China said on Friday that countries with the largest nuclear arsenals should take the lead in disarmament, after US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin said they wanted to strengthen their nations' nuclear capabilities.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters at a regular briefing that Beijing is "paying close attention" to what nuclear weapons policy Trump's administration will follow.

After meeting with Pentagon officials and defence contractors a day earlier, Trump tweeted on Thursday: "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes."

His comments came hours after Putin said he wanted to strengthen Russia's own nuclear capabilities in the coming year.

Speaking at the same briefing Hua also said China was keeping its eye on Japan's increasing military budget.

The comments came after the Japanese cabinet approved its biggest annual defence budget on Friday.

It was the fifth straight annual increase as part of the hawkish Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attempt to build up Japan's military.

Hua also defended China's right to build facilities in islands disputed with the Philippines.

The remarks were in response to the US think tank the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) which said in a report earlier this month that China has installed anti-missile weapons on all the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea, and Philippines officials have expressed concerns over it.

Beijing - 23 December 2016

1. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying arriving at briefing

2. Cutaway of journalists

3. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Hua Chunying, Spokeswoman, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

"We noted the report. We are paying close attention to the policies to be taken by the new US government regarding the issue. China has been supporting and advocating the full prohibition and destruction of nuclear weapons. The countries having the largest nuclear arsenal should take on the special prior responsibility of nuclear disarmament, take a lead in drastically and tangibly cutting the number of nuclear weapons so as to create conditions for full and thorough nuclear disarmament in the end."

4. Cutaway of journalists

5. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Hua Chunying, Spokeswoman, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

"In recent years, Japan has constantly played up the so-called China threat on the one hand, and on the other hand, it has continuously built up its military power. Due to historical reasons, I think we have every reason to keep a high alert on Japan's moves and its true intentions. Actually, I noted that many people in Japan had questioned and criticised such policies and actions taken by the Japanese government. Regarding whether Japan can truly draw lessons from history and stick to the path of peaceful development, the international community including its Asian neighbours will wait and see."

6. Cutaway of journalist

7. SOUNDBITE (Mandarin) Hua Chunying, Spokeswoman, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

"I want to reiterate that whether China is building facilities in the relevant islands, or deploying necessary defence facilities, China is exercising the normal right as a sovereign state prescribed in international law. We hope the relevant sides will see this in a level-headed and objective way instead of reading too much into it."

8. Cutaway of journalist

9. Hua walking away at end of briefing

The leaders of Japan and South Korea hailed U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement Thursday of new sanctions against people, companies and institutions that do business with North Korea, calling it a "new stage of pressure" unlike any before.

Trump made the sanctions announcement during a working luncheon with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Both Abe and Moon applauded the move and pledged to work with the U.S. on efforts to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

Moon expressed his appreciation for U.S. efforts and said, "I sincerely hope there will be a display of strong trilateral leadership in coordinating our response to the North Korean issue."

Abe called the latest sanctions "a new stage of pressure," and offered his "heartfelt support" for that.

The move comes just days after Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if forced to defend the U.S. or its allies.

POOL

New York - 21 September 2017

++NOTE: AUDIO AS INCOMING++

1. Wide shot of Donald Trump talking at working luncheon

2. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea:

"President Trump just talked about the executive order, through which the U.S. is going to be implementing sanctions against the DPRK. There is a major announcement made by China to take actions against DPRK. I am very confident that such moves will contribute to the denuclearization of the DPRK and I'd like to extend my appreciation to President Trump and I'd like to say that Korea will closely coordinate with the United States on this matter. Through today's meeting, I sincerely hope that there will be a display of strong trilateral leadership in coordinating our response to the North Korean issue and I also look forward to engaging in the discussions for the solution to the North Korean nuclear and missile problem."

3. Wide pan of luncheon to Shinzo Abe

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"In the last three weeks, two times, North Korea launched ballistic missiles, two times, going over Japan. And they conducted six nuclear tests and the scale of the tests were beyond the scale of the Hiroshima bombs, more than ten times the scale of the nuclear test. It was ten times more. This is an intolerable, outrageous act. Thanks to Donald's leadership, we now have the summit meeting between Japan, U.S. and Korea. So our unity and the solidarity, the strength that could be presented to North Korea, this meeting is indeed quite significant. I'd like to thank Donald's leadership. Recently, U.N. sanctions were adopted unanimously including very strict sanctions and I'd like to thank the efforts of the U.N. Ambassador from the United States. Further efforts are needed and Donald just mentioned signing a new executive order, so we are going into a new stage of pressure, exercising stronger pressures, new pressures and I welcome the new sanctions measures of the United States and I'd like to offer my heartfelt support for that."

5. UPSOUND: Donald Trump:

"Thank you all very much for being here, we appreciate it.

(Reporter question) Mr. President, is dialogue still possible with North Korea? Is dialogue still possible?

Trump: Why not? Why not?"

6. Pull out to wide shot as press is escorted out

The leaders of Japan and South Korea hailed U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement Thursday of new sanctions against people, companies and institutions that do business with North Korea, calling it a "new stage of pressure" unlike any before.

Trump made the sanctions announcement during a working luncheon with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

Both Abe and Moon applauded the move and pledged to work with the U.S. on efforts to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

Moon expressed his appreciation for U.S. efforts and said, "I sincerely hope there will be a display of strong trilateral leadership in coordinating our response to the North Korean issue."

Abe called the latest sanctions "a new stage of pressure," and offered his "heartfelt support" for that.

The move comes just days after Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if forced to defend the U.S. or its allies.

POOL

New York - 21 September 2017

++NOTE: AUDIO AS INCOMING++

1. Wide shot of Donald Trump talking at working luncheon

2. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea:

"President Trump just talked about the executive order, through which the U.S. is going to be implementing sanctions against the DPRK. There is a major announcement made by China to take actions against DPRK. I am very confident that such moves will contribute to the denuclearization of the DPRK and I'd like to extend my appreciation to President Trump and I'd like to say that Korea will closely coordinate with the United States on this matter. Through today's meeting, I sincerely hope that there will be a display of strong trilateral leadership in coordinating our response to the North Korean issue and I also look forward to engaging in the discussions for the solution to the North Korean nuclear and missile problem."

3. Wide pan of luncheon to Shinzo Abe

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"In the last three weeks, two times, North Korea launched ballistic missiles, two times, going over Japan. And they conducted six nuclear tests and the scale of the tests were beyond the scale of the Hiroshima bombs, more than ten times the scale of the nuclear test. It was ten times more. This is an intolerable, outrageous act. Thanks to Donald's leadership, we now have the summit meeting between Japan, U.S. and Korea. So our unity and the solidarity, the strength that could be presented to North Korea, this meeting is indeed quite significant. I'd like to thank Donald's leadership. Recently, U.N. sanctions were adopted unanimously including very strict sanctions and I'd like to thank the efforts of the U.N. Ambassador from the United States. Further efforts are needed and Donald just mentioned signing a new executive order, so we are going into a new stage of pressure, exercising stronger pressures, new pressures and I welcome the new sanctions measures of the United States and I'd like to offer my heartfelt support for that."

5. UPSOUND: Donald Trump:

"Thank you all very much for being here, we appreciate it.

(Reporter question) Mr. President, is dialogue still possible with North Korea? Is dialogue still possible?

Trump: Why not? Why not?"

6. Pull out to wide shot as press is escorted out

The former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, warned President Donald Trump Thursday to "be more careful" in his communications about North Korea and the upcoming summit.

His remarks follow Trump's comments Wednesday evening during a news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he may cancel the summit if he doesn't think it will be successful.

Trump also said he will "respectfully leave" the meeting after it starts if he feels it won't be fruitful.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Richardson said Trump needs to "calibrate his remarks."

