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North Korean Rocket Launch; Heated Race for the White House; South Korea Confirms North Launched a Satellite; Earthquake in Taiwan Kills At Least 20 People; Syrians Flee Aleppo as Government Forces Gain Ground; Anti-Migrant Protesters Clash with Police in Calais; Security Heightened Ahead of Super Bowl. Aired 5-6a ET
Aired February 07, 2016 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:09] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: North Korea says it launched a satellite into orbit. Its neighbors and the U.S., though, are skeptical of Pyongyang's motives.
The race for the White House. The dust settles from the final Republican debate before Tuesday's primary in the state of New Hampshire. We will have the latest for you.
Plus, it is the biggest sporting event of the year in the United States. And computer measures are being put in place. We will preview what that means before the start of Super Bowl 50.
From CNN world headquarters in Atlanta, welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell.
CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.
(MUSIC)
HOWELL: And a good day to you.
We begin this hour with our top story, that rocket launch out of North Korea. The nation celebrating what it is calling the successful launch of a satellite. But the U.S., Japan, and South Korea, they say it is part of a ballistic missile test. They've called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that is now set for late Sunday morning.
South Korea's defense minister has briefed members of the parliament in Seoul. He says it does appear that North Korea succeeded in launching a satellite. The U.S. military has corroborated reports of a new satellite in orbit.
CNN is covering this story as only CNN can do with reporters around the world.
CNN's Alexandra Field live for us in Beijing.
But, first, let's turn to Paula Hancocks joining us in Seoul.
Paula, so, what is the latest that you're hearing out of Seoul?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, George, the defense minister as you said did say it appears as though the satellite went into orbit. He also said that it's not clear at this point whether or not it is functioning as it should. He said that will take some time to be able to tell. He was briefing parliament a little earlier today.
We also know from the defense ministry that they have they think found part of the rocket in the waters just off Jeju, an island off the south coast of South Korea. This is this afternoon. The military picked it up, they've taken it for analysis, hoping that that will give submit some kind of indication of what North Korea's capabilities are.
Now, this isn't the first time North Korea has attempted one of these satellite launches. The question is just what does it gain from these satellite launches?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANCOCKS (voice-over): August 1998. Mission failed.
April 2009. A provocative act, says the U.S.
April 2012. The rocket broke up one minute into flight.
And December 2012.
Four attempt busy North Korea to launch a satellite into space only this one considered a success outside the country.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un clearly delighted, claiming the satellite did reach orbit and is working. A space program North Korea has pumped billions of dollars into over the years.
But why?
DANIEL PINKSTON, PROFESSOR OF INTL. RELATIONS, TROY UNIVERSITY: For weather forecasting, telecommunications, broadcasting, science, agriculture, mapping, all of those things. So, there is a legitimate interest. However, there are also military applications.
HANCOCKS: The rocket technology used is pretty much the same whether you put a satellite on top or a nuclear warhead, which is why most of the world is convinced this is simply a cover-up for a long-range ballistic missile test.
These launches put mutual tears on alert. Japan stations patriot missiles outside its defense ministry. Navies rush to retrieve debris from the rocket to assess the North's capabilities. Governments line up to condemn Pyongyang passing new sanctions and reminding them of previous U.N. Security Council resolutions that bar them from developing ballistic missile technologies.
Showing CNN its new satellite control center last year, scientists say that claims of missile tests are wrong. "My young scientists are really working hard", the director says, "so
they can develop a satellite. The U.S. and some Western forces are stabbing our scientists in the heart with these claims."
But a satellite launch coming just weeks after a fourth nuclear test raises already heightened concerns.
JOHN DELURY, YONSEI UNIVERSITY: They need two pieces to their nuclear deterrent. They need the sort of weapon itself, and then they need the delivery system. They need a way to make people feel like, we can hit you with this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HANCOCKS: And with each satellite launch, North Korea's scientists are learning a little more whether or not the satellite launch is successful. And that's clearly more important to Kim Jong-un at this point than heeding international pressure -- George.
HOWELL: Paula Hancocks live for us in Seoul, South Korea -- Paula, thank you.
And now, let's turn to Alexandra Field live in Beijing.
Alexandra, this really flies in the face of Chinese efforts to bring stability to the region, to de-escalate the situation after North Korea tested an H-bomb, even though world powers, including the U.S., have not quite confirmed that to be the case.
[05:05:07] ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, frankly, George, the timing of this is a bit of an insult because this is the eve of the Lunar New Year in Beijing, the most important holiday in China.
Despite that, officials have put out a statement today in response saying they believe North Korea should have the right to the, quote- unquote, "peaceful exploration of space". However, that is restricted according to U.N. sanctions. The statement goes on to say that China regrets that North Korea would carry out this launch using ballistic missile technology.
But, frankly, George, for now, those are the strongest words that the Chinese have.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FIELD (voice-over): The provocations from Pyongyang keep coming. First, an H-bomb test, now a rocket launch viewed as a ballistic missile test -- enough for a senior Chinese official to make a recent trip to the tiny hermit kingdom to call for restraint. But when he returned to China he seemed resigned.
WU DAWEI, CHINESE SR. REPRESENTATIVE ON KOREAN AFFAIRS (through translator): I said all I had to say and did all I had to do. I don't know what the outcomes would be at present.
FIELD: The Chinese have more leverage here than any other country, sharing nearly all of North Korea's northern border. They're the country's largest trading partner and its biggest international investor. The U.S. believes a tighter squeeze on the North Korean economy could force cooperation.
JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: With all due respect, more significant and impactful sanctions were put in place against Iran, which did not have a nuclear weapon, than against North Korea, which does.
FIELD: For its part, China has backed recent U.N. sanctions against the country, targeting military weapons, luxury goods and technology. But normal trade with China continues largely unaffected. With the risk of the economic collapse of a neighboring country in the balance, China cautions against taking sanctions too far.
WANG YI, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Sanctions are not an end in themselves. A critical thing is to achieve a resolution of the issue. China will act in a responsible manner. In the meantime we must point out that the new resolution should not provoke tensions that destabilize the Korean peninsula. Rather, push towards the goal which is negotiation.
FIELD: There are mounting signs of a cooling relationship between North Korea and historically its biggest supporter.
CHENG XIAOHE, CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY ANALYST: China is not in the positions to support war regime or prop up war regime.
FIELD: After North Korea's most nuclear test China's President Xi Jinping spoke with South Korea's President Park Geun-hye and U.S. President Barack Obama. President Xi has never met with Kim Jong-un in the four years since North Korea's dictator came to power.
(END VIEOTAPE)
FIELD: So, beyond China's expression of regret for North Korea's launch, will that actually translate into any kind of action here?
Well, George, the statement goes on to say China is calling for calm and restraint from all parties involved throughout the international community and China is reiterating its stance here that they believe that the best path forward in terms of forcing some cooperation from North Korea is through dialogue and negotiations. And that is clearly a point that is directly addressed to the U.S. they are saying that Pyongyang has continued with these provocations in order to get the attention of the U.S. China is advising that the U.S. needs to be in talks with North Korea, that that would be more effective in their position than China going further with economic sanctions, which are clearly a risk, China perceives -- George.
HOWELL: Indeed. Alexandra Field live for us in Beijing.
Alexandra, thank you so much.
Reaction from around the world, it has been sharp. South Korea's President Park Geun-hye is pledging to protect her citizens saying, "We don't know when North Korea is going to do another provocative action, so our government needs to come up with a plan to protect the safety of our people."
From the U.S. and the Secretary of State John Kerry saying the following, "The United States strongly condemns today's missile launch by the DPRK -- a flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions related to the DPRK use of ballistic missile technology.
And from Russia, the foreign ministry released this statement saying in part, "Pyongyang didn't listen to the calls from the international community, once again demonstrating defiant disregard for international law."
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calls the North Korea rocket launch totally unacceptable and he says he will do whatever is necessary to protect his country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHINZO ABE, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): North Korea has conducted a missile launch despite repeated urging by the government of Japan as well as the international community to exercise self-restraint.
This is totally unacceptable. Today's missile launch, which follows a recent nuclear test, is a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
[05:10:01] We will resolutely take measures, acting in cooperation with the international community. We intend to take all possible measures to ensure the safety and the peace of mind of the Japanese people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: The Japanese prime minister there, Shinzo Abe, saying it is totally unacceptable. And now, France calling North Korea's rocket launch a senseless provocation. And it is urging the U.N. Security Council to take swift and severe action when it meets in about six hours from now.
John Nilsson-Wright heads the Asia programme at Chatham House, a London-based think tank, and joins us live from Paris.
John, good to have you with us this hour. So, we appreciate your insight.
Look, whether this rocket launch is for scientific purposes or if it's a test for intercontinental ballistic missiles, it is no doubt showing other nations North Korea's increasing power and ability to deliver that power, quite frankly.
So, what are your thoughts about what happened and how the world is responding and reacting to it?
JOHN NILSSON-WRIGHT, ASIA PROGRAMME, CHATHAM HOUSE: Well, if the initial reports suggesting that the North has been able to test a rocket that is in fact longer than its last test, some are speculating it might reach as far as 13,000 kilometers, long enough to reach the United States, and possibly also carry a heavier payload than the last test that took place in December of 2012, it would be yet again further confirmation that the North Koreans are developing their military capabilities in a way that is deeply worrying to the international community, precisely because what the North Koreans want to prove is to the ability to deploy a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile.
And I think that explains in part why the international community has responded so swiftly and will almost certainly be a convening of the U.N. Security Council in the next six hours or so. And I think there's a strong effort on the part of individual states and collectively between renewed sanctions on the North. The problem is, those sanctions don't seem to have much effect in dissuading North Korea from engaging in these provocations.
HOWELL: That is the question, you know, whether more sanctions would really make a difference in this case.
But I'd like to also ask you, in your opinion, internally, in North Korea, what do you believe the motivation is for this? Is it to show the rest of the world its strength, or is it to demand some sort of concessions from other nations to somehow get more aid? What do you believe the reasoning is for these continued provocations?
NILSSON-WRIGHT: I think it's probably both of those reasons and perhaps a third. Kim Jong-un wants to present himself as a legitimate and strong leader of his country. He's been in power now for about four years but still is young. And part of his strategy is to persuade his people that he can deliver two key things -- economic prosperity for his country but also the sense that this is a strong, if you like, defiant nation that is able to resist foreign pressure.
In addition to that, of course, he wants to try and persuade the United States to sit down and engage in negotiations about diplomatic recognition, about a formal end to the conflict on the Korean peninsula or a peace treaty with the United States. And he wants Washington, of course, to accept de facto that the North is a nuclear power. That's something that, of course, Washington can't do because it would effectively amount to recognizing this pattern of flagrant violation of the Nonproliferation Treaty and that open a Pandora's box of potential arms race in the region.
HOWELL: I'd like to ask you about the relationship between North Korea and China. Obviously, this flies in the face of Chinese efforts to de-escalate the situation there after the reported h-bomb testing that North Korea conducted. You know, also trying to maintain stability.
How does this affect relations between the two nations?
NILSSON-WRIGHT: It certainly doesn't help them. I think the Chinese will continue to be irritated. But they're in a difficult position. They really don't want to embrace the tougher sanctions that I'm sure the Americans and their allies will be calling for, because from the Chinese perspective, further pressure from the North that might destabilize the regime is both strategically not in China's interests, and they worry about the potential collapse of a regime, the outflow of perhaps tens of hundreds of thousands of North Korean refugees across the border and the creation of opportunity for the United States to extend its strategic influence across the peninsula.
The Chinese will, therefore, as they have been recently call on the United States, to actually sit down and have talks with the North Koreans. That's precisely what the North Koreans want, what Washington wants to avoid particularly this year of all years, an election year when American politicians would jump on any hint that the Obama administration is conducting anything other than a tough line against North Korea.
[05:15:00] HOWELL: John Nilsson-Wright with geopolitics there, explaining your thoughts on this North Korean rocket launch. We appreciate your time, again, with the Chatham House, a London-based think tank. Thank you so much.
You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.
And still ahead, news of the North Korean rocket launch came as the U.S. Republican presidential candidates squared off in a debate in New Hampshire. You will hear their reaction to the launch and other highlights of the debate.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOWELL: Welcome back.
The race for the White House, it is just two days now until the New Hampshire primary. Very important event, and the latest CNN/WMUR poll shows Donald Trump out ahead of his Republican rivals in the state with an 11-point lead over Marco Rubio.
On the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders leads Hillary Clinton in a 2-1 margin.
