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Back and Forth War of Words from U.S. and DPRK; Radicalized Man Attacks Men in Uniform; New Developments of the Russia Probe from Mueller's Team; Boko Haram Use Innocent Lives as Pawns; North Korea Threatens To Launch Four Missiles Near Guam; Protesters Erupt In Kenya Over Claims Of Election Fraud; Netanyahu Defiant In Face Of Criminal Probes; Journey Could Be Going Separate Ways Over White House Visit. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired August 10, 2017 - 03:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:00] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: The war of words between America's president and the North Korean regime escalates. We have the latest reaction from a region on edge.

And we are live in Paris for the investigation into a deadly car ramming attack against a group of soldiers.

Plus, the Russia investigation heats up. New details on the surprise FBI raid at the home of Donald Trump's former campaign manager.

Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. It is Thursday, 5 p.m. in Guam and 3.30.m in Pyongyang, North Korea. I'm Rosemary Church. This is CNN NEWSROOM.

North Korea says a plan will be in place within days awaiting approval by Kim Jong-un to strike the U.S. territory of Guam. A senior officer says the army would launch four missiles flying over Japan and landing in the waters near Guam.

Meanwhile, the U.S. seems to be playing a game of good cop bad cop. Defense Secretary James Mattis says North Korea should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people.

But Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at a refilling stop in Guam was more reassuring.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REX TILLERSON, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE: I think Americans should sleep well at night. I have no concerns about this particular rhetoric of the last few days. I think the president, again, as commander-in-chief I think he felt it necessary to issue a very strong statement referring to North Korea.

But I think what the president was just reaffirming is the United States has the capability to fully defend itself from any attack and defend our allies and we will do so. And so the American people should sleep well at night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Joining us now from Seoul, South Korea is CNN's Alexandra Field, and from Tokyo CNN's Sherisse Pham. Hello and welcome to you both. So let's start with Alexandra. What has been the reaction there in South Korea to Pyongyang's threat to launch these four missiles into the waters near Guam and to the language being used by the North -- by the North and of course by the United States?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. You have this incendiary comments from President Trump, you have the bellicose rhetoric that everyone is used to from North Korea and even more of it today not just with the specificity on the kind of attack that would intend to launch at Guam, but also responding to President Trump's comments about unleashing fire and fury if the U.S. was threatened again.

This time state news is calling that a quote, "load of nonsense" and they're calling United States president a guy bereft of reason. This is the kind of rhetoric that you don't hear from officials in South Korea. They take much more tone and much more tempered approach when speaking about what's going on here the tensions that have so mounted in recent days.

But they are taking tough lines. We have heard from defense officials today. They still have not commented on the U.S. president's words or his rhetoric or his tone. They made it quite clear that they stand together with their allied, the United States.

And that the threat, the only threat is posed by the regime in a North Korea and by the climate that that they have created with the continual provocations those ICBM launches and the efforts to continue to develop their nuclear program.

Now South Korea is promising that there will be a military response id they are further provoked by Pyongyang. They say that the threats to attack Guam or, quote, "absurd" and that they view it as a challenge to the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Thank so much, Alex.

I'm turning to you now, Sherisse. The timing of this heated exchange of course is critical for Japan as it marks the anniversary at the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So, how is the country reacting to this news that North Korea plans to fire four missiles over Japan into the waters just near Guam? Could be expect Japan to play any role perhaps in trying to shoot down any of those missiles? Have they said anything about that?

SHERISSE PHAM, CNN REPORTER: Well, defense minister today reportedly saying that if a missile passes over the land of Japan and poses an imminent threat to the country that Japan retains the legal right to intercept that missile.

Now, whether or not Japan has the capability to do that, that's a little bit of a mix bag according to experts. I talked to one security analyst who said, look, yes. Does Japan have the technical capability to shoot down a missile, technically, yes.

[03:05:08] However, when you're talking about four missiles passing through over Japan on its way to Guam that might be out of range of the ballistic missile defense system that Japan has in place. And North Korea also has -- you know, Alex is talking there about their bellicose language. They've got plenty of bellicose language as well to direct here at Japan.

