And my question to Prime Minister is how to apply pressure to North Korea and the tone of the language. Are you in full agreement, complete agreement with the United States?
PRIME MINISTER ABE: (As interpreted.) President Trump has stated that we are implementing sanctions, and those sanctions are very strong sanctions. He also stated that until North Korea takes the action, the sanctions will not be lifted. And Japan is in full agreement and Japan's position is perfectly in alignment with the United States.
And in our summit meeting this time, we had in-depth discussion with President Trump as to how we should respond to the North Korea and ask for the future policy on North Korea.
Inclusive of the U.S.-North Korean summit meeting, we have detailed coordination aligning our positions. As I have already mentioned, Japan and the United States are always together. Japan and United States will be in full alignment to seek success for the historic U.S.-North Korea summit meeting in Singapore.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yes. Thank you very much. Maximum pressure is absolutely in effect. We don't use the term anymore because we're going into a friendly negotiation. Perhaps after that negotiation I will be using it again. You'll know how well we do in the negotiation. If you hear me saying we're going to use "maximum pressure," you'll know the negotiation did not do well, frankly. There's no reason to say it.
We, in the meantime, haven't removed any sanctions. We have a list of over 300 massive, in some cases, sanctions to put on North Korea. And I've decided to hold that until we can make a deal, because I really believe there's a potential to make a deal. And I just don't think it's nice going in under those circumstances.
But, yes, the campaign hasn't changed. China has continued to hold the border. We, again, would like them to do more in that sense. But they've been really good, and the President has been very good. But maximum sanction is there. We are leaving all of the existing sanctions on. We have many, many sanctions to go, but I don't want to use them unless it's necessary. And I don't think it will be necessary, but we will soon know. Okay? Thank you.
Saagar Enjeti. Where's Saagar? Daily Caller.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. I have a question for the Prime Minister as well. Mr. President, under what - you've said repeatedly that you are willing to walk away from the negotiations if they don't do well. Under what exact conditions would you be walking away from that summit? And if the summit does go well, will you be inviting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the United States?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, the answer is yes to the second part of your question. But certainly if it goes well. And I think it would be well received. I think he would look at it very favorably. So I think that could happen.
All I can say is I am totally prepared to walk away. I did it once before. You have to be able to walk away. If you're not going to be able to walk away - we didn't walk away from the horrible Iran deal that was signed. And if you look at what's happened since I signed that deal, Iran - and in all fairness, I say it with great respect for the people of Iran - but Iran is acting a lot differently. They're no longer looking so much to the Mediterranean. They're no longer looking so much to what's going on in Syria, what's going on in Yemen and lots of other places. They're a much different country over the last three months.
And again, I say that with hope that maybe something can happen. But when you mention sanctions, we're putting sanctions on Iran, the likes of which nobody has ever seen before, including, frankly, North Korea. That would have been the next phase, if we did it or find it necessary to do.
But nuclear to me is always first. And we're going to be fine, with respect to Iran. But we also, Saagar, got something out of it that's very important. A lot of the people that write about this, some of whom I have respect for, but they haven't picked it up: Iran is not the same country that it was a few months ago. They're a much, much different group of leaders. And I hope at some point they'll come to us and we'll sit down, and we'll make a deal that's good for them, and good for us, and good for everybody. And it will be great for Iran. I expect it to be - I want it to be great for Iran.
But if they would have walked - our side - from some of the horrible provisions that you know as well as I do, and probably everybody sitting here knows, we could have had a great deal. Nothing wrong with a deal, but there's something wrong with that deal. We had a great opportunity to make a phenomenal deal.
So I am totally prepared to walk. It could happen. Maybe it won't be necessary. I hope it won't be necessary to walk because I really believe that Kim Jong Un wants to do something that is going to be great for his people and also great for his family and great for himself.
Okay? Thank you very much.
Q Sir, if you do invite him to the White House - or to the United States, would it be here at the White House or at Mar-a-Lago?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Maybe we'll start with the White House. What do you think? (Laughter.)
Q Mr. Prime Minister, you are the only major world leader not to have a sit-down or a planned sit-down with Kim Jong Un. You hinted in your address today that you would be willing to do so on the matter of abductees. Do you have any plans currently to do so? And would it be focused solely on abductees, or would you be willing to have a separate denuclearization discussion with Kim Jong Un directly without the United States? Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER ABE: (As interpreted.) Of course, on the issue of abduction, we have to resolve this problem. With Abe administration, this is of the highest priority. And if anything contributes to that resolution, if the talk leads to the solution of the problem between U.S. and North Korea or between Japan and North Korea, the meetings we wish to have on the issue of abduction in the final analysis Chairman Kim Jong Un and me, between Japan and North Korea, problem has to be solved. Of course, for Japan, missile issue and nuclear issue very important.