Richardson said North Korea is a very traditional country and "very sensitive" to what it perceives as insults.

So he advises Trump: "No tweets, no bombast" regarding the summit.

Richardson calls the historic summit "a good idea," particularly in light of the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Pyongyang.

But he warns the U.S. not to have "terribly high expectations that North Korea is going to denuclearize," insisting, "They're not going to do that."

Still, the former governor and ambassador says there are "a lot of achievable issues that can happen with this summit that we should embrace," such as curbing the use of nuclear weapons and freezing the exports of chemical weapons and missile materials.

1. Wide shot of Bill Richardson

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Bill Richardson, Former US Ambassador to the UN, Former Governor of New Mexico

"Well I'm concerned that the president should be more careful. The North Koreans, they need to save face many times, especially after Kim Jong Un, the leader, met with the Pompeo, the secretary of state-designate. So I think the president has to calibrate his remarks. North Koreans are very sensitive to insults. They feel that they have been noble so far, meeting the South Korean president, hosting, being part of the Olympics, and now the summit with President Trump. So I think the president needs to be very prepared. But at the very least, no tweets, no bombast. North Koreans are very traditional and they're very sensitive and this is a very important summit.

(Reporter question, off-camera): Do you think the summit is a good idea?

The summit is a good idea. I've been involved on Korean issues Peninsula issues for a long time. Things couldn't possibly get worse with the North Korean shooting missiles, nuclear tests, the tensions with Japan, with South Korea, with reaching the United States, the missile. So the summit is a good idea. The worry I have that is that the summit could be a big risk if it doesn't succeed. If it doesn't succeed, it's not going to be the status quo, it's going to be enormous state of tension. And I think it's important that the summit succeed, but we not have terribly high expectations that North Korea is going to denuclearize. They're not going to do that. But curbing the use of nuclear weapons, freezing missiles, exports of chemical weapons, exports of nuclear and missile material. There are a lot of achievable issues that can happen with this summit that we should embrace."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE"

U.S. President Donald Trump is paying tribute to former First Lady Barbara Bush.

The president made the remarks at the start of a news conference at his Mar-a-Largo estate in Florida with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The issue of upcoming talks with North Korea dominated early the comments made by Trump to reporters.

Trump is also pledging to help free Japanese citizens abducted and held captive by North Korea.

Trump said Wednesday during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he's pushing to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries and remove barriers to U.S. exports.

In his remarks, Abe said there should be "no reward" given to North Korea just because the reclusive country is responding to dialogue over its development of nuclear weapons.

Abe said that "maximum pressure should be maintained."

Abe and Trump are wrapping up two days of meetings at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate.

POOL

Palm Beach, Florida - 18 April 2018

1. Side, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walk toward microphones

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I want to begin today by expressing my deep condolences to the entire Bush family on the passing of former first lady Barbara Bush, a wonderful, wonderful person. For decades Barbara was a titan in American life. Her presence and character were engraved into America's identity. Her strength and toughness really embodied the spirit of our country and her warmth and devotion earned the admiration of an entire nation and indeed the entire world. She was a tireless champion for literacy. She was a fierce advocate for the American family. And she was a woman of proud patriotism and profound faith. Our hearts are saddened by her passing but our spirits are lifted by the memories of her goodness and her grace. She was a good person. Melania and I send our prayers to Barbara's husband of seventy three years. I'll never beat that record, President George H.W. Bush. To the surviving children Jeb and Neil and Marvin Dorothee and former President George W. Bush and to their many wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren."

3. Cutaway news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"As you know I will be meeting with Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Hopefully that meeting will be a great success and we're looking forward to it. It would be a tremendous thing for North Korea and a tremendous thing for the world. So, we will be doing everything possible to make it a worldwide success, not just for the United States or South Korea or North Korea or Japan but for the entire world."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Shinzo you have worked very hard along with us and all of our people and we thank you very much. And we're with you and you are a lot closer than we are but we're working on this together. Thank you very much."

6. Mid, Trump and Abe shake hands

7. Wide, news conference

8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"A year or so has passed since then, (the first Abe-Trump meeting) the situation surrounding North Korea due to the decisive decision by President Trump on the first ever US-North Korea summit is at a historical turning point. The past mistakes should never be repeated. On this point, President Trump and I were in full agreement. On the occasion of the 1994 framework agreement or the 2005 6-party talks agreement, North Korea committed to abandon nuclear weapons development but those promises were broken. And the effort of the international community to engage in dialogue were all entirely exploited to buy time to develop nuclear weapons and missiles. "

9. Side, news conference

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained and actual implementation of concrete actions towards denuclearizations will be demanded."

11. Mid, news conference

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"We also agree to continue our effort towards the early resolution of the top priority matter of abduction. Just now, President Trump on this spot, here, has mentioned the return of abductees. Maximum effort will be made with a clear promise, just made here. We are deeply encouraged, Donald."

13. Cutaway reporters

The former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, warned President Donald Trump Thursday to "be more careful" in his communications about North Korea and the upcoming summit.

His remarks follow Trump's comments Wednesday evening during a news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he may cancel the summit if he doesn't think it will be successful.

Trump also said he will "respectfully leave" the meeting after it starts if he feels it won't be fruitful.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Richardson said Trump needs to "calibrate his remarks."

Richardson said North Korea is a very traditional country and "very sensitive" to what it perceives as insults.

So he advises Trump: "No tweets, no bombast" regarding the summit.

Richardson calls the historic summit "a good idea," particularly in light of the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Pyongyang.

But he warns the U.S. not to have "terribly high expectations that North Korea is going to denuclearize," insisting, "They're not going to do that."

Still, the former governor and ambassador says there are "a lot of achievable issues that can happen with this summit that we should embrace," such as curbing the use of nuclear weapons and freezing the exports of chemical weapons and missile materials.

1. Wide shot of Bill Richardson

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Bill Richardson, Former US Ambassador to the UN, Former Governor of New Mexico

"Well I'm concerned that the president should be more careful. The North Koreans, they need to save face many times, especially after Kim Jong Un, the leader, met with the Pompeo, the secretary of state-designate. So I think the president has to calibrate his remarks. North Koreans are very sensitive to insults. They feel that they have been noble so far, meeting the South Korean president, hosting, being part of the Olympics, and now the summit with President Trump. So I think the president needs to be very prepared. But at the very least, no tweets, no bombast. North Koreans are very traditional and they're very sensitive and this is a very important summit.

(Reporter question, off-camera): Do you think the summit is a good idea?

The summit is a good idea. I've been involved on Korean issues Peninsula issues for a long time. Things couldn't possibly get worse with the North Korean shooting missiles, nuclear tests, the tensions with Japan, with South Korea, with reaching the United States, the missile. So the summit is a good idea. The worry I have that is that the summit could be a big risk if it doesn't succeed. If it doesn't succeed, it's not going to be the status quo, it's going to be enormous state of tension. And I think it's important that the summit succeed, but we not have terribly high expectations that North Korea is going to denuclearize. They're not going to do that. But curbing the use of nuclear weapons, freezing missiles, exports of chemical weapons, exports of nuclear and missile material. There are a lot of achievable issues that can happen with this summit that we should embrace."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE"

U.S. President Donald Trump is paying tribute to former First Lady Barbara Bush.

The president made the remarks at the start of a news conference at his Mar-a-Largo estate in Florida with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The issue of upcoming talks with North Korea dominated early the comments made by Trump to reporters.

Trump is also pledging to help free Japanese citizens abducted and held captive by North Korea.

Trump said Wednesday during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he's pushing to reduce the trade imbalance between the two countries and remove barriers to U.S. exports.

In his remarks, Abe said there should be "no reward" given to North Korea just because the reclusive country is responding to dialogue over its development of nuclear weapons.