You know, a Japanese commentary -- sorry, a North Korean commentary being published today accusing Japan of using the heightened tensions in the region to try and gain support for revising its pacifist Constitution. The article saying I'm quoting here, "The present Japanese authorities are hyping the threat from the Democratic People's Republi in Korea in a bid to deflect the mindset of the public opposing the revision of the Constitution but such move would rather backfire."

So really North Korea is tapping into the very pacifist vein that run through Japanese public society here. A pacifist posture that has been in place since the end of World War II. And as you mentioned, Rosemary, this week does mark the anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A very strong reminder that Japan is the only country to have suffered under the attack on atomic bomb. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yes, very much front and center as we look at this story. Sherisse Pham and Alexandra Field bringing us reaction there from South Korea and from Japan. Many thanks to you both.

Well, the head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency says he is confident the military could destroy a North Korean missile headed for the U.S mainland. Some analyst estimate an intercontinental ballistic missile launch by Pyongyang could fly more than 10,000 kilometers or 6400 miles. Now that would put more than half of the U.S. within range.

As for Guam the missile defense chief says the THAAD system could defense the U.S. territory from attack.

CNN's Ivan Watson is on the island.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: When we landed here at the Guam airport a U.S. border and customs officer joked with us, welcome to Ground Zero. An example dollars humor and the fact that people here are very aware that their island, this U.S. island is in the middle of a war of words between the U.S. government and the North Korean government.

Now the local authorities have taken take to try to reassure the public, the governor of Guam Eddie Calvo has made it clear that the threat level has not been ratchet it up in response to North Korean statement saying that it would try to fire intercontinental ballistic missiles intermediate ballistic missiles in the direction of this U.S. island.

He has also been briefed regularly by his homeland security advisor and has been in touch with the U.S. military commander of the U.S. military installations on this island. As far as concern among the local population, let's take a look at the view right now at this beach here you can see people playing, swimming. Some of them are clearly foreign tourists. The likes of which were on or playing which flew from South Korea to Guam and was full of tourists from Asia who clearly are not worried right now about the ratcheting up of tensions.

We do not get assigned yet that the tourism industry which is very important part of the economy in Guam with the population more than 160,000 civilian Americans has been hit yet by this. Of course, another big part of Guam's economy is the military activity here. A navy base, Anderson Air Force Base as well.

And that's part of why North Korea has singled out this U.S. territory in anger at the fact that B-1 bombers flew off of Anderson Air Force Base in the last couple of days that they linked up with Japanese and South Korean fighter planes and conducted over flights over the Korean Peninsula, something that angers and frustrates the North Korean regime. And is part of what has prompted them to again single out this small island as a potential target.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Guam.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Now one of the big wildcards in this crisis is that no one outside North Korea knows for certain what Kim Jong-un actually has in his arsenal. Now he certainly has nuclear weapons, he's tested them ad he is certainly has increasingly sophisticated missiles, whether he can deliver a new right now will that is another question.

[03:10:02] CNN's Nic Robertson looks at Kim's stock pile.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: North Korea's missile tests are common knowledge but precisely what firepower does Kim Jong-un have hidden in his hermit kingdom. He says he has a miniaturized nuclear warhead. U.S. intelligence analysts have assessed the claim but don't believe it's been tested. Kim's focus on the global danger he represents are his missiles and how far he can send his allege bomb.

Last month he tested his most advance missile so far twice the liquid fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that KN Kwasong-14 flew almost 1,000 kilometers, 625 miles. U.S. experts predict potentially the missile might reach the western half of the continental U.S. Kim claims he can target anywhere in the world including the whole of North America.

This year alone he has conducted 12 tests on various missiles ranging from the solid fuel medium range ballistic missile the Pukguksong-2 that flew 500 kilometers to the Hwasong-7, a short to medium range solid fuel ballistic missile. Then at least two KN-17's solid fuel short-range ballistic missiles, a liquid fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Hwasong-12 and the sub launched surface-to-ship cruise missiles.

So far this year, Kim's missiles have had a two-third success rate, better than the 50 percent failure rate last year. And Kim hasn't just made his missiles more reliable and capable of flying further. He has also made them harder to thwart by using mobile launchers.

Beyond the threat of his missiles the capital of Kim's army can pack a punch as of 2015 about 1.19 million active service personnel. Three and a half thousand battle tanks and of real concern on a densely populated Korean Peninsula more than 21,000 artillery fuses. Kim has the means to create mayhem. The question is, does he have the will for what would be a hugely ugly war.

