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Clinton Cancels Trip After Pneumonia Diagnosis; Syria Ceasefire Already In Doubt; A New Standard In Home Schooling; Mounting Concerns over N. Korea; Many Young Japanese Lead Reclusive Lives; Flight Attendant Praises "Miracle on the Hudson". Aired 1-2a ET

Aired September 12, 2016 - 01:00   ET

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


[01:00:10] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN NEWSROOM ANCHOR: Hillary Clinton's health goes from speculation to real concern. What her diagnosis of pneumonia and her delay in disclosing it could mean for her campaign?

Plus, a ceasefire for Syria is being greeted with more skepticism than joy inside this horrifically war-torn country. And more than half a million young people in Japan live in fear of leaving their homes. We'll tell you what's being done to ensure they don't miss out on their education and a social life to boot. It's all ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM. We're live from World Headquarters in Atlanta. Welcome to our viewers around the world. I'm Natalie Allen.

There are some answers now about Hillary Clinton's health status after she became ill and stumbled at a 9/11 ceremony in New York Sunday. Her doctor says the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday. She has now canceled a campaign trip to California because of it. She was supposed to leave on Monday. The doctor says Clinton was overheated and dehydrated at the ceremony but is now recovering. CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more on Clinton's pneumonia diagnosis.

[01:01:34] DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: We're still getting some details in about what exactly may have precipitated. What you're seeing in this video here with Secretary Clinton, clearly having some trouble getting into the van. Seems to stumble. What we heard initially as you now probably know is that this was due to an episode of overheating, sort of, a vague term, not clear what that meant. And then it was just a few hours later that we heard that in fact Secretary Clinton had been diagnosed with pneumonia, but that diagnosis took place on Friday. Today is Sunday. And that it was a pneumonia and a bacterial pneumonia for which she's being treated with antibiotics that may have made her condition even worse.

So, the way the - the way that we're sort of hearing from the campaign and from her personal doctor., Dr. Lisa Bardack is that she was dehydrated, she has an episode of overheating and much of that was precipitated by this diagnosis of pneumonia. There are still bits of information that we don't know. How did she get diagnosed with pneumonia? Did she get a chest x-ray? When was seen by a doctor? What type of bacteria is causing this? And how is it being treated? And also, what is - what's the impact going to be on her travel schedule? Should she be traveling on a plane and doing other events? Should she be resting and getting rehydrated even more? These are still open questions. That - we're not sure that we're going to get any more of the answers to the questions, at least not over the next several hours. But as we get more information, we'll certainly bring to it you. Back to you for now.

ALLEN: Sanjay Gupta for us. Meantime, Donald Trump is not commenting on Hillary Clinton's health. Sources from his campaign say they want to be respectful. They also say surrogates have been told not to post on social media about the incident. Let's take a closer look at the political impact Clinton's pneumonia diagnosis might have, and how her campaign handles this. Let's turn to CNN politics reporter Eugene Scott. First of all, Eugene, the thing about Donald Trump, you know, Hillary Clinton is ill. He's holding back. Plus, this was the 9/11 remembrance. This was a day to sit back and honor victims and their families. And that could have played into this tactic, get well and concern about her health.

[01:03:50] EUGENE SCOTT, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: Very much so. I think this is the first presidential election since 9/11, where we have seen the two front-runners with such personal connections to New York. As you know, Donald Trump built his media empire in New York City. And Hillary Clinton was the senator for New York at the time of the attacks. And so, the stories that they bring to the situation are very personal as well as political. But as you mentioned earlier, Donald Trump's campaign has been very vocal about the desire that their surrogates and reporters be respectful of what has happened to Hillary Clinton over the last 12 hours.

ALLEN: Right. And also, both of these candidates have been somewhat criticized for not being more forthcoming about releasing their health records. And as we just heard from Dr. Sanjay Gupta, there are a lot of questions moving forward that we don't know about Hillary Clinton's condition. What do you think about the importance that they reveal more about how she's doing and what is expected for her as her schedule? She's not one to lighten up. We saw that, she was packed in a group there in New York just two days after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

SCOTT: Very much so. And after she was diagnosed Friday, she still had the fundraiser Friday night where she made what is now the infamous comment about a basket of deplorables. But she certainly has taken her doctor's advice thus far. Several high-profile events planned for the west coast have been canceled. As Monday she was supposed to be at a fundraiser in San Francisco where some people pay $50,000 to meet her. That was going to be headlined by K.D. Lang. And there was an economic speech planned for Tuesday that's now not happening as well as a luncheon fundraiser featuring Lionel Richie, and a dinner fundraiser featuring at the home of Diane Bond, first and very good designer. And so, she's definitely is pivoting and hoping to recovers quickly, so she can get back on the campaign trail.

