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Doctors Without Borders Calls Hospital Attack War Crime; Russia Sees Parallels Between Syria, Afghanistan; South Carolina Sees Record- Breaking Rain; Chilling Details of Campus Gunman; Catholic Church Kicks Off Synod on Family; North Korea to Release South Korean Student; "The Martian" a Box Office Hit; Hillary Clinton on SNL; "Star Wars" Items Set Record for Auctions House. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired October 05, 2015 - 01:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[01:00:00]

ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles. Ahead this hour, more fallout from a deadly air strike on an Afghan hospital. Doctors Without Borders is calling the attack a war crime. Plus, once in a millennium rainfall is creating dangerous conditions on the U.S. East Coast. And the new movie, The Marshan tries to break box office records with a little help from a real life scientific breakthrough.

Hello and thank you for joining us. I'm Isha Sesay. Newsroom L.A. starts right now.

We begin with more fallout over the apparent air strike on a hospital filled with patients in Afghanistan. Aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres or Doctors Without Borders is demanding an independent investigation of the attack. The group ran the hospital that was hit and is calling the incident a war crime. The U.S. is trying to determine whether one of its gun ships is responsible. Three children were among the 22 people killed. It happened in the city of Kunduz, the site of recent fighting between the Taliban and government forces.

Well, for more on the attack, the investigation and the out rate, let's go to Sune Engel Rasmussen. He's a reporter for The Guardian newspaper and joins us now live from Kabul, Afghanistan. Sune, thank you for joining us. What's the latest you're hearing about the multiple investigations into the strike?

SUNE ENGLE RASMUSSEN, REPORTER, THE GUARDIAN: Well Isha, yesterday, the U.S. military and NATO are here in Kabul announced that they had opened an investigation. NATO has one investigation and then they start (ph) to use militaries also investigation - investigating this incident on early Saturday morning. They expect the investigation to conclude within a matter of days they said. However, MSF or Doctors Without Borders say that they are not satisfied with this type of investigation.

They are calling on a third party to investigate the incident. They are saying that there might be talk of a war crime here and they are demanding that an international independent body should be conducting this inquiry. So, NATO and the U.S. military are not investigating their own misconduct.

SESAY: Yeah. Sune, I'm going to ask you how damaging all of this is to the U.S. standing there in Afghanistan even though it has to be said the investigations have not being completed and it hasn't been categorically confirmed that the U.S. was responsible, nonetheless, I've got to ask you what the damage is to the U.S. reputation in Afghanistan?

RASMUSSEN: Well, it's damaging in the sense that it plays against the favor of the Taliban. Swiftly after the attack on Saturday morning, the Taliban issue a statement saying that this just showed however critical the U.S. was, and it seems the national, a few days before they criticize the Taliban for committing war crimes, mass rapes and surgical (ph) people with the hit squads in Kunduz, and then this happens -- plays really into Taliban propaganda.

Kunduz itself is a province where there's already a lot of misgivings about international troops. There's a lot of people who have -- who have some sort of animosity both towards the U.S. but also towards the government, their own government. And this only helps perpetuate that, and they can make it more difficult, I think, in the future for the Afghan government to assert authority in Kunduz and really win the legitimacy among the local population.

SESAY: Sune Engel Rasmussen joining us there from Kabul. Always appreciate it. Thank you.

Tune in now to CNN military analyst, Rick Francona. He joins us via skype from Port Orford, Oregon. Rick Francona, always good to have you on the show. Thank you for your time.

Even if the Taliban were on the grounds of the hospital which is something that MSF is strongly denying but we have heard this from the Afghan government. Even if that was the case, can there ever be any justification for striking a fully functioning hospital?

LT. GEN. RICK FRANCONA (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: No, and those targets are always off limits Those targets include hospital schools, mosques, unless they've been completely taken over and are being used in the military capacity which was not the case here. I think what we're looking at is just a tragic mistake. And I know MSF is calling for a war crime investigation. There is going to be an investigation but I really wish they would stop calling this a war crime until we get all of the facts. War crime indicates an intentional strike on a hospital by the United States Air Force and that didn't happen.

SESAY: What about the point they made though that according to MSF, the hospital was hit precisely and repeatedly?

FRANCONA: Well, I know that's what they think happened because they were there. But on that, this hospital was struck.