Nuclear issue, missile issue, regarding these issues, at the U.S. and North Korea summit meeting - first and foremost, I'm hopeful for the progress. And then, on the issue of abduction, we will liaise - we will collaborate with the U.S. and international community. And Japan, ourselves, must talk directly with North Korea in the final analysis. I am determined about that.
Mr. Hayashi?
Q (As interpreted.) Thank you, Prime Minister Abe. I have question to Prime Minister as well as President Trump. Starting with Prime Minister, you have already mentioned to a certain degree on the abduction issue. In order to hold Japan-North Korea summit, the premise is that you need to obtain results for the abduction issue. What kind of concrete pathway are you envisaging to hold the summit meeting?
In your meeting with President Trump today, have you asked President Trump to raise the question of abduction at the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting in Singapore?
Next is my question to President Trump. You have - Kim Jong Un has maintained this position that the abduction issue is something that already had been resolved. So what kind of explanation has been given to the United States on the abduction issue in the North Korea to U.S. via consultations? And how should we approach North Korea in order to seek solution for the abduction? And what did you convey to Prime Minister Abe today in this regard?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: You know, I can speak first because I will tell you, on the Prime Minister's behalf, that he very much talked about abduction. It was preeminent in our conversations. He talked about it long and hard and passionately. And I will follow his wishes, and we will be discussion that with North Korea, absolutely. Absolutely.
Prime Minister, go ahead.
PRIME MINISTER ABE: (As interpreted.) Now, at our Japan-U.S. meeting we had in Mar-a-Lago in February, today, once again, as President Trump has mentioned already, I have explained on the abduction issue once again and I have conveyed to him the earnest wish of the families of the abductees. And President Trump once again has stated that the abduction issue will be raised at the upcoming U.S.-North Korea summit.
Now, at the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting, as to the concrete matters to be discussed, I would like to refrain from mentioning this at this juncture. But in any case, Japan's (inaudible) position were explained at length, and President Trump has given his understanding, and he has promised that the issue will be brought up at the summit meeting in Singapore. And I am delighted of this.
President Trump and the international community - I would like to closely work with President Trump as well as the international community to seek solution to the issue. In solving the abduction issue, Japan itself needs to have direct consultation with North Korea. I have not changed my resolve in doing so.
And under this decision and resolve, what will be conducive to solve the abduction issue - of course, I will have to think about the summit meeting for Japan-North Korea summit meeting. If we are to have the summit meeting, the nuclear, the missile, and what is more important, the abduction issue - the solution to all these issues must be resolved. And I hope that we will be able to realize a summit meeting which would lead to solution of the problems.
But first and foremost, we need to seek advancement for the abduction, nuclear, and missile programs. Japan and U.S. should closely cooperate with each other so that we will be able to see great success for the historic U.S.-North Korea summit meeting. And Japan would like to give our all-out efforts in support.
Thank you.
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I'd like to just close by paying my highest respect and regards and love, frankly - I've gotten to know them very well - to the Warmbier family, the incredible family of Otto Warmbier, who was a brilliant, beautiful, terrific young man. And he has not died in vain, I can tell you that. He has not died in vain. So to the Warmbier family, our love and our respect.
Also, I'd like to say that we were tremendously successful in getting our three hostages back. And I'm very thankful to the cooperation that we received from North Korea. And the three United States citizens are now very happily ensconced in their homes with their families. They're very happy. They didn't think this was going to happen. And frankly, it would never have happened, but it has.
So I just want to wish them well also. They had a tough journey, but I really respect the fact that we were able to work with the North Korean folks and get them out. They're very, very well ingrained already. They're back into - they were telling me they're now going to movies and they're going out to dinner, and they're back. They're back in our country, and it's a terrific thing.
I believe we're going to have a terrific success or a modified success. But in one form or another, if it all goes - and things can happen between now and then - but I know many of you are going. And I look forward to seeing you there. I look forward to traveling with you. It's a long way. But I really believe that we have the potential to do something incredible for the world. And it's my honor to be involved.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.
END • 2:54 P.M. EDT