The Republican candidates squared off in their final debate before Tuesday's primary. The current front-runner in the race, Donald Trump, pitched his "Make America Great Again" motto, saying he knows how to deal with China. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to win with Trump. We're going to win. We don't win anymore. Our country doesn't win anymore. We're going to win with Trump. And people back down with Trump. And that's what I like, and that's what the country is going to like.
MODERATOR: Mr. Trump, thank you -- TRUMP: I deal with the Chinese all of the time. I do tremendous --
largest bank in the world is in one of my buildings in Manhattan. I deal with them. They tell me, they have total, absolute control, practically, of North Korea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Meanwhile, Chris Christie fired away at Marco Rubio, criticizing his level of experience and knocking him for what he called a memorized speech. Listen --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I like Marco Rubio. And he's a smart person and a good guy. But he simply does not have the experience to be president of the United States and make these decisions. We've watched it happen, everybody, for the last seven years. The people of New Hampshire are smart -- do not make the same mistake again.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This country already has a debt problem. We don't need to add to it by electing someone who has experience at running up and destroying the credit rating of a state.
But I would add this. Let's dispel with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing. He knows exactly what he's doing.
Chris, your state got hit by a massive snowstorm two weeks ago, you didn't even want to go back. They had to shame you into going back.
CHRISTIE: No.
RUBIO: And then you stay there for 36 hours --
(BOOS)
RUBIO: -- and then he left and came back to campaign.
[05:20:02] Those are the facts.
Here's the bottom line: this notion that Barack Obama doesn't know what he's doing is just not true.
CHRISTIE: There it is.
RUBIO: He knows exactly what he's doing.
CHRISTIE: There it is, the memorized 25-second speech. There it is, everybody.
RUBIO: That's the reason why --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Heated debate among the Republicans. Now, the presidential candidates are making their last stops across
New Hampshire. They're counting down until Tuesday's critical vote. That state may be small, but there are a lot at stake. As CNN's Fredricka Whitfield reports, when it comes to voting, anything goes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: Good-bye, everybody. See you --
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the final push across the Granite State, candidates are energizing big crowds and getting personal.
DR. BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: New Hampshire voters are tough, traditionally setting the bar high, expecting face time and demanding candidates understand what they need.
JENNIFER HORN, CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY: I don't think they want to hear a different message. They want sincerity and consistency. But they do also expect these candidates who are running for the highest office in the land to understand their concerns locally as well.
WHITFIELD (on camera): Do you think the candidates are put to a test in a different way here?
RAY BUCKLEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC PARTY: Oh, absolutely, and really significantly, because as president of the state chair association I get to go to all the state party events where oftentimes presidential candidates come, and it's like Madonna is showing up or Lady Gaga or some rock star that they are just so amazed that this person's in the same room with them.
And the people in New Hampshire are like, yes, whatever. So what is your position on nuclear disarmament? You know, what is your position on health care?
WHITFIELD (voice-over): The leaders of the state's Democratic and Republican parties agree on something else -- voters don't toe the party line.
(on camera): And this is a red state, though?
BUCKLEY: Purple state, Fredricka, purple state.
WHITFIELD: So anyone goes? Is that your feeling?
BUCKLEY: We have 43 percent of the electorate of independents. Plus those unregistered can register that morning and vote.
HORN: New Hampshire is notoriously independent in their decision- making. And I say all the time, whether they're a registered Republican or Democrat or an independent, they consider themselves to be independent. WHITFIELD (voice-over): And any candidate wanting to be chosen must
first register at the state capital.
(on camera): All right, Mr. House Speaker, Shawn Jasper. Any presidential candidate has to begin right here at the state house before they are name ends up on a ballot for primary.
SHAWN JASPER, NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE SPEAKER: Absolutely.
Yes. And only $1,000 to get on the ballot.
WHITFIELD: What makes New Hampshire in your view unique in the presidential race?
JASPER: Well, I think we're unique because we are a small state geographically. We have a great diversity of ideas and thoughts within our population.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): After filing here, candidates are steps away from another Concord tradition -- the Barley House.
(on camera): So Brian, this is your spot at the Barley House, and it's become a fixture on the campaign trail?
BRIAN SHEA, OWNER, THE BARLEY HOUSE: Yes, it has. We've pretty much had most candidates come in here. Not everyone.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Restaurant owner Brian Shea says there's still plenty of time before the general election.
(on camera): You've got pictures of everyone who has been through here, especially within the past 15 years.
SHEA: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Michele Bachmann, you've got Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton.
SHEA: There's Newt Gingrich, and funny story with Newt Gingrich. He was in here, and a reporter asked him, you know, are you seriously running for president? And he said, of course I am. I'm at the Barley House. So that kind of confirmed it for us. And so, it was kind of cool.
WHITFIELD (voice-over): Many here agree it's pretty cool, rolling out the welcome mat for all the candidates and anyone else excited about the first primary state and the race to the White House.
BUCKLEY: When people say, oh, New Hampshire. Why New Hampshire? It's like, there's no walls. Come on in. You know?
You get to do everything. We don't check IDs when you go into a town hall meeting. You can be a Democrat, be a Republican, be from California, you can be from Florida.
WHITFIELD: Every candidate maximizing every minute in the final hours to win New Hampshire.
Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Concord, New Hampshire.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: So, big stakes for the primary in New Hampshire Tuesday. But here's the thing -- snow may be on the way, is on the way, for the U.S. Northeast. So the question now, Derek Van Dam, will that affect voter turnout?
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's a good question. You know, we saw a similar event in Iowa about five or six days ago in play with the caucuses. Now, the primaries in New Hampshire with the potential of snow looming on the horizon.
HOWELL: They're used to cold weather.
VAN DAM: And they're used to cold weather in that part of the world. But, it's all about how much snow and how cold will it get, and will that impact voter turnout.
(WEATHER REPORT)
[05:26:03] VAN DAM: George, I've got to show you this video. Some vehicles got stuck on an ice that quickly melted at a festival. The winter fest in Lake Geneva, specific. It was also the U.S. snow- sculpting competition. People thought it was safe to actually park their cars on the lake.
HOWELL: Well, that's not a good idea it seems.
VAN DAM: Not the best idea, no. Fortunately, no people inside of the cars. They're still trying to figure out how to get the vehicles out of the water. That is probably not how they planned to spend their Saturday.
HOWELL: I've been to Lake Geneva. It is cold there.
VAN DAM: It is. Beautiful, as well. Hopefully, they can get the cars out of the water.
HOWELL: Derek, thank you very much.
VAN DAM: Thanks, George.
HOWELL: You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.
Still ahead, the next half hour I should say, there is international outrage after North Korea launches a rocket. We will show you what's behind that anger, ahead.
Plus, Taiwan in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake. Families cling to hope that their loved ones may have survived as rescue efforts continue.
We're live from Atlanta and broadcasting around the globe this hour. You're watching CNN worldwide.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:30:35] HOWELL: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Good to have you with us. I'm George Howell.
The headlines we're following:
North Korea is claiming it successfully launched a satellite into orbit. The launch is widely believed, though, to be a cover for a long-range missile test. It comes just a month after North Korea claimed to successfully test a hydrogen bomb. The world powers have not yet confirmed that to be the case.
At least 20 people are dead after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Taiwan. You're looking at live images near the epicenter of the quake in Tainan City in Taiwan. Search crews are going through a collapsed apartment building there looking for more survivors. More than 70 people remain unaccounted for.
With just two days until the New Hampshire primary, the Republican presidential candidate, Marco Rubio, was criticized by Chris Christie and Jeb Bush over his level of experience during a presidential debate on Saturday. The latest polls show Donald Trump leading in that state among Republicans.
Anti-migrant protests took place in several European countries on Saturday from the United Kingdom to the Czech Republic. Clashes broke out at a demonstration in Calais, France, where marchers defied a ban on rallies. Police say that ten people were arrested there. You see that happening there. Some were armed with blunt weapons and knives.
South Korea's defense minister has told parliament it does, in fact, appear that Pyongyang has launched a satellite. And the U.S. military has confirmed that two objects including what they believe is a new satellite went into orbit shortly after North Korea launched a rocket. The United States, South Korea, and Japan all say the launch, though, was a front for a long-range missile test.
Michael Firn is the journalist in Tokyo and now joins us with the Japanese perspective and reaction to what happened.
