US ‘100 pc’ behind Japan after N Korea missile launch: Trump

Washington, February 12

US President Donald Trump on Sunday assured its “great ally” Japan of America’s full support after North Korea in an apparent provocation test-fired a ballistic missile, which was denounced by the visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as “absolutely intolerable.”        

“I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 per cent,” Trump said in a brief statement during a joint news conference with Abe. He did not elaborate.

His comments came after Abe denounced the North’s missile launch — the first after Trump became the US President - at a hastily organised joint briefing at Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

The news conference lasted for less than three minutes.

“North Korea’s most recent missile launch is absolutely intolerable,” Abe told reporters. “North Korea must fully comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”          The two leaders were talking to reporters after spending the day at a golf course and discussing US-Asia engagement.

“During the summit meeting that I had with President Trump, he assured me that the US will always [be with] Japan 100 per cent, and to demonstrate his determination as well as commitment, he is here with me at this joint press conference,” Abe, who spoke via a translator, said.

In a statement, the US Strategic Command said it detected a North Korean launch of a medium- or intermediate-range ballistic missile. It occurred near the northwestern city of Kusong and the missile was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan.

The North American Aerospace Defence Command determined the missile launch from the North did not pose a threat to North America, the statement said.

Earlier in the evening, Trump told reporters that he and Abe had a great time together. “We got to know each other very, very well.”

Trump and Abe arrived at Mar-a-Lago Friday evening from Washington DC aboard Air Force One.

The White House said Trump “enjoyed hosting” Abe on the golf course. It described the retreat as “both relaxing and productive.”

“They had great conversations on a wide range of subjects, and the President looks forward to further discussions with the Prime Minister...,” the White House said. — PTI