Abe said that "maximum pressure should be maintained."

Abe and Trump are wrapping up two days of meetings at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate.

POOL

Palm Beach, Florida - 18 April 2018

1. Side, US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walk toward microphones

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"I want to begin today by expressing my deep condolences to the entire Bush family on the passing of former first lady Barbara Bush, a wonderful, wonderful person. For decades Barbara was a titan in American life. Her presence and character were engraved into America's identity. Her strength and toughness really embodied the spirit of our country and her warmth and devotion earned the admiration of an entire nation and indeed the entire world. She was a tireless champion for literacy. She was a fierce advocate for the American family. And she was a woman of proud patriotism and profound faith. Our hearts are saddened by her passing but our spirits are lifted by the memories of her goodness and her grace. She was a good person. Melania and I send our prayers to Barbara's husband of seventy three years. I'll never beat that record, President George H.W. Bush. To the surviving children Jeb and Neil and Marvin Dorothee and former President George W. Bush and to their many wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren."

3. Cutaway news conference

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"As you know I will be meeting with Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Hopefully that meeting will be a great success and we're looking forward to it. It would be a tremendous thing for North Korea and a tremendous thing for the world. So, we will be doing everything possible to make it a worldwide success, not just for the United States or South Korea or North Korea or Japan but for the entire world."

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"Shinzo you have worked very hard along with us and all of our people and we thank you very much. And we're with you and you are a lot closer than we are but we're working on this together. Thank you very much."

6. Mid, Trump and Abe shake hands

7. Wide, news conference

8. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"A year or so has passed since then, (the first Abe-Trump meeting) the situation surrounding North Korea due to the decisive decision by President Trump on the first ever US-North Korea summit is at a historical turning point. The past mistakes should never be repeated. On this point, President Trump and I were in full agreement. On the occasion of the 1994 framework agreement or the 2005 6-party talks agreement, North Korea committed to abandon nuclear weapons development but those promises were broken. And the effort of the international community to engage in dialogue were all entirely exploited to buy time to develop nuclear weapons and missiles. "

9. Side, news conference

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained and actual implementation of concrete actions towards denuclearizations will be demanded."

11. Mid, news conference

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"We also agree to continue our effort towards the early resolution of the top priority matter of abduction. Just now, President Trump on this spot, here, has mentioned the return of abductees. Maximum effort will be made with a clear promise, just made here. We are deeply encouraged, Donald."

13. Cutaway reporters

The former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, warned President Donald Trump Thursday to "be more careful" in his communications about North Korea and the upcoming summit.

His remarks follow Trump's comments Wednesday evening during a news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he may cancel the summit if he doesn't think it will be successful.

Trump also said he will "respectfully leave" the meeting after it starts if he feels it won't be fruitful.

In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, Richardson said Trump needs to "calibrate his remarks."

Richardson said North Korea is a very traditional country and "very sensitive" to what it perceives as insults.

So he advises Trump: "No tweets, no bombast" regarding the summit.

Richardson calls the historic summit "a good idea," particularly in light of the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Pyongyang.

But he warns the U.S. not to have "terribly high expectations that North Korea is going to denuclearize," insisting, "They're not going to do that."

Still, the former governor and ambassador says there are "a lot of achievable issues that can happen with this summit that we should embrace," such as curbing the use of nuclear weapons and freezing the exports of chemical weapons and missile materials.

1. Wide shot of Bill Richardson

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Bill Richardson, Former US Ambassador to the UN, Former Governor of New Mexico

"Well I'm concerned that the president should be more careful. The North Koreans, they need to save face many times, especially after Kim Jong Un, the leader, met with the Pompeo, the secretary of state designate. So I think the president has to calibrate his remarks. North Koreans are very sensitive to insults. They feel that they have been noble so far, meeting the South Korean president, hosting, being part of the Olympics, and now the summit with President Trump. So I think the president needs to be very prepared. But at the very least, no tweets, no bombast. North Koreans are traditional and they're very sensitive and this is a very important summit.

(Reporter question, off-camera): Do you think the summit is a good idea?

The summit is a good idea. I've been involved on Korean issues Peninsula issues for a long time. Things couldn't possibly get worse with the North Korean shooting missiles, nuclear tests, the tensions with Japan, with South Korea, with reaching the United States, the missile. So the summit is a good idea. The worry I have that is that the summit could be a big risk if it doesn't succeed. If it doesn't succeed, it's not going to be the status quo it's going to be enormous state of tension. And I think it's important that the summit succeed, but we not have terribly high expectations that North Korea is going to denuclearize. They're not going to do that. But curbing the use of nuclear weapons, freezing missiles, exports of chemical weapons, exports of nuclear and missile material. There are a lot of achievable issues that can happen with this summit that we should embrace."

++ENDS ON A SOUNDBITE"

US Secretary of State John Kerry told his Japanese counterpart that the US was “never giving up” on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, according to a Japanese foreign ministry spokesperson in Lima on Thursday.

Masato Ohtaka said meetings between Kerry and Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida, held on the sidelines of the annual Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum, focused on pushing ahead the free trade agreement despite it coming under significant fire from US president-elect Donald Trump.

The TPP is a mammoth trade deal that spans a dozen Pacific Rim nations from the US and Canada to Japan and Australia.

However Trump has made clear his hostility to these kinds of free trade deals that have long been the focus of APEC.

Ohtaka spoke to the media in Lima after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first world leader to meet with Trump since his election.

Ohtaka said they held a “frank” discussion and that Abe had said he was "convinced through the meeting that he and Mr Trump would be able to build a very good working relationship".

Abe met with Trump in New York, where the incoming president is working on setting up an administration after his surprise election victory last week that has injected new uncertainty into old US alliances.

The Trump transition team provided no readout of the meeting.

Lima – 17 November 2016

1. Various of Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Masato Ohtaka during media briefing

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Masato Ohtaka, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:

“All the countries that we spoke with were in agreement with us that (the Trans-Pacific Partnership) TPP needs to be pressed ahead."

3. Ohtaka during briefing with Spanish interpreter

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Masato Ohtaka, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:

“Secretary Kerry (US Secretary of State John Kerry) said we’re never, we’re not giving up. He also mentioned that there’s very strong support amongst the American businesses."

5. Cutaway

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Masato Ohtaka, Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson:

“He (Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe) had a very frank discussion with him (US president-elect Donald Trump) . And since it was a very, in a very warm atmosphere, he was convinced through the meeting that he and Mr Trump would be able to build a very good working relationship."

7. Wide of briefing

Nearly 400 former federal prosecutors have signed onto a letter saying President Donald Trump would have been charged with obstruction of justice if he were anyone other than the president.

The letter was signed by more than 370 former Justice Department prosecutors who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations. It was released Monday by Protect Democracy, an advocacy group formed two years ago that is critical of the Trump administration.

The former prosecutors say special counsel Robert Mueller's report "describes several acts that satisfy all of the elements for an obstruction charge." Those actions include Trump's efforts to have Mueller fired; Trump's attempts to limit the scope of the Russia investigation; and Trump's tweets and public statements aimed at discouraging aides from cooperating with prosecutors.

Associated Press Justice Department reporter Eric Tucker says the former prosecutors "are trying to make a very specific and clear point that all of the evidence taken together adds up to an unmistakable obstruction of justice charge."

"They say very strongly in this letter that the evidence against President Donald Trump is so strong that he would have been charged with obstruction of justice were he not the president. And basically they say anybody who did what Donald Trump did would have been indicted," Tucker says.

Mueller examined nearly a dozen acts by the president for potential obstruction of justice. He ultimately reached no conclusion on whether Trump had criminally obstructed justice, citing in part an opinion from the department's Office of Legal Counsel that says a sitting president cannot be indicted.

Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney Rod Rosenstein then stepped in and determined Mueller's evidence was insufficient for an obstruction charge. Trump has used that finding to claim that the report found no obstruction. But the ex-prosecutors make clear that in their view the evidence leans heavily in the other direction.

"As former federal prosecutors, we recognize that prosecuting obstruction of justice cases is critical because unchecked obstruction - which allows intentional interference with criminal investigations to go unpunished - puts our whole system of justice at risk," the letter states.

"We believe strongly that, but for the OLC memo, the overwhelming weight of professional judgment would come down in favor of prosecution for the conduct outlined in the Mueller Report," it says.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

1. Screen shot of the letter by hundreds of federal prosecutors saying Trump would have been charged with obstruction

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"Today there was a letter released by more than 370 former federal prosecutors in the Justice Department, people who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, and they say very strongly in this letter that the evidence against President Donald Trump is so strong that he would have been charged with obstruction of justice were he not the president. And basically they say anybody who did what Donald Trump did would have been indicted."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE Washington, DC - 18 May 2018

3. STILL image of Trump seated in the Oval Office

POOL

Washington, DC - 1 May 2019

4. Attorney General William Barr taking the oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"Last week Attorney General Barr was on the Hill and he very clearly said that in his view none of the president's acts added up to obstruction of justice. He made that determination because Special Counsel Robert Mueller presented evidence on both sides of the obstruction question but ultimately decided not to reach a conclusion. And so this letter from these former prosecutors basically aims to contradict the assertion by the attorney general that there was no obstruction of justice."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 18 April 2019

6. Zoom into cover page of Mueller report

POOL

Joint Base Andrews, Maryland - 5 April 2019

7. Donald Trump gets off Marine One, shakes hands, walks on tarmac

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"It is hard to sort of figure out demographically what unifies or unites all of these prosecutors and in fact one of the points that they make in the letter is that they are individuals who came from all parts of the country, rural districts, urban districts, big cities, small cities, east, west, north, south. And they basically are trying to make the point that the evidence against the president is so strong that it can't be ignored. And they say that one of the things that's really interesting is they say it's not even a close call, this isn't a matter of of close professional judgment, they say that this is really something that they say is obvious and should be obvious to any sensible prosecutor. They say it would defy logic and experience, their own experience, for anyone to look at all of this evidence and reach a different conclusion."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

9. Screen shot scroll of the names of former federal prosecutors saying Trump would have been charged with obstruction

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 5 April 2019

10. Donald Trump walks out of White House and stops to talk to press

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"It seems that they are trying to make a very specific and clear point that all of the evidence taken together adds up to an unmistakable obstruction of justice charge. One of the things that's really significant of course is that there is a Justice Department legal opinion by the Office of Legal Counsel that says a sitting president cannot be indicted. The attorney general in his summary of Mueller's findings basically said that that wasn't a determining factor in Mueller's decision not to reach a conclusion on whether or not the President had obstructed justice. However when you read the special counsel's own report, it makes clear that he took that legal opinion into great consideration in deciding not to reach a conclusion. And that makes it really hard to figure out based on the report what Mueller would have done had that legal opinion never been produced and had not existed."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE Palm Beach, Florida - 17 April 2018

12. STILL image of President Trump during a Mar-a-Lago meeting with Japan's Shinzo Abe

Nearly 400 former federal prosecutors have signed onto a letter saying President Donald Trump would have been charged with obstruction of justice if he were anyone other than the president.

The letter was signed by more than 370 former Justice Department prosecutors who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations. It was released Monday by Protect Democracy, an advocacy group formed two years ago that is critical of the Trump administration.

The former prosecutors say special counsel Robert Mueller's report "describes several acts that satisfy all of the elements for an obstruction charge." Those actions include Trump's efforts to have Mueller fired; Trump's attempts to limit the scope of the Russia investigation; and Trump's tweets and public statements aimed at discouraging aides from cooperating with prosecutors.

Associated Press Justice Department reporter Eric Tucker says the former prosecutors "are trying to make a very specific and clear point that all of the evidence taken together adds up to an unmistakable obstruction of justice charge."

"They say very strongly in this letter that the evidence against President Donald Trump is so strong that he would have been charged with obstruction of justice were he not the president. And basically they say anybody who did what Donald Trump did would have been indicted," Tucker says.

Mueller examined nearly a dozen acts by the president for potential obstruction of justice. He ultimately reached no conclusion on whether Trump had criminally obstructed justice, citing in part an opinion from the department's Office of Legal Counsel that says a sitting president cannot be indicted.

Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney Rod Rosenstein then stepped in and determined Mueller's evidence was insufficient for an obstruction charge. Trump has used that finding to claim that the report found no obstruction. But the ex-prosecutors make clear that in their view the evidence leans heavily in the other direction.

"As former federal prosecutors, we recognize that prosecuting obstruction of justice cases is critical because unchecked obstruction - which allows intentional interference with criminal investigations to go unpunished - puts our whole system of justice at risk," the letter states.

"We believe strongly that, but for the OLC memo, the overwhelming weight of professional judgment would come down in favor of prosecution for the conduct outlined in the Mueller Report," it says.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

1. Screen shot of the letter by hundreds of federal prosecutors saying Trump would have been charged with obstruction

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"Today there was a letter released by more than 370 former federal prosecutors in the Justice Department, people who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, and they say very strongly in this letter that the evidence against President Donald Trump is so strong that he would have been charged with obstruction of justice were he not the president. And basically they say anybody who did what Donald Trump did would have been indicted."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE Washington, DC - 18 May 2018

3. STILL image of Trump seated in the Oval Office

POOL

Washington, DC - 1 May 2019

4. Attorney General William Barr taking the oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"Last week Attorney General Barr was on the Hill and he very clearly said that in his view none of the president's acts added up to obstruction of justice. He made that determination because Special Counsel Robert Mueller presented evidence on both sides of the obstruction question but ultimately decided not to reach a conclusion. And so this letter from these former prosecutors basically aims to contradict the assertion by the attorney general that there was no obstruction of justice."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 18 April 2019

6. Zoom into cover page of Mueller report

POOL

Joint Base Andrews, Maryland - 5 April 2019

7. Donald Trump gets off Marine One, shakes hands, walks on tarmac

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"It is hard to sort of figure out demographically what unifies or unites all of these prosecutors and in fact one of the points that they make in the letter is that they are individuals who came from all parts of the country, rural districts, urban districts, big cities, small cities, east, west, north, south. And they basically are trying to make the point that the evidence against the president is so strong that it can't be ignored. And they say that one of the things that's really interesting is they say it's not even a close call, this isn't a matter of of close professional judgment, they say that this is really something that they say is obvious and should be obvious to any sensible prosecutor. They say it would defy logic and experience, their own experience, for anyone to look at all of this evidence and reach a different conclusion."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

9. Screen shot scroll of the names of former federal prosecutors saying Trump would have been charged with obstruction

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 5 April 2019

10. Donald Trump walks out of White House and stops to talk to press

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"It seems that they are trying to make a very specific and clear point that all of the evidence taken together adds up to an unmistakable obstruction of justice charge. One of the things that's really significant of course is that there is a Justice Department legal opinion by the Office of Legal Counsel that says a sitting president cannot be indicted. The attorney general in his summary of Mueller's findings basically said that that wasn't a determining factor in Mueller's decision not to reach a conclusion on whether or not the President had obstructed justice. However when you read the special counsel's own report, it makes clear that he took that legal opinion into great consideration in deciding not to reach a conclusion. And that makes it really hard to figure out based on the report what Mueller would have done had that legal opinion never been produced and had not existed."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE Palm Beach, Florida - 17 April 2018

12. STILL image of President Trump during a Mar-a-Lago meeting with Japan's president Shinzo Abe.

Nearly 400 former federal prosecutors have signed onto a letter saying President Donald Trump would have been charged with obstruction of justice if he were anyone other than the president.

