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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6808

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 001921 
 
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 08/20/09 
 
Index: 
 
WELCOME TO JAPAN, AMBASSADOR ROOS! 
 
U.S.-Japan relations: 
1) Ambassador Roos and family arrive at Narita Airport (Asahi) 
2) Roos in arrival statement stresses the strengthening of security 
and economic ties between the U.S. and Japan (Mainichi) 
3) Roos calls his appointment as ambassador to Japan an "honor" 
(Yomiuri) 
4) Roos: Nothing is impossible when the U.S. and Japan cooperate 
(Nikkei) 
 
Election polls: 
5) Asahi survey of election districts indicates that the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) may lose about half of its Lower House seats 
(Asahi) 
6) Mainichi's survey of election candidates reveals clear contrast 
between LDP and Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on foreign policy, 
tax issue, and Koizumi reforms (Mainichi) 
 
Election only 10 days away: 
7) Industrial associations, including Japan Medical Association, are 
rapidly abandoning the LDP (Nikkei) 
8) LDP and DPJ vie for the farm vote, with Prime Minister Aso in 
Hokkaido stumping, and DPJ President Hatoyama in Tohoku region 
(northern Honshu) (Sankei) 
9) Speeches of Aso and Hatoyama reveal clearly the policy 
differences between the two parties, with DPJ making pitch to swing 
over independent voters (Tokyo Shimbun) 
10) Stumping for former Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa, who 
resigned under a cloud, Prime Minister Aso apologizes for the 
incident with Nakagawa at his side (Sankei) 
 
North Korea problem: 
11) North Korea's promise to reinvestigate the missing Japanese 
abducted by its agents remains up in the air (Asahi) 
12) North Korea asked former President Clinton during his recent 
trip to Pyongyang to bring back two journalist to transmit its 
request for direct dialogue with the U.S. (Sankei) 
 
13) Government to create "Japan fund" under COP 10 on 1 billion yen 
scale for environmental protection in developing countries (Yomiuri) 
 
 
Articles: 
 
U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS 
 
1) U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos arrives to take up post 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 20, 2009 
 
Yoichi Kato, editorial staff 
 
The new U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, 54, arrived to assume 
his post on August 19. Roos is a lawyer who has no diplomatic 
experience, but he has been a long-time supporter of President 
Barack Obama, and his close relationship with the President was the 
main factor in his appointment to take charge of diplomacy with 
Japan. 
 
TOKYO 00001921  002 OF 010 
 
 
 
Roos read out a statement to the media after arriving at Narita 
Airport. Referring to the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 
current Japan-U.S. security treaty next year, he emphasized that, 
"Together, we will strengthen the alliance relationship, so that 50 
years from now, we will have even stronger political ties and enjoy 
even richer cultural exchanges." Roos came accompanied by his wife, 
eldest daughter, 22, and eldest son, 17. He said: "We look forward 
to making Japan our second home." 
 
Ahead of Ambassador Roos's arrival in Japan, Professor Emeritus 
Daniel Okimoto of Stanford University, who is very close to Roos and 
advises him on Japan policy, gave an interview to Asahi Shimbun in 
which he advocated a new type of Japan-U.S. alliance under the Obama 
administration. He said that the two countries should lead the 
"formulation of a broader concept of security," which also includes 
such issues as "poverty" and "environmental destruction" that 
threaten the stability of the world. 
 
2) New U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos arrives in Japan; Calls for 
enhanced security and economic ties 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
August 20, 2009 
 
Yoji Hanaoka 
 
New U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, 54, arrived at Narita 
Airport on an American commercial airplane yesterday afternoon. "The 
United States and Japan have forged one of the most successful 
alliances in history. Together, we will strengthen and expand that 
alliance," the new U.S. Ambassador said, reading out a statement to 
the press corps at the airport. He underscored the need to cooperate 
in addressing security and economic issues on a global scale. 
 
As challenges that must be addressed by the two nations, Roos cited 
the following areas: strengthening the global economy and promoting 
trade between the two countries; strengthening global security and 
expanding democratic values; climate change; pandemic diseases; and 
energy security. 
 
Touching on his experience working as a lawyer in Silicon Valley in 
California where there are many high-tech companies, he also said: 
"(In Silicon Valley), nothing is impossible to accomplish. Japan 
embodies that same bold spirit. Together, there is nothing we cannot 
accomplish." 
 
