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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 000556 
 
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 03/12/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
North Korea missile issue: 
4) Pyongyang declares plans to launch "satellite" (Nikkei) 
5) North Korea designates danger zones (Yomiuri) 
6) Japan to intercept missile  (Yomiuri) 
7) North Korea's "satellite" launch to constitute a violation of 
U.N. resolution: Prime Minister Aso  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
8) Japan, U.S., S. Korea aiming for N. Korea pressure at UNSC 
(Nikkei) 
9) Satellite launching vehicle technology is the same as having 
long-range missile: military commentator  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
10) Kantei sets up liaison office  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Afghanistan, Pakistan: 
11) LDP's Yamasaki meets with Afghan president  (Yomiuri) 
12) Tokyo to host Pakistan donors April 17  (Mainichi) 
 
Political issues: 
13) Prime Minister Aso to order additional economic stimulus package 
today  (Nikkei) 
14) LDP's deputy policy chief says Diet dissolution premised on 
extra budget passage  (Asahi) 
15) DPJ's Ozawa denies "Cheju" remarks  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
16) DPJ lawmaker quizzed over illicit donations  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Defense & security issues: 
17) Defense Minister Hamada to order maritime security operations 
today for Somalia antipiracy mission  (Yomiuri) 
18) Japan to send fact-finding mission to Yemen  (Yomiuri) 
19) Japan, China to resume security dialogue this month  (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Nishimatsu Construction donated total of 85 million yen to Ozawa 
side since 2000 through dummy organizations; Donations flexibly 
allotted 
 
Mainichi: 
G-20 financial chiefs to agree on tightened rules on tax havens 
 
Yomiuri: 
North Korea designates waters off Akita and Pacific Ocean as danger 
zones ahead of satellite launch 
 
Nikkei: 
Toyota to launch new hybrid car priced below 2 million yen around 
2011 
 
Sankei: 
Ozawa side allegedly collected 200 million yen annually via 
subcontractors 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Tokyo District Court orders metropolitan government to pay 
 
TOKYO 00000556  002 OF 009 
 
 
compensation to teachers at special education school over sex 
education class 
 
Akahata: 
Chairman Shii urges LDP, DPJ to make self-cleansing efforts in 
connection with illegal donation scandal 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Time to ratify the International Convention on the Elimination 
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 
(2) Speedy creation of iPS cell research system essential 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Additional economic stimulus measures called for 
(2) Noriko Calderon must be allowed to stay in Japan with her 
parents 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) National Health Insurance Association must explain disparities 
in insurance premiums 
(2) Language training a key to aiding foreign residents 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Frontload necessary public works projects 
(2) Prime minister's decision necessary to allow Calderons to stay 
in Japan 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Effective anti-piracy legislation called for 
(2) Filipino family: Sympathy and law separate issues 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Amendments to Agricultural Land Law 
(2) IWC meeting breaks off: Compromise plan deserves thorough 
discussion 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Boosting domestic demand more important than increasing taxes 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 12 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
08:31 
Attended at Kantei informal education revitalization meeting. 
 
10:00 
Attended Upper House Budget committee session. 
 
11:55 
Met with Upper House Budget Committee senior director Iwanaga. 
 
12:01 
Returned to Kantei. 
 
13:00 
Attended Upper House Budget Committee session. 
 
TOKYO 00000556  003 OF 009 
 
 
 
17:19 
Met at Kantei with WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya and Finance 
Ministry Customs and Tariff Bureau chief Fujioka, followed by 
Ushijima Shrine Chief Priest Tomoo Haruta, joined by Lower House 
member Midori Matsushima. Met afterwards with Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Uruma. 
 
18:18 
Attended the 50th anniversary of Japan Lawyers Association for 
Freedom. 
 
18:49 
Dined with junior LDP Upper House members, including Kenji Ogiwara, 
at Chinese restaurant in New Otani Hotel, joined by Deputy Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Konoike. . 
 
21:03 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) North Korea plans to launch satellite between April 4 and 8 that 
could fly over Japan; Intelligence liaison office set up at Kantei 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
March 13, 2009 
 
The government revealed last night that North Korea had informed the 
International Maritime Organization (IMO) member countries of its 
plan to test-fire a communications satellite. Saying that the first 
stage of the rocket would fall into the Sea of Japan and the second 
stage into the Pacific Ocean, the North has designated danger zones 
there between 11:00 and 16:00 everyday between April 4 and 8. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura released a statement saying: 
"If a projectile is launched, even if that is a satellite, that 
would be a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. We strongly 
demand a halt to the launch that would impair the stability and 
peace of the region." 
 
According to an IMO press officer, the North informed IMO 
headquarters in London of the planned launch in written form on the 
afternoon of March 11. 
 