ALLEN: And I think if I read it right, she was also supposed to be on The Ellen Degeneres Show.

SCOTT: Yeah.

ALLEN: You know, that could be something that could help her recover if she joined in and let Ellen have fun with her as long as she's OK. What about some criticism I heard earlier from our analyst about the fact that she is going out west to do these fundraisers with very, you know, the Hollywood elite, as they are sometimes called - instead of putting herself out in front of the people, especially right now when people want to see the - see this candidate and hear from this candidate, probably in a - in a setting where the American voter is front and center.

SCOTT: I imagine the campaign would say that she has a mixture of both planned. There will be opportunities in the near future where she can speak with regular voters, regular Americans soon. But the reality is the campaigns are very expensive to run, as we've seen both candidates launch - increased their fundraising opportunities in the last couple of weeks. And so that there is a mix that is required. Some people have to attend these high-profile events to raise money, so that they can go do life with people who they hope will eventually vote for them.

ALLEN: But one more question for you. You know, she has, you know, how many more weeks to go? And she needs her strength and she needs to be the energizer bunny, and she has been, of course. But I would think, perhaps, you've covered her, it would be hard for Hillary Clinton in the big picture to try and slow down.

SCOTT: Yes. I mean, time is of the essence. We're in - we're in the homestretch. We just have a few more weeks left until voters go to the polls. But pneumonia as you heard, while common is a very serious illness. And I imagine that she will want to respect her doctor's orders, and get the rest that she needs, so that she can finish her campaign and get back to making her message available to the people that she hopes will get on board with her.

ALLEN: Well, we'll wait and see the American people's reaction to this health alert, perhaps is what we should call it, with the candidate as they figure out who they will support in November. Thanks so much for joining us, Eugene Scott.

SCOTT: Thank you.

ALLEN: Thanks for your perspective. Well, we mentioned 9/11, and 15 years have passed since nearly 3,000 people were killed in the worse terrorist attack in U.S. history. One that we all watched horrifically. On Sunday, the nation paused to reflect and remember the victims of 9/11.

BARACK OBAMA, CURRENT U.S. PRESIDENT: 15 years may seem like a long time. But for the families who lost a piece of their heart that day, I imagine it can seem like just yesterday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Michael Patrick Iken.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Daniel Ilkanayev.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Frederick Jay Ell, Jr.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my father, John Patrick Gallagher. Dad, I - me and mom think about you every single day. But we'll never stop loving you and missing you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stephen A. Knapp.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eugenie (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And to my uncle, Andrew Fisher. Uncle Andrew, words can't describe how much everyone loves you and misses you. And I look forward to meeting - for us finally meeting in heaven.

OBAMA: We remember and we will never forget the nearly 3,000 beautiful lives taken from us so cruelly. We come together in prayer and in gratitude for the strength that's fortified us across these 15 years. And we renew the love and the faith that binds us together as one American family.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And for my late husband Mark Callejo, my late brother-in-law Stephen J. Callejo, and my brother Thomas Petistini. 15 years later, the love you three shared while you were alive, still lives on in all of us.

OBAMA: May God bless the memory of the loved ones here and across the country. And may God forever bless the United States of America.

CHOIR: For the land of the free and the home of the brave

ALLEN: 15 years on, and this service always so powerful and so painful. Remembrance services were also held near Jerusalem Sunday. Jerusalem is home to the only memorial outside the U.S. that lists the names of all the victims of 9/11, as you heard the children reading the names there in New York. CNN's Oren Liebermann is in Jerusalem.