Clad in a jacket with no necktie, Ambassador Roos made his 
appearance in a room at the airport together with his wife, Susie, 
daughter Lauren, 22, and son, David, 17. There he read out the 
statement and did not take any questions from the press. 
 
3) New U.S. Ambassador Roos: "I am honored to serve as U.S. 
ambassador to Japan" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 20, 2009 
 
New U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, 54, arrived at Narita 
Airport yesterday afternoon and read out a statement at the airport 
in which he said: "I am honored to be the U.S. ambassador to the 
great nation of Japan." He then expressed his hopes, saying: "I 
 
TOKYO 00001921  003 OF 010 
 
 
would like to promote the mutual goals and interests of (Japan and 
the United States)." Positioning the Japan-U.S. relationship as the 
most successful alliance in history, Roos said: "We will strengthen 
and expand that alliance." He also stated that the two economic 
superpowers "will help strengthen the global economy and find new 
ways to foster trade and investment." 
 
The new U.S. ambassador arrived in Japan along with his wife, 
daughter, and son. 
 
4) New U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos arrives in Japan: "If the 
United States and Japan cooperate, there is nothing that cannot be 
accomplished" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 20, 2009 
 
John Roos, the new U.S. Ambassador to Japan, arrived yesterday along 
with his wife, Susie, and other family members. He will begin his 
diplomatic activities after presenting his credentials to the 
Emperor today. At Narita Airport Ambassador Roos read a statement 
that said, in part: "Together (the United States and Japan) will 
help strengthen the global economy and find new ways to foster 
bilateral trade and investment." He demonstrated a willingness to 
cooperate closely to resolve the global economic crisis. 
 
"In Silicon Valley, nothing is impossible to accomplish," said 
Ambassador Ross, who was a lawyer in Silicon Valley.  "If the United 
States and Japan cooperate, there is nothing we cannot accomplish." 
 
ELECTION POLLS 
 
5) DPJ likely to gain 300 seats 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
August 20, 2009 
 
Ahead of the Aug. 30 general election, the Asahi Shimbun conducted a 
telephone-based survey of voters in 150 of the nation's 300 
single-seat constituencies on Aug. 18-19 to examine the election 
campaign in its initial phase. As a result, the survey found that 
the Democratic Party of Japan is likely to gain a total of more than 
300 seats, way above a majority (241 seats). The Liberal Democratic 
Party is likely to be unable to reach half of its pre-election 
holding (300 seats) and could possibly come in way below it. 
Meanwhile, in the nation's proportional representation blocs, the 
New Komeito and the Japanese Communist Party will likely level off, 
and the Social Democratic Party is facing an uphill battle. 
 
When the survey was conducted, 40% of the polled voters in the 
single-seat constituencies slightly under 30% in the proportional 
representation blocs did not clarify their voting behavior. In 
addition, 25% said they might vote for a different political party 
or candidate depending on developments in the election campaign. 
Given such circumstances, the situation could see a substantial 
change during the final stages. 
 
The 150 single-seat constituencies surveyed this time were chosen to 
be characteristic of the nation's electorate, and its results were 
doubled to see the nationwide situation. 
 
In the case of the DPJ, many of its candidates, who were seated in 
 
TOKYO 00001921  004 OF 010 
 
 
the House of Representatives before its dissolution this time or 
lost their one-time seats in past elections, are now doing well in 
their campaign battles. In addition, the party's new faces are 
leading other candidates running from the Liberal Democratic Party 
and other political parties. The DPJ could garner more than 200 
seats in the nation's single-seat constituencies and could further 
gain many more. In the case of proportional representation as well, 
the DPJ will likely garner more seats in all 11 blocs. In the last 
general election that was held in 2005, the DPJ won a total of 61 
seats for proportional representation. This time around, the DPJ's 
potential outcome could be way above that number and will likely 
reach a total of substantially more than 80 seats. 
 
In the case of the LDP, even former cabinet ministers running in 
single-seat constituencies are facing difficulties. The LDP's total 
outcome in the nation's single-seat constituencies is highly likely 
to be way below 100 seats. In the nation's proportional 
representation blocs as well, the LDP could drop from its 
pre-election holding of 77 seats and there is no knowing if the LDP 
will be able to reach 60 seats. 
 
