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A2 UP FRONT
Monday 13 February 2017
Trump, Abe express close bonds after North Korea missile launch
JILL COLVIN Melania Trump hosted a
Associated Press delegation dinner with
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Abe and his wife on Satur-
For most of the day Presi- day night at his Mar-a-Lago
dent Donald Trump and estate. At the time Trump
Japanese Prime Minister ignored a shouted ques-
Shinzo Abe used golf un- tion about the North Ko-
der the Florida sun to show rea launch. Focusing on
the world the U.S.-Japan the positive, he said the
alliance remained strong. Abe visit had been “very,
Then events half-a-world very good” and that he
away provided a more and the Japanese leader
significant example of co- “got to know each other
operation. After North Ko- very, very well” over their
rea reportedly launched two days of meals, meet-
a ballistic missile, the two ings and golfing.
leaders appeared for hast- Trump and Abe, both fre-
ily prepared statements in quent golfers, left Mar-a-
a ballroom of Trump’s south Lago early Saturday morn-
Florida estate. Abe spoke ing and headed north to
first and longest, though his one of Trump’s golf courses
statement was terse. in Jupiter, Florida. Report-
“North Korea’s most recent ers and photographers
missile launch is absolute- President Donald Trump, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, leave the room after from both countries, who
ly intolerable,” Abe said making statements about the North Korean missile launch at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., were held in a room with
through a translator. He Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017. blacked-out windows, did
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh) not catch a glimpse of
the pair as they played.
added that the North must
comply fully with relevant But Trump later posted a
U.N. Security Council reso- photo of them giving each
lutions, but also noted that other a high-five on the
Trump had assured him golf course and tweeted,
that the U.S. supported Ja- “Having a great time host-
pan. “President Trump and ing Prime Minister Shinzo
I myself completely share Abe in the United States!”
the view that we are going Pro golfer Ernie Els joined
to promote further coop- them on the greens.
eration between the two In a sign of unity, neither
nations. And also we are Japanese nor White House
going to further reinforce officials volunteered the
our alliance,” he said. pair’s final score. Instead,
Trump followed Abe with the White House issued
even fewer words, saying a statement saying the
in part: “I just want every- day was “both relaxing
body to understand and and productive” and that
fully know that the United Trump and Abe had “had
States of America stands great conversations on a
behind Japan, its great ally, wide range of subjects.”
100 percent.” With that, As their husbands golfed,
they left the room, a sur- Mrs. Trump and Akie Abe
prise of sorts given that the toured the Morikami Mu-
usually outspoken Trump seum and Japanese Gar-
neither condemned nor dens in nearby Delray
denounced the launch. Beach. It was Mrs. Trump’s
In the opening days of his first solo event as first lady.
presidency, Trump’s diplo- The women had lunch to-
macy had a rocky stretch gether at Mar-a-Lago.
that included contentious The two couples touched
phone calls with the lead- down in Florida on Friday
ers of Mexico and Austra- afternoon and headed
lia. In contrast, the first visit straight to Mar-a-Lago,
by a foreign leader at his where they enjoyed a late
Mar-a-Lago estate was a dinner at its crowded pa-
friendly weekend of meet- tio restaurant. They were
ings, dinners and golf that joined by Robert Kraft, the
suggested the new presi- owner of the Super Bowl
dent was willing to invest champion New England
time in developing close Patriots, and several inter-
personal relationships with preters. Paying members
leaders he feels he can and club guests took in the
work with. scene and mingled with
The president and first lady Trump and Abe into the
night.q
