The Latest on the South Korean president visit to Washington (all times local) :
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Latest on the South Korean president visit to Washington (all times local) : 6: 40 p.m. President Donald Trump is praising South Korean President Moon Jae-in (jah-yihn) at the start of a White House dinner. Trump says he and Moon plan to discuss the threat from North Korea and trade during their meetings. He predicts their talks could go « late into the evening. » The president is congratulating Moon on his recent election victory in South Korea. Trump says: « A lot of people didn’t expect that and I did expect it. I thought that was going to happen. » At the start of their dinner, Moon joked to Trump that he also suffers « a bit from fake news » coverage. Trump laughed and said he hoped the media had heard that. ___ 6 p.m. South Korean President Moon Jae-in has arrived at the White House for the start of a two-day meeting with President Donald Trump. Moon was greeted by Trump on the South Lawn of the White House after meetings earlier in the day with congressional leaders. Moon and Trump are scheduled to have dinner at the White House as the new South Korean leader tries to reassure Washington that he will coordinate closely on dealing with the threat from North Korea. Moon has called for engagement with North Korea to address its nuclear weapons development. Trump has sought tougher economic pressure and steps to further isolate the North diplomatically. ___ 12: 30 p.m. South Korea’s president has sat down with congressional leaders before holding his first meeting with President Donald Trump. President Moon Jae-in (MOON JAAH IHN) has stopped on Capitol Hill on his maiden visit to Washington. He took office last month. House Speaker Paul Ryan is calling for stronger U. S.-South Korean ties. He says the allies have much to work together on – in particular the threat from North Korea. Moon has made brief remarks, and he’s wishing a speedy recovery to the third-ranking House Republican – Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, who was wounded in a June 14 shooting. Moon says that on humanitarian issues, « we must cross boundaries and all party lines and all come together and unite as one. » ____ 9: 45 a.m. South Korea’s president plans to meet with congressional leaders and have dinner with President Donald Trump – as he looks to reassure Washington that he’ll coordinate closely on dealing with the threat from North Korea. President Moon Jae-in (MOON JAAH IHN) has long advocated engagement with North Korea to address its nuclear weapons development. His position could cause strains with Trump, who wants to step up economic pressure and further isolate the North’s diplomatically. The U. S. and South Korea want to show they’re on the same page, as concern deepens over North Korea’s technological progress toward a nuclear-tipped missile that could strike the continental U. S. Thursday night’s dinner at the White House will be the first meeting between Trump and Moon. They’ll hold formal talks on Friday. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