[01:11:16] OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The commemoration ceremony here focused on what's called the 9/11 Living Memorial right here behind me. A number of different groups and representative placed these wreaths here as a way of commemorating those who died on 9/11. For example, this is from the embassy of the United States. The one next to it is the Jerusalem municipality. And there are a number of others here. The ceremony - this memorial itself focuses on what's right behind the wreaths, right behind here. This is a part of the Twin Towers that came falling down on 9/11 that was given to Israel by the City of New York. And that's why it's called a Living Memorial. It's a way of remembering and showing a living bond between the United States and Israel, between New York and Jerusalem.

Right at the start of the ceremony was a moment of silence. We'll take our own pause for a quick second as we look into that moment to see that commemoration. Here it is.

Among the people here to commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11 was a group of 50 American police officers, firefighters, and sheriffs, some of whom were first responders on 9/11, working in New York City. I asked the head of the delegation, "What's it like to be outside the United States on such an important anniversary?" Here's what he had to say.

CRAIG FLOYD, NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: We could not be prouder to stand with our police colleagues here in Israel to commemorate that anniversary, and to know that they share our grief and they remember those men and women who died tragically on that terrible day. Including 72 law enforcement officers who died trying to save and help those innocent people that were in need.

LIEBERMANN: Behind the memorial are these 14 metal tablets with the names of all of the victims from 9/11. Nearly 3,000 names laid right next to each other. There were a number of people after the ceremony here who laid flowers on that as their own way of commemorating, as well as a number of others who came afterwards to pause quietly and reflect in their own quiet way. Oren Liebermann, CNN, Jerusalem.

ALLEN: Meantime, the world tries and end another horrible conflict going on. That ceasefire is set to begin in Syria Monday. We'll tell you coming up here what the Syrian government and rebels say about honoring the truce. Will they? That's coming up.

Plus North Korea's latest nuclear test has the world on edge. We'll tell you how South Korea is gearing up to defend itself.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[01:15:40] KATE RILEY, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: I'm Kate Riley with your CNN World Sport Headlines. Stan Wawrinka is the U.S. Open champion, meaning he beat Novak Djokovic in the final. This is his third major title for the Swiss, and his first at Flushing Meadows. Novak Djokovic really wasn't looking on top form. The serve would have in fact two medical time-outs as he suffered from a bleeding toe. Now, Wawrinka was tougher mentally and physically on the night and the Swiss is now unbeaten, 3-0 in major finals.

To the English Premier League where Swansea hosted Chelsea. Diego Costa for the visitors ahead. Well, the home side would answer back at two goals. But Costa would bail the blues out with a late equalizer, his second of the afternoon. 2-all is how it would end. And Sunday marks the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks which claimed the lives of almost 3,000 people and injuring thousand more. And the New York Yankees paid tribute to the victims of 9/11 at the Yankee Stadium. Yankees manager Joe Girardi laid a wreath at the 9/11 monument. The monument (INAUDIBLE) before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

And as the NFL got under way, teams also paid their respects before the New York Jets. They faced the Cincinnati Bengals. A moment of silence was held back. And that's a look at all your sports headlines. I'm Kate Riley.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[01:17:29] ALLEN: And welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. After a weekend of deadly airstrikes in Syria, rebel groups say they are skeptical about a ceasefire set to begin in the coming hours. The Syrian observatory for human rights said airstrikes killed at least 90 people in rebel-held areas Saturday and Sunday. A representative with the Free Syrian Army group tells CNN the group has reservations about the truce, in part because it doesn't trust the Syrian regime. The Islamist rebel group Ahrar al-Sham also issued a statement critical of the deal.

The Syrian government has announced its support of the truce set to start at sundown on Monday. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh is in neighboring Jordan. She break downs the issues surrounding this complex war and a complex idea to try and end it.

[01:18:23] JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A day before the U.S. and Russian negotiators cessation of hostilities is due to take effect in Syria. That is at sundown on Monday, the first day of the Muslim Eid celebration. There was no sign of let-up in violence. Activists we spoke to in a rebel-held eastern Aleppo said that on Sunday, bombardment, airstrikes continued on different neighborhoods in the city. That's a day after dozens were killed and wounded in airstrikes on various neighborhoods of rebel-held eastern Aleppo. And the worst attacks on Saturday was in North-western Syria, in Idlib. There activists and a monitoring group say that an airstrike on a very busy market. This is when people had gathered at the market to prepare for the Muslim Eid. They were out shopping, and an airstrike happened. An eyewitness we spoke to in his - he described a horrific scene at the market. Many of those killed and wounded. And there were four killed and wounded in that airstrike they say were women and children. Those we spoke to in rebel-held parts of Syria, especially in Aleppo. They say they want to see a pause in the violence, because this is a key term. We've heard the United Nations calling for a pause in the violence to make a delivery. That is desperately needed aid, especially in besieged areas like Aleppo, something that has not happened in weeks.

