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NEWS STREAM

DMZ Peace Village To Become Hub Of Diplomacy; Expelled Russian Diplomats Suspected Of Tracking Compatriots; Theresa May Races Mounting Pressure Over Post Brexit Trace; Sources: Trump And Macron Discussed Possible New Iran Deal; Trump's Pick Withdraws As V.A. Secretary Nominee; World Headlines; Historic Summit; Biggest Ever 3D Map Of Milky Way Galaxy Unveiled. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired April 26, 2018 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong, and welcome to News Stream.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Countdown to the summit, Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in prepare for a historic meeting at the DMZ. Doubts about the deal, the French President

gives a grim assessment about what he believes Donald Trump will do with the Iran nuclear agreement. And no damage done? Facebook reports big gain

despite the fall out from a huge data scandal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: In about 12 hours from now, this will be perhaps the most important room in the world. That's where the leaders of North and South

Korea will talk face-to-face. Every detail has been meticulously laid out.

Kim Jong-un will become the first North Korean leader to ever cross to the south. He will walk across the border at Panmunjom, the peace village.

The past few months we've seen the two nations still technically at war, work to make lasting peace a possibility.

Ultimately, South Korea is hoping the north will give up its nuclear program. U.S. and South Korean officials say the regime has expressed a

willingness to talk about it.

Now, Paula Hancocks is at the unification bridge near the DMZ on the border between the two nations that have been at war for over six decades. She

joins us now live.

And, Paula, the leaders of North and South Korea, they're going to meet face-to-face finally tomorrow. And you're getting more details about how

this is all going to play out.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kristie. So what we know at this point is, it's 9:30 in the morning local time, that's 8:30 p.m. eastern on

Thursday. We are going to see the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un walk towards the MDL, the military demarcation line in the DMZ which splits

North and South Korea.

We will see him greet the South Korean President, Moon Jae-in. But then step over the lip of concrete, which is effectively the border between

north and south, and he will be on the south side of the DMZ.

He will then be greeted by South Korean traditional guards. There will be parts of the military, of the army, the air force, the navy. There then

will be a welcoming ceremony for him. And there will be going into the peace house then for a 10:3 a.m. summit.

This is where the real work starts, this is where the difficult work starts, trying to figure out if both sides actually mean the same thing

when they're talking about denuclearization. They will split for lunch.

They'll have separate lunch, the two leaders, and then they will actually plant a tree which dates back to 1953, the year that the Korean War ended.

It's very symbolic. They will be using soil from both North and South Korea.

They will be watering it from water taken from rivers in North and South Korea, and then at the end of the day, they will hopefully be signing an

agreement, and announcement before a banquet.

Now certainly, they do have precedents to look back on, two previous summits between North and South Korean leaders. And presumably lessons

have been learned.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANCOCKS: It was a powerful image, the leader of two countries that torn each other apart 50 years earlier embracing, and smiling. The 2000 summit

between North Korea's Kim Jong-il and South Korea's Kim Dae-jung made history. But Kim Dae-jung's son said it was a massive gamble for South

Korea.

Unlike other summits, he says, where you workout the agenda in advance, there were no pre-talks. The North said, just come, everything will be

fine. My father said Kim Jong-il did not want to concede anything.

He had to really convince me, even joking saying, I'm much older than you, and I came all the way from Pyongyang. If I returned empty-handed, I will

lose face.

The summit ended with a June 15th declarations signed by both leaders pushing for humanitarian, and economic cooperation. A visit later that

year by then then-Secretary of the State Madeleine Albright intended to lay the groundwork for a visit by a U.S. President Bill Clinton, which never

came.

If Clinton had a little more time, if he had visited North Korea, Kim says, it would have had a huge impact on peace in this region. My father really

regretted it never happened.

One lesson learned, President Moon Jae-in is starting early, meeting Kim Jong-un within the first year of his presidency, his goal, his office said,

is to complete the whole denuclearized process within his five-year term.

It's 2007, the second inter-Korean summit, this time Kim Jong-il met Roh Moo-hyun, the President Roh walking across the border, another historic

first.

A further agreement signed with Kim Jong-il pledging to work towards a permanent peace. One top diplomat who met Kim Jong-il before the second

summit says that his son Kim Jong-un is in a fast stronger position having developed his nuclear, and missile programs, and that feeling of security

could help.

