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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000761 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/03/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) With approach of planned North Korean missile launch, government 
having hard time determining new sanctions (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(2) North Korean missile launch a tailwind for MD expansion; Defense 
Ministry, LDP call for full deployment of MD system (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
 
(3) Government in final coordination on set of initial responses 
following North Korea's planned missile launch (Asahi) 
 
(4) Sankei-FNN poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Sankei) 
 
(5) Nishimatsu Construction Co. paid 25 million yen in rents on 
behalf of Nikai's office: Tokyo public prosecutors questioning 
former executives (Mainichi) 
 
(6) Editorial: SDF dispatch needed for civilian protection (Sankei) 
 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) With approach of planned North Korean missile launch, government 
having hard time determining new sanctions 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Shoichi Takayama 
 
With the approach of North Korea's planned launch of a long range 
missile which it claims to be a satellite, the government is 
troubled. The reason is because given a news report on the 
possibility of the North launching a missile with a satellite on 
top, a situation may arise where the government is pressed for 
revamping its planned response based on a ballistic missile. 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso held talks with British and Italian 
counterparts on the sidelines of the G-20 financial summit in London 
on the afternoon of April 1 (before dawn of April 1, Japan time). In 
the meetings, Aso secured the European leaders' agreement that in 
the event the North launched a missile, they would take the matter 
to the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, the government yesterday 
briefed crisis-management officials of the six prefectures in the 
Tohoku region on what could happen. 
 
Some U.S. media reported that the missile's nose cone was oval 
shaped, fit to store a satellite. Speculation is spreading in the 
government that the North would launch a missile with a satellite on 
top to concoct an alibi. 
 
The government is trying to persuade the UN Security Council 
permanent members, noting that even the launch of a satellite would 
constitute a violation of Security Council Resolution 1718 
prohibiting all ballistic missile activity by North Korea. 
 
There is a possibility, however, that the launch of a missile with a 
satellite -- instead of just a missile -- would make it difficult to 
make a forceful response. 
 
A source connected with the government said discouragingly 
 
TOKYO 00000761  002 OF 010 
 
 
yesterday: "North Korea's fault was clear when it launched seven 
missiles in 2006. This time around, it seems difficult to adopt even 
a resolution condemning the North (which is not a sanctions 
resolution)." An idea is circulating to adopt a resolution seeking 
the thorough implementation of past UN resolutions including the 
prohibition of transferring nuclear and missile-related materials to 
North Korea. 
 
The government is having a hard time stepping up its own sanctions 
against the North. 
 
Following the missile launch, the government plans to extend its 
sanctions against North Korea, which are to expire on April 13, for 
another year instead of for six months, as in the past, and to 
consider additional sanction measures, as well. Economic exchanges 
with the North have already shrunk due to sanctions in the past. 
"There aren't many sanctions available to us," a senior Foreign 
Ministry official said. 
 
(2) North Korean missile launch a tailwind for MD expansion; Defense 
Ministry, LDP call for full deployment of MD system 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Koki Miura 
 
The Defense Ministry and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have 
begun calling for the expansion of the missile defense (MD) system 
by taking advantage of North Korea's planned launch of a long-range 
ballistic missile, which the North claims to be a satellite. They 
even envisage the possession of an early-warning satellite to detect 
a ballistic missile launch, in addition to upgrading the interceptor 
missiles. 
 
On April 1, such LDP lawmakers from the Tohoku region as Koichi Kato 
(Yamagata No. 3 Constituency) and Tokuichiro Tamazawa (Proportional 
representation Tohoku bloc) called on Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo 
Kawamura at the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) to ask for the 
deployment of PAC-3 missiles on a regular basis. 
 
The Self-Defense Forces have moved PAC-3 units from Hamamatsu to 
Akita and Iwate prefectures where a launched missile is likely to 
fly over. At present, there is no plan to deploy PAC-3 units in the 
Tohoku region. 
 
Administrative Vice-Defense Minister Kohei Masuda expressed in a 
press conference yesterday a positive stance about the full 
deployment of the PAC-3 system, saying: "We would like to consider 
it in reviewing the National Defense Program Guidelines and the 
Midterm Defense Buildup Program, while keeping in mind the request 
by (Mr. Kato and others)." 
 
Calls are also growing not only for the expanded deployment of 
interceptor missiles but also for the independent possession of an 
early-warning satellite. 
 
