Trump lands in South Korea for nuclear talks about North Korea
CLOSE
Donald Trump leaves Japan, heads to South Korea
Video provided by AFP
Newslook
SEOUL — President Trump touched down in South Korea on Tuesday, prepared to push leaders here and elsewhere in Asia to take a harder line toward North Korea and its nuclear weapons.
“Ultimately, it will all work out; it always works out; it has to work out,” Trump said of North Korea after a briefing at Camp Humphreys, a U.S-South Korean military base near Seoul.
Before leaving Japan, the first stop in his five-nation tour of Asia, Trump said he looked forward to talking to South Korea President Moon Jae-in about ways to force his northern neighbor to give up nukes.
“We will figure it all out,” Trump said on Twitter, describing Moon as “a fine gentleman.”
Getting ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman. We will figure it all out!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2017
Moon and his aides, however, have expressed discomfort with Trump’s aggressive rhetoric toward Kim Jong Un, including presidential threats to destroy North Korea if its “Rocket Man” leader attacks the U.S. or its allies.
As Trump headed toward Seoul, South Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said all officials need to be careful with any talk that smacks of war.
More: With North Korea threat looming, Trump seeks $5.9 billion for military
More: Trump visits Seoul, where ‘fire and fury’ comments on North Korea inflame protesters
“Another war on the Korean Peninsula must not happen,” Kang told NBC News. “A resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue must be pursued in a peaceful, diplomatic manner.”
Moon and his government have advocated a more diplomatic approach based on multi-lateral talks with North Korea.
Trump picked Seoul as the site for a major part of his Asia trip, a Wednesday speech to the South Korea National Assembly on his efforts to forge a regional coalition to oppose North Korea.
The American president arrived in South Korea bearing a gift: A new request to Congress for military spending that includes $4 billion for a missile defense and detection system on the Korean peninsula.Â
Moon and other South Korean officials have been leery of an American-backed missile defense system, in part because of objections from China. The Chinese say a missile defense system could be used as an offensive system against them.
Trump wants countries in the region to pressure Kim over his weapons, the major theme of his upcoming speech to the South Korea National Assembly. He is emphasizing China, North Korea’s neighbor and largest economic patron.
As part of his Asia tour, the president will visit Beijing later this week to speak with President Xi Jinping about North Korea and other issues.
Posted!
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with families of Japanese abducted by North Korea in Tokyo Nov. 6, 2017. They are, from left in front row, Hitomi Soga, Shigeo Iizuka, Abe’s wife Akie, Abe, Trump, U.S. first lady Melania, Sakie Yokota and Akihiro Arimura. Â
First lady Melania Trump, and her Japanese counterpart Akie Abe, third from right, listen to sales manager Hajime Fukuju, left, during their visit Nov. 5, 2017, to Mikimoto Ginza Main Store, Japan’s pearl jewelry maker, at the Ginza shopping district in Tokyo.Â
President Trump, center, salutes, with first lady Melania Trump, top right, uoon arrival at the U.S. Yokota Air Base. On his first to Asia, Trump will visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Philippines for summits of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).Â
1 of 21
2 of 21
3 of 21
4 of 21
5 of 21
6 of 21
7 of 21
8 of 21
9 of 21
10 of 21
11 of 21
12 of 21
13 of 21
14 of 21
15 of 21
16 of 21
17 of 21
18 of 21
19 of 21
20 of 21
21 of 21
The trip also will take Trump to economic conferences in Vietnam and the Philippines. Trump is speak to Asian leaders about possible plans to change trade laws with the United States.
After landing in South Korea, Trump headed to Camp Humphreys, the American-South Korean military where he had lunch with American and Korean troops and received his military briefing. The president spotlighted the camp as an example of cooperation and burden-sharing between the U.S. and its allies.
The president and first lady Melania Trump then headed to Seoul for a welcoming ceremony at Moon’s official residence, known as the “Blue House.” Trump has meetings, a state dinner, and a news conference with Moon.
Trade is also high on Trump’s agenda. The president has criticized aspects of the current U.S. free trade agreement with South Korea and said he would discuss his concerns with Moon. “It will start working out and working out so we create lots of jobs in the United States, which is one of the many important reasons I am here,” Trump told reporters.
Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in downtown Seoul to protest Trump’s visit, saying his bellicose rhetoric makes war with North Korea more likely. Some waved red signs that said, “No Trump, No War.”
Korea’s state-run media denounced Trump as he made his way through Asia, and warned other countries — read: South Korea — not to cooperate with him.
“Nobody can predict when Trump does a reckless act,” one state-run newspaper said. “The only and one way for checking his rash act is to tame him with absolute physical power. We warn Trump’s coteries once again. If they want to get rid of ruin, do not make reckless remarks.â€
Follow David Jackson on Twitter: @djusatoday
Posted!
US President George W. Bush, right, chats with Chinese President Hu Jintao, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, at the end of the Asian-Pacific leaders meeting in Hanoi on Nov. 19, 2006. All 21 Asia-Pacific leaders wore dresses. But only the three women, pretty in pink, had the sartorial nerve to don the hats. Each year, the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum provides world leaders with an opportunity to strut their stuff in the traditional garb of the host country for the so-called “family photo”.Â
FILE – In this July 11, 1993, file photo, U.S. President Bill Clinton takes the lens caps off a pair of binoculars at Camp Casey, July 11, 1993, from the Ouellette guard post in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the tense military border between the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea. Straddling the world’s most heavily fortified border, the Korean truce village of Panmunjom is a potentially dangerous flashpoint where North Korean soldiers hacked to death two American soldiers at the height of the Cold War. ItÂ’s also where the rival Koreas have held rare high-profile talks, and top American officials have visited to demonstrate American commitment to defending South Korea. (AP Photo/Greg Gibson, File) ORG XMIT: XSEL105 [Via MerlinFTP Drop]Â
1 of 30
2 of 30
3 of 30
4 of 30
5 of 30
6 of 30
7 of 30
8 of 30
9 of 30
10 of 30
11 of 30
12 of 30
13 of 30
14 of 30
15 of 30
16 of 30
17 of 30
18 of 30
19 of 30
20 of 30
21 of 30
22 of 30
23 of 30
24 of 30
25 of 30
26 of 30
27 of 30
28 of 30
29 of 30
30 of 30
Â
Article source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~/487526196/0/usatodaycomwashington-topstories~Trump-lands-in-South-Korea-for-nuclear-talks-about-North-Korea/