[01:05:00] Now, I'm not saying that it didn't happen or that the United States Air Force is not responsible. But to say that this was an intentional strike on the hospital, I think really, they should back away from that statement until we get all the facts and we will get all the facts.

SESAY: We had from Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter, short time ago and basically saying what you are saying that the U.S. will conduct a full thorough transparent investigation. Anyone who has done something wrong, if they are found to have done something wrong will be held accountable. All right, so let's take that statement of face value. Given the way decisions to call in air strikes are made at the most senior of levels, how realistic is it to expect that folks will indeed be held accountable and heads will roll of indeed it's found that something went wrong?

FRANCONA: Well, if somebody did something wrong, they would be held accountable of course. Now, what does that mean? In the Air Force, that would probably a career ending event either -- well, you know, this would reflect on somebody's record. The pilots, the navigators, somebody calling the air strike, somebody made a mistake, that person will be held responsible. But we're not going to see a curve (ph) walk. We're not going to see anybody in hand cuffs. And I doubt it whoever know the name United States as a tradition of not releasing the names of individual people. That just invites too many -- to much retribution.

SESAY: All right, CNN military analyst, Rick Francona. Thank so much for joining us this evening, very much appreciate it.

Well, Russia says ISIS militant's ability to fight in Syria has been considerably reduced following a series of air strikes. Strikes began Wednesday and Moscow says they are intensifying. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the Russian effort has to succeed to save the entire Middle Eastern region from destruction. Moscow says, they carried out 20 flights over the weekend targeting ISIS positions in Idlib province. The U.S. backed coalition accuses Moscow of targeting Syrian rebels, not ISIS militants.

Phil Black is in Moscow and joins us now with the very latest on all of this. Phil, what more do we know about these air strikes?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Russian officials are giving daily updates, Isha, sometimes, more than once a day in which they're really talking up to success of their air operation in Syria. Daily lists, all of the military in nature, all of them they say owned and operated assets of ISIS or other terrorists. And they're really talking up the precision of the air strikes, insisting that there are no civilian casualties in that sense and in all those other key areas. It is the exact opposite of the narrative that we're hearing from the United States and its coalition partners.

Their assessment is that Russia strikes are indiscriminate. They are largely targeting groups other than ISIS that is moderate Syrian opposition groups that pose a threat to the Syrian regimen. And they're really talking about the suffering that civilians are enduring as well. But the Russians say, they're making a real impact. They are really degrading the ability of militants on the ground to fight. And more than that, they're talking about panic and desertions and hundreds, perhaps, thousands of fighters fleeing the battlefield as well, Isha.

SESAY: Phil, you mentioned the daily updates that are being provided by Russian authorities. Are they giving us a sense of a timeline? Are they settling in for a prolonged bombing campaign?

BLACK: Not officially, no. Some Russian officials and politicians here are talking months but we haven't heard those sorts of figures from the very top of the Russian leadership or from military officials specifically, that it would certainly seem to be a committed operation if you like. There's no sense that they're going to be out in the next few weeks or, perhaps, even months. I guess the next question that what everyone is really waiting for is what happens next? The expectation, perhaps, or the prediction that this will be followed up by some sort of ground operation not by Russian soldiers because the Russian government has stressed that it will not commit ground forces to Syrian but, perhaps, Syrian regime, perhaps with other allies in the region, perhaps Iran, perhaps Hessville (ph) could move forward, taking advantage of the softening up that has been done by these air strikes to retake and then hold some of that territory. That, at the moment, as I said, the U.S. and its allies say is currently in the possession of those Syrian moderate opposition groups that have been fighting the regime and its military forces specifically, Isha.

SESAY: Well Black with the very latest there from Moscow. Phil, thank you.

Turning out to weather, we are following several major stories around the world for you. In Guatemala, the death toll from a massive landslide has now gone up to 131. Residents and rescuers are digging through mud and debris in search of hundreds who are still missing. Dozens of homes were buried after the side of a rain-soaked hill collapsed Thursday night near Guatemala City.

Extreme flush flooding in parts of France has killed at least 17 people.

[0:10:00.5] CNN affiliate, BFMTV says four more people are missing along the country's Southeastern Mediterranean post. Officials are warning people against traveling because of the damage to roads and rail networks.

And in the U.S., levels of rain that hasn't been seen in a thousand years, that's how South Carolina's governor described torrential rains hitting parts of the states since Friday. Officials say more than 200 water rescues, like this one that you're looking at took place from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon. Police are being -- people rather are being told to stay home because even more rain is coming.