So, people say they want to see that, but they are very skeptical of the Russians, they're skeptical of the regime. They're just skeptical of all parties in this conflict, really abiding by the cessation of hostilities. And if they do, they say how long is it going to last for? One activist we spoke to says, "We have seen truces. We've seen a cessation of hostilities in the past take effect, and then fall apart. And the violence that comes after that is - has been much worse." So, they ask why is this and how is this going to be any different? Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Amman.

ALLEN: And of course, the threat beyond the region continue. And we have this report from France. Police there say a very young man, a minor was arrested in Paris Saturday, and may have been planning a terrorist attack. A source familiar with the case tells CNN the suspect had knives and other bladed weapons. The arrest is not connected to the recent arrests of four women allegedly planning an attack on Notre Dame Cathedral. France's Prime Minister says the country fully expects another terror attack, and has about 15,000 potential suspects under surveillance.

Kenyan Police say they killed three women who tried to attack a police station in Mombasa. The women entered the station to report their cell phones had been stolen. One woman threw a petrol bomb while the others stabbed officers. Two of them were wounded. Police say the women wore veils and bulletproof vests. The terror group Al-Shabaab is suspected in this attack.

Police in Australia say the stabbing of the 59-year-old man there, was a terror attack inspired by ISIS. And they think the suspect was trying to lure police so he could attack them as well. Cameron Price has this from Seven Network in Australia.

[01:21:58] CAMERON PRICE, SEVEN NETWORK REPORTER: This is the moment Ihsas Khan was taken down by police, after allegedly going on a terrifying rampage through the streets of Minto.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And did he stab someone?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, no.

PRICE: The victim, 59-year-old Wayne Greenhalg was selected at random. The bloodied floor of Duyen Phan's hair salon, evidence of the alleged lone wolf attack.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He came into the shop, and his body bloodied and he called me, help, help, help. And that how much I got shocked. I didn't know what I have to do.

PRICE: Witnesses say the victim was on his regular afternoon walk when Khan began stabbing him. First, trying to slash his throat, then chest, slicing off his thumb.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tell him to put the knife down and don't be stupid. And then he tried to stab me as well.

PRICE: (INAUDIBLE) Chung had just arrived home when he saw what was happening. Grabbed a fence post and ran to help.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I chased him with the pale, the fence pale and just bashed him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's (INAUDIBLE) and he strike the middle of the head and that startled him, and that put him back well enough for Wayne to get into the shop.

PRICE: (INAUDIBLE) and bravely ushered Wayne to the backyard, applied pressure to his wounds before returning to lock the front door.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Then he tried to bang the glass, everything to get in, but he couldn't. My next door tried to hold him back. But he said, "Yeah, I have to die today. It's my day." PRICE: Moments later when police arrived, Khan turned his attention to them.

CATHERINE BURN, POLICE COMMISSIONER: We will allege down the track that he - that he was going to attack them also. That didn't happen fortunately.

PRICE: Khan has been charged with committing a terrorist act and attempted murder.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone is yelling, "Allahu Akbar. This is a good day to die."

BURN: And that is what led us to have the belief that it was inspired by ISIS.

PRICE: Minto locals say they've called the national terror hotline about Khan as recently as last week.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He'd stand out the front of people's houses, holding the Quran, reciting and just staring into houses.

PRICE: This attack came less than a week after Islamic State called for lone wolf attacks in Sydney. And almost 15 years to the day since September 11th.

MALCOLM TURNBULL, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: Connecting them both is a violent Islamist ideology, which perverts the religion of Islam and seeks to destroy and threaten our way of life.

PRICE: Prime minister praised those who came to help Wayne.

TURNBULL: We've all got an interest in being alert to threats in our community.