In yesterday's LDP national defense and defense policy sub-panel 
meeting, many pointed out the need for Japan to possess an 
early-warning satellite on its own. From a viewpoint of the national 
fiscal conditions, a Defense Ministry official presented a cautious 
stance, saying, "The matter requires a comprehensive judgment." At 
 
TOKYO 00000761  003 OF 010 
 
 
the same time, the official presented a policy course to carry out 
R&D on an infrared sensor, a pivot in a satellite, on a priority 
basis. 
 
The United States and Russia are the only countries that possess 
early-warning satellites. The possession of such a satellite will 
allow Japan to rely less on the United States in terms of 
detection. 
 
The initial deployment of the MD system alone is projected to cost 1 
trillion yen, including the 700 billion yen already injected in it. 
Japan's possession of an early-warning satellite is certain to put 
the United States on alert. 
 
(3) Government in final coordination on set of initial responses 
following North Korea's planned missile launch 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Now that North Korea reportedly has begun fueling a missile it plans 
to launch, the Japanese government has entered final coordination to 
determine a set of its initial responses to be taken after the 
missile is launched. When the North test-fired its missiles in 2006, 
the government was criticized for its slow response. Reflecting on 
this experience, the government intends to quickly respond to an 
imminent missile launch. Even so, there are technical problems left 
unresolved, such as the difficulty of making a quick report. 
 
Assuming that the North pushes ahead with its missile launch plan, 
the government plans to report on it to press companies and local 
governments within five to ten minutes after the launch. The 
government intends to have the media convey the news to the 
residents by such means as on-screen titles and flash news 
distributed by press companies to cellular phones. 
 
It has been decided that once the U.S. detects a heat source emitted 
from a missile launch through an early-warning satellite, the U.S. 
will inform the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) of the launch 
through the Defense Ministry. The Kantei then will announce it. 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura said in a press conference 
yesterday: "We will make efforts to report on the news of a missile 
launch as early as possible." 
 
As initial responses, the government also plans to have Prime 
Minister Aso instruct officials in a written form about 10 minutes 
after a missile launch to strengthen its information-collection 
system. Kawamura, Foreign Minister Nakasone, and Defense Minister 
Hamada will meet at the Kantei to discuss initial response measures. 
The prime minister will join them about one hour later, and the four 
will analyze the given information and confer on what response Japan 
should make. 
 
About one and a half hours later, Kawamura will hold a press 
conference to report on the launch and brief the government's series 
of responses. He will also express regret over North Korea's 
conduct. Three hours later, members of the Security Council of Japan 
will meet, with the prime minister as chair, to discuss additional 
sanctions against North Korea and Japan's possible call for the 
matter to be discussed at the UN Security Council. Aso might hold a 
press conference. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000761  004 OF 010 
 
 
But some persons suggest that each government ministry concerned 
should first discuss response measures and then the foreign minister 
and the defense minister should meet at the Kantei 30 minutes after 
a missile launch. 
 
Compared with its slow responses to the North's missile test-firing 
in 2006, the government is ready to respond to a possible missile 
launch quickly. In 2006, three ministers met 90 minutes after the 
North launched its first missile at 3:30 a.m. The chief cabinet 
secretary announced the news about two hours and 45 minutes later. 
Local governments were informed of the launch three hours after the 
launch. As the cause of the delay, a senior member of the Cabinet 
Secretariat explained: "The ballistic missile was not detected by 
the radar system installed on an Aegis-equipped destroyer." This 
time, North Korea's prior notice has made it possible for the 
government to make meticulous preparations. 
 
However, there are technical problems left unsettled. Although the 
first report on the launch will be made five to 10 minutes later, 
the second report on the falling spot will come 30 minutes to one 
hour later. It will be difficult to quickly report on the flight 
process, such as whether the object is expected to fall on Japanese 
territory or whether it flied over Japan, because it will take time 
to make analysis. 
 
The government has also begun to predict damage expected to be 
caused in the event that the rocket falls on Japanese territory. It 
first assumes that the first-stage booster would be successfully 
separated from the rocket but the second-stage booster fails to 
function properly. Given that a poisonous gas reportedly has been 
mixed in fuel loaded on the second-stage booster, damage might be 
caused to local residents' health if the booster lands on Japan 
without combustion. Damage might be caused by debris, bomb blasts, 
or heat. 
 