Well, meteorologist, Pedram Javaheri joins me now from CNN center with more on that. And Pedram, to that point, these warnings that are being given, are people heeding (ph) them? Are they staying off the roads? Are they staying indoors?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know, some people are -- well, what's difficult about this, Isha, is just the time. You know, it happens on a Saturday and to a Sunday, so the weekend here and where folks trying to get outside to get some of their errands done. And unfortunately, even if you're trying your best to stay indoors for an entire weekend when you're looking forward to doing some errands, that's where people got into trouble. And it was just an incredible amount of water coming down a historic city. Twenty four inches, about 610 millimeters which, by the way, is what London gets in an entire year that they saw over the weekend. And then you see, that equates to 65 billion gallons of water or roughly 250 billion liters of water.

So, to put all of this in perspective, across the Niagra Falls, the American side of this, the water flow would take 10 days to accumulate the amount of water they came down across historic Charleston, South Carolina. So, I want to bring in the entire state, the Palmetto state that is known and put the rainfall down. Very narrow band where the rainfall came down on the order of about 100 kilometers across. It wasn't just on the coast in Charleston but even in the state capital in Columbia, South Carolina.

So you think about this number. You tabulate the total number the entire state had to deal with. We're talking about roughly 6.7 million Olympic-sized swimming pools was what you would be able to fill with this water. So across the United States, say, you take the State of Massachusetts, every single person in that state could essentially have an Olympic-sized swimming pool in their backyard filled with water. That is a tremendous amount of water we're dealing with across this region.

So, let's talk about how this all transpired because it is tough for me right now in U.S. history when it comes to the most prolific rain events from a one single storm. And if you take a look, of course, Joaquin was the big name of the storm that we talked about. But well, it's the moisture that kind of exits it and works its way towards the areas of South Carolina, literally peeling off like an onion when you see the cycle and itself move away but the moisture gets peeled away from a storm system that was sitting in place and that's what we saw. The onslaught of rainfall that continued to easily pick up the color contours over that moisture was directed towards areas of the Carolina and the United States.

So, we still have flood watches and flood warning in place. We know hundreds of roads have been washed away. Officials, they are saying, it could take months before all roads are fully accessible across this region of South Carolina. But the radar imagery shows that continued nature of the rainfall that has come down from Friday and to Saturday eventually now going on to the early morning hours of Monday. And we think as Joaquin begins to move away, our storm system that has been drawing the moisture in from Joaquin will also begin to move away, and then conditions should begin to improve in the coming couple of days. Joaquin at category one, it is expected to fall apart. And something worth noting is later in the week, they're watching this from Western Europe. Remnants of Joaquin certainly could bring in moisture in that direction, so something that we're watching very carefully.

Another story I want to touch on is what's occurred across portions of China. We've had a typhoon make landfall near (inaudible) in Southern China. A massive tornado spun across this region. This led to three fatalities, 80 people injured. Look at the video, absolutely remarkable. And often times, the tropical cyclones making landfall as the winds from the storm move over land. It interacts with the land. Look at the incredible footage here and the sheer that they create. You get the tornadoes that are spun almost every single typhoon or hurricane spuns the tornado. Not often we see video of it but across a densely populated region of China. You could see the incredible amount of damage that was left in place from this tornado that injured some 80 people as well there, Isha.

SESAY: Yeah, absolutely terrifying images there. As you say, it's rare to see -- see that level of detail in the imagery. Thank you Pedram. We appreciate it.

PEDRAM: Thanks as well.

SESAY: Pedram Javaheri, joining us from Alaska (ph). Thank you.

Well, next on CNN NEWSROOM L.A. Chilling details about the gunman who opened fire on a U.S. college campus from the people who survived the deadly attach. Plus, a Vatican priest is fired after announcing he's in the same sex relationship. We'll have a live report from Rome, coming up on CNN Newsroom, live from Los Angeles. Do stay with us.

[01:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD SPORTS)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Survivors of a deadly shooting at a U.S. Community College are sharing new details about the moment it began. People in Roseburg, Oregon are mourning the loss of the nine people killed with vigils and memorial services. CNN Sara Sidner spoke to one survivor who was shot in the hand. She talks about the gunman and the moment he stormed the English class he also attended.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was sitting in the front of the classroom facing the teacher when that -- everything happened. He just came in and shot and towards the back of the wall and told everybody to get in the center of the room.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, did he hit anyone? Did he hit anyone, I mean, first shot that first shot?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No. He just got everybody's attention and then everybody looked over there to the door and he had a -- guns with him and he was armed. He had a bullet proof vest on and he didn't seem like he was like inches or anything. He just seemed liked he, I mean, he wanted to do that.