The danger zones in which the rocket is expected to fall are outside 
Japan's territorial waters. The danger zone in the Sea of Japan is 
at 40 degrees north and at between 135 and 138 degrees east. It is 
130 kilometers off the coastline of Akita Prefecture and includes 
part of Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The area in the 
Pacific Ocean is at between 29 and 34 degrees north and at between 
164 and 172 degrees east. It is 2,500 kilometers off Choshi. 
 
North Korea is reportedly preparing to launch a ballistic missile at 
its Musudanri missile base facing the Sea of Japan. The Taepodong's 
propulsion device consists of more than two stages. The missile is 
said to have part of the United States in its range. A fired missile 
might head for Hawaii. 
 
The government set up last night its intelligence liaison office at 
the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei). The Japan Coast Guard has 
issued a navigation warning to alert vessels cruising in waters 
where the missile is expected to land. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000556  004 OF 009 
 
 
5) North Korea designates waters off Akita and Pacific Ocean as 
danger zones, prior to "satellite" launch 
 
YOMIURI (Top Play) (Lead paragraph) 
March 13, 2009 
 
The government revealed last night that North Korea had informed the 
International Maritime Organization (IMO, based in London) of a plan 
to launch an experimental communications satellite sometime between 
April 4 and 8. Pyongyang cited two danger zones into which the 
rocket's parts and main body could fall - one in waters off Akita in 
the Sea of Japan and the other in Pacific waters off Chiba. The 
Japanese government issued a statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Kawamura urging the North to cancel the plan, on the grounds that 
even if the North says it is a satellite, the launch is in violation 
of a UN Security Council resolution calling on North Korea to 
discontinue its ballistic missile development plan. 
 
6) Japan to intercept an incoming projectile to apply pressure on 
North Korea 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
March 13, 2009 
 
The government late last night set up liaison offices at the Prime 
Minister's Office (Kantei) and the Foreign Ministry to collect 
information (on North Korea's missile launch). As seen in a Foreign 
Ministry source's comment, "Given North Korea has said so much, the 
North is certain to launch (a projectile)," the government is on 
high alert. 
 
Once a projectile -- whether it is a missile or a satellite 
launching rocket -- is launched and it is projected to land in Japan 
or its territorial waters, the government plans to intercept it 
using the missile defense (MD) system under Article 82 of the 
Self-Defense Forces Law. 
 
The MD system consists of the SM-3 missile mounded on the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's Aegis-equipped vessels and the ground-based 
PAC-3 missile. There is no legal ground to intercept a missile 
flying over Japan, and doing so is said to be difficult technically. 
The interception plan has the aim of applying pressure on North 
Korea. 
 
To prevent the North from launching (a projectile), the government 
will for the time being strengthen diplomatic pressure in 
collaboration with such countries as the United States, South Korea 
and China. If the North makes a launch and even if the country 
explains it is for "space development," the government intends to 
urge the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution denouncing North 
Korea. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura in a press conference 
yesterday said: "Security Council talks would inevitably follow a 
launch." 
 
7) Aso emphasizes "no change" in view that the launch violates UN 
resolution 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00000556  005 OF 009 
 
 
In response to North Korea's prior notice to an international agency 
of a plan to launch a satellite, Prime Minister Taro Aso told 
reporters yesterday: "There is no change in the Japanese 
government's view that the launch, even if the North says it is a 
satellite, is in violation of a UN Security Council resolution." 
 
8) Japan, U.S., South Korea aim at applying pressure on North Korea 
at UNSC: China, Russia remain cautious 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
March 13, 2009 
 
Japan, the U.S. and South Korea take a position that even if North 
Korea claims that what it plans to launch is an artificial 
satellite, it is still in violation of a resolution adopted at the 
UN Security Council (UNSC). They are determined to apply pressure at 
such settings as the UNSC. However, since China an Russia are 
cautious about taking additional sanctions against North Korea, to 
what extent an encirclement net around that nation can be built is 
unclear. 
 
U.S. Secretary of State Clinton have pointed out several times that 
the test-launch of a long-range ballistic missile is an act of 
provocation. The U.S. military is also indicating a stance of making 
a hard-line response, saying that they are ready to intercept it if 
there is an order from the president. 
 
Japan and South Korea are in line with such a hard-line stance. 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura during a press conference on 
March 12 stressed the government's position of seeking a UNSC 
conference in the event of North Korea launching what it claims as 
an artificial satellite. A senior Japanese government official on 
the 12th said, "We must think about applying sanctions." 
 