The letter was signed by more than 370 former Justice Department prosecutors who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations. It was released Monday by Protect Democracy, an advocacy group formed two years ago that is critical of the Trump administration.

The former prosecutors say special counsel Robert Mueller's report "describes several acts that satisfy all of the elements for an obstruction charge." Those actions include Trump's efforts to have Mueller fired; Trump's attempts to limit the scope of the Russia investigation; and Trump's tweets and public statements aimed at discouraging aides from cooperating with prosecutors.

"In our system, every accused person is presumed innocent and it is always the government's burden to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt," the letter states. "But, to look at these facts and say that a prosecutor could not probably sustain a conviction for obstruction of justice — the standard set out in Principles of Federal Prosecution — runs counter to logic and our experience."

Mueller examined nearly a dozen acts by the president for potential obstruction of justice. He ultimately reached no conclusion on whether Trump had criminally obstructed justice, citing in part an opinion from the department's Office of Legal Counsel that says a sitting president cannot be indicted.

Attorney General William Barr and Deputy Attorney Rod Rosenstein then stepped in and determined Mueller's evidence was insufficient for an obstruction charge. Trump has used that finding to claim that the report found no obstruction. But the ex-prosecutors make clear that in their view the evidence leans heavily in the other direction.

"As former federal prosecutors, we recognize that prosecuting obstruction of justice cases is critical because unchecked obstruction — which allows intentional interference with criminal investigations to go unpunished — puts our whole system of justice at risk," the letter states.

"We believe strongly that, but for the OLC memo, the overwhelming weight of professional judgment would come down in favor of prosecution for the conduct outlined in the Mueller Report," it says.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

1. Screen shot of the letter by hundreds of federal prosecutors saying Trump would have been charged with obstruction

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"Today there was a letter released by more than 370 former federal prosecutors in the Justice Department, people who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, and they say very strongly in this letter that the evidence against President Donald Trump is so strong that he would have been charged with obstruction of justice were he not the president. And basically they say anybody who did what Donald Trump did would have been indicted."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE Washington, DC - 18 May 2018

3. STILL image of Trump seated in the Oval Office

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"Last week Attorney General Barr was on the Hill and he very clearly said that in his view none of the president's acts added up to obstruction of justice. He made that determination because Special Counsel Robert Mueller presented evidence on both sides of the obstruction question but ultimately decided not to reach a conclusion. And so this letter from these former prosecutors basically aims to contradict the assertion by the attorney general that there was no obstruction of justice."

POOL

Washington, DC - 1 May 2019

5. Attorney General William Barr taking the oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 18 April 2019

6. Zoom into cover page of Mueller report

POOL

Joint Base Andrews, Maryland - 5 April 2019

7. Donald Trump gets off Marine One, shakes hands, walks on tarmac

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Tucker, AP Justice Department reporter:

"It is hard to sort of figure out demographically what unifies or unites all of these prosecutors and in fact one of the points that they make in the letter is that they are individuals who came from all parts of the country, rural districts, urban districts, big cities, small cities, east, west, north, south. And they basically are trying to make the point that the evidence against the president is so strong that it can't be ignored. One of the things that's really interesting is they say it's not even a close call, this isn't a matter of of close professional judgment, this is really something that is obvious and should be obvious to any sensible prosecutor. They say it would defy logic and experience, their own experience, for anyone to look at all of this evidence and reach a different conclusion."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 6 May 2019

9. Screen shot scroll of the names of former federal prosecutors saying Trump would have been charged with obstruction

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Washington, DC - 5 April 2019

10. Donald Trump walks out of White House and stops to talk to press

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARCHIVE Palm Beach, Florida - 17 April 2018

11. STILL image of President Trump during a Mar-a-Lago meeting with Japan's president Shinzo Abe.

US President Donald Trump is telling Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in have been "extremely helpful" ahead of his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump says he is hopeful that the Singapore summit will lead to a "bright new future" for North Korea and the world. And he says the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would lead to prosperity and peace for "all Koreans."

Abe said Thursday "we shall never repeat the past mistakes." He says that the two leaders had an "in-depth and candid" exchange of views and that the two countries "are always together."

Trump says the two countries are working on a bilateral trade deal.

Washington DC - 7 June 2018

1. US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walk into the Rose Garden

2. Side view of Trump and Abe at podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"As I prepare to meet next week with Kim Jong Un and I want to bring up the fact that the Prime Minister and also President Moon of South Korea were extremely helpful, cooperative and they'd like to see something happen. Be great for North Korea, South Korea. Be great for Japan, the United States and the world. Our partnership has been invaluable in reaching this important moment and we will continue to be in very close communication in the weeks ahead, including the issue of Japanese abductees which I know is of great personal importance to Prime Minister Abe. I hope the upcoming meeting in Singapore represents the beginning of a bright new future for North Korea and indeed a bright new future for the world. The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would usher in a new era of prosperity, security and peace for all Koreans, North and South, and for people everywhere."

4. Cutaway Trump speaking

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Prime Minister Abe and I are also working to improve the trading relationship between the United States and Japan, something we have to do. The United States seeks a bilateral deal with Japan that is based on the principle of fairness and reciprocity. We're working hard to reduce our trade imbalance, which is very substantial, remove barriers to US exports and to achieve a fair and mutually beneficial economic partnership and we're on our way. Prime Minister was telling us, just moments ago, that they're buying billions and billions of dollars of additional products of all kinds."

6. Trump and Abe

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"I'm also very proud to say that the bonds between our nations are stronger than ever before. And I know that together we could unlock incredible new opportunities to achieve remarkable new prosperity and ensure the safety and security of our citizens for a very, very long time to come. And that's what we intend to do. Thank you very much. Thank you Mr. Prime Minister."

8. Trump shakes Abe's hand

9. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"Mr President, I am so grateful to you for this meeting, that you offered with great hospitality and such a busy time as the G7 Summit and US-North Korea Summit meetings are upcoming."

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"In five days, US North Korea summit is to take place. First of all I would like to pay my deep respect to the outstanding leadership of President Trump as he made this decision, that no past president were ever able to accomplish. In the last 18 months we really spent many hours to discuss this issue. We shall never repeat the past mistakes. While this thought is shared between us, we are able to witness a historic talk which will take place shortly."

11. Wide news conference

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"What should we do as we approach the coming US-North Korea summit, as well for the peace and stability of northeast Asia after the summit? On this topic we took good amount of time and carried out in depth and candid exchange of views. I am not able to talk about the details of what we discussed, but one thing I can say is that Japan and the United States are always together. I strongly hope that this historic summit in Singapore be a success."

13. Trump administration officials

14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"On behalf of the citizens of Japan, I would like to thank President Trump and the people of the United States for their understanding and support toward the resolution of the abduction issue."

15. Side view of handshake

US President Donald Trump is telling Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in have been "extremely helpful" ahead of his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump says he is hopeful that the Singapore summit will lead to a "bright new future" for North Korea and the world. And he says the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would lead to prosperity and peace for "all Koreans."

Abe said Thursday "we shall never repeat the past mistakes." He says that the two leaders had an "in-depth and candid" exchange of views and that the two countries "are always together."

Trump says the two countries are working on a bilateral trade deal.