Even if the object is judged to be likely to fall on Japan, it will 
be difficult to specify where it would fall. Even if such a judgment 
is made, since the rocket is expected to land on Japan in several 
minutes after the judgment made, evacuating residents will be 
difficult in effect. Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara complained: 
"Even if we are informed of an incoming rocket, we don't know where 
we should evacuate. There will be no other way but to get on a 
subway train." 
 
(4) Sankei-FNN poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
 
(Note) Figures shown in percentage. Figures in parentheses denote 
findings from a previous Sankei-FNN survey conducted March 7-8. 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
Yes 20.8 (17.0) 
No 66.3 (71.0) 
Don't know (D/K) 12.9 (12.0) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
 
TOKYO 00000761  005 OF 010 
 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 27.5 (26.6) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 22.2 (23.9) 
New Komeito (NK) 4.1 (4.0) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 4.0 (3.2) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1.3 (1.8) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0.2 (0.7) 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) 0.0 (0.1) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0.4 (0.1) 
Other political parties 1.3 (1.5) 
None 37.8 (37.0) 
D/K 1.2 (1.1) 
 
Q: Do you appreciate Prime Minister Aso and his cabinet on the 
following points? 
 
Prime Minister Aso's personal character 
Yes 32.4 (24.0) 
No 60.1 (66.9) 
D/K 7.5 (9.1) 
 
 
Prime Minister Aso's leadership 
Yes 11.8 (7.5) 
No 82.5 (85.5) 
D/K 5.7 (7.0) 
 
Economic policy 
Yes 24.3 (16.3) 
No 66.6 (72.3) 
D/K 9.1 (11.4) 
 
Foreign policy 
Yes 25.8 (24.8) 
No 57.5 (56.3) 
D/K 16.7 (18.9) 
 
Q: When comparing Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa, who do 
you think is trustworthier? 
 
Prime Minister Aso 41.0 (32.7) 
DPJ President Ozawa 28.5 (31.4) 
D/K 30.5 (35.9) 
 
Q: When comparing Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa, who do 
you think is better in terms of policies? 
 
Prime Minister Aso 30.5 (25.0) 
DPJ President Ozawa 39.8 (40.2) 
D/K 29.7 (34.8) 
 
Q: When comparing Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa, who do 
you think is more appealing in election campaigning? 
 
Prime Minister Aso 35.8 (28.4) 
DPJ President Ozawa 31.6 (34.3) 
D/K 32.6 (37.3) 
 
Q: When comparing Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa, who do 
you think is more appropriate for prime minister? 
 
Prime Minister Aso 29.5 (23.2) 
DPJ President Ozawa 30.2 (29.8) 
 
TOKYO 00000761  006 OF 010 
 
 
D/K 40.3 (47.0) 
 
Q: DPJ President Ozawa's secretary has been indicted on the charge 
of violating the Political Funds Control Law. Do you think DPJ 
President Ozawa's account was convincing? 
 
Yes 16.8 
No 78.8 
D/K 4.4 
 
Q: Do you think DPJ President Ozawa should resign as his party's 
head? 
 
Yes 62.3 
No 30.8 
D/K 6.9 
 
Q: Do you think the DPJ's acceptance of DPJ President Ozawa's 
decision to stay on is understandable? 
 
Yes 42.6 
No 52.1 
D/K 5.3 
 
Q: Do you think the prosecutors' investigation is politically 
unfair? 
 
Yes 40.7 
No 46.1 
D/K 13.2 
 
Q: Do you think it is inappropriate of the prosecutors to conduct an 
investigation at a time when an election for the House of 
Representatives is close at hand? 
 
Yes 39.9 
No 45.5 
D/K 14.6 
 
 
Q: Do you think restrictions on corporate and organizational 
donations should be further tightened and that state subsidies to 
political parties and individual donations should be increased 
instead? 
 
Yes 43.8 
No 36.8 
D/K 19.4 
 
Q: Will you be personally contributing money to the political party 
or lawmaker you support? 
 
Already doing 3.0 
Not now, but would like to in the future 17.5 
Not willing 78.5 
D/K 1.0 
 
Q: Do you think using the Internet to campaign for elections-which 
is currently not allowed in Japan-should be allowed? 
 
Yes 37.4 
No 47.2 
 
TOKYO 00000761  007 OF 010 
 
 
D/K 15.4 
 
Q: Do you think using the Internet to make political 
contributions-which is currently not allowed in Japan-should be 
allowed? 
 
Yes 52.3 
No 36.7 
D/K 11.0 
 
Q: Do you think it is important to keep in touch with lawmakers or 
candidates for politics or elections in Japan? 
 