So, Michael, good to have you with us again. Look, we've heard from the prime minister there, Shinzo Abe, we heard earlier in the show where he called this totally unacceptable, saying that he will do whatever is necessary to protect the country.
So, what more are you hearing about reaction there from Japan?
MICHAEL FIRN, JOURNALIST: Well, we also heard from the Defense Minister Gen Nakatani who called this a significant provocation against Japan and a threat to the peace of the international community. He said that although North Korea is calling this a satellite launch, it will further their ballistic missile program. Now, Nakatani also said that there are some things that suggest that
this rocket was not significantly different from one launched three years ago. He said the fact that it split into portions which fell apart from one piece in the same places as that launch in December, 2012, do suggest that the rocket was similar to the Taepodong 2 that was launched in December, 2012.
Now, we are getting comments also from Grant Newsome (ph), who is a defense adviser, he says that North Korea has been making progress in its nuclear program. He says that it will continue to do so. He says that it will improve its accuracy. It will improve its payloads, and those will eventually include nuclear payloads.
Now, the Taepodong 2 had a range, according to the Japanese defense ministry, of around 10,000 kilometers, which could take it to the mainland of the United States, but only if it had a small warhead fitted, a small warhead fitted. There are doubts that North Korea can do that yet. As Grant Newsome says, this could be something in the cards coming up soon.
HOWELL: Michael, I also want to ask you about relations with other countries -- countries that do have differences but are coming together from China to Japan, from Japan to South Korea from, you know, China to the United States. How does this bring those nations together, or does it?
FIRN: Well, it does because the perceived from North Korea or the real threat from North Korea will obviously make nations work harder together. We've seen a united front from South Korea, the United States, and Japan in pushing for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, in pushing for sanctions against North Korea.
[05:35:04] Also, Grant Newsome telling me that going forward, cooperation and information sharing between Japan and the U.S. in terms of these kinds of threats will improve exponentially.
So, it really is forcing companies together. There is some differences, of course. China very concerned about the U.S./South Korean plan to adopt a new anti-missile program that they see could also be used to spy on China. So, some countries, you know, feeling friction because of this nuclear test.
HOWELL: Michael Firn live for us in Tokyo -- Michael, thank you so much for your reporting and insight there.
Now we move to Taiwan where more than 70 people remain unaccounted for after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck early Saturday.
This is the moment that a 7-year-old boy was rescued from of rubble. You see it here. An apartment building completely collapsed on him and many others. At least 20 people have died.
Since the earthquake hit, families have been patiently watching the rescue operation continue, clinging to home that their relatives will be rescued next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YUE QING-SHENG, RELATIVE OF MISSING PERSON (through translator): We have two apartments on the sixth and eighth floor. That means they are in the deeper parts of the debris. Of course, our rescue schedule will be slower than others. But we can understand it because it can't be fast. Nothing can be achieved by rushing things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Let's go now to Evalyn Chen, a reporter with Taiwan network SETTV, and joins us on the line from Tainan, which was the near the epicenter of that earthquake.
Evalyn, good to have with us again.
EVALYN CHEN, SETTV (via telephone): Thank you.
HOWELL: We've seen the -- thank you -- we've seen the images of the search continuing there. I want to ask you, are authorities still hopeful that they can get many people out of the rubble from these buildings?
CHEN: Yes, the rescue efforts are still ongoing. There's a lot of hope that the rescuers have located three people here on the north side here. One is (INAUDIBLE), she can clearly respond to the rescuer and say her name. Besides that, there are her husband and 2-year-old son.
However, her husband and her 2-year-old son, they're not optimistic. The rescuer now is trying to dig a bigger hole so that they can get inside to get Mrs. Xi (ph) and her family out. Right now, here, we can see they are keeping -- keep throwing rocks out of the windows.
And there are big ambulance here, waiting here. Now here there is another challenge because this building is still swaying slowly to the north side. They're afraid that it will fall apart again. People are asking why this building collapsed.
Actually, we have found some empty oil cans inside the hold of the building. There's criticism. Also, there's some criticism about is this a (INAUDIBLE) building?
HOWELL: Evalyn Chen on the line with us from SETTV in Tainan City -- Evalyn, thank you.
Looking at the image, again, for viewers, you see how precariously -- how dangerous it is for people to get into the building and try to rescue survivors if they are in there. Again, more than a day after this earthquake happened. And weather, temperatures are also an issue there.
