Divergence over DPRK missiles issue clouds Abe-Trump summit

A cloud of uncertainty had loomed over the summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting U.S. President Donald Trump due to differing approaches to the recent missile launches of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), local media reported on Monday.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (not pictured) at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on May 27, 2019. [Photo: AFP]

Speaking at a joint press conference in Tokyo, Trump took a conciliatory tone regarding the DPRK firing projectiles earlier this month, stating that he did not see the DPRK's actions as violating U.N. Security Council resolutions.

"All I know is there have been no nuclear tests, there have been no ballistic missiles going out, there have been no long-range missiles going out," Trump said, adding that he is in "no rush" to strike a deal with the DPRK over its denuclearization.

Abe had relied on Trump, who has met with top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un twice for denuclearization talks, hoping the U.S. president will help with the abduction issue of Japanese nationals, according to local media.

Japan protested against the DPRK's launches of short-range ballistic missiles on May 9 for its violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, while Trump downplayed their significance.

Trump said Sunday on Twitter that the DPRK fired off "some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me."

The remarks contradicted his security adviser John Bolton who said that the launch of missiles violated U.N. Security Council resolutions.

When asked if he was not bothered at all about the missiles, Trump said, "No, I am not. I am personally not."