[08:05:07] CHUNG DONG-YOUNG, FORMER SOUTH KOREAN MINISTER OF UNIFICATION: The third inter-Korean summit meeting would be a historic turning point

that led the two Koreas from hatred, and confrontation to reconciliation, and cooperation.

HANCOCKS: One source of optimism for supporters of the first two summits is U.S. President Donald Trump agreeing to meet Kim Jong-un, ensuring some

kind of momentum, but some more conservative elements question whether the lesson to be learned, is if you can trust North Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HANCOCKS: I spoke to a close ally of President Moon as well. He appreciates, he said, just how important this is. He feels like the

world's pressure is on his shoulders. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Absolutely. And not too long ago, you talked to him about what's at stake here. Does the South Korean President really believe that

he can convince the North Korean leader to give up his nuclear arsenal?

HANCOCKS: Well, it's a key question, isn't it? Every single expert that I meet says that there's no way that Kim Jong-un is going to completely give

up his nuclear weapons.

But the South Korean President is more optimistic than that. I spoke to him in September of last year when tensions were still very high. There

was no inclination that Kim Jong-un was going to offer this olive branch to South Korea. And I asked him that, will Kim Jong-un give up his weapons.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOON JAE-IN, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT: I believe maybe North Korea, through its development of its nuclear program, wants to guarantee regime security.

And maybe North Korea, through being accepted as a nuclear power state, wants to sit down at the negotiating table with the United States from

North Korea-U.S. normalization.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: And the president had said that he believed that there would be talks between North and South Korea. There would be talks between North

Korea and the United States. I admit at the time, I was quite cynical when I heard that, as others were.

But it's almost prophetic at this point, the optimism that President Moon Jae-in has at that point. It certainly seems to have come to fruition, at

least in the respect that there's a summit that's going to happen.

And they appreciate as well that the most important thing is that the United States is on board this time around as well. The Blue House is

saying that in the past agreements of not being the tear to after these summits because Washington did not support them. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, a meeting that was once thought of as inconceivable is happening, taking place tomorrow. Paula Hancocks reporting live for us.

Thank you, Paula.

So much pomp and circumstance, and so many high hopes for this meeting. But what will happen if Kim Jong-un won't give up his nuclear weapons?

Now, I'll be speaking with Bill Richardson, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations about that. That interview to take place 25 minutes

right here on News Stream.

South Korea's Foreign Minister is singing some high praise for the other key figure involved in the talks between the north and south. She spoke

with our Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour about the U.S. President's role.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Are you surprised by how quickly this moment has arrived? And let's face it, just

four months ago Kim Jong-un was talking about pressing nuclear buttons from his desk, and President Trump was responding in kind.

KANG KYUNG-WHA, SOUTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTER: I feel like somebody stepped on the accelerator at the beginning of the year, and it's been

nonstop since then.

AMANPOUR: How do you account for it?

KYUNG-WHA: Clearly, you know, credit goes to President Trump. He is been determined to come to grips with this from day one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: And you can see the full interview with the foreign minister of South Korea on Amanpour. That's 7:00 p.m. in London, 2:00 a.m. on Friday

here on Hong Kong.

CNN has learned that some of the Russian diplomats recently expelled from the U.S. were suspected spies, who officials believe had been tracking the

former countrymen. CNN's Evan Perez has this exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EVAN PEREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Among the 60 Russian diplomats expelled by the Trump administration in recent weeks were suspected spies, who were

thought to be tracking Russian defectors and their families in the United States.

Sources tell us that at least one instance, suspected Russian spies were thought to be trying to case someone who was part of a CIA program that

provides new identities to protect resettled Russians.

These raised concerns among FBI counterintelligence investigators that the Russians were preparing to possibly target emigrates that the Kremlin

considers to be traitors or enemies. Now those concerns have increased after the poison attack on a former Russian spy and his daughter living in

the United Kingdom.

British and U.S. officials have blamed the Russians for the attack using a nerve agent. The Russian embassy didn't respond to a request for comment

for the story. The CIA and the White House declined to comment. The U.S. officials say that the Russian government appears emboldened to attack

critics in western countries.

[08:10:00] And that's changing how the U.S., and other countries protect sources who the Kremlin might be trying to target. Evan Perez, CNN,

Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: A short time ago, we did get a response from the Kremlin. In response to a question from CNN, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry

Peskov said this, quote, well if such accusations are being made, at the very least, you have to name some specific names.