ALLEN: Well, our thanks to Cameron Price of Seven Network for that report. We want to turn now to a weather story that is threatening Taiwan. Pedram Javaheri following this for us. And it's a storm that you've had your eye on for a little while.

[01:24:59] PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yeah. It's coming together, unfortunately, a little too quickly. And, you know, a lot of people ahead of the storm, hundreds of millions potentially could be impacted. And Natalie, one thing about the island of Taiwan, we often talk about this is an area that could be impacted again, that it's home for the highest density of tall mountains anywhere in the world. People are often surprised to learn that. So, we're talking almost 300 mountains that go about 3,000 meters high. What that does is, if you got a menacing storm like this that you see behind us here, if it heads in that direction, often times it will break the storm system apart. That is one piece of hope that we're hanging on to depending on where it makes landfall.

But if you take a look, it's a very active setup across the Western Pacific. In fact, we can highlight numerous weather patterns that are in place. One of them being a medium chance for a tropical cyclone to form near the coast of Vietnam. Of course, you have a high chance near Guam and Meranti has already formed into just a menacing typhoon. And 17 is a tropical depression that is going to move away from Japan. Really hasn't done much in the way of inclement weather, but you take a look at the satellite presentation on this. Again, as incredible as it comes in its symmetry and depiction as it works its way towards the west. And here is the forecast as we move forward the next couple of days. We think landfall sometime around noon on Southern Taiwan. That would be on Wednesday. Winds at this point are going to be around 230 kilometers per hour. Notice at this point, 215 kilometers per hour, so just a gradual increase in the winds. Not much in the way of changing this. That by the way is a healthy Category 4 storm right there, that is moving in that direction.

And what really makes this an unfortunate setup is when you consider not only how many people stand to be impacted. The track itself takes it over an area that's home to 154 million people. That's roughly the half - half the population of the United States, or take the country of France and Germany and put it together. It's greater than that amount. And that takes into account parts of Eastern China. The storm could certainly cross over and move on into that region as well as a heavy rainmaker. But notice in early July, we had Nepartak, which was almost an identical storm. In fact, it was slightly weaker than what we're looking at with Meranti or next storm in line that we're talking about right now.

And notice it is paralleling the track as we had with Nepartak back in July. So, if this remains on the same course there, of course, it could be very, very devastating. We know that particular storm in July took with it almost 100 lives, Natalie. It left behind one and a half billion U.S. dollars in damage. And again, that was in July, so you would imagine recovery has got a long way to go. And so, we're hoping the storm system weakens or potentially moves a little farther away from that region.

ALLEN: How many storms have they seen in this area in, like, the past few weeks?

JAVAHERI: Usually 10 to 15 a year, they typically see. But it has been extremely active. And much of it has gone to Japan, and now, it's shifting a little south again.

ALLEN: All right. Pedram, thanks.

JAVAHERI: Thanks. Yeah.

ALLEN: Well, the story of how a pilot successfully landed a passenger plane in the middle of New York's Hudson River, you'll remember it. Was that not one of the best moves ever by a pilot? Well, it's now in movie theaters. And people are flocking to see it. But coming up here, we'll hear what one of the survivors thinks about the film's portrayal of Captain Sully, coming up. Also, an answer about why Hillary Clinton felt ill on Sunday. Coming up, how it may affect her campaign.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [01:31:28] ALLEN: Welcome back to our viewers. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen.

Here are our top stories this hour.

(HEADLINES)

ALLEN: Hillary Clinton is cancelling a trip to California after she became ill and stumbled, leaving a 9/11 ceremony in New York. Her doctor says the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate was diagnosed with pneumonia Friday. She says Clinton got overheated and dehydrated Sunday, but is now recovering.

I spoke with Dr. Sujatha Reddy about Clinton's symptoms and pneumonia diagnosis. She is a doctor here in Atlanta.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

Dr. SUJATHA REDDY, ATLANTA PHYSICIAN: You put it all together, it makes sense. Very often with pneumonia, people can have fever, but also they can lose body moisture and vapor really as you're trying to fight this infection. So add that to a grueling schedule, and it's not shocking she would get dehydrated or overheated, they use that term. Pneumonia itself again if you have a fever can make you really need more fluid. I'm sure with her schedule she is probably unable to keep up with some of those needs.