6) LDP, DPJ in clear-cut showdown 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
August 20, 2009 
 
In the run-up to the Aug. 30 general election for the House of 
Representatives, the Mainichi Shimbun conducted a survey of 1,374 
candidates on policy issues. The Liberal Democratic Party, which has 
run the government for years, is now being challenged by the 
Democratic Party of Japan. As seen from this showdown between the 
LDP and the DPJ, their candidates are clearly maintaining their 
parties' positions that differ from each other in many respects. The 
survey was started after the House of Representatives was dissolved 
on July 21. Answers were received from a total of 1,347 candidates 
by Aug. 18 when the election was announced. The retrieval rate was 
98%. 
 
The LDP and the DPJ differed clearly on the Constitution and foreign 
relations in particular. The two parties also differed on how to 
handle the nation's pension system and the consumption tax, which 
have now become issues in their election campaigns. 
 
In the survey, respondents were asked if they would support the idea 
of raising the consumption tax during their four-year term of office 
after elected. To this question, 49% of respondents from the LDP 
answered "yes," with 95% of those from the DPJ saying "no." 
 
Meanwhile, constitutional reform has yet to become a major issue. In 
the survey, however, 82% of LDP respondents were affirmative, with 
66% of DPJ respondents remaining negative. In the area of foreign 
relations as well, 63% of those from the LDP answered that Japan 
should give top priority to its relations with the United States, 
while 62% of those from the DPJ said Japan should prioritize Asia 
more than ever. 
 
Respondents were also asked if they thought Japan should send the 
Self-Defense Forces to Afghanistan in order to help that country. To 
this question, 58% of LDP respondents said "yes," and 68% of DPJ 
respondents said "no." 
 
ELECTION ONLY 10 DAYS AWAY 
 
TOKYO 00001921  005 OF 010 
 
 
 
7) Industrial associations fast distancing themselves from LDP; only 
26 prefectural medical associations support the party 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 20, 2009 
 
A growing number of prefectural industrial associations, traditional 
supporters of the Liberal Democratic Party, are distancing 
themselves from the LDP. The Ibaraki Prefectural Medical Association 
decided last fall to support candidates on the Democratic Party of 
Japan's ticket for all the prefecture's single-seat districts. 
Medical associations in eleven other prefectures, including Saitama 
and Kyoto, have decided to back the DPJ and other opposition parties 
in some district races. Eight prefectural construction associations 
have decided not to make recommendations but to let members cast 
their votes as they please (in the upcoming House of Representatives 
election on Aug. 30). While the possibility of a change of 
government is moving closer to reality, industrial organizations 
that have backed away from support for the LDP have called for a 
reversal of structural reform and spending-cut policies. 
 
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun conducted a telephone survey of the 
political organizations of prefectural medical, construction, and 
agriculture associations regarding their endorsements. 
 
Although the Japan Medical Association decided to support the ruling 
parties, mainly the LDP, only 26 prefectural medical associations 
will give full support to the LDP (some support  the New Komeito). 
 
Only the Ibaraki Medical Association has decided to support the DPJ 
in all single-seat districts in the prefecture.  Noteworthy is that 
many prefectural medical associations will support the DPJ in some 
districts or support both the LDP and DPJ. Compared with the 2005 
Lower House election, the number of prefectural medical associations 
supporting the LDP in the upcoming election has decreased by 12. The 
Kyoto Medical Association has decided to support Seiji Maehara of 
the DPJ in the prefecture's No. 2 district. The Shiga Medical 
Association will support both the LDP and DPJ candidates in the No. 
4 district. 
 
Among the 47 prefectural political federations of construction 
(companies) (kensetsu seiji renmei), 34 have announced support for 
the LDP. The Ibaraki federation has endorsed Yoshimi Watanabe, 
leader of Your Party, in the No. 3 district. Although the Okinawa 
federation has decided to allow its members to vote their 
consciences, many members are opposed to the DPJ's policy of cutting 
public works projects. However, several federations have complained 
that structural reform has sapped the vitality of local construction 
industries. 
 
Thirty-two political federations of farmers (nogyosha seiji renmei) 
have decided to support the LDP. Meanwhile, the Aomori federation, 
which supported the LDP in the previous poll, has decided to let its 
members vote their consciences in all single-seat districts. The 
Okayama federation endorsed Takeo Hiranuma, an independent, in the 
No. 3 district, and the Hiroshima federation backs Shizuka Kamei of 
the People's New Party (PNP) in the No. 6 district. 
 
8) Aso in Hokkaido, Hatoyama in Tohoku vying for farm vote 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00001921  006 OF 010 
 
 
August 20, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso and Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
President Yukio Hatoyama yesterday delivered stump speeches in 
Hokkaido and Tohoku region, both of which are home to many farmers, 
respectively. 
 
Aso gave speeches in Obihiro, Sapporo and other cities in Hokkaido, 
in which he criticized the DPJ's change in wording regarding a 
proposed Japan-U.S. free trade agreement (FTA) in its policy 
manifesto. He said: "The policy turnaround shows that the party has 
not seriously considered agricultural policy." 
 
Directing his criticism at Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa, Aso said 
in reference to the Hosokawa cabinet's agreement on the minimum 
access formula for rice in 1993: "I would like you to remember what 
Mr. Ozawa and Mr. Hosokawa did." He added: "I would like you to see 
which political parties have come up with practical policies and 
have considered the need to fulfill their responsibility. We are 
confident about these points." 
 
Meanwhile, Hatoyama visited Aomori, Miyagi and Fukushima 
prefectures. In a stump speech in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, 
he cited the party's eye-catching pledge to introduce income 
indemnity to all farming households and emphasized: "We will 
compensate for the margin losses between the prices and costs of 
rice and apples for all farmers. The farmers will be able to find 
their successors without anxiety." 
 
But Hatoyama stopped short of referring to the FTA pledge. Regarding 
the issue of the necessary fiscal resources to finance the proposed 
income-indemnity system, as well, he just said: "The source of 
revenue will be generated by eliminating wasteful spending of 
taxpayers' money without fail." 
 
9) Differences in campaign strategies between LDP and DPJ clear; LDP 
has eye on conservative voters and DPJ on unaffiliated voters 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 20, 2009 
 
On August 19, two days into the election campaigning, differences in 
strategies between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the 
main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) - both are aiming to 
take the reins of government - became clear. The LDP underscored the 
need to return to conservative values, as seen in Prime Minister 
Taro Aso's criticism of DPJ policies as "socialistic." Meanwhile, 
DPJ executives, including President Yukio Hatoyama, played up their 
party's measures to support household finances. 
 
Yesterday Prime Minister Aso delivered a stump speech in the rain in 
Hokkaido's Obihiro City. Aso said: "The LDP is the true conservative 
party. We will defend the families, the homeland, and the state of 
Japan. We will make the economic pie bigger and will redistribute it 
later." 
 
With respect to the DPJ's manifesto, Aso also labeled its 
pork-barrel policies - possibly with its childcare allowance system 
in mind - as socialistic. 
 
Since the election campaign kicked off, Aso has been playing up the 
LDP's conservative overtones more powerfully than ever before. He 
 
TOKYO 00001921  007 OF 010 
 
 
apparently has a sense of alarm that the party might fail to win 
votes of traditional LDP supporters in addition to swing voters amid 
growing chances for a change of administration. 
 
In a pre-election campaign poll conducted by the Tokyo Shimbun, only 
45% of LDP supporters said they would vote for the LDP in the 
proportional representation section. This has prompted the LDP to 
take measures to prop up support by traditional conservative LDP 
backers. 
 
The issue of Japanese flags being cut up to create the DPJ's 
insignia at a meeting in Kagoshima Prefecture has become the new 
ammunition for the LDP to attack the DPJ. 
 
Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda repeatedly cited this incident in 
his stump speeches in Kanagawa Prefecture. Former Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, too, criticized the DPJ in his speech 
in Sapporo, saying, "The DPJ has never hoisted the Hinomaru national 
flag or sung the national anthem at its conventions." 
 
At the same time, such a trend of the LDP to return to conservative 
voters tells of its need to act on the defensive, which is 
completely different from the postal election in 2005 in which the 
LDP's support base expanded to cover unaffiliated voters. 
 