SIDNER: Well, witnesses that she was a singled out student after his rampage began. That student thankfully survived. His mother told CNN, after the gunman killed three people, he made a request.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There were people being shot around him.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then at a certain point, the shooter singles out him.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that correct?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did the shooter do?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The shooter asked him to give the police a -- something.

[01:20:00] And that if he did, he would live. Matthew said that point, he didn't quite get what the shooter said. He thought he was standing up to die. And that when the shooter gave him what he was told to give the police, he was then sent to sit in the back of the room facing the room and watch was going on. Matthew said that he froze. He didn't make a single move. He was afraid to look away. That if he made anything -- did anything to make the shooter notice him, that he would be shot so he just sat there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He stood in there watching the shooter executed that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Well, a enforcement officials say the shooter handed his writings to a survivor. They say it appears the gunman studied past mass shootings and identified with the people behind those attacks.

Now, Catholic bishops and cardinals from around the world have kicked off a three-week meeting focused on issues facing families. But event began again under a cloud of controversy after Polish priest announced he's in the same sex relationship.

For the latest, let's bring in Vatican correspondent Delia Gallagher. She's live from Rome. Delia, good to have you with us. Will this revelation by the Polish priest that he's in the same sex relationship moved the issue of homosexuality further up the agenda for this meeting?

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isha, the agenda is pretty well set. They have three weeks to deal with a lot of topics regarding challenges to the family. What it will do, of course, is draw more attention to what they eventually do say about gay relationships. And there was a bit of a showdown this weekend at the Vatican just as they're all gathering to discuss these issues of Vatican official comes out as gay. Here's what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

The Synod has begun, an opening mass marking the start of a month long meeting at the Vatican with cardinals and bishops from around the world to discuss the Catholic churches approach to issues affecting families, declining birth rates, divorce and gays.

Pope Francis has been noted of for his openness to gay people, embracing a gay couple in Washington, D.C. just over a week ago, his old friend and student Yayo Grassi and his partner. And saying last year, "Who am I to judge about a gay priest who worked for him." But on Saturday, the Vatican fired and opened the gay priest, Father Krzysztof Charamsa, a Polish priest who worked at the Vatican's top doctrinal office. For the Vatican, gay or straight, a priest cannot be in a sexual relationship. Father Charamsa announced in the video on the eve of the Synod that he had a boyfriend and criticized the Catholic Church for its silence on gay issues.

FATHER KRZYSZTOF CHARAMSA, VATICAN PRIEST (through translation): My decision of coming out is a very personal decision in the homophobic word of the Catholic Church. It has been very difficult and very hard.

GALLAGHER: Cardinals and bishops who have gathered for the Synod say they welcome gay people but they do not think there can be a change in the Catholic Churches opposition to gay unions or marriage.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols from England will be one of the participants in the up coming discussions.

VINCENT NICHOLS, CARDINAL FROM ENGLAND: For people who however they want to describe themselves, same sex orientation, gay people, there must be respect and appreciation of their God-given dignity. There will not be any change that makes some equivalence between a same sex partnership or sexual same sex partnership and marriage. In the teaching, the church, they are not the same.

GALLAGHER: Whether Pope Francis' openness to gay people will alter the Synod's view of gay relationships would be one of the topics to watch at this meeting.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

GALLAGHER: And as for Father Charamsa, Isha, he has been removed in his job at the Vatican but of course he is still a priest. So, his case will now go back to Poland where he is from for an eventual decision on whether to also remove him as a priest. Isha?

SESAY: Delia Gallagher joining us there from Rome. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Now, the final votes have been counted in Portugal after the country's first general election since emerging from an E.U. bailout. The ruling center wide (ph) coalition which imposed tough austerity measures claim victory but fell short of a clear majority in parliament. The Portugal now have to from a new coalition which send to left socialist who promised to ease austerity. It's been more than 40 years since the minority government survived a full term in Portugal.

Now, after months in detention in North Korea, a South Korean student is about to be freed. Details coming up in a live report.