ALLEN: What should people think, just Americans think when they hear a candidate has pneumonia, and she is still going about her business? Is that something she should be doing? Or should she moderate or modulate a little bit?

REDDY: Yeah, I think that's a great question. Her doctor advised her to slow down. But she is in the throes of probably one of the most important events of her life. And it's a presidential campaign. I'm sure most people that get to this level are used to pushing things. And this is obviously a very important day in American history. So I can see why she did it. Probably now looking back she probably thinks she was better to have rested. But I can see why she tried to push it. But clearly she need to rest.

ALLEN: We're watching her now. She came out of her daughter's apartment two hours later saying she felt great, and looking a lot better. So would you think that she can carry on with her schedule, this hectic campaign schedule? Which I was reading on the campaign trail, it's even more hard on you physically than it is mentally, it's that grueling.

REDDY: Yeah, which is pretty impressive when you hear that statement. You know, pneumonia is a very common infection. For most people it's going to get better in a week or two. I think, again, she is a little bit older. But she is also obviously very vibrant lady. She again has accomplished more than a lot of people do in several lifetimes. So I think this should be something that she should take seriously, because we don't want her to get more sick. And I think recovering and resting is probably going to be the best prescription we give her.

Again, I'm just giving you my opinion from what we know in the press release. I don't think this is a serious life-threatening condition. Clearly she looked great when she did come out. I'm guessing they gave her some I.V. fluids or had her drink a lot of fluids. I'm sure that made her feel a lot better. I had a feeling she got very dehydrated this morning for a variety of factors. I do think this is a common infection. I wish her a speedy recovery. It will probably be good to slow down for a little while. But again, any person that gets to this level is probably not used to ever slowing down.

[01:35:28] ALLEN: We appreciate your thoughts, Dr. Sujatha Reddy in Atlanta. Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Well, before Clinton's health made headlines, the candidate was laying out more of her foreign policy. Hours after North Korea carried out its fifth nuclear test on Friday, the former secretary of state cautioned that China is underestimating Kim Jong-Un's regime. China strongly opposed North Korea's nuclear ambitions, but some analysts believe Beijing's allegiance to Pyongyang will remain steady. Clinton explained why China should reevaluate its position.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've had conversations in the past with the Chinese about North Korea. Up until relatively recently I think they were under the impression that they could control their neighbor, and they didn't want to crack down because they saw it as a useful card to play. He gets a little crazy, maybe the South Koreans will move toward them a little bit. He gets a little crazier, maybe they can make some deals with the Japanese about some things they want. It was a strategic calculation. It's not that way anymore. The current leader is unpredictable for both the Chinese and the rest of us. Our message, the North Koreans and everyone else listening, they will not be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon that has a deliverable capacity on a ballistic missile. And we've got to start intensifying our discussions with the Chinese because they can't possibly want this big problem on their doorstep.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Well, on Monday South Korea's defense ministry said it was preparing for a worst case scenario regarding the North. The U.S. is considering tougher more sanctions against Kim Jong-Un. The special representative for North Korea policy met his Japanese counterpart Sunday in Tokyo. They discussed ways the international community can best deal with Pyongyang, which now claims it can mount nuclear warheads on ballistic rockets. In a televised statement, Kim Jong- Un's regime called the U.S. threat meaningless.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED NORTH KOREAN NEWS ANCHOR (through translation): The Obama administration running around and talking about meaningless sanctions until today is highly laughable.

ALLEN: The test has the international community scrambling to come up with a plan for how to respond, as we just heard from Hillary Clinton there. And there is mounting concern there are few solutions left.

Our Paula Hancocks joins us now live from Seoul.