Meanwhile, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama kicked off his stumping 
yesterday in Aomori's Hachinohe City. He delivered speeches at seven 
places as he traveled southward to Miyagi, Fukushima, Tochigi, and 
Saitama. Disregarding Aso's "socialistic" criticism, Hatoyama played 
up policies designed to directly support household finances. 
 
In Sendai, he enthusiastically spoke about a child care allowance 
system as a means to stem the declining birth rate, a serious issue 
undermining national interests. He also played up an income-subsidy 
system for farmers in the five prefectures where agriculture is the 
primary industry. 
 
Deputy President Naoto Kan, too, gave stump speeches at five places 
in Hiroshima and Ehime, and Secretary General Katsuya Okada also 
gave speeches at five places in Kumamoto and Kanagawa. 
 
10) Aso apologizes for Shoichi Nakagawa's drunken behavior, citing 
poor supervision 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
August 20, 2009 
 
Delivering a stump speech yesterday in Obihiro City, Hokkaido, the 
electoral district of Shoichi Nakagawa, Prime Minister Taro Aso 
apologized before supporters for Nakagawa's drunken behavior (at a 
G-7 press conference in Rome in February), for which he resigned as 
finance minister. He said: "I offer my apologies for his behavior 
and my poor supervision." 
 
Standing next to Nakagawa with a meek look, Aso further said: "We 
caused you anxiety over such an unpleasant sight." He mentioned 
"poor supervision" twice. 
 
But he added: "Human beings make mistakes, but human beings can 
forgive the mistakes. I want you to give Shoichi Nakagawa the 
momentum for reinstatement once again." He then bowed deeply. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001921  008 OF 010 
 
 
NORTH KOREA PROBLEM 
 
11) North Korea was prepared to reinvestigate abductions, but 
aborted due to PM Fukuda's resignation 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
August 20, 2009 
 
It was learned that based on an agreement at the Japan-DPRK working 
level talks in August 2008, North Korea had decided to launch a 
committee to reinvestigate the abduction issue in early September 
¶2008. A specific date had also been fixed through coordination with 
the Japanese side. However, shortly before the committee was to be 
launched, then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced his resignation 
on September 1, which prompted the North Koreans to suspend the 
plan. There is a view within the Japanese government that if Fukuda 
had not resigned, the reinvestigation might have started. 
 
According to a government source, after the bilateral talks in 
Shenyang, China, on August 11-12, 2008, a date for launching the 
committee was determined through coordination between the two sides. 
Fukuda had also approved of the plan after receiving a report from 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
 
However, Fukuda announced his resignation right before the 
committee's launch. The North Koreans then notified the Japanese 
government of its decision to "postpone the start of the 
reinvestigation until we can determine how the new administration 
will handle the matters agreed upon at the working level talks." The 
above government source noted that "the investigation committee was 
just about to be launched." It is believed that the DPRK had had 
great expectations of the Fukuda administration, which had shown 
enthusiasm about normalizing bilateral relations. 
 
Since the start of the Aso administration, the government has asked 
North Korea repeatedly to launch a reinvestigation, telling it that 
"the policy on implementing the agreement remains unchanged." While 
the DPRK has not negated the previous agreement, it has not made any 
specific response. 
 
The dominant view in the Japanese government right now is that 
"North Korea will not take any action at least until the DPRK policy 
toward the new administration formed after the general election 
becomes clear." Since North Korean issues are expected to proceed 
with the U.S. and the DPRK as the main players from now on, 
strengthening cooperation with the U.S. for a solution to the 
abduction issue will also be an issue for the new administration. 
 
12) North Korea demanded direct talks with U.S. during ex-President 
Clinton's visit 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 20, 209 
 
Yoshiki Ozaki 
 
It was learned on August 19 that during former President Bill 
Clinton's visit to North Korea early this month, the North Koreans 
voiced harsh criticism of the conduct of the Six-Party Talks on its 
nuclear issue and proposed a new and "different mode of dialogue." 
The DPRK declared its permanent withdrawal from the Six-Party Talks 
earlier, and it is believed that it demanded direct U.S.-DPRK talks 
 
TOKYO 00001921  009 OF 010 
 
 
from President Barack Obama through Clinton. It was also learned 
that the U.S. government has informed the concerned countries of its 
analysis of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's health condition that 
"he has recovered considerably." The above was revealed by a number 
of Six-Party Talks sources who received briefings from the U.S. 
government. 
 