9) "A successful launch is tantamount to possessing long-range 
missiles" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
Comment by military commentator Kensuke Ebata: The technology of a 
satellite rocket is basically the same as that of a missile. A 
successful launch is tantamount to North Korea possessing long-range 
missiles. Now that the North has acceded to the Space Treaty and 
informed related organizations (of its launch plan), other countries 
can no longer criticize the planned launch. The missile that might 
have the United States in its range would be a major threat to the 
United States. It could be a powerful "diplomatic card" for North 
Korea. A fired projectile might land in Japan. Even so, since the 
North has taken the appropriate procedures, it would be difficult to 
take such measures as intercepting it. 
 
10) Government sets up information liaison office in preparation for 
North's missile launch 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpt) 
March 13, 2009 
 
North Korea has informed the International Maritime Organization 
(IMO) that it will launch a satellite. Learning of this, the 
government put into effect a status of tight alert yesterday. Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura issued a comment last night, in 
 
TOKYO 00000556  006 OF 009 
 
 
which he revealed that the government had set up an information 
liaison office at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in 
preparation for a satellite launch. 
 
11) LDP's Yamasaki meets Afghan president 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
Tetsuya Ito, Kabul 
 
The ruling coalition's fact-finding team led by Taku Yamasaki, a 
Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker, met with Afghan President Hamid 
Karzai in Kabul yesterday morning (on the afternoon of March 12, 
Japan time). In the meeting, Karzai asked for Japan's assistance for 
agricultural development, as well as for the dispatch of a Japanese 
election monitoring team for his country's presidential election in 
August. Yamasaki promised to look into the president's requests in a 
positive manner. 
 
Yamasaki handed to Karzai Prime Minister Taro Aso's letter, in which 
Aso states that he hopes that a free and fair presidential election 
will be held, and that Pakistan needs to build a relationship of 
trust with Afghanistan; among other points. 
 
Karzai said: "I welcome the Obama administration's policy (of giving 
priority to the war on terror in Afghanistan)." Regarding 
Afghanistan's relations with Japan, he said: "I would like to make 
efforts to deal with agricultural problems," suggesting the need for 
Japan's aid. 
 
12) Donors conference on Pakistan on April in Tokyo 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
The government has decided to hold a minister-revel donors 
conference on economic assistance to Pakistan in Tokyo on April 17. 
A senor Foreign Ministry official yesterday revealed the plan. It is 
expected that 20 or so countries and international organizations, 
including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), will 
take part in the conference. U.S. Special Representative for 
Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has revealed his plan to 
participate in the conference. A meeting of the "Friends Group," an 
international framework to support Pakistan, will be held as well. 
 
Referring to the Afghan situation in his meeting last month with 
U.S. President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Taro Aso stressed the 
need for aid to Pakistan. He had suggested that Japan would host a 
donors conference on Pakistan. 
 
13) Prime minister today to order ruling parties compile additional 
economic stimulus package, once agreement is reached at party head 
talks 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso will meet with New Komeito head Akihiro Ota 
on March 13. They are expected to agree that the ruling parties 
draft proposals for an additional economic stimulus package. At the 
same time, the heads of both parties will order that their 
 
TOKYO 00000556  007 OF 009 
 
 
respective secretaries general and policy research council chairmen 
look into stimulus measures. An emergency meeting for the prime 
minister, Finance Minister, State Minister for Financial Services 
and State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano and 
other government officials to hear specific measures from about 80 
experts will be held from the 16th through the 21st. The government 
and the ruling camp will move into full gear in their efforts to 
compile economic stimulus measures. 
 
When ordering the compilation of an economic stimulus package, the 
prime minister will also likely ask looking into measures on stock 
prices and a mid- to long-term economic growth strategy. Following 
this, the LDP and the New Komeito will have their in-house 
countermeasures councils look into specific measures. The ruling 
parties' proposals will likely be compiled possibly by early April. 
 
The emergency meeting to hear views from experts will host 10 
subcommittee meetings on such issues as financial services, 
employment and human resources. Those meetings will bring together 
about seven to eight experts for each subject. They will include 
Japanese Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) Chairman Fujio 
Mitarai and TEPCO Chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata. Economists will 
exchange views on the first day of the series of sessions. 
 
Concerning the size of additional economic stimulus measures, some 
ruling party members are calling for dozens of trillions of yen in 
terms of real spending mainly to be used for environment-related 
projects and public works. However, the prime minister will likely 
steer clear of referring to the compilation of a fiscal 2009 
supplementary budget when he gives orders to the secretaries general 
and policy research council chairmen of the LDP and the New Komeito 
with consideration given to the fact that the fiscal 2009 initial 
budget is under deliberation. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura during a press conference on 
the 12th indicated his view that priority should be given to 
implementing public works earlier than scheduled. He said, "Major 
economic stimulus measures are early passage of the fiscal 2009 
budget and the implementation of public works ahead of schedule." 
 