[01:25:00]

(COMMERCAIL BREAK)

SESAY: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles. I am Isha Sesay. The headlines this hour, in the U.S., part of South Carolina could be hit with catastrophic flash flooding over the coming hours. Officials say more than 200 water rescues like this one took place from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon. More than half a meter of rain has fallen in some areas since Friday.

Medecins San Frontieres or Doctor's Without Borders has pulled down to the Afghan City of Kunduz after an air strike destroyed one of its hospitals. The U.S. is investigating whether one of its gun ships was responsible. At least 22 people were killed. The aid group denied claims by some Afghan officials that Taliban militants took shelter in the hospital.

Russia says intensifying air strikes have considerably reduced the combat potential of ISIS militants in Syria. In the past 24 hours, Moscow says it carried out 20 flights targeting ISIS positions in Idlib province. The West accuses Russia of targeting rebels while fighting the Syrian regime.

But while Russia claims its campaign in Syria is succeeding, Mathew Chance reports the air strikes of stirring memories of another conflict that carried a high cost.

[01:30:00] While Russia claims its campaign in Syria is succeeding, Matthew Chance reports the air strikes are stirring memories of another conflict that carried a high cost.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDER SOKOLOFF (ph) FORMER SOVIET UNION SOLIDER: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Alexander Sokoloff (ph) remembers the pain of Russia's last foreign war against Islamist fighters.

SOKOLOFF (ph) (through translation): A whole young generation were killed, young guys, patriots. It's a shame for our country.

ANNOUNCER: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

CHANCE: In the 1980s, he was one of the tens of thousands of young conscripts sent by the Soviet Union to fight in Afghanistan, the grueling quagmire that cost more than 15,000 Soviet lives. SOKOLOFF (ph) (through translation): The sorrow of the Afghan

campaign brought to the Soviet nation, to mothers and wives, illustrates what possible consequences Russia could face if it decided to enter further the conflict in Syria. It could create another Afghanistan. So, of course, Russia would do everything not to let that happen.

(SHOUTING)

CHANCE: But over 30 years later, and Russia's Syrian campaign is reawakening old sensibilities. There's public support for air strikes on the Islamic State, but the thought of Russia being sucked deeper into the Syrian conflict have many concerned.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): I see myself as a pacifist. I'm against any wars. I'm for peace. And any war that leads to another war and aggressive actions in return, so I'm against it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As businessmen, we are against anything which affects our business and what we do.

CHANCE (on camera): Do you think the conflict in Syria will have an impact on the economy here? Because it's going to be expensive, isn't it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah. That's one of the facts which will have its influence on the economy and economical situation. In our business, I believe it will have some impact. And that's what we wouldn't like to have.

CHANCE: This whole Syrian intervention is a huge gamble for Vladimir Putin and could have an affect on the Russian president's popularity. Unlike the war in Ukraine, which started last year and was extremely popular, few Russians have an emotional connection to Syria.

A recent opinion poll suggested only 14 percent favored direct Russian military involvement there, with a massive 69 percent opposed. concerns that the Kremlin appears to be taking seriously.

(voice-over): On state-controlled television, bulletins are filled with proud images of Russia's most-advanced fighter jets in combat. To shore up public support, officials have stressed no ground troops, nor young conscripts, unlike in Afghanistan, will be sent to fight.

(on camera): If some of the Russian soldiers end up being killed, shot down in the warplanes, you'll be supportive of that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's their choice. It's always their choice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me, I can't -- I want to know what will be in future. For now, I'm not happy. I'm not angry. I just want to see what will be in future. Now I can't say anything about it.

CHANCE: So you're reserving judgment?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

CHANCE (voice-over): And how far Russia will be dragged into Syria's chaos remains unclear --

SOKOLOFF (ph): (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

CHANCE: -- but some wars have proved easier to enter than to leave.

Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Israeli police are limiting access to Jerusalem's old city after a deadly weekend attack. Only certain groups, such as Israeli citizens and tourists, are allowed in the historic neighborhood. Police have also banned Muslim men under 50 from attending prayers at the holy site in the city. Palestinian officials say the Israelis are being arrogant and reckless. The new rules come after a 19-year-old Palestinian man killed two Israelis in the old city before being shot to death by police.

Now switching gears, "The Martian" had a very good weekend down here on earth. Up next, I talk with a critic about what's driving the movie's rise to the top.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:32:22] SESAY: Hello, everyone. The South Korean student that has been detained in North Korea is reportedly about to be released. The South Korean Unification Ministry says Won-Moon Joo is expected to be handed over to South Korea at the border in a few hours.