When Clinton and his party arrived in Pyongyang on August 4, he was 
met by Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the 
Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), and other senior officials. This 
was followed by a meeting with SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam, 
who has the rank of a head of state. 
 
During this meeting, Kim strongly denounced the Six-Party Talks, 
which have been suspended since last December. He said that the 
Talks "were a forum for criticizing North Korea, so we declared our 
non-participation." He reportedly added that, "There are other modes 
of dialogue," demanding direct talks between the U.S. and the DPRK. 
 
Clinton replied that the purpose of his trip was to retrieve the two 
female American reporters. He limited himself to urging North Korea 
to return to the six-way talks and brought North Korea's message 
home. In his subsequent meeting with General Secretary Kim, Clinton 
reportedly merely conveyed the U.S. government's standing policy on 
seeking the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. 
 
Meanwhile, based on information obtained during Clinton's visit, the 
U.S. government also analyzed the health condition of General 
Secretary Kim, who suffered a stroke in the summer of 2008, and has 
passed on its analysis to the concerned countries. 
 
Kim reportedly "looked healthy and spoke coherently," making an 
astounding recovery from his illness. 
 
Former presidential assistant John Podesta, who accompanied Clinton 
on the trip, told Reuters and other media outlets on August 14 that 
"General Secretary Kim was fully engaged" and that "(the visit) was 
quite an amazing experience." A source on U.S.-DPRK relations 
confides that "the greatest surprise for the concerned countries is 
General Secretary Kim's health." 
 
The Japanese government had expected the DPRK to demand direct talks 
with the U.S. The government also reckons that "a solution to the 
nuclear, missile, and abduction issues will have to be through a 
decision by General Secretary Kim." It looks at the recent visits by 
U.S., South Korean, and Chinese officials to North Korea calmly. A 
government source says: "The fact that North Korea is emphasizing 
'dialogue' shows that the sanctions have been effective." 
 
 Dialogue is premised on return to Six-Party Talks: Secretary of 
State Clinton 
 
Takashi Arimoto, Washington 
 
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commented on August 18 on 
the possibility of negotiating with North Korea. She said: "Our 
policy remains the same. We continue to offer to the North Koreans 
the opportunity to have a dialogue within the Six-Party Talks 
framework," reiterating that dialogue is premised on a return to the 
Six-Party Talks. She added that: "This will be of great benefit to 
the North Korean people. The choice is up to the North Koreans 
(whether they want to return to the talks)," stressing that U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00001921  010 OF 010 
 
 
policy will not change. 
 
13) Government to establish "Japan fund" worth one billion yen to 
support activities to conserve biological diversity in developing 
countries 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 20, 2009 
 
The Japanese government has decided to set up a "biodiversity Japan 
fund" (tentative name) to offer financial assistance for activities 
to protect wildlife in developing countries. The government will 
host for the first time the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the 
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) in Nagoya 
in October 2010. The planned fund will be worth about 1 billion yen, 
almost the same amount as the annual budget (about 1.1 billion yen) 
for the secretariat of the conference. The government aims to 
underscore its eagerness to address the task of securing 
biodiversity on its own initiative. 
 
The Environment Ministry will include 1 billion yen in its request 
for fiscal 2010 to create the fund, which will be set up at the 
conference's secretariat in Montreal, Canada. 
 
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and 
Natural Resources, about 16,000 species of wildlife are on the verge 
of extinction. The United Nations estimates that activities by human 
beings, such as nature development and greenhouse gas emissions, 
have accelerated the pace of wildlife's extinction. On the agenda at 
COP10 will be the final assessment of the "2010 target" set in a 
meeting of the treaty powers held seven years ago to significantly 
reduce the pace of loss of biological diversity and a new goal 
beyond 2010. 
 
The Environment Ministry is concerned that some developing countries 
might not be able to participate in the joint effort due to 
financial difficulties. Given this, the government judged it 
necessary to prepare a new framework for all treaty powers, 
including developing countries, to take part in the effort and 
definitely achieve the target. 
 
ZUMWALT