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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000343 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2019 
TAGS: PREL PHUM ECON ETRD JA KA
SUBJECT: FM NAKASONE DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN, DPRK, PIRACY IN 
SEOUL 
 
TOKYO 00000343  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: CDA James P. Zumwalt, reasons 1.4(b),(d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Bilateral cooperation on Afghanistan 
reconstruction and better coordination on DPRK issues 
dominated the discussion during FM Nakasone's meetings with 
ROK President Lee and FM Yu in Seoul February 10-11.  Other 
key issues included efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of 
Africa, ways to strengthen trade relations, and approaches to 
the global economic crisis.  Nakasone's visit was the latest 
in a series of high-level reciprocal visits aimed at 
fostering a more "future oriented and mature partnership" 
between Japan and South Korea.  Media speculate that this 
most recent trip, however, may also have had something to do 
with coordinating views in advance of the Secretary's trip to 
the region.  Preliminary indications from Nakasone's meetings 
give some indication that the two countries continue to move 
closer to one another on certain key policy issues, including 
the DPRK.  End Summary. 
 
Relations Steadily Improving 
---------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone traveled to Seoul 
February 10-11, meeting with President Lee Myung-bak, Foreign 
Minister Yu Myung-hwan, parliamentarians, business leaders, 
and students.  The visit followed on a Prime Minister Taro 
Aso's trip to Seoul on January 12.  Some Japanese media have 
speculated that the real reason for the visit was to 
coordinate policy views in advance of a visit to the region 
by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  True or not, 
this is merely the most recent in a series of high-level 
bilateral discussions between the two neighbors since the 
election of ROK President Lee Myung-bak last  year.  Leaders 
on both sides have cited the need to pursue a more 
"future-oriented and mature partnership," and point to 
frequent reciprocal visits as one way to demonstrate a 
continuing commitment to strengthening the bilateral 
relationship and working more cooperatively on regional and 
global issues.  Lee and Yu pledged reciprocal visits at an 
appropriate time. 
 
¶3. (C) Media analysis noted that Tokyo and Seoul have 
continued to move gradually "from foes to partners," with a 
focus on a more "future-oriented" partnership.  They 
attribute the improvement to recognition that there are 
"common interests in boosting their global presence and 
securing their alliances with the new U.S. administration." 
In his statement to reporters, FM Yu emphasized "shared 
values" and "deep cultural understanding," saying that the 
two countries could "create synergy by cooperating and 
capitalizing on our respective strong points."  As with the 
Aso-Lee meeting, the two foreign ministers mostly avoided 
discussion of sensitive territorial and historical issues, 
with only one question from Yu on the schedule for Japan's 
annual review of textbook guidelines.  "Of course there are 
still difficult issues," a MOFA diplomat was quoted in one 
press report, "but I think the two countries now recognize 
each other as a very important partner in the international 
arena." 
 
Proceeding on Joint Assistance to Afghanistan 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) Following up on the Aso-Lee meeting last month, FM 
Nakasone and FM Yu ironed out additional details on plans to 
provide joint assistance for Afghanistan reconstruction, 
including the dispatch of Japanese experts to a South Korean 
vocational training center in Kabul and joint support for an 
NGO-sponsored soybean project.  Japan and Korean have 
promoted cooperation on agricultural development and 
vocational training for Afghanistan as a first step on the 
road to providing joint development assistance worldwide. 
Reports noted that Japan had more to share in the way of 
civilian expertise and financial resources, while Korea 
enjoys an advantage in its ability to dispatch military 
forces. 
 
Moving Closer on DPRK Policy 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Referring to indications of a new missile test and 
 
TOKYO 00000343  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
heightened rhetoric from Pyongyang, the two foreign ministers 
accused the DPRK of "intentional acts to heighten tensions," 
and called on the DPRK regime to "behave in a way that would 
contribute to the region's stability."  Yu reportedly 
characterized the recent DPRK moves as intended to split the 
United State, South Korea, and Japan.  FM Nakasone and FM Yu 
reportedly discussed ways to reinvigorate the Six-Party 
Talks, and pledged continued cooperation with the United 
States in support of the process.  At the same time, media 
noted that Japan, driven by the abductions issue, and South 
Korea, driven by domestic political pressures, now share an 
interest in making sure that the Obama Administration does 
not move too quickly in pursuit of verification, without 
taking a more comprehensive look at all of the related 
issues. 
 
¶6. (C) President Lee reiterated his support for resolution of 
the abductions issue, and FM Yu promised FM Nakasone that a 
meeting between Japanese abductee support groups and a former 
DPRK agent would be arranged "before long."  Media described 
FM Yu's willingness to discuss openly Seoul's help in 
organizing such a meeting as a significant departure from the 
South's previous policy of avoiding confrontation with the 
North.  Some reports speculated that this could be a sign 
that the two countries are moving closer in their positions 
on the abductions issue. 
 
Piracy, Trade, Environment, Exchanges Also Discussed 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶7. (C) FM Nakasone and FM Yu exchanged views on antipiracy 
operations off the Horn of Africa, and discussed cooperation 
in the form of coordinating escort operations and exchanging 
information regarding their respective vessels.  They also 
promised to cooperate toward a successful outcome for the 
next G-20 financial meeting, scheduled to take place on April 
2, in London.  In keeping with that goal, they agreed to 
upgrade stalled negotiations on a free trade agreement to the 
deputy director general level, emphasizing the need for 
closer economic cooperation in the current troubled economic 
climate.  Closer to home, they vowed to increase cooperation 
on environmental issues, such as a reduction in marine litter 
and better management of fisheries resources in neighboring 
waters.  FM Yu also accepted FM Nakasone's proposal to extend 
for 10 years a Japanese program that will allow 1,000 South 
Korean students to study science and engineering at Japanese 
universities. 
ZUMWALT