Kathy Novak is in Seoul and joins us now with details.

Kathy, what do we know about this decision to free the student now?

KATHY NOVAK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we know is just coming from the South Korean side at this stage. It says that North Korea informed the authorities here that this student was to be handed over this afternoon in just a few hours from now. More than that, we're not sure because there's nothing official coming out from the North Korean state media in terms of the reason why he may be released this afternoon. There is a major national holiday coming up. The questions are, perhaps, with the timing be associated with that. But in terms of the reasons behind North Korea's decision, we just don't know.

What we do know is that this was a very lucky young man. There are three other South Koreans still being detained in North Korea. They were sentenced to life sentences of hard labor in labor camps. And South Korea continues to call for their release as well.

We would imagine that Joo will also be up for some questioning when he arrives on the South Korean side. It is illegal for a South Korean citizen to cross into North Korea without permission. So there will certainly be questions about that, and, indeed, what happened to him while he was in North Korea -- Isha?

SESAY: Well, we're seeing some pictures of Won-Moon Joo speaking to Will Ripley in recent months. What do we know about why he did, indeed, cross over into North Korea? Or what have we learned?

NOVAK: Well, what we heard from him, when he spoke to Will, as you say, he is an NYU student, a South Korean citizen but a resident in the United States studying there. He travelled from China into North Korea and said he wanted to get arrested, that he thought that this whole event would cause -- he said he wanted a great event to happen. And he was telling Will Ripley at the time that he was hoping he would be able to tell the story of an ordinary student who was able to cross into North Korea and, by the good graces, basically, he said, of the authorities there be allowed to return home. It seems, according to the South Korean Unification Ministry, that may, indeed, be what is going to happen this afternoon. Though, of course, we don't know what is going to be happening to him when he reaches here in South Korea, because, as I say, there will be some major questions being asked of him. Because when he talks about a great event, he didn't really expand on how he thought this could be a good thing. This is a very unusual event, and certainly very dangerous. And he was facing the potential of a very harsh punishment in North Korea.

[01:40:18] SESAY: Kathy, if he is, indeed, released, which is the expectation, will it make any measurable difference in relations between the North and the South?

NOVAK: Well, it's interesting because he referred to that when he spoke to CNN back in May, that he was hoping that if he were released, that would do something to better relations between the North and the South. As I say, there are three other South Korean citizens doing hard labor, life sentences in North Korea. The South will continue to push for their release.

It comes at a very tense time between North and South Korea. As I mentioned, there's this major anniversary coming up in North Korea. We're expecting a big military parade in Pyongyang. There was also expectation that at the time of that event there may be a rocket launch or a nuclear test or fears that another provocative move could be happening from North Korea. So the South is constantly watching out for that. But lately, relations have simmered down from the time of a couple of months ago when there was artillery fire exchanged across the border and high-level talks had to be had to calm the situation. But it's always a tense time on the peninsula, Isha, and it remains that way now with this major anniversary coming up in North Korea in just a few days' time.

SESAY: It is, indeed, always a tense time on the peninsula.

Kathy Novak joining us from Seoul, South Korea. Thank you, Kathy. Appreciate it.

Now the fall movie season has blasted off with the release of "The Martian." The Matt Damon space thriller topped the weekend box office, grossing an estimated $100 million worldwide, including $55 million in the U.S. Amra Walker takes a look now at the sci-fi hit. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT DAMON, ACTOR: So I have to make water and grow food on a planet that nothing grows.

(SHOUTING)

DAMON: In your face, Neil Armstrong.

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMRA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In "The Martian," Matt Damon stars an as astronaut stranded on the red planet, mistakenly left for dead after a powerful storm forces his crew to abandon their mission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAMON: This is Mark Watney. And I'm still alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: With help more than 100 million miles away, Damon has to survive all alone while NASA plans a daring rescue.

Damon, Director Ridley Scott, and the rest of the cast turned out on the red carpet in London for the film's European premiere.

DAMON: It's a really uplifting message and movie, and it felt like right now with everything happening, it was a nice thing to put out into the world.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I think the movie works very, very well. And I got to work with some terrific people.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: It's amazing, and it's Matt. People like to see matt. People like to see what Ridley is doing. It's just really exciting to be here.

