Trump, Abe at odds on North Korea missile launches

13 hrs ago

BIARRITZ, France, Aug 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe showed their differences over the seriousness of North Korea's series of short-range missile launches on Sunday, while maintaining that they would remain in synch on the issue.

© Thomson Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands as they attend a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, August 25, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Trump, who prizes his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said the launches did not violate an agreement and were in line with what others were doing.

Asked if he was concerned about North Korea’s missile launches, Trump said: "I’m not happy about it, but again, he’s not in violation of an agreement."

Slide 1 of 44: French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Donald Trump, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pose for a family photo with invited guests during the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, August 25, 2019.

1/44 SLIDES © Carlos Barria/Reuters

President Trump and the six other leaders of the Group of Seven nations are meeting for three days in the southwestern French resort town of Biarritz. France holds the 2019 presidency of the G7, which also includes Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan.

(Pictured) French President Emmanuel Macron, President Trump, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pose for a family photo with invited guests during the G7 Summit on Aug. 25 in Biarritz, France.

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Abe said the launches breached U.N. resolutions.

Launches of short-range ballistic missiles on Saturday were the seventh by North Korea since Trump and Kim met at the border between the two Koreas in June.

The launches have complicated attempts to restart talks between U.S. and North Korean negotiators over the future of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.