Washington DC - 7 June 2018

1. US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walk into the Rose Garden

2. Side view of Trump and Abe at podium

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"As I prepare to meet next week with Kim Jong Un and I want to bring up the fact that the Prime Minister and also President Moon of South Korea were extremely helpful, cooperative and they'd like to see something happen. Be great for North Korea, South Korea. Be great for Japan, the United States and the world. Our partnership has been invaluable in reaching this important moment and we will continue to be in very close communication in the weeks ahead, including the issue of Japanese abductees which I know is of great personal importance to Prime Minister Abe. I hope the upcoming meeting in Singapore represents the beginning of a bright new future for North Korea and indeed a bright new future for the world. The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula would usher in a new era of prosperity, security and peace for all Koreans, North and South, and for people everywhere."

4. Cutaway Trump speaking

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Prime Minister Abe and I are also working to improve the trading relationship between the United States and Japan, something we have to do. The United States seeks a bilateral deal with Japan that is based on the principle of fairness and reciprocity. We're working hard to reduce our trade imbalance, which is very substantial, remove barriers to US exports and to achieve a fair and mutually beneficial economic partnership and we're on our way. Prime Minister was telling us, just moments ago, that they're buying billions and billions of dollars of additional products of all kinds."

6. Trump and Abe

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"I'm also very proud to say that the bonds between our nations are stronger than ever before. And I know that together we could unlock incredible new opportunities to achieve remarkable new prosperity and ensure the safety and security of our citizens for a very, very long time to come. And that's what we intend to do. Thank you very much. Thank you Mr. Prime Minister."

8. Trump shakes Abe's hand

9. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"Mr President, I am so grateful to you for this meeting, that you offered with great hospitality and such a busy time as the G7 Summit and US-North Korea Summit meetings are upcoming."

10. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"In five days, US North Korea summit is to take place. First of all I would like to pay my deep respect to the outstanding leadership of President Trump as he made this decision, that no past president were ever able to accomplish. In the last 18 months we really spent many hours to discuss this issue. We shall never repeat the past mistakes. While this thought is shared between us, we are able to witness a historic talk which will take place shortly."

11. Wide news conference

12. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"What should we do as we approach the coming US-North Korea summit, as well for the peace and stability of northeast Asia after the summit? On this topic we took good amount of time and carried out in depth and candid exchange of views. I am not able to talk about the details of what we discussed, but one thing I can say is that Japan and the United States are always together. I strongly hope that this historic summit in Singapore be a success."

13. Trump administration officials

14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan:

"On behalf of the citizens of Japan, I would like to thank President Trump and the people of the United States for their understanding and support toward the resolution of the abduction issue."

15. Side view of handshake

President Donald Trump said Friday his administration has accomplished 'a lot' with North Korea on the nuclear issue.

Speaking during a Rose Garden news conference, Trump said Obama "would have gone to war" with North Korea, adding that Obama told him personally that he was "close to starting a big war with North Korea."

Trump said he was able to diffuse the situation when he got into office and now has "a very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The president said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated him for the Nobel peace prize as a result of his efforts with North Korea, but added he will "probably never get it."

"They gave it to Obama, he didn't even know what he got it for," Trump said about his predecessor.

Trump said his administration does "a lot of good work" but doesn't get "any credit for it."

Regarding the ongoing trade talks with China, Trump said he would consider pushing back the March 1 deadline to increase tariffs on Beijing if he sees that the two sides are close to a deal.

Washington, DC - 15 February 2019

1. Wide side shot of Trump speaking

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"I guess you could say it's like, must be the biggest deal ever made, if you think trade with China. How big does that get? Well though if you look, the USMCA is right up there. But it's very complicated. There are many, many points that we're bringing up that nobody ever brought up or thought to bring up but they're very important because we were on the wrong side of every one of them. There is a possibility that I will extend the date and if I do that, if I see that we're close to a deal or the deal is going in the right direction, I would do that at the same tariffs that we're charging now. I would not increase the tariffs."

3. Cutaway of reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"A lot's been accomplished. We're dealing with them, we're talking to them. When I came into office, I met right there in the Oval Office with President Obama and I sat in those beautiful chairs and we talked, it was supposed to be 15 minutes as you know it ended up being many times longer than that. And I said, 'What's the biggest problem?' He said,'By far, North Korea.' And I don't want to speak for him but I believe he would have gone to war with North Korea. I think he was ready to go to war. In fact he told me he was so close to starting a big war with North Korea. Now where are we now? No missiles, no rockets, no nuclear testing. We've learned a lot. But much more importantly than all of it, much more important, much, much more important than that, is we have a great relationship. I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un and I've done a job. In fact, I think I can say this, Prime Minister Abe of Japan gave me the most beautiful copy of a letter that he sent to the people who give out a thing called the Nobel Prize. He said I have nominated you or respectfully on behalf of Japan, I am asking them to give you the Nobel Peace Prize. I said thank you. Many other people feel that way too, I probably never get it but that's OK. They gave it to Obama. He didn't even know what he got it for. He was there for about 15 seconds and he got the Nobel Prize. He said, oh what did I get it for? With me, I probably will never get it."

5. Cutaway of press

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We do a lot of good work. This administration does a tremendous job and we don't get credit for it. But I think the people understand what we do. So Prime Minister Abe gave me, I mean it's the most beautiful five letter, five page letter, Nobel Prize. He sent it to them, you know why? Because he had rocket ships and he had missiles flying over Japan and they had alarms going off, you know that. Now all of a sudden they feel good. They feel safe. I did that. And it was a very tough dialogue at the beginning, fire and fury, total annihilation, my button is bigger than yours and my button works. Remember that? You don't remember that. And people said Trump is crazy and you know what it ended up being? A very good relationship. I liked him a lot and he likes me a lot. Nobody else would have done that. The Obama administration couldn't have done it. Number one, they probably wouldn't have done it. And number two, they didn't have the capability to do it."

5. Pan from reporters to Trump walking away

President Donald Trump said Friday his administration has accomplished 'a lot' with North Korea on the nuclear issue.

Speaking during a Rose Garden news conference, Trump said Obama "would have gone to war" with North Korea, adding that Obama told him personally that he was "close to starting a big war with North Korea."

Trump said he was able to diffuse the situation when he got into office and now has "a very good relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The president said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nominated him for the Nobel peace prize as a result of his efforts with North Korea, but added he will "probably never get it."

"They gave it to Obama, he didn't even know what he got it for," Trump said about his predecessor.

Trump said his administration does "a lot of good work" but doesn't get "any credit for it."

Regarding the ongoing trade talks with China, Trump said he would consider pushing back the March 1 deadline to increase tariffs on Beijing if he sees that the two sides are close to a deal.

Washington, DC - 15 February 2019

1. Wide side shot of Trump speaking

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"I guess you could say it's like, must be the biggest deal ever made, if you think trade with China. How big does that get? Well though if you look, the USMCA is right up there. But it's very complicated. There are many, many points that we're bringing up that nobody ever brought up or thought to bring up but they're very important because we were on the wrong side of every one of them. There is a possibility that I will extend the date and if I do that, if I see that we're close to a deal or the deal is going in the right direction, I would do that at the same tariffs that we're charging now. I would not increase the tariffs."

3. Cutaway of reporters

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"A lot's been accomplished. We're dealing with them, we're talking to them. When I came into office, I met right there in the Oval Office with President Obama and I sat in those beautiful chairs and we talked, it was supposed to be 15 minutes as you know it ended up being many times longer than that. And I said, 'What's the biggest problem?' He said,'By far, North Korea.' And I don't want to speak for him but I believe he would have gone to war with North Korea. I think he was ready to go to war. In fact he told me he was so close to starting a big war with North Korea. Now where are we now? No missiles, no rockets, no nuclear testing. We've learned a lot. But much more importantly than all of it, much more important, much, much more important than that, is we have a great relationship. I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un and I've done a job. In fact, I think I can say this, Prime Minister Abe of Japan gave me the most beautiful copy of a letter that he sent to the people who give out a thing called the Nobel Prize. He said I have nominated you or respectfully on behalf of Japan, I am asking them to give you the Nobel Peace Prize. I said thank you. Many other people feel that way too, I probably never get it but that's OK. They gave it to Obama. He didn't even know what he got it for. He was there for about 15 seconds and he got the Nobel Prize. He said, oh what did I get it for? With me, I probably will never get it."