WALKER: And the movie is also getting some help generating buzz, thanks to this week's news that NASA scientists have found water on Mars.

DAMON: Cheers. Congratulations to everybody at NASA with this is huge, huge news. I wish I knew about it while I was stranded on Mars. But the next time I'm stuck there, at least I know there will be water.

WALKER: Maybe movie makers can tackle that in a sequel.

Amra Walker, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE) SESAY: Well, "The Martian" could break records by the time the box office numbers settle. Right now, just shy of having the biggest October opening ever.

Earlier, I spoke with Tim Grierson, the chief film critic of "Paste" magazine about the movie's appeal.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Tim, great to have you with us.

A $55 million opening weekend box office haul for "The Martian." Help me understand the pull here. Is it Matt Damon? Is it Ridley Scott? Is it the recent discovery of flowing water on Mars?

(LAUGHTER)

What is it that is driving "The Martian"?

TIM GRIERSON, CHIEF FILM CRITIC, "PASTE" MAGAZINE: It may be a little of all of those things, actually. I think it's just a great concept, the idea of this lone astronaut stuck on Mars trying to figure out how he's going to get home and NASA trying to figure out how to rescue him. We've had stories like "Castaway" and "All Is Lost" and even "Gravity," really like survival stories. They are very popular. I think the fact that they discovered, you know, water on Mars, or at least announced it this week, I think that could help kind of boost people's interest in it. I think the reviews have been really strong for this movie. I thought it was really great myself. I think it's just a really great feel-good movie. I think all of those factors together, combined, to make people feel like this is the movie we want to see this weekend.

SESAY: You wrote a great review for it in "Paste" magazine, and one of the things you say is this is not a survival movie, which is what a lot of people may expect. Explain that to me.

[01:45:] GRIERSON: My own father was nervous about seeing this movie. He was like, it's a guy by himself for a whole movie. Do I want to see that? There are little elements of that. Matt Damon is a botanist who has to make 30 days worth of rations last for a year. But the movie is very much about this idea of how people's brain power, how, you know, the smartest people in the world, can work together to figure out how to rescue this one guy who is stuck on Mars.

For me, the thing that's really strong about this movie as opposed to "Castaway" is that the character that Matt Damon plays. He is not a character who is going through this ordeal to learn something about himself, as opposed to Tom Hanks' character, where it was a cosmic lesson that this character had to learn about not being so hung up on time and sort of appreciating the everyday. Mark Watney, the character that Matt Damon plays, is a pretty capable, regular, normal smart guy. So this kind of challenge that he goes through is more just about him showing off his competency as opposed to some sort of deep wound in himself that he's going to learn from. SESAY: But the thing about movies, about brain power, they place the

director in a pretty tight spot where he has to walk a fine line --

GRIERSON: Right.

SESAY: -- between portraying the cerebral and the movie just being dull.

(LAUGHTER)

GRIERSON: Yes.

SESAY: But you say Ridley Scott pulls it off.

GRIERSON: Yeah. I think it's really well done. It's based on a novel from a few years ago. And what the movie does really well, it's kind of like a mystery or a whodunit, how is this guy going to get off Mars? You get to watch Matt Damon's character figure things out. He is such a smart guy anyway. He figures out, OK. This is how I can make water. This is how I can make food. This is how I can contact NASA. And not unlike "Apollo 13" from 20 years ago, you know, the people back home at NASA are figuring out, if we get a ship at this time over there, how can we make it work? So it's definitely not too cerebral or boring. This is an intense, well-made thriller. There's an idea of a ticking clock. We have to get this guy back in time. So you get wrapped up in smart people doing smart things. And figuring out, if we do this and this and this, we can get this guy back home.

SESAY: Tim, great to have you in with us this evening. Great review in "Pace" magazine, as I said. And I'm going to go check it out. Thank you.

GRIERSON: Thank you.

SESAY: $55 million in the U.S. alone.

Well, "Star Wars" isn't just a box office legend, but an auction success as well. Details of a record-setting sale of movie memorabilia. That just ahead.

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PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good Monday morning to you. Pedram Javaheri, for CNN "Weather Watch."

Weather patterns across the Americas, on the eastern side, it's been a historic rain season, even snowfall across the high Sierras. A flash flood warning issued for portions of Death Valley, one of the driest places in the world.

