TOKYO, May 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) – US President Donald Trump downplayed recent North Korean missile launches as he teed off a state visit to Japan with a round of golf with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a trip to the sumo.
Before hitting the course, Trump tweeted that North Korea had tested “some small weapons” that had “disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me”.
This appeared to be a reference to US National Security Advisor John Bolton, who said there was “no doubt” the launches had contravened UN Security Council resolutions.
But Trump said: “I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me.”
The American president maintains that North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un had pledged he was serious about denuclearisation, although experts say there is still a wide gulf between the two sides over what that means exactly.
At their summit, Trump and Abe are likely to touch on tensions with North Korea, which have mounted after a summit in February in Hanoi collapsed without an agreement, as well as trade as Tokyo and Washington attempt to thrash out a deal.
On trade, Trump tweeted that “great progress” was being made in the negotiations but “much will wait” until after Japanese upper house elections expected in July — with rumours rife Abe might also call a snap general election at the same time.
The serious diplomacy starts on Monday, when Trump will be the first leader to meet Japan’s new emperor, Naruhito, who has been on the Chrysanthemum Throne for less than a month following his father’s historic abdication.
Sunday was more about cementing diplomatic bonds between the two countries with the leaders over the leaders’ shared passion for golf — the fifth time they have found time in their schedules for a round.
Under a cloudless sky with sizzling temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), the two world leaders played at the Mobara Country Club course in Chiba, just outside the capital.
Abe later tweeted a selfie of the two grinning into the camera, as the pair relaxed before the formal element of Trump’s four-day trip begins.
After the golf, the two leaders arrived to see the last bouts on the final day of the sumo “basho”, or tournament, in Tokyo. Trump will present Japanese wrestler Asanoyama with the “President’s Cup” — weighing 27-32 kilograms and measuring 1.4 metres.
Trump entered the hallowed Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo stadium to loud cheers — and a few scattered boos — with spectators standing to take photos as the US president waved and smiled.
He and his wife Melania were accompanied by Abe and his wife Akie to special seats a few rows from the sumo ring.
Fans entering the arena earlier were screened with metal detectors and asked to sip from any bottle they planned to take in to prove the liquid was not dangerous, with the measures causing long queues in unseasonable heat.
Excitable fans were also warned against throwing their seat cushions — as tradition dictates whenever a yokozuna or grand champion is felled — lest the president be hit. — NNN-AGENCIES