Nic Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Donald Trump has threatened to respond to North Korea with fire and fury like the world has never seen. Sources tell CNN that line was improvised in the heat of the moment not part of any scripted statement. One source says the president has vented privately about North Korea and a powerful U.S. response.

And Tuesday's remarks seem to reflect that. A check of Mr. Trump's past statements show his fondness for a certain hyperbole.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Grassroots movement the likes of which the world has never seen before.

We're all part of this very historic movement, a movement the likes of which actually the world has never seen before.

Unemployment is the lowest it's been in 17 years, a business enthusiasm is about as high as they've ever seen.

We're being very, very strong on our southern border. And I would say the likes of which this country certainly has never seen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: All right. Well, still to come here on CNN NEWSROOM, what were FBI agents looking for when they raided the home of President Trump's former campaign chairman. We will tell you what we're learning about the search and where it might lead.

Plus, a dramatic manhunt ends with police shooting and man suspected of attacking French soldiers.

And later, Boko Haram's campaign of terror is targeting the most vulnerable in Nigeria, women and children brainwashed into becoming suicide bombers.

[03:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. We are learning dramatic new details about a raid targeting Trump's former campaign chairman. A source tell CNN FBI agents entered Paul Manafort's home last month without any warning as part of the ongoing Russia probe. Agencies documents and other materials including financial and tax records.

Our Diane Gallagher has more details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A surprise wake-up call for the president's former campaign chairman from the FBI. On July 26, the source tell CNN that without warning agents raided Paul Manafort's Alexandria, Virginia home.

According to the Washington Post they arrive before sunrise with the so-called no-knock warrant ceasing materials including financial and tax records as part of the special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

MICHAEL ZELDIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: The FBI agents working for special counsel Mueller believe that he is hiding something. They conducted their search in the early morning as is normal for them so that the individual whose residence it is has no opportunity to destroy or otherwise tamper with the evidence that they seek.

GALLAGHER: In a statement confirming the search warrant Manafort spokesman added that his client quote, "has consistently cooperated with law enforcement and other serious inquiries and did so on this occasion as well."

Now the warrant was served the day after Manafort met behind closed doors with Senate investigators. President Trump's former campaign chairman has voluntarily turned over hundreds of pages of materials to the House and Senate intelligence committees and more than 400 pages to the Senate judiciary committee just last week. Some of which pertain to him retroactively registering as a foreign agent.

But U.S. official tell CNN that investigators became more suspicious of Manafort when they turned up intercepted communications that U.S. intelligence agencies collected among suspected Russian operative that were discussing their efforts to work with Manafort to coordinate information that could hurt Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

And during the campaign Manafort denied working with the Russians.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are there any ties between Mr. Trump, you or your campaign and Putin and his regime?

PAUL MANAFORT, FORMER TRUMP CAMPAIGN MANAGER: No, there are not. It's absurd and, you know, there is no basis to it.

GALLAGHER: Michael Zeldin, a former federal prosecutor who was then- assistant attorney general Mueller special counsel believed that investigators obtaining a warrant for Manafort's tax and business records could be a window into the special counsel investigation. ZELDIN: If you can obtain charges that are viable against them on something collateral to that then you can use that as leverage to strike a deal with respect to the type of evidence that you want, with respect you to the heart of your better in this case the collusion.

GALLAGHER: Now the president has said that Mueller would be crossing a red line if he starts looking into Trump and his inner circle non- campaign related financial history.

ZELDIN: The president doesn't get to draw red lines. If he is a person of interest to the special prosecutor, Mueller makes the determination of what he is going to be investigating and that's that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And that was CNN's Dianne Gallagher reporting.

Well, police have arrested a man suspected of ramming a car into a group of soldiers in the Paris suburb. Six soldiers were wounded in the attacks, three seriously. The suspect was shot multiple times by police following a manhunt on Wednesday.

Paris correspondent Melissa Bell joins us now live from the French capital.

[03:20:01] So, Melissa, what all do we know about this suspect his possible motive here before the attack and whether he work alone.