But the bigger story in recent days has been the historic amount of rainfall with what eventually became part parts of the storm from Joaquin. Some moisture moving its way towards the southern portion of the U.S., interacting with an existing front that was in place, put down some 600 millimeters of rainfall in some places across the state of South Carolina. A one in a 1,000 year event took place with the storm system, and still some moisture that will exit the picture in the next 24 hours. Generally speaking, about 25 or so millimeters could still come down over this region.

Atlanta shoots for 22 degrees today. In San Francisco, same temperature but sunny skies. No fog across the area as a high pressure tries to build as we work our way towards the middle of the week. Across the Caribbean, temps in Kingston, Jamaica, 32. San Juan, mid 30s as well. Some thunderstorms possible. La Paz, about 17 degrees and sunny skies. Further to the South we go, temps about 13 degrees.

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[01:51:53] SESAY: Hello, everyone. U.S. Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, is taking her campaign to late-night TV. She performed on the 41st season premiere of "Saturday Night Live," playing a bartender serving drinks to Hillary Clinton, played by Kate McKinnon. It was Clinton's impersonation of Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, that got the biggest laughs. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KATE MCKINNON, ACTRESS: Well, I'm just so darn bummed. All anyone wants to talk about is Donald Trump.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE & FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Donald Trump? Isn't he the one that's like, uh, you're all losers?

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did somebody say vacation?

(LAUGHTER)

(CHEERING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my god. They're multiplying.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Clinton later tweeted that a vote for her would mean four more years of McKinnon's impression of her.

One piece of "Star Wars" memorabilia has set a record at auction. Fans know Princess Leia's space ship from the opening scene of the first "Star Wars" movie. A miniature model of that "Star Wars" ship sold for $450,000, a record for the Profiles in History online auction on Friday. And Princess Leia's iconic bikini, seen in "Return of the Jedi" brought in $96,000. Earlier, I spoke with Brian Chanes, head of acquisitions at the

Profiles in History Auction House, about this record-setting auction.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

First question, who on earth is shelling out this kind of money, $450,000 for a blockade runner, and $96,000 for the bikini?

BRIAN CHANES, HEAD OF ACQUISITIONS, PROFILES IN HISTORY AUCTION HOUSE: I know. It's unbelievable. But really, I mean, they are very iconic pieces in American culture. I mean, you know, you don't look at it necessarily for a 16-inch model per se or a very expensive bikini. Everyone remembers these when they watch the films. Unfortunately, I'm not able to tell you who the people -- I'm bound my confidentiality. I cannot share with you who won those.

SESAY: What I will ask you is this. Are we looking at contemporary art collectors or just ordinary movie lovers? You can tell us that.

CHANES: Oh, of course. Now, who knows? There's probably a lot of crossover. There are contemporary art directors I'm sure who would collect this. But overall, they happen to be movie fans and enjoy popular culture. And what more pop culture do you have than "Indiana Jones" and his whip or hat or Princess Leia?

SESAY: I can understand "Star Wars" going for a lot. But Leonard Nimoy's Spock tunic went for $84,000. Did that surprise you?

CHANES: Not at all. First of all, very rare to have this original series, very well documented, that particular tunic was given away as a contest prize to someone back in the 1960s. It came with a letter from Nimoy as well as the costume designer. So rare to have documentation that goes back that far.

SESAY: And you mentioned "Indiana Jones." The bull whip went for $204,000. The fedora for $90,000. I know I'm not the only fan, but how fierce was the bidding?

[01:55:24] CHANES: Very fierce. The hats started the bidding at $30,000.

(CROSSTALK)

SESAY: And went up to $90,000?

CHANES: Went up to, $90,000. That's right.

SESAY: That's absolutely incredible.

It's my understanding that, back in the day, studios were just giving the stuff away. You know, the props and the costumes. They were selling them off on lots. They had no idea as to the value of what they had.

CHANES: That's correct.

SESAY: I would imagine this has changed, especially with auctions like this.

CHANES: Big wake-up call for them, I think. Back in the 1970s, MGM had their big back-lot sale when the studio system was beginning to crumble and they were selling off their assets. But, you know, back then, it was very cottage. People would say, oh, this was used in a movie. And people would say, oh, that's neat. Now it's monetized, and people know how rare these things are.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Incredible amount of money being spent on movie memorabilia.

Our thanks to Brian Chanes.

You're watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm Isha Sesay.

Stay with us. The news continues with Rosemary Church and Errol Barnett right after this.

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