Yes 82.3 
No 14.1 
D/K 3.6 
 
 
Q: How will you use the government's cash benefits? 
 
Q: How do you plan to spend the cash benefit? 
 
Buy foodstuffs, daily necessities 49.7 (48.0) 
Buy luxuries, spend for pleasure 23.7 (27.8) 
Save the money 19.4 (17.5) 
Won't receive the money 2.5 (2.7) 
D/K 4.7 (4.0) 
 
Q: How is your local government's cash handout? 
 
Payout began, and received the money 3.2 
Payout began, but yet to receive the money 14.4 
Payout yet to begin 51.3 
Don't know when payout will begin 30.3 
Other answers 0.8 
 
Q: Who do you think is most appropriate now for Japan's prime 
minister among the following politicians in the ruling and 
opposition parties? 
 
Taro Aso 4.6 (4.4) 
Shigeru Ishiba 3.9 (4.6) 
Nobuteru Ishihara 6.2 (4.6) 
Yuriko Koike 4.0 (4.5) 
Junichiro Koizumi 11.1 (10.1) 
Masahiko Komura 0.6 (---) 
Sadakazu Tanigaki 1.0 (---) 
Yoichi Masuzoe 10.4 (9.4) 
Kaoru Yosano 5.7 (8.3) 
Other ruling party lawmakers 2.3 (2.2) 
Yoshimi Watanabe 4.5 (4.7) 
Ichiro Ozawa 5.8 (5.1) 
Katsuya Okada 6.5 (6.9) 
Naoto Kan 4.2 (4.3) 
Yukio Hatoyama 2.5 (2.2) 
Other opposition party lawmakers 3.5 (3.2) 
None 18.1 (18.0) 
D/K 5.1 (4.5) 
 
Q: North Korea is preparing to launch a missile. Do you feel uneasy 
about this? 
 
 
TOKYO 00000761  008 OF 010 
 
 
Yes 83.2 
No 15.7 
D/K 1.1 
 
Q: Do you think Japan should be readied to intercept that North 
Korean missile should it be launched? 
 
Yes 81.0 
No 13.3 
D/K 5.7 
 
Q: If North Korea launched a missile, do you think international 
pressure on that country should be intensified through such steps as 
adopting a United Nations Security Council resolution? 
 
Yes 90.5 
No 5.4 
D/K 4.1 
 
Q: If North Korea launched a missile, do you think Japan should step 
up its sanctions against North Korea? 
 
Yes 69.9 
No 22.9 
D/K 7.2 
 
Q: When do you think the next election is appropriate for the House 
of Representatives? 
 
Right away 19.5 
During the first half of this year after passing the extra budget 
for economic stimulus measures 46.6 
Upon the current term's expiry or sometime near that time during the 
latter half of this year 31.2 
D/K 2.7 
 
 
Q: Which political party would you like to vote for in the next 
election for the House of Representatives in your proportional 
representation bloc? 
 
LDP 34.7 (30.6) 
DPJ 36.4 (36.3) 
NK 5.9 (5.2) 
JCP 4.9 (4.5) 
SDP 2.2 (2.7) 
PNP 0.6 (0.8) 
RC 0.0 (0.1) 
NPN 0.6 (0.5) 
Other political parties 6.0 (8.2) 
D/K 8.7 (11.2) 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted March 7-8 by the 
Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN) over the telephone on a 
computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, a 
total of 1,000 persons were sampled from among men and women, aged 
20 and over, across the nation. 
 
(5) Nishimatsu Construction Co. paid 25 million yen in rents on 
behalf of Nikai's office: Tokyo public prosecutors questioning 
former executives 
 
 
TOKYO 00000761  009 OF 010 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Concerning a case in which Nishimatsu Construction Co., a 
second-tier general construction contractor, had been paying rents 
on behalf of Kansai Shinpu-Kai (Kansai New Phase Organization) based 
in Osaka City, a political organization connected to Economy, Trade 
and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, Mainichi Shimbun has learned 
through a source connected to the company that the amount of rents 
the company paid for nine years totaled approximately 25 million 
yen. Kansai Shinpu-Kai only paid the first rent of over 200,000 yen. 
Nishimatsu Construction paid the rest. The Tokyo Public Prosecutors 
Office appears to have started questioning former executives of the 
Kansai branch of Nishimatsu Construction in Osaka City on April 2. 
 
