DE RUCNAI #0003/01 0992043
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 092043Z APR 09
FM USDEL SECRETARY//EUROPE//
TO RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL IMMEDIATE

S E C R E T PARTO 040903 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/31/2019 
TAGS: OVIP CASC PARM MNUC KNNP KN KS AF JA PK
SUBJECT: Secretary Clinton's March 31, 2009 Conversation 
with Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Nakasone 
 
Classified by: Kenneth H. Merten, Deputy Executive 
Secretary, S/ES, Department of State. Reason 1.4.(d) 
 
¶1. (U) March 31, 2009; 4:00 p.m.; The Hague, 
Netherlands. 
 
¶2. (U) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
The Secretary 
A/S Richard Boucher 
Mr. Jacob Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff to the 
Secretary 
Lt. Gen Paul Selva, Assistant to the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff 
Mr. Daniel King (Embassy Notetaker) 
 
Japan 
FM Nakasone 
Mr. Yoshikawa, Special Representative for Assistance to 
Afghanistan and Pakistan, 
Mr. Umemoto, DG North America Affairs 
Mr. Ishikawa, Deputy DG for Asia and Oceania Affairs 
Mr. Yamanouchi, Director, North America Affairs 
Mr. Takizaki, Minister's Private Secretary 
Mr. Yoshihiro, Interpreter, Deputy Director, Global 
Issues Cooperation Division 
 
¶3. (C) SUMMARY. The Secretary and FM Nakasone agreed 
to seek a UN resolution if North Korea should launch a 
missile. FM Nakasone expressed strong support for the 
new U.S. Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy. END SUMMARY. 
 
----------- 
North Korea 
----------- 
 
¶4. (S) The two leaders met on the margins of the March 
31 Dutch-Afghan-UN conference in The Hague 
("International Conference on Afghanistan: A 
Comprehensive Strategy in a Regional Context"). 
Nakasone began by thanking the Secretary for her clear 
statement that the United States would defend Japan, 
including with nuclear deterrence. The Secretary said 
that if North Korea's announced missile launch proceeds, 
Japan and the United States must stand together and 
strongly oppose it. The Secretary re-affirmed the U.S. 
commitment to a de-nuclearized Korean peninsula. 
 
¶5. (S) Nakasone responded that Japan is "at a critical 
phase" with North Korea, and that if the Koreans proceed 
with the launch it will be "a violation of the UN 
Security Council resolution and will not be acceptable." 
Nakasone appreciated that the Secretary had said she 
would raise the matter at the UN if the launch occurs. 
Nakasone noted that countries like the UK oppose the 
launch, but that he would like to call on China and 
Russia to join in opposition. 
 
¶6. (S) Nakasone said the six-party talks are facing 
difficulties. According to Japan's Prime Minister Taro 
Aso, the credibility of the talks can only be maintained 
with a robust framework. Resumption of the talks will 
be difficult if North Korea proceeds with the launch. 
Nakasone said that Japan is aware of the U.S. proposal 
regarding the six-party talks and wants to cooperate 
closely on it. 
 
¶7. (S) The Secretary replied that the United States 
shares Japan's concerns. De-nuclearization of the 
Korean peninsula is and should remain the primary goal 
of the six-party talks. It would be particularly 
fruitful for North Korea to get back into two working 
groups at the six-party talks: de-nuclearization and 
energy. This will be difficult, particularly 
considering North Korea's actions over the past few 
months. 
 
 
 
¶8. (S) Naksone said that Japan favors the idea of 
emphasizing the two work groups and mentioned that 
energy assistance is a way of gaining leverage. The 
Secretary agreed but urged caution, mentioning that 
North Korea made commitments in 2005 which they have not 
adhered to. 
 
¶9. (S) Nakasone concluded that the protocols for both 
stages of the nuclear disarmament verification process 
must be agreed to in advance as a package deal. He 
stated that before stage one begins, the content of 
stage two must be agreed upon. Otherwise, there is a 
strong possibility that North Korea will "get what it 
wants." The Secretary acknowledged how difficult and 
uncooperative North Korea can be, noting that even when 
the Korean reach an agreement they don't fulfill 
obligations. She said that "our goal is to get 
something for whatever we give." She expressed support 
for Japan's efforts on the issue of abductees. 
 
-------------------- 
Afghanistan-Pakistan 
-------------------- 
 
¶10. (U) Nakasone reaffirmed Japan's strong support for 
cooperation in Afghanistan and praised President Obama's 
new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. "We think it 
will be effective if we build on each country's 
strengths and pool resources." He emphasized the need 
to coordinate and collaborate on our assistance efforts 
including the President's proposed Contact Group. 
 
¶11. (U) The Secretary thanked Japan for its strong 
statement made in support of Afghanistan cooperation and 
for Japan agreeing to host the April 17 Pakistan Donors 
Conference in Tokyo. The U.S. aims to have a strong 
commitment in Tokyo, and SRAP Holbrooke will represent 
the United States. The Secretary also thanked the FM 
for Japan's commitment to pay six months of salaries for 
approximately eighty thousand Afghan police. The 
Japanese contribution gives the U.S. leverage to provide 
training and get other commitments of support. 
 
--------- 
IAEA Vote 
--------- 
 
¶12. (C) Nakasone thanked the Secretary for U.S. support 
in the International Atomic Energy Agency Director 
General vote, despite Japan's candidate, Yukiya Amano, 
not being elected. The Secretary noted that it is "hard 
to predict elections" and that she hopes for a shift of 
votes and the emergence of a clear winner. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Pledge to Support Iranian Diplomacy 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶13. (C) The Secretary told Nakasone the United States 
is open to diplomacy with Iran. The United States hopes 
Japan will use its contacts with Iran to reconfirm our 
messages. Nakasone pledged Japan's support. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Hague Convention On Child Abduction 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶14. (U) The Secretary asked Japan to join the Hague 
Convention in an effort to combat child abduction. The 
Secretary explained that parents face great litigation 
difficulties regarding child custody when they separate 
and live in two different countries. She mentioned that 
in today's increasingly mobile world, more parents will 
live separately. Nakasone said that Japan is studying 
its participation the convention. 
CLINTON