You're watching CNN NEWSROOM.
Still, ahead, thousands of desperate Syrians streaming out of Aleppo as government forces gain ground in northern Syria. A live report from the border straight ahead. Plus, football fans, they are preparing to watch the party, the big
party, the Super Bowl. And we will break down just how staggeringly lucrative this game will be this year.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:42:32] HOWELL: Thousands of desperate Syrian people are streaming out of Aleppo as fighting intensifies around the city. With Russian air support, the Syrian regime has been advancing on opposition-held areas around Aleppo which was once that country's economic hub. The U.N. reports that more than 40,000 people have been displaced so far by the violence.
For the latest, let's go to our senior international correspondent, Arwa Damon, live at the Turkish-Syrian border.
Arwa, good to have you.
So, look, thousands of people are trying to escape into Turkey. And there are fears of humanitarian disaster there. What are you seeing?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, George, from this vantage point, we're actually not seeing much, and that is because despite the fact that Turkish authorities continue to insist they do have an open-door policy when it comes to Syrians trying to flee the violence, this is clearly not an open door. The border crossing remains closed with tens of thousands on the other side, some of them specifically on the other side of this crossing in and of itself. Others scattered around the various different villagers that are in close proximity to the Turkish border.
Now, Turkish authorities have been saying that they are providing those in need with things like tents and food, but it's clearly not enough. Yes, there are some tents that have been set up on the other side, but blankets have not been distributed. These tents do not provide any warmth and very little shelter from the elements.
Up until this morning, it had been raining pretty heavily. And there's also very little whether it comes to food, water, and other basic necessities that one would need to try to survive in these circumstances. And these circumstances being when you are forced to make that impossible decision to flee your home because you are under constant bombardment, and therefore, fleeing with literally only what you can carry on your back now.
This exit is being caused by, as you mentioned there, this intensified Russian aerial bombardment that has allowed regime troops to make significant advances.
And what we're talking about in particular at this junction is people predominantly fleeing from the Aleppo countryside. But the United Nations is warning that when it comes to the city of Aleppo itself, upwards of 300,000 people may potentially be in harm's way, George.
HOWELL: Arwa Damon live for us at the Turkey/Syria border -- Arwa, thank you for your reporting there.
Now, as thousands of civilians flee Aleppo, they join an exodus that stretches across the region and well into Europe. Their presence hasn't been welcome in many places.
[05:45:03] Anti-migrant protesters vented their anger in cities across Europe on Saturday, from the Czech Republic to the U.K.
These are images from a rally in Dresden, Germany, planned by a far right group pushing for tougher immigration laws there.
In Calais, France, people clashed with police, and several were arrested. They were protesting the migrant camp at the port city called the jungle which houses an estimated 6,000 people.
CNN's Diana Magnay was at that protest in Calais, and she files this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Striking out for the Marseilles, these hordes of fervent nationalism to protest the thousands of migrants camped on Calais outskirts.
"They should go back to where they came from," this man says, "before we rip their heads off."
(CHANTING)
MAGNAY: Not much love for journalists here either.
"You don't understand the problems we have here in Calais," this man shouts at the press corps. The police are out in large numbers, and they don't mess around.
(SPEAKING IN FRENCH)
MAGNAY (on camera): His last warning, he says that the police will use force if the protesters don't go, that this meeting is banned.
What they've been doing is moving in and arresting the key troublemakers who are presumably known to police. At this gathering, there seem to be more police than protesters.
(voice-over): It doesn't take long to break this up. Around 20 arrested of the 200 or so who showed up. France has been in a state of emergency since the Paris attacks last November. That gives police special powers which human rights groups have criticized for unfairly targeting immigrant communities.
But it's clear that heavy-handed policing isn't confined just to them, in a country where the authorities have had more than their share of problems this past year. Calais' new residents kept their distance, down at the so-called jungle. The infamous shantytown near the entrance to the channel tunnel, they dream of crossing to the U.K. Even as new container units go up to afford them better housing, their temporary home becoming each day more permanent.
Diana Magnay, CNN, Calais.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Still ahead, the Super Bowl will be played today. We will take you behind the scenes for a look at the unprecedented security measures that are being taken around the stadium.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:51:31] HOWELL: The threat of the Zika virus is not scaring partygoers from one of the biggest parties on the planet, despite Brazil being ground zero for the disease.
