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FACTBOX-Japan media mixed on US response to North Korea
27 Jun 2008 02:38:32 GMT
 Source: Reuters
June 27 (Reuters) - Japanese newspapers gave mixed reviews on Friday to a U.S. decision to take a step towards removing North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and lift some sanctions after Pyongyang handed over a long-delayed account of its nuclear activities.

Japan, a close U.S. security ally, had expressed concern about the United States removing North Korea from the terrorist list before resolving the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang's agents decades ago to help train spies. But officials have recently said the step would not harm the alliance.

Japan has said it would lift some sanctions on the North if it keeps a pledge made this month to reopen an investigation into the abductions. But Tokyo insists it will not provide energy aid as part of a multilateral deal aimed at ending the secretive communist state's nuclear programme unless the abduction issue -- a highly emotive topic for many Japanese -- is settled.

Below are some comments from Japanese newspaper editorials on the North Korean nuclear report and the U.S. response.

SANKEI NEWSPAPER

"If North Korea is removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, economic aid will become possible. Japanese popular sentiment is that unless the abductees matter is resolved, there should be no aid. In that sense, the actions of the U.S. government risk harming Japan's national interests."

YOMIURI NEWSPAPER Calling the report "unsatisfactory, the paper said:

"If North Korea resorts to deceptive tactics or breaks its agreement, the United States should immediately discard its policy of lifting its sanction measures against North Korea.

"For Japan, with the abduction issue unresolved, it is a matter of course to shelve a decision to partially ease economic sanctions against North Korea when it has failed to abide by the agreement on matters including the reinvestigation into Japanese abductees."

NIKKEI NEWSPAPER

"Has North Korea really stopped being a state sponsor of terrorism? ... The reinvestigation of the abductees matter promised to Japan has not begun. Those who carried out the abductions, who must be called state terrorists, are still in the hands of North Korean authorities."

"The damage to the U.S.-Japan alliance is severe ... This decision has shown the differences in the perception of the North Korean threat between Japan and the United States. A common perception of threat is the premise of an alliance, and without that, the U.S.-Japan security treaty is close to scrap-paper."

MAINICHI "What is worrying is that North Korea, by getting itself off the terror list and achieving its biggest aim for the time being, will shelve plans to reinvestigate the abductees issue. To prevent this from happening, we must not weaken cooperation with the United States."

ASAHI

"The declaration itself should be seen as a step forward. While the nuclear threat from North Korea has not eased, the situation has moved towards one in which North Korea is unable to create sources for new nuclear weapons.

"What is most important is that we are finally seeing prospects for the third phase, in which North Korea gives up its nuclear programmes." (Reporting by Chisa Fujioka and Linda Sieg; Editing by Hugh Lawson)


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