And, Paula, we know that Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said North Korea's launch of two new tests within nine months is absolutely unacceptable during his speech to military officials in Tokyo on Monday. But what could he and other neighbors realistically do to prevent any more tests?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's the key question, Natalie. I think the issue is the United Nations has said that they will come up with some kind of reaction. We've been hearing from individual countries that they'll look again at what kind of sanctions they can carry out. Beyond that, it's very difficult to see what can be done. We have been hearing from the South Korean ministry over the past few days. In fact, on the same day as the nuclear tests, we did hear from the ministry saying they had a retaliation plan, if you like. That they did have a plan if necessary and they felt absolutely and imminently threatened by North Korea's nuclear weapons, then they would target the leadership. They would target the military command. So effectively saying if worst comes to worst in the worst case scenario, then they would target the leader, Kim Jong-Un. Now this isn't the first time they've said this. They've said it a couple of times when tensions have been particularly high. But it is interesting they're saying it once again to show that if it did come to that point, nobody would be safe. They say they would have surgical attacks. They're also saying according to the defense minister -- the defense ministry that they would and are talking to the United States to try and come up with all sorts of operational plans, including the concept of a preemptive strike. Now of course that is highly unpalatable to many, including those in the region. But it's important the military believes for them to show North Korea as well as others that they are planning for the worst case scenario -- Natalie?

ALLEN: Right. Because in the past when North Korea has done various tests, a lot of times it's met with there they go again. What's he up to. Why is it this time, Paula, that this has kind of shaken the world to a new reality?

[01:40:12] HANCOCKS: Well, what the military is saying at the moment has been said before. We're not hearing anything radically new from the South Korean military. We're also hearing from the defense minister that he briefed lawmakers on Friday that he believed it's possible they would go for another nuclear test shortly, saying effectively they are ready to. There is another shaft in this area that they could use and they could carry out another nuclear test. We did hear after the nuclear test in January. But certainly the concern is heightened because these two nuclear tests are so close together. Historically we've seen every few years these nuclear test. And experts say after a test they would go back. The scientists would assess what needs to change. What modifications they need to make. But it was much quick their time around, just from January to September. So certainly the pace that the North Korean leader is carrying out these tests is worrying many in the world -- Natalie?

ALLEN: Paula Hancocks for us again in Seoul. Thank you, Paula.

In the meantime, China and Russia are set to hold joint naval drills in the South China Sea. China says the exercises are not aimed at any country, but they could aggravate tensions with Vietnam, the Philippines and Taiwan. All have competing claims over territory claimed by China. An arbitration court in The Hague ruled this year that China does not have historic rights to the South China Sea. Beijing has rejected that ruling.

More than half a million young people in Japan are staying holed up in their homes, sometimes for years. What's going on? We'll see how a virtual high school is trying to keep them in touch with society. Our Will Ripley has a report coming next to you.

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[01:45:10] ALLEN: A new disturbing government survey in Japan shows hundreds of thousands of teenagers and young adults avoid social contact and rarely leave home. They find digital fantasy worlds more appealing than the real world. I hope that's not the case.

But as Will Ripley explains, a new virtual high school is trying to lure them back.

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WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Japan's conformist classroom setting has changed little over the years. Compare Japanese students today to almost 25 years ago, the same uniforms, long hours, even mandatory cleaning duty, a disciplined, demanding environment much like Japanese society itself.

Traditional school left Ikami Shimizu (ph) increasingly frustrated, telling his father it was all a waste of time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was in a situation to pretend to get along with people around him.

RIPLEY: He worried about his son's future.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not going to high school, not graduating high school, college would be a bad thing for him in long-term.

RIPLEY (on camera): You are afraid he would drop out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Withdrawing from school and society is a documented social phenomenon in Japan. They even have a word for it here, Hikikomori, reclusive teenagers and young adults who hole up in their homes, sometimes for years, avoiding face-to-face contact. A new Japanese government survey says 541,000, more than half a million teenagers and young adults are Hikikomori. And that's actually down from the last survey six years ago.

Those who study the program say Japanese Anime, Manga and video games allow some to escape to a fantasy world, a life that only comes to life at an a special event like this, where fans are free to address like the characters they idolize.

This is where he searches for students who may be on the verge of dropping out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We welcome the students who cannot fit into the standard program.

RIPLEY: He is on the board of n high school, a fully accredited virtual high school, hoping to identify, educate and develop unique talent.

(on camera): This is the English class.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, English class.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Students learn using a Smartphone and computer app, sometimes event virtual reality.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to make our course very enjoyable and very fun, very attractive.

RIPLEY (on camera): Like a video game?

Like a video game.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Shimizu enrolled as a freshman.

(on camera): So this is your school?

IKAMI SHIMIZU (ph), STUDENT: Yeah.

