FOREIGN POLICY/JAPAN/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump opened his 10-day swing through Asia on Sunday [11-5-17] with some of the familiar trappings from home: donning a leather bomber jacket before addressing U.S. troops stationed in Japan and golfing nine holes with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Things become more rigorous Monday, as Messrs. Trump and Abe hold more formal talks and a joint news conference. White House officials said they decided to open the highly anticipated Asia tour in Japan on purpose: the two leaders both agree on the need to increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. That is the priority during his time in Asia, the president has said…
Mr. Trump said the dinner conversation would focus on trade, and the topic is expected to continue to be a focus on Monday. However there have been mixed messages coming from both sides about how much time will be spent talking about trade. White House officials said that trade will be discussed, while Japanese officials say there are no specific plans.
The two countries will also touch upon ways for Japan to expand its defense capabilities and trilateral cooperation between the U.S., Japan and South Korea, including anti-submarine warfare and ballistic missile defense, a White House official said. The nations also are looking to tighten cooperation around cybersecurity, the official said, and will discuss national security, economics, health and scientific and cultural cooperation.”
-Michael C. Bender, “Trump to Press Japan on North Korea and Trade…After Some Golf,” The Wall Street Journal online, Nov. 5, 2017 04:07pm