The special investigation squad has been suspending investigation 
since they indicted Takanori Okubo (47), the state-funded first 
secretary to Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa 
on March 24. It appears that they will press ahead with an 
investigation regarding the company's financial assistance extended 
to the Nikai office. 
 
The office in question is located on the 4th floor of a 15-storied 
condominium at 3 Itachibori, Nishi-Ward, Osaka City. According to a 
source connected with OA Engineering, based in Minato Ward, Tokyo, a 
company connected to Nishimatsu Construction that owns the 
condominium, the company refurbished a room with area of about 70 
square meters with 3 bedrooms, one living room and dining room plus 
kitchen into an office. Nikai's younger brother, who is serving as 
his secretary, rented the room for over 200,000 yen a month for the 
use by Kansai Shimpu-Kai. 
 
They signed a contract. However, Kansai Shinpu-Kai only paid the 
rent for the first month to the OA Engineering's bank account by 
bank remittance. No remittance was made since then. The room was 
provided to Kansai Shinpu-Kai rent-free until February 2, when 
Nikai's office terminated the lease. 
 
The company's accounting book records that Kansai Shinpu-Kai 
ostensibly paid rents worth about 5.6 million yen for 2006 and 2007 
to OA Engineering in several installments. However, the money 
actually came from Nishimatsu Construction, because it paid that 
amount to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Wakayama Constituency 
No. 3 chapter on which Nikai serves as a representative under the 
guise of individual donations. Nishimatsu Construction thus 
shouldered the full amount of rents of Nikai's office. 
 
(6) Editorial: SDF dispatch needed for civilian protection 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Recently, the U.S. Obama administration unveiled new strategy aimed 
for the early stabilization of Afghanistan. Shortly thereafter, the 
Netherlands hosted an international ministerial conference in The 
Hague to discuss specific measures for assistance to Afghanistan. 
 
The Hague conference on Afghanistan was held with the participation 
of 86 countries and organizations, including International Security 
Assistance Force (ISAF) members deploying troops in Afghanistan and 
major donors assisting with that country's reconstruction. The 
greater part of these countries vowed there to cooperate on the new 
 
TOKYO 00000761  010 OF 010 
 
 
U.S. strategy. We welcome this as a new step forward in the war on 
terror. 
 
There was a noticeable move. Iran-squaring off with the United 
States and Europe over nuclear suspicions-was invited to the Afghan 
conference. High-ranking officials from the United States and Iran, 
currently in a state of diplomatic rupture, met for the first time 
since the Obama administration's inauguration. The two countries 
have reportedly agreed to keep in touch with each other. 
 
What lies behind that is the massive influx of drugs, which are 
funding sources for the Taliban that used to rule Afghanistan, and 
refugees from Afghanistan into Iran. U.S. Secretary of State Clinton 
positively appreciated Iran for its stance of cooperating on drug 
countermeasures. 
 
It is hardly conceivable that U.S.-Iran relations will dramatically 
change at once. However, it can be a breakthrough. We want to keep 
watching the two countries' dialogue and cooperation. 
 
Japan has worked on Iran to participate in the Afghan conference. 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone announced that Japan would work 
together with Iran to implement antidrug and refugee measures. This 
kind of cooperation can be played up even more. 
 
The U.S. military will send reinforcements to Afghanistan. At the 
same time, the United States will also substantially increase its 
civilian dispatch to that country. This new Afghan strategy is based 
on President Obama's belief that military means alone cannot 
overthrow Al Qaeda that is a worldwide network of terrorists. Japan, 
which has made actual results in the civilian area, will have many 
more things to do from now on. 
 
For the time being, Japan will host a Pakistan donors conference in 
Tokyo on April 17. Al Qaeda elements and Taliban militants are based 
in the mountainous terrains near the Afghan-Pakistani border. To 
sweep them away, Pakistan's stability is indispensable. Japan, which 
will host the conference, has heavy responsibility. 
 
Upon the Hague conference, Japan contributed as much as 300 million 
dollars for civilian assistance in Afghanistan. This amount is four 
to seven times larger than that from the United States and the 
European Union. That alone, however, is not enough. Japan is asked 
to send civilians. In Afghanistan, a total of about 130 Japanese 
civilians, mostly from the Japan International Cooperation Agency 
(JICA), are working to help with that country's reconstruction. 
 
We think that Japan should send more human resources there and that 
the government should consider sending the Self-Defense Forces there 
to protect the Japanese civilians. Japan should be determined for a 
success of the new strategy. 
 
ZUMWALT