini separately at a hotel in Kyoto. In the separate meetings, 
the three foreign ministers shared the perception in general that 
attention should be paid to North Korea's response after it has 
presented a declaration of its nuclear programs. 
 
Miliband pointed out: "It is necessary to pay attention to what 
North Korea says." Frattini also expressed a similar view. Koumura 
and Frattini agreed that it is important for G8 members to issue a 
strong message in order to have Pyongyang abandon its nuclear 
weapons. In his meeting with Frattini, Koumura sought international 
cooperation, saying: "Resolving not only the nuclear issue but also 
the abduction issue is important." 
 
18) Court orders gov't to pay 146 million yen in compensation for 
Futenma noise 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
June 27, 2008 
 
The Naha District Court, in its ruling handed down yesterday at its 
Okinawa branch, ordered the government to pay a total of about 146 
million yen in compensation to 396 residents living in the 
neighborhood of the U.S. military's Futenma airfield in the Okinawa 
prefectural city of Ginowan for damage to their health from noise. 
The court rejected a demand from the plaintiffs to pay compensation 
for future damage and stop helicopter takeoffs and landings in the 
early morning and evening. The plaintiffs plan to appeal the 
ruling. 
 
Gist of Futenma lawsuit 
 
? The court orders the state to pay a total of about 146 million yen 
in compensation. 
? The state is not in a position to be allowed to restrict U.S. 
military operations at Futenma airfield, and there is no reason for 
demanding flight suspension. 
? Futenma airfield has defects in its installation and management 
 
TOKYO 00001774  011 OF 011 
 
 
stipulated in the Civil Code under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces 
Agreement, and the state is liable for compensation. 
? The local residents fear U.S. military aircraft crashes, and their 
mental suffering is growing. 
? The daily amount of compensation is 100 yen for residents in areas 
where the weighted equivalent continuous perceived noise level 
(WECPNL) is 75 and 200 yen for those in areas where WECPNL is at 
¶80. 
? It is inappropriate to institute a lawsuit for future damages. 
 
SCHIEFFER