Or some specific reasons that motivated the Americans to come forward with such statements. Neither of those things happened. Therefore, it still

looks like some primary-secondary manifestations of the paranoia, that from time to time, unravels in our colleagues, end quote. You're watching News

Stream.

And still ahead right here in program, deal or no deal? CNN is getting a glimpse of what Emmanuel Macron might really think about the future of the

Iran agreement.

Stay with us for new reporting on that. And Theresa May faces a tough day in parliament as one of her key Brexit commitments is debated. What would

a decision to step away from the customs union mean?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back, this is News Stream. Now, the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, is facing a

significant test as parliament debates whether or not to stay in the European Customs Union, post-Brexit.

Now Mrs. May has made it quite clear that she wants to leave the agreement, which allows free-flowing and terror-free trade between number of

countries.

While today's vote is not legally binding, Prime Minister May is reportedly telling MPs not to bother showing up, fearful of a poor result. Now for

more on this, and the latest from Westminster, we're joined now by Phil Black. And, Phil, wow, the political pressure is certainly on for Prime

Minister May.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is indeed, Kristie, to say or go. Not from the E.U., but from the customs union. That arrangement that allows

the E.U. member states to move goods across the border's territory, and to set common tariffs for goods imported from outside the block.

It has become really the most divisive issue in the ongoing Brexit discussions between London, and Brussels, and specifically here in London,

Westminster, as well. And that's the debate that's taking place in the House of Commons behind us.

It could prove to be difficult for the future of Prime Minister Theresa May's Prime Ministership. To talk about all of this, with a little more

I'm joined now by a Political Analyst Carole Walker.

Carole, this isn't a binding vote we're going to be seeing here today, but it does set the mood for the sort of opposition that Theresa May is facing

in dealing with commitment of removing Britain from the customs union.

CAROLE WALKER, POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, that's right. This afternoon so won't bind the hands of the government, but it will be an indication of the

mood of the House of Commons, and an indication of just how difficult it's going to be for Theresa May, when there is a real vote on legislation on

this same up issue, which is going to come up next month.

[08:15:09] Why does this issue matters, it sounds a little bit technical, you explained the guts of it. It's about what Britain's relationship is

going to be with the E.U., once we've left it. And it's going to be about the future of Britain's place in the world.

Are we going to be this buccaneering, free trading nation, which is what the Brexiters argued during that referendum campaign, or is Britain

actually going to have to stay quite close to the European Union.

And if we're inside a customs union, then accept an awful lot of rules and regulations, which is set down by Brussels. Of course, Many of those who

voted to leave the EU did so, because they wanted to be free of all that. So that's why this matters.

BLACK: So one hand, the argument to economic, and against (ph) with trading with Europe versus trading with other countries around the world,

and there are different views on that. But there's an emotive element to this as well. Particularly from the Brexiters, there's an issue of

sovereignty, talk to me about that.

WALKER: Yes, that's right. If you're in the European Union, it makes British business easier, makes it much easier for them to buy and sell

goods within the European Union, but it means that the European Union as a whole sets the rules in terms of trade deals outside.

We've got a whole new international trade department which is working on setting up new trade deals with countries outside the European Union. What

is the point of that, if it's all going to be decided by Brussels?

And yes, you're right, much of the vote for Brexit was an emotional feeling from people who said, we want to take back control. We want British

sovereignty. We don't want to be ruled by Brussels, we don't want to be tied by those E.U. rules and regulations.

But what we're hearing very strongly in the Commons during this debate, which is going on, is those who that, look, when it comes to the

practicalities of this, if we stay inside of a custom union, not only is it going to be easier to continue the trade, which is such a large part of

Britain's trade relationship at the moment.

But it's also going to make it easier to solve that thorny problem of the Irish border, because when Britain releases the E.U., Northern Ireland will

be outside the E.U., the Irish republic will remain in it, what's going to happen there?

Everyone says we're not going to have a hard border, so if you don't have a customs union, it's going to be very difficult to sort out those

arrangements without having a hard border.

BLACK: Indeed. Now, briefly, the Prime Minister's future, if down the track a formal vote in the Commons overrules her desire to withdraw from

the customs union, what will that mean for her leadership of the Conservative Party?

WALKER: Well, it would undoubtedly be a very serious blow, and I think, