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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002358 
 
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 - NORTH KOREA AND RUSSIA 
 
¶1. LEAD STORIES: Lead stories on Thursday morning 
included the discovery of the body of a Japanese aid 
worker who was kidnapped earlier in Afghanistan by an 
armed group, as well as a secret accord forged among 
U.S., European, and Japanese monetary authorities in 
March concerning the defense of the dollar. 
 
¶2. "North Korea's Blackmail Cannot Be Accepted" The 
business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (8/28): "It is a 
matter of course for the U.S. not to delist North Korea 
as a state sponsor of terrorism until it accepts a 
rigorous nuclear verification regime. Washington should 
not be fooled by North Korean blackmail and should not 
be quick to make concessions. The concerned parties 
should apply coordinated pressure on North Korea to 
press it to accept verification with the possible 
suspension of economic and energy assistance in mind." 
 
¶3. "March Toward Denuclearization Must Not Be Stopped" 
The liberal Mainichi argued in an editorial (8/28): 
"What is important is not to halt the process toward 
denuclearization. To that end, U.S.-DPRK dialogue is 
necessary. China as the chair of the six-party talks 
will also need to persuade North Korea.... Nuanced 
differences in approach toward North Korea within the 
Bush administration concern us somewhat. Assistant 
Secretary of State Hill and Secretary of State Rice are 
seen as being relatively positive about delisting North 
Korea. President Bush, by contrast, showed a harder 
line when he met with his ROK counterpart earlier this 
month.... President Bush and conservatives in Congress 
are concerned that North Korea, through its nuclear 
cooperation with Syria, poses a threat to Israel. It is 
certain that this factor is serving as a brake on 
delisting ahead of the U.S. presidential election." 
 
¶4. "Do Not Be Deceived by North Korea" The top- 
circulation, moderate Yomiuri insisted (8/28): 
"...Verification without allowing the collection and 
measurement of samples of nuclear materials is not 
feasible. Verification must at least ascertain the 
volume of plutonium possessed by North Korea. Leaving 
this point ambiguous would allow North Korea to 
secretly maintain a nuclear program. Without a 
stringent verification protocol, learning a full 
account of Pyongyang's uranium enrichment and nuclear 
proliferation would be impossible." 
 
¶5. "EU Diplomacy to Be Tested" The liberal Tokyo 
Shimbun claimed in an editorial (8/28): "Europe holds 
the key to tamping down the heated rivalry between the 
U.S. and Russia.... It must offer a basic strategy 
toward preventing further escalation when an emergency 
EU summit is held shortly." 
 
¶6. "Russia No Longer Qualified to Be G8 Member" The 
conservative Sankei editorialized (8/28): "We must 
declare that Russia has lost its qualification to be a 
member of the G8, which embraces freedom and 
democracy.... It is important to keep Russia involved 
in the international community. However, Russia should 
be reminded that the international standing that it has 
pursued in the post-Cold War era will be lost unless it 
stops its illegal actions." 
 
 
TOKYO 00002358  002 OF 002 
 
 
ZUMWALT