14) Passage of extra budget a precondition for Lower House 
dissolution: LDP's Sonoda 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
March 13, 2009 
 
Hiroyuki Sonoda, deputy policy chief of the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP), asked about the timing for dissolution of the House of 
Representatives in a taping of an Asahi Newster program, said 
yesterday: "If the Lower House election is held, there will be a 
(political) vacuum. We must have (a fiscal 2009 supplementary budget 
bill) executed with Diet approval." He indicated that the Lower 
House should not be dissolved before the fiscal 2009 extra budget, 
which would include an additional economic stimulus package, clears 
the Diet. 
 
The outlook is that the extra budget will be presented to the Diet 
in May. If deliberations take much time, it will be difficult to 
hold the general election in May. 
 
15) DPJ chief Ozawa denies "Cheju Island" remarks 
 
 
TOKYO 00000556  008 OF 009 
 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
Asked by reporters yesterday at Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
headquarters about former Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) 
President Kiyoshi Sasamori's remarks that quoted DPJ President 
Ichiro Ozawa as saying "buy up" South Korea's Cheju Island, Ozawa 
denied the Sasamori remarks, saying: "I did not say such thing. I 
did not mention anything specific." 
 
Pointing out the fact that South Korean capital is trying to 
purchase real estate on Tsushima Island, Ozawa also said: "Both 
sides are free to do so. Foreign companies can purchase land. Japan 
can buy South Korean land." 
 
16) Lawmaker Ishikawa, former secretary to Ozawa, questioned 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
In connection with massive political fund donations made by 
second-tier general construction contractor Nishimatsu Construction 
Co., a Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office investigative squad 
yesterday questioned Lower House member Tomohiro Ishikawa, 35, who 
was a secretary to Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa 
and has been elected from Hokkaido for proportional representation, 
as a reference witness. 
 
Ishikawa was in charge of accounting under Takanori Okubo, 47, who 
was the treasurer of Rikuzan-kai, Ozawa's fund management body, and 
was his first state-funded secretary, from 2000 through 2004. 
 
Ishikawa yesterday evening released a comment: "Today, I honestly 
stated what I know, responding to an interview by the Tokyo District 
Public Prosecutors Office. If a similar request is made, I am 
willing to comply with such wherever possible." He said, 
"Secretaries were responsible for accounting in turn at the Ozawa 
Office. I was one of them. There was no person who was playing the 
role of a keeper of the cashbox, so to speak." 
 
The Tokyo Public Prosecutors Office on March 3 arrested Okubo on 
charge of falsely listing in the fund statement donations worth 21 
million yen made by Nishimatsu Construction from 2003 through 2006 
as donations by political organizations. Public prosecutors 
presumably questioned Ishikawa, who was in a position to assist 
Okubo, about how the donations were handled. 
 
17) Government to issue order for maritime patrols today; MSDF 
vessels to leave for Somalia waters tomorrow 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
The government will hold meetings of the Security Council and the 
Cabinet today to decide to approve the invoking by Prime Minister 
Aso of a provision for maritime patrols in conformity with Article 
82 of the Self-Defense Forces Law as part of anti-piracy efforts in 
waters off Somalia, Africa. Defense Minister Hamada will issue the 
order immediately after approval is gained. In the meetings, an 
anti-piracy bill will also be adopted. 
 
Following the issuance of the order, two Maritime Self-Defense Force 
 
TOKYO 00000556  009 OF 009 
 
 
(MSDF) destroyers will leave the MSDF base in Kure City, Hiroshima, 
tomorrow. The destroyers will be deployed to the Gulf of Aden off 
Somalia to escort Japan-related vessels. Takashi Saito, head of the 
Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Office, indicated in a press 
conference yesterday that the escort operation is likely to start in 
early April. 
 
The anti-piracy bill is designed to expand the scope of ships to be 
placed under protection and to relax constraints on the use of 
weapons by SDF troops. The MSDF plans to dispatch troops, who will 
be trained under the new legislation, after the bill is enacted into 
law. 
 
18) Government to dispatch fact-finding team to Yemen 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
The government decided yesterday to assist the countermeasures 
against piracy being taken by countries near Somalia with its 
official development assistance (ODA) funds. The Japan International 
Cooperation Agency (JICA) will dispatch a fact-finding team to Yemen 
next month. 
 
The government's decision stems from the judgment that since Somalia 
is in a chaotic situation, it is necessary to strengthen neighboring 
countries' capabilities to crack down on piracy. 
 
19) Japan, China to hold security dialogue this month 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 13, 2009 
 
The Japanese and Chinese governments are now coordinating to hold a 
vice foreign ministerial security dialogue this month in Tokyo. The 
security dialogue will focus on North Korea's moves in preparation 
for launching a ballistic missile and will also take up such issues 
as increasing the transparency of China's defense spending. 
 
ZUMWALT