MELISSA BELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, these are very much the questions at the heart of this anti-terror investigation that was open even before the man had been caught in those dramatic events in the very north of France when he was captured on that motorway. He was of course shot. He's now in hospital recovering from his injuries and won't be questioned by police until he's fit enough to be in front of them.

In the meantime, we really have only French press reports speaking to sources for the time being authorities have not confirmed the identity of the man. It is believed that is a 37-year-old Algerian who was in France legally and who was not crucially to security services for his radicalization.

So, we should know more and more about him now do doubts throughout the day. Those are the early indications that we're getting about who this man was. Of course the questions remain specifically about his motivations, what he was hoping to achieve and also, of course, whether or not he was working with anyone else.

CHURCH: And Melissa, it's just the latest in what appears to be a pattern of similar attacks targeting French security forces. Authorities appear to be treating this is a potential terrorist attack but this seems to be a lot of caution using that language.

BELL: Yes, that's right. There is always in these cases, but very quickly the word a deliberate act was used by authorities and no less the mayor of the town in which this attack took place yesterday morning, also the fact that this anti-terror investigation has been open suggest that authorities believed that that's what it was.

But you're right. This is the sixth attack of its kind this year. It is the sixth time this year, Rosemary that security forces have been targeted. That is, that the very men and women whether they are policeman or soldier that have been put out in extra force deployed in the streets of France to protect against that threat have themselves become its victim.

And so lots of questions in the French press this morning about whether or not these extra forces are actually useful. They've gone from being a shield to a sort of lightning rod. So, a great deal of soul searching about precisely how France is going about protecting itself and whether it's gone down the right move.

CHURCH: All right. Melissa Bell reporting there live from Paris. Many thanks to you.

Well, in Nigeria the terrorist group Boko Haram is using violence and brainwashing to force women and children mostly girls to become suicide bombers.

Robyn Kriel has more now on the chilling tactics of this ISIS affiliate.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBYN KRIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A young child walks down a crowded market Street somewhere in northeastern Nigeria, its territory controlled by Boko Haram. The child detonates a suicide vest killing and maiming dozens of people. A woman that enters the scene and detonate a second device.

The scenario is hypothetical but the reality on the ground in Nigeria according to American researches is that Boko Haram use of women and children in its suicide bombing campaign is staggering, never before seen and highly successful.

A new study reveals that startling 72 percent of Boko Haram's suicide bomber army with an identified gender were women.

Since the group first recorded suicide bombing in 2011 Boko Haram has used 244 female suicide bombers and the terror group the researchers say is on the forefront of normalizing the use of children as suicide bombers. Of those bombers whose age was identified 60 percent were teenagers or children.

The report found 134 suicide bombers whose age was determined, 53 were identified as adults, 53 as teenagers and 28 are children. The youngest suicide bomber thus far was just seven years old. Boko Haram also the evidence suggests, uses four times as many little girls as they do little boys.

The studies also find that men, women, and child suicide bombers tend to target different locations. Women and children are more prone to detonating in civilian locations, markets, bus stops or internally displaced people's camps. Men are more likely to target Christian or pro-government institutions.

The reasons behind the terrorist heinous logic according to the researches is vast. Women are less likely to be searched and they can hide their explosives under their billowing closing or inside handbags or strapped on their backs with infant children.

There are also cases of men dressing as women to slip through security more easily. Women and children, according to the reports are more easily recruited than their male counterparts, whether it be through violence, brainwashing or false promises.

[03:25:06] Women and female children, in particular are seen as expendable by the male terrorist leadership. Their vulnerability and in these cases a destructive deadly curse.

Robyn Kriel, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, U.S. officials are not sure what happened in Cuba but they say several diplomats came under some sort of attack which required medical attention back home.

Elise Labott has the details now from the State Department.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Senior State Department tell CNN they believe that several U.S. employees at the U.S. embassy in Havana could possibly have been subject to an acoustic or sonic attack. Now starting late last year several of the diplomats started reporting incidents they said they were having a variety of symptoms mimicking concussion.

And the State Department sent down medical personnel to examine them to talk to the Cubans but this has been a real mystery because nobody knows the cause or the origin or the perpetrator on these incidents. Now several of the employees had to be brought back to the United States for treatment.