Shasta Darlington has more on what officials are doing to keep carnival safe.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carnival is (INAUDIBLE) in swing at these block parties, hundreds of them across the city. Also the official parades.
Now, officials are trying to get out the word about the Zika virus and the mosquito that spreads it. Take a look at the fan they're handing out. Also handing out t-shirt, coming out on the street, trying to get people to sing songs involved in Zika.
The problem is, not a whole lot of people are listening, even with the news that scientists here have detected the Zika virus in saliva, people say the kissing carnival is always going to be the kissing carnival. Take a listen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Kissing is a situation that can't be avoided, and we still don't have proof that it can't be transmitted by saliva.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We're killing mosquitoes, we're killing Zika.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I'm a mosquito and I'm not worried. But some people are.
DARLINGTON: That doesn't mean that officials aren't taking steps to try and minimize contact with the mosquitoes, fumigating, going house to house to eliminate the pools of standing water. They want to make sure that six months before the Olympics --
(CHEERS)
DARLINGTON: -- carnival is remembered only for the fun and not for spreading the Zika virus. Shasta Darlington, CNN, Rio de Janeiro.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Shasta Darlington in the middle of it all there in Rio. Here in the United States, there is another party about to get underway. This Sunday, it is all about Super Bowl 50.
The Carolina Panthers face the Denver Broncos at Levi Stadium outside of San Francisco. There are millions and billions of dollars tied up to this massive game.
One hundred fourteen million, that is how many people in the United States watched the game on TV last year, making it the most-watched telecast of all time.
$5 million, that is the cost of a 30-second TV commercial for this year's game. It's also a record. $4.2 billion, that is the money expected to be bet on this game, most of it illegally, according to the American Gambling Association.
A bonus of $102,000 will be paid to the players of the winning team, and losers walk away not too bad either, $51,000 each.
Nearly $5,000, that is the average cost of a ticket to see the Super Bowl 50 in person, making it the most expensive sporting event in U.S. history.
Security officials are concerned the Super Bowl could also attract some negative attention.
Our Dan Simon has more on the unprecedented security measures taken around the stadium.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): While most everyone will watch the game on their big screen at home, the screen in this room will be tuned to a different channel. This is one of the key command centers for the Super Bowl where law enforcement watches live monitors near the stadium and monitors airspace.
It's all part of unprecedented level of security to keep fans safe.
(on camera): Thank you very much for giving us the ride.
COMMISSIONER GIL KERLIKOWSKE, CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL: We were happy to do it. These are the best air crews in the country.
SIMON (voice-over): We took a ride aboard a Blackhawk helicopter with the head of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske. His agency tasked with keeping close eyes on the skies above Levi Stadium.
[05:55:03] (on camera): You might call this the ultimate eye in the sky. These Blackhawk helicopters are equipped with cameras that can see faces below. It's just one of many technologies that's being deployed to keep fans safe.
(voice-over): With the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, law enforcement is on an even heightened alert for an attack on a big, high-profile target. Some 60 federal, state, and local agencies are involved in protecting the Bay Area.
(on camera): One would think that would be a pretty strong deterrent.
KERLIKOWSKE: We really think that participating in an event where we're public about the amount of effort, planning, and assets should serve as a deterrent. We really want somebody, if they were planning to do something, to really think very hard about it.
SIMON (voice-over): Agents are also tasked with screening every cargo truck that enters the stadium. These are X-rays on wheels that look for explosives. We could easily see that the large truck had stage equipment.
(on camera): We can't actually show what's on the screen for security purposes, but you can get a good sense as to what's in those vehicles.
(voice-over): Back in the Blackhawk, these choppers will be airborne during the entire game along with the Air Force F-15s just in case someone violates the airspace.
KERLIKOWSKE: So, Customs and Border Protection has been involved in the last 15 Super Bowls, and our air and marine operations involved in the last ten. So, the day after the Super Bowl, they'll start planning for the next one in Houston.
SIMON: Houston is the home of Super Bowl 51. There's no off season for law enforcement.
Dan Simon, CNN, Santa Clara, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOWELL: Thank you for joining us. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. The news continues right after the break.