5. Cutaway of press

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"We do a lot of good work. This administration does a tremendous job and we don't get credit for it. But I think the people understand what we do. So Prime Minister Abe gave me, I mean it's the most beautiful five letter, five page letter, Nobel Prize. He sent it to them, you know why? Because he had rocket ships and he had missiles flying over Japan and they had alarms going off, you know that. Now all of a sudden they feel good. They feel safe. I did that. And it was a very tough dialogue at the beginning, fire and fury, total annihilation, my button is bigger than yours and my button works. Remember that? You don't remember that. And people said Trump is crazy and you know what it ended up being? A very good relationship. I liked him a lot and he likes me a lot. Nobody else would have done that. The Obama administration couldn't have done it. Number one, they probably wouldn't have done it. And number two, they didn't have the capability to do it."

5. Pan from reporters to Trump walking away

President Donald Trump says he has "no doubt" that he will prevail in the federal court case over his travel ban.

He also promises to take additional steps to improve U.S. security.

Trump commented a day after a San Francisco-based U.S. appeals court refused to reinstate his temporary ban on travel to the U.S. by refugees and residents of seven mostly Muslim countries in the name of national security.

Speaking at a White House news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump says the administration will continue to work the case through the court process.

He says he has "no doubt that we'll win" the case.

Trump says the administration will do whatever is necessary to keep the country safe.

Washington - 10 February 2017

1. Reporter asking question

2. SOUNDBITE (English): US President Donald Trump:

"Well, your question was unrelated to what we're here for today, but I'll answer it. We are going to keep our country safe. We are going to do whatever is necessary to keep our country safe. We had a decision which we think will be very successful, but it shouldn't have taken this much time because safety is a primary reason, one of the reasons I'm standing here today the security of our country. The voters felt that I would give it the best security. So we'll be doing something very rapidly having to do with additional security for our country. You'll be seeing that sometime next week. In addition we will continue to go through the court process and ultimately I have no doubt that we'll win that particular case."

3. Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at lecterns

4. SOUNDBITE (Japanese): Shinzo Abe, Prime Minster of Japan:

"Now, in the world we are also facing the issues of the refugees and terrorism. We need to work closely together on these global issues. Japan has always played our own role, but going forward we would continue to work with the international community to executive our responsibility in a commensurate manor. And each of our counties has immigration control scheme as well as policy on immigration as well as refugees. These are to do with domestic affairs of that country so I refrain from making any comments."

5. Trump listening to Abe

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus071785

President Donald Trump says he has "no doubt" that he will prevail in the federal court case over his travel ban.

He also promises to take additional steps to improve U.S. security.

Trump commented a day after a San Francisco-based U.S. appeals court refused to reinstate his temporary ban on travel to the U.S. by refugees and residents of seven mostly Muslim countries in the name of national security.

Speaking at a White House news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump says the administration will continue to work the case through the court process.

He says he has "no doubt that we'll win" the case.

Trump says the administration will do whatever is necessary to keep the country safe.

Washington - 10 February 2017

1. SOUNDBITE (English): US President Donald Trump:

"Well, your question was unrelated to what we're here for today, but I'll answer it. We are going to keep our country safe. We are going to do whatever is necessary to keep our country safe. We had a decision which we think will be very successful, but it shouldn't have taken this much time because safety is a primary reason, one of the reasons I'm standing here today the security of our country. The voters felt that I would give it the best security. So we'll be doing something very rapidly having to do with additional security for our country. You'll be seeing that sometime next week. In addition we will continue to go through the court process and ultimately I have no doubt that we'll win that particular case."

2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese with English translation): Shinzo Abe, Prime Minster of Japan:

"Now, in the world we are also facing the issues of the refugees and terrorism. We need to work closely together on these global issues. Japan has always played our own role, but going forward we would continue to work with the international community to executive our responsibility in a commensurate manor. And each of our counties has immigration control scheme as well as policy on immigration as well as refugees. These are to do with domestic affairs of that country so I refrain from making any comments."

Stormy Daniels' lawyer says he has information showing that President Donald Trump's longtime personal attorney received $500,000 from a company associated with a Russian billionaire within months of paying hush money to the porn star who claims a long-ago affair with Trump.

Lawyer Michael Avenatti also said hundreds of thousands of dollars streamed into Trump attorney Michael Cohen's account from companies, including pharmaceutical giant Novartis, AT&T and Korea Aerospace, with U.S. government business interests. Those three companies have confirmed the connection.

Avenatti isn't disclosing the source of his information or releasing documentation. But in a seven-page memo, Avenatti details what he says were wire transfers into and out of the account Cohen used to pay Daniels $130,000 in October 2016 to stay silent about her alleged tryst with Trump in 2006. He denies having an affair with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

Financial documents reviewed Tuesday by The Associated Press appeared to back up Avenatti's report.

The memo says Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian billionaire, and his cousin "routed" eight payments totaling approximately $500,000 to Cohen's company, Essential Consultants, between January and August 2017. The reason for the payments was not immediately known.

Avenatti's memo says the deposits into the account controlled by Cohen were made by Columbus Nova, an American investment company headed by Vekselberg's cousin, Andrew Intrater, and affiliated with the Renova Group, which Vekselberg controls.

Andrey Shtorkh, a spokesman for Vekselberg and the Renova Group, said in a statement that "neither Victor Vekselberg nor Renova has ever had any contractual relationship" with Cohen or Essential Consultants.

He said questions about a relationship between Columbus Nova and Cohen would have to be answered by Intrater "because Columbus Nova is a company owned and managed by him."

Columbus Nova's lawyer, Richard Owens, said in a statement the company is "solely owned and controlled by Americans." He said that after Trump's inauguration in January 2017, the company hired Cohen as a business consultant "regarding potential sources of capital and potential investments in real estate and other ventures," but that it had nothing to do with Vekselberg.

Cohen and his lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Cohen is under investigation by federal prosecutors in New York, but hasn't been charged.

At the time of the payments, there was an FBI counterintelligence investigation, which special counsel Robert Mueller took over last May, into Russian election interference and any possible coordination with Trump associates.

New Orleans -  6 May 2009

1. STILL: Stormy Daniels visits a local restaurant in downtown New Orleans

Washington - 9 May 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Stormy Daniels' attorney kind of dropped a little bit of a bombshell on Twitter where he released a document that included what he said were payments going in and out of a shell company that Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen used."

New York - 13 April 2018

3. STILL: Michael Avenatti, left, attorney and spokesperson for adult film actress Stormy Daniels speaks during a press conference at Federal court

New York - 16 April 2018

4. STILL: Adult film actress Stormy Daniels speaks outside federal court

Washington - 9 May 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So what's new out of what the information that he posted last night is that there were additional payments going through this shell company that was used to pay Stormy Daniels and what he's highlighting about these payments is that there were some bluechip companies -- AT&T, a pharmaceutical company -- that were paying payments to Michael Cohen that they have since confirmed that they were looking to get his read on the administration."

Washington -19 September 2017

6. STILL: Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, arrives on Capitol Hill

New York - 5 April 2018

7. STILL: Michael Avenatti, lawyer for Stormy Daniels, is interviewed on the floor of the NYSE

Washington - 9 May 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"What they're saying is - we weren't paying him to be a lobbyist, we weren't paying Michael Cohen to actually go and advocate for us - with the administration- which would be something that he would have to register with the government for. Instead what they're saying is that we were paying him to get his views of the administration and to consult on, you know, getting insight into the President."