And officials tell CNN that at least one of them could permanent hearing loss. And they believe that this was some kind of sonic weapon or sonic device but officials are very clear to say that there are a variety of symptoms and there could be a variety of sources.

Now the FBI is investigating the Cubans have told CNN's Patrick Oppman on the grounds of a Cuban official saying that Cuba had nothing to do with this. Now obviously the Trump administration has taken a very hard look at the Cuban policy and it's taken a harder line but these incidents started in late 2016 during the Obama administration which had restored ties with Cuba.

So obviously a mysterious situation in the FBI investigating, but the State Department says it takes these incidents very seriously and that the Cuban government is responsible for the safety of American diplomats under the Vienna Convention. Elise Labott, CNN, the State Department.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Let's take a very short break, but still to come a closer look at the escalating rhetoric. Will the heated words between North Korea and the U.S. actually translate into action? We'll take a look,

And violence erupts in Kenya as protestors challenged the country's presidential election results.

We're back in a moment.

[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: A very warm welcome back to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you now on the main stories we're following this hour.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: North Korea is offering detailed plans for a military strike on Guam. An army general says Pyongyang would launch four missiles that would cross over Japan and land on the waters near the U.S. territory.

The military says it will present the plan to Kim Jong-un by mid August. A new twist in the U.S.-Russia investigation, the FBI raided the home of Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman. This happened late last month.

It happened a day after Manafort's step down with investigators from the Senate Intelligence Committee. Police have arrested a man accused of ramming a car into group of soldiers in a Paris suburb early Wednesday.

Officers shot and wounded on a highway, north of the city. Six soldiers were wounded in that attack very seriously. France's counter terror unit is investigating.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, North Korea dismiss President Trump's fire and fury threat as a load of nonsense and offered more detail on its plans to fire missiles at Guam.

Japan said it can never tolerate Pyongyang's publications while South Korea promised a stern military response in the North ignored its warnings.

In the United States, the Pentagon and the State Department are striking different tones. Barbara Starr reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: A dire warning from Defense Secretary James Mattis that North Korea should cease any consideration of actions that would lead to the end of its regime and the destruction of its people, warlike language.

Mattis also telling the world North Korea's military will continue to be grossly overmatched by ours and would lose any arms race or conflict. A very different tone than Mattis' previous statement emphasizing diplomacy and what war would mean for South Korea.

JAMES MATTIS, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: It will involve the massive shelling of an ally's capital which is one of the most densely packed cities on earth. It would be the war that fundamentally we don't want.

STARR: Kim Jong-un's regime, undeterred.

KIM JONG-UN, PRESIDENT OF NORTH KOREA (through a translator): Any plans to execute to prevent of war to vice by the U.S., will be met with an all-out war wiping out all the strongholds of enemies including the U.S. mainland.

STARR: All of these after North Korea threatened to attack Guam, a U.S. territory in the Western Pacific where U.S. bombers are based in other aircraft that could be used to attack his regime.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It has been very threatening beyond on a normal state.

STARR: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says Trump's warning would hopefully keep Kim from reacting.

REX TILLERSON, U.S. STATE SECRETARY: I think it was important that he deliver that message to avoid any miscalculation on their part.

STARR: If Tillerson was playing good cop, Mattis and the president were not.

TRUMP: North Korea must not make anymore threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.

STARR: The commander of U.S. missile defenses told CNN, the U.S. can defend against North Korean missile today and in the future.

LT. GEN. SAMUEL GREAVES, DIRECTOR, MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY: WE can deal with the current threat as presented today. As the threat matures, we will -- we have plan place to mature capabilities to deal with that threat.

STARR: The secretary of state still trying to reassure.

TILLERSON: I had nothing that I have seen that nothing that I know of that indicate that the situation has dramatically changed in the last 24 hours. I think Americans should sleep well at night.

(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: Thanks to CNN's Barbara Starr for that report. Balbina Hwang joins me now from Washington. She is a visiting professor at Georgetown University and a former senior special advisor at the U.S. State Department. Thank you so much for begin with us.

BALBINA HWANG, PROFESSOR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: My pleasure.

CHURCH: So I want to start with this. I want to get you to describe to us the situation right now between North Korea and the United States and how concerned should we all be right now.

