We begin this morning with the U.S., Japan bilateral summit and the U.S. President Donald Trump's view of the latest missile launches by North Korea.
Contrary to his national security adviser and his Japanese counterpart with whom he was holding a joint news conference, Mr. Trump said he does not think Pyeongyang's launches were a violation of the UN Security Council resolutions.
President Trump and Prime Minister Abe, however, reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to achieve North Korea's denuclearization.
The two leaders did not announce new developments on trade.
Arirang News' Oh Jung-hee has the details.
Dismissing concerns about North Korea's launches of short range missiles earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted... there has been no nuclear or long-range ballistic missile tests... and said he'll someday strike a deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Fielding questions at a news conference in Japan after his summit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday,... Trump was asked whether he views the North's missile launches as a violation of UN sanctions.
"Perhaps he wants to get attention and perhaps not. Who knows? It doesn't matter. All I know is that there have been no nuclear tests. There've been no ballistic missiles going out. There have been no long range missiles going out and I think that someday we'll have a deal."
On the other hand, his Japanese counterpart said Pyeongyang's launch of (quote)"short range ballistic missiles" violates UN Security Council resolutions.
"North Korea's May 9 short-range ballistic missile launch violates the U.N. resolutions and it is extremely regrettable, as I repeatedly said so. At the same time, I would like to again express my respect in the new approach taken between President Trump and Chairman Kim."
Abe once again floated the idea of having a summit with Kim Jong-un to solve the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea in 1970s and 80s... and said he will attach no conditions on having such summit.
On the trade front, Trump pressed Abe on what he called an "unbelievably large imbalance" and said he hopes their trade could be fair and reciprocal.
"We have an unbelievably large imbalance as you know trade imbalance which has been there for many, many years. Japan having the big advantage. But I think we will have a deal with Japan."
The U.S. is considering putting high tariffs on Japan's exports of auto and auto parts.
But it's expected the specifics about their bilateral trade agreement will be signed in August, as Trump has tweeted (quote)"much will wait" until Japan's July elections.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.