RIPLEY (voice-over): He often finishes a full day of class in less than an hour, allowing the 15-year-old to work part-time as an I.T. engineer and compete in global hacking competitions. Shimizu says he tries to see friends once or twice a week, but spends most of his time in this tiny Tokyo apartment.

(on camera): Do you worry about the social aspect, meeting other teenagers, that sort of thing?

(voice-over): "That's what my parents worry about a lot, he says. But I don't worry about it. I don't really like to communicate with other people."

His parents hope learning in the virtual world will lead to success in the real one.

Will Ripley, CNN, Tokyo.

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ALLEN: We'll have to check back with him in a few years.

The tale of hero pilot Sully has landed in movie theaters.

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ALLEN: We'll hear from one person who lived through the trauma about the reality of the Miracle on the Hudson. There is Sully. Of course, Tom Hanks plays that role. More about it in a moment.

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[01:52:31] ALLEN: Wawrinka (ph) has won the U.S. Open after a brute four-set final against world number one Novak Djokovic. His victory earned him his third grand slam title. Wawrinka (ph) won the Australian Open in 2014 and the French open last year. The Swiss has become the oldest men's champion at the U.S. Open since 1970. Stay with CNN the next hour as we get reaction from the toast of Switzerland.

Well, a film about the pilot who pulled off that spectacular emergency landing, the Miracle on the Hudson, has now landed in theaters. "Sully" topped the weekend box office with more than $35 million. And one of the flight attendants is giving the movie a lot of praise. She should know. She was on that plane.

David Highfield, from station KDKA in Pittsburgh, reports.

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TOM HANKS, ACTOR: This is the captain. Brace for impact.

DAVID HIGHFIELD, REPORTER, KDKA (voice-over): The movie "Sully" starring Tom Hanks captures all the drama of the Miracle on the Hudson when a us airways flight had to make an emergency landing after striking a flock of geese.

Doreen Welsh tells me she didn't even realize they were landing on water. She was in the back of the plane without a window.

DOREEN WELSH, FORMER FLIGHT ATTENDANT: Two feet behind me the whole airplane was ripped out. The hole came in. That's where all the water came in from.

HIGHFIELD: Welsh gives the film high marks on some counts.

WELSH: I think the actual scenes for the crash itself and the dream sequences were pretty powerful. And they used the exact type of aircraft where sometimes they don't do that. They had all the details down.

HIGHFIELD: Actress Molly Hagen plays Welsh. And she tells me it's odd to see yourself in a film.

WELSH: It's still really, really strange.

HIGHFIELD: She says the flight attendants really did chant instructions as the plane went down.

MOLLY HAGEN, ACTRESS: Brace, heads down, stay down!

HIGHFIELD: In fact, this part was so real, it was hard for her to watch.

WELSH: It was difficult. The actual crash part was very difficult.

HIGHFIELD: But she says not everything else in the film is exactly spot-on. For instance --

WELSH: The NTSB hearings, I think they made a little harsher, way harsher than they were in real life. This is a Hollywood drama, not a documentary. So Hollywood had to Hollywood it up so to speak.

HIGHFIELD: She and her fellow crewmembers got a little taste of Hollywood attending the film's premier in New York. She even got this selfie with Tom Hanks.

WELSH: Tom Hanks was walking towards us. And he pointed his finger at me and he said, "Doreen." I thought, "Tom Hanks knows my name!"

[01:55:11] HIGHFIELD: She thinks his portrayal of Sully is phenomenal.

WELSH: Tom Hanks I think is the best actor ever. And so he made the movie in my eyes.

HIGHFIELD: And as for the film overall, she says it does capture an event that has changed her life.

WELSH: I think basically they did a pretty good job.

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HIGHFIELD (on camera): Doreen Welsh is no longer a flight attendant. In fact, she has become a public speaker who talks about what happened that day. She also shared with me that she has post traumatic stress disorder from what she went through. But she says giving the speeches, talking about the experience is definitely therapeutic.

David Highfield, KDKA News.

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ALLEN: That's such a Miracle, a reminder that everyone survived. That's one to go see at the box office.

Thanks for watching this hour. I'm Natalie Allen.

My colleagues, Rosemary Church and George Howell, will be here with more news after the break on CNN NEWSROOM.

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