HWANG: Well, we should always be concerned about the threats that North Korea poses. But I would to remind everybody that I think a little perspective is necessary. I frankly not -- view that this is a major crisis.

If I had a dollar for every time, you know, we were in a new crisis with North Korea over last 25 years, I'd be very wealthy and retired by now.

This is not to diminish that very, very serious and grave threat that North Korea's nuclear programs pose.

[03:35:00] But I think what we are currently witnessing is a war of rhetoric and what's important on the Korean Peninsula is frankly the actions rather than rhetoric, because we've heard a lot of rhetoric for the last 25, even going back 60 years.

CHURCH: Well, you mentioned actions, North Korea has threatened to launch four missiles now to fly over Japan and hit near Guam by mid- August. How should the United States response to that threat rhetoric now but could possibly be action in mid-August?

HWANG: Well again, North Korea always makes many threats. And sometimes it doesn't even need to state what the threats are. The point is, that we have been essentially in a state of war, in a state of readiness weaning in the United States to defense South Korea since 1953, the armistice.

So North Korea has always post a constant threat. Now what I find very interesting about this very latest statement coming out of North Korea, first of all, it was not by Kim Jong-un, it was by the army.

And they mentioned middle of August. August 15th is a very important anniversary on the Korean Peninsula both in South and North Korea.

So I don't often make predictions about North Korea but I had been predicting the August 15ht would be a day in which North Korea would take some sort of grand action.

So this seems to fit and it doesn't seem really to me to have much necessarily to do with President Trump's statement just yesterday.

CHURCH: But the problem here is if this any sort of error when they launch these four missiles, if that is indeed what they do and it actually hits Guam, then what? HWANG: Well exactly. And so -- but the point is that the United

States is not just completely going to sit here. We're not completely that vulnerable.

We have -- do have ways of preemption and preemption by the way doesn't necessarily mean a big giant bomb that goes kaboom somewhere in North Korea.

There are numerous ways to actually attempt to deter the missiles either from being launched or perhaps trying to destroy them before they are set on their course.

And frankly, I'm not so sure that North Korean missiles can be aimed that accurately.

CHURCH: I mean that's the concern though. They might -- might not be and they might actually hit Guam. And of course, this latest round of tension was triggered by the apparently improvised words of President Trump when he warned the fury and fury if North Korea threatened the U.S.

Well since then, Pyongyang has made two threats crossing Mister Trump's red line. So what needs to happen next and how can this all be deescalated to avoid the worst case scenario here?

HWANG: Well first, I would like to be very careful. I don't blame -- I don't place the call to blame on his latest supposed of crisis on President Trump's statements.

We should remember, North Korea has consistently made these sorts of statements. And North Korea has talked -- I mean this goes back to the 1990's, well into the 2000's, even before them, always threatening to turn South Korea and the Yellow Sea, and the East Sea into a sea of fire.

So President Trump's statement was a reaction and he was finally stating quite declaratively in this hyperbolic fashion where the United States stands.

But he also admitted that this was not to strategically planned statement and he was not clear whether or not he met specifically just threats or actually actions by North Korea.

So it really I think was rather almost emotional but very strong statements saying that North Korea's -- the United States is simply not just going to sit by anymore. Should North Korea take some action, that's how I read it.

CHURCH: Yes, the difficulties interpreting what the fire and fury actually means and what he meant by that. But North Korea said this about Mr. Trump and his rhetoric.

I just want to read this, a load of nonsense about fire and fury failing to cross the ongoing grave situation. How's Mister Trump likely to respond to that and what advice should he get? What -- what advice would you give him? HWANG: Well I hope he just ignores it because again, North Korea has called President Obama far worse. It's really quite horrifying that some of the undiplomatic names and kinds of rhetoric that has come out of North Korea describe President Obama, President W. Bush and frankly, all U.S. presidents.

The point here again is North Korea is convinced the United States is its enemy and I don't think really that anything President Trump has stated -- Again I point out he is a very unusual U.S. president, likes to use grandiose language, this should not shock anybody.

It's not out of character for President Donald Trump. I don't think this has caused North Korea to become more angry or more belligerent, or more provocative.

[03:40:00] CHURCH: All right, Balbina Hwang, thank you so much for joining with us.

HWANG: Thank you.