FILE: New York - 24 October 2016

9. STILL: AT&T logo is positioned above one of its retail stores in New York

Palm Beach, Florida - 17 April 2018

10. STILL: President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sat Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club

Washington - 9 May 2018

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So another payment that Avenatti pointed out in this document is five hundred thousand dollars that came in a series of payments paid by a company here in the United States. Now this company is connected to a Russian oligarch and Avenatii was trying to point to, or what he has said is that, the account these payments came in after the Stormy Daniels payment and he has suggested that these were payments that were replenishing this 130,000 dollars that went out to her as part of a hush money scheme."

New York - 26 April 2018

12. STILL: Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels' attorney, left, watches as Michael Cohen, center, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, leaves federal court in New York, Thursday, April 26, 2018

New York- 16 April 2018

13. STILL: Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, center, leaves federal court following a hearing

Washington - 9 May 2018

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Now the company has now come back and said that this oligarch Viktor Vekselberg was not involved in this transaction at all and that he had nothing to do with this and that these were all part of something that this company, this American subsidiary, was trying to do similar to what AT&T and the other companies were doing- paying Michael Cohen for his views on the administration and getting insight into Trump."

Key West, Florida - 19 April 2018

15. STILL: President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before his departure from Naval Air Station Key West in Key West, Fla

New York - 16 April 2018

16. STILL: Adult film actress Stormy Daniels speaks to members of the media after a hearing at federal court

Washington - 9 May 2018

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So obviously the biggest question here is, you know, were any laws broken. And so there are some allegations in there and we know that Michael Cohen is under investigation for bank fraud and potential campaign finance violations - it's being handled by a federal prosecutor in Manhattan. But these payments that really came out last night - these are things that you know he kind of looks bad or you know, there's that there's some ethical questions that might be raised by it - but there's nothing illegal per se that came out last night that we saw.

FILE - Los Angeles - 11 February 2007

18. STILL: Adult film actress Stormy Daniels arrives for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles

New York - 9 May 2018

19. Exteriors of Columbus Nova group - company said to be tied to Russian billionare

Stormy Daniels' lawyer says he has information showing that President Donald Trump's longtime personal attorney received $500,000 from a company associated with a Russian billionaire within months of paying hush money to the porn star who claims a long-ago affair with Trump.

Lawyer Michael Avenatti also said hundreds of thousands of dollars streamed into Trump attorney Michael Cohen's account from companies, including pharmaceutical giant Novartis, AT&T and Korea Aerospace, with U.S. government business interests. Those three companies have confirmed the connection.

Avenatti isn't disclosing the source of his information or releasing documentation. But in a seven-page memo, Avenatti details what he says were wire transfers into and out of the account Cohen used to pay Daniels $130,000 in October 2016 to stay silent about her alleged tryst with Trump in 2006. He denies having an affair with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

Financial documents reviewed Tuesday by The Associated Press appeared to back up Avenatti's report.

The memo says Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian billionaire, and his cousin "routed" eight payments totaling approximately $500,000 to Cohen's company, Essential Consultants, between January and August 2017. The reason for the payments was not immediately known.

Avenatti's memo says the deposits into the account controlled by Cohen were made by Columbus Nova, an American investment company headed by Vekselberg's cousin, Andrew Intrater, and affiliated with the Renova Group, which Vekselberg controls.

Andrey Shtorkh, a spokesman for Vekselberg and the Renova Group, said in a statement that "neither Victor Vekselberg nor Renova has ever had any contractual relationship" with Cohen or Essential Consultants.

He said questions about a relationship between Columbus Nova and Cohen would have to be answered by Intrater "because Columbus Nova is a company owned and managed by him."

Columbus Nova's lawyer, Richard Owens, said in a statement the company is "solely owned and controlled by Americans." He said that after Trump's inauguration in January 2017, the company hired Cohen as a business consultant "regarding potential sources of capital and potential investments in real estate and other ventures," but that it had nothing to do with Vekselberg.

Cohen and his lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Cohen is under investigation by federal prosecutors in New York, but hasn't been charged.

At the time of the payments, there was an FBI counterintelligence investigation, which special counsel Robert Mueller took over last May, into Russian election interference and any possible coordination with Trump associates.

New Orleans -  6 May 2009

1. STILL: Stormy Daniels visits a local restaurant in downtown New Orleans

Washington - 9 May 2018

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Stormy Daniels' attorney kind of dropped a little bit of a bombshell on Twitter where he released a document that included what he said were payments going in and out of a shell company that Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen used."

New York - 13 April 2018

3. STILL: Michael Avenatti, left, attorney and spokesperson for adult film actress Stormy Daniels speaks during a press conference at Federal court

New York - 16 April 2018

4. STILL: Adult film actress Stormy Daniels speaks outside federal court

Washington - 9 May 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So what's new out of what the information that he posted last night is that there were additional payments going through this shell company that was used to pay Stormy Daniels and what he's highlighting about these payments is that there were some bluechip companies -- AT&T, a pharmaceutical company -- that were paying payments to Michael Cohen that they have since confirmed that they were looking to get his read on the administration."

Washington -19 September 2017

6. STILL: Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, arrives on Capitol Hill

New York - 5 April 2018

7. STILL: Michael Avenatti, lawyer for Stormy Daniels, is interviewed on the floor of the NYSE

Washington - 9 May 2018

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"What they're saying is - we weren't paying him to be a lobbyist, we weren't paying Michael Cohen to actually go and advocate for us - with the administration- which would be something that he would have to register with the government for. Instead what they're saying is that we were paying him to get his views of the administration and to consult on, you know, getting insight into the President."

FILE: New York - 24 October 2016

9. STILL: AT&T logo is positioned above one of its retail stores in New York

Palm Beach, Florida - 17 April 2018

10. STILL: President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sat Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club

Washington - 9 May 2018

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So another payment that Avenatti pointed out in this document is five hundred thousand dollars that came in a series of payments paid by a company here in the United States. Now this company is connected to a Russian oligarch and Avenatii was trying to point to, or what he has said is that, the account these payments came in after the Stormy Daniels payment and he has suggested that these were payments that were replenishing this 130,000 dollars that went out to her as part of a hush money scheme."

New York - 26 April 2018

12. STILL: Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels' attorney, left, watches as Michael Cohen, center, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, leaves federal court in New York, Thursday, April 26, 2018

New York- 16 April 2018

13. STILL: Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, center, leaves federal court following a hearing

Washington - 9 May 2018

14. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"Now the company has now come back and said that this oligarch Viktor Vekselberg was not involved in this transaction at all and that he had nothing to do with this and that these were all part of something that this company, this American subsidiary, was trying to do similar to what AT&T and the other companies were doing- paying Michael Cohen for his views on the administration and getting insight into Trump."

Key West, Florida - 19 April 2018

15. STILL: President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before his departure from Naval Air Station Key West in Key West, Fla

New York - 16 April 2018

16. STILL: Adult film actress Stormy Daniels speaks to members of the media after a hearing at federal court

Washington - 9 May 2018

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Day, Associated Press:

"So obviously the biggest question here is, you know, were any laws broken. And so there are some allegations in there and we know that Michael Cohen is under investigation for bank fraud and potential campaign finance violations - it's being handled by a federal prosecutor in Manhattan. But these payments that really came out last night - these are things that you know he kind of looks bad or you know, there's that there's some ethical questions that might be raised by it - but there's nothing illegal per se that came out last night that we saw.

FILE - Los Angeles - 11 February 2007

18. STILL: Adult film actress Stormy Daniels arrives for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles

New York - 9 May 2018

19. Exteriors of Columbus Nova group - company said to be tied to Russian billionare