CHURCH: We appreciate it. Now, despite these hostilities with the West, North Korea's top court has released a Canadian pastor held longer than any Western prisoner in decades.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: It's a 62-year-old Hyeon Soo Lim was granted bail for humanitarian reasons. Lim was given a life sentence of hard labor in 2015 for supposed crimes against the state. His family says he was in North Korea on a humanitarian mission and that his house has deteriorated while in custody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: We'll take a short break here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Coming up next, Israel's embattled prime minister says, his political enemies are trying to stage a coup. The details still to come. Plus, Kenya remains on edge of allegations of election fraud in the presidential race. We'll take a look for the lighter cause.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. An unarmed Russian Air Force jet to got a rare up-close look at key landmarks around Washington and New Jersey.

Now, the planes to low altitude flight on Wednesday were permitted under a long-standing open skies treaty. The agreement allows the U.S. and Russia to observe each other's military sites.

The jet first over flew the Capitol building, the Pentagon, CIA headquarters and Joint Base Andrews home of Air Force One on the first flight.

Later it would go to look at Bedminster, New Jersey where the president is vacationing. It was Air Force personnel will on the Russian jet for the tour.

Well, some protests are breaking out in Kenya in support of opposition leader Raila Odinga. He claims election computers were hacked after Tuesday's presidential vote and that numbers were manipulated to favor incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta, who holds a big lead.

Kenya's election commission denies the allegations. The commission is expected to release final results in the coming days. Farai Sevenzo joins us now live from Nairobi.

So, Farai, how can it be proved either way whether election fraud has indeed taken place in this voting across Kenya? Does any evidence exist? And how do you get hold of it?

FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's a very good point, Rosemary. Good morning from Nairobi. The city is wondering exactly the same thing.

Well, Mr. Odinga claimed that somebody had manipulated and hacked the Electoral Commission's systems and to manipulate the vote. He was speaking on a lot of unknowns.

He said perhaps the use -- the identity and password of a man who died last week was part of the Electoral Commission died in a horrible way, strangled and we don't know whether that death is connected to his election.

[03:45:00] But the truth of the meter is that when the IEBC had been putting out results in their websites, his complain was that they have not been tallying the electronic vote with a manual system call the Form 34A.

The Electoral Commission, I'd pay to say there are now putting other forms and Mr. Odinga wanted out on their websites and we will to see what the results are. At the moment it's causing greater attention, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Indeed that this is -- what are the possible ramifications of these serious accusations of election fraud and of course, how bad might these protests get to, you think?

SEVENZO: Rosemary, I can't remember who it is who say that you know, if you do not remember that past, you are condemned to repeat it, and Kenya's part is a fact of history.

In 2007, 10 years ago, in a very similar election, with the same characters, Mr. Kenyatta and Mr. Odinga, things went badly wrong here in Kenya.

Thousands were killed and people are trying to avoid that. Don't forget we have -- lots of presidents here, from president -- for former Vice President John Kerry, Thabo Mbeki here observing for the AU, Aminata Toure from a Prime Minister of Senegal.

It's a very closely watched election and the ramifications are these, first after violence. Kenya is very strategically important country in this part of the region.

If Kenya catches a cold, the risk of these east African regions were all be seizing. It's very important that this goes well and everybody is trying to -- many people are aware of that as we wait for the final results, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Indeed Farai Sevenzo, thank you so much for that live report. We do appreciate it. I want to turn to Israel now. And the criminal investigations which have dogged the prime minister for months.

Benjamin Netanyahu who has been interviewed by police four times over allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust but at a liquid rally on Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu told supporters the probe amounted to an attempted coup. Our Ian Lee has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Prime Minister Netanyahu first took the stage in a fiery defiant speech going after the opposition, and the media saying, because they can't beat him as a (Inaudible), we're going try to beat him after four hour.

This rally here tonight was a show of support by the Likud Party. But leave no doubt, this is an embattled prime minister.

Benjamin Netanyahu has dominated the Israeli politics for years. Only the founder of the state David Ben-Gurion has led the country for longer. But Israel's prime minister is in a fight and it's getting serious.

Police have been investigating him for months and what we now know, our cases of suspected bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He has been questioned as a suspect on four occasions. So what are the cases about?

The first, Case 1000 involves allegations that Netanyahu receive gifts in inappropriately including cigars and champagne from overseas businessman.

The second, Case 2000 involves allegations that Netanyahu agreed to a deal with the owner of a major Israeli newspaper which would see the paper tone down its attacks on Netanyahu. In exchange, the prime minister would ensure a cut in the circulation of a rival paper.

Last month Netanyahu's former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon was removed from his post by the Prime Minister gave this prediction to CNN of how it would end.

MOSHE YA'ALON, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES: My indictment is my assessment and belief to many issues are under investigations and questions, and I believe is at the end, we'll witness indictment. LEE: And that was before the dramatic news that a former close ally of the prime minister was turning states witness. Ari Harow, a one time that Netanyahu chief of staff had cut a deal with prosecutors.

He would plead guilty to entirely separate offenses. He would avoid prison in exchange for telling investigators everything he knew about Case 1000 and 2000.

Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing. We flatly reject the false claims made against the prime minister. Spokesman told CNN, the campaign to replace this administration lies at its heart.

But it's doomed to fail for the simple reason that there will be nothing because there was nothing. The Prime Minister himself put to Facebook as he often does to address Israelis.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL (through translator): I do not pay attention to crack ground noise and I can send you working for you.

LEE: When the investigation concludes, the police will hand the matter over the attorney general. It will be up to him to decide whether to follow any lead recommendation to indict Netanyahu. That decision is likely must the way.

[03:50:00] But any decision to bring criminal charges will make it politically difficult for the prime minister to stay in power. Ian Lee, CNN Tel Aviv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: OK, so if you're looking for a vacation getaway with a little history, the Borough of Queens New York just might be the place.

President Trump's childhood home is now available for rent. Airbnb is listing the five bedroom 3 1/2 bath to style home, for $725 a night.

The president father Fred Trump built the house back in the 1940s and the president lived there until he was four years old.

Bring the whole family, ad say, the house can accommodate 20 people. There's even a cardboard cutout of the president in the living room. Sure to put you at peace, right?

Well after the break, divisive politics, threatening an American institution. That right. The rock band Journey could be breaking up. We'll explain when we comeback.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: The beloved rock band Journey has outlasted eight different American presidents but with the political climate, more divided than it's ever been, no one is safe not even Journey, and Jeanne Moos has the prognosis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Is it possible that Journey has reached his end that it won't go. The feud was stoked by a visit to the White House last month by three of Journey's member.

That's the White House spokesperson hugging keyboardist Jonathan Cain. The band members posed for a photo with President Trump all of which cause Journey's cofounder, guitarist Neal Schon to explode on social media.

Journey should never be used and exploited by anyone especially band members for politics. This clearly shows no respect or unity divide, one way or the other.

[03:55:00] I won't be dealing with any more toxic blank.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John this is blowing up what's left of this band.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looks like it could be the end of Journey as we know it.

MOOS: The band then film -- and one fan telling the White House visitors, fellows time to stop believe in the lies and liar in chief. But other has said there's nothing political about visiting the White House. It's an honor. And Cain told TMZ that there was no way, the band was at risk of breaking up. In the past, they've agreed...

NEAL SCHON, COFOUNDER, JOURNEY: The best place to stay is neutral and not politically.

MOOS: Cain is married to the blond in red Televangelist Paula White who happens to be a spiritual advisor to President Trump. Sean tweeted it's about Trump at all but rather mixing music with politics is a conceivable bet.

They could go their separate ways. Remember Tony playing, Don't Stop Believing in the final scene of the Sopranos. Well at the moment, the band seems to be pretty much in the same place where the Sopranos end it, in limbo. Jeanne Moos, CNN New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And that look like a few people I know. Donald Trump is known to enjoy a plate of fried chicken every now and then but not necessarily the foul message being served up for him in Washington.

Ten meter tall inflatable chicken with a giant Trump in pompadour is just a stone's throw from the White House and activist go to permit for the display.

His message is that the president was afraid to release his tax returns and is playing a game of chicken with North Korea. Trump is probably missing the message.

He is on vacation in New Jersey. And thank you so much for you company. I'm Rosemary Church. Remember to connect with me anytime on Twitter. The news continues now with Max Foster in London. You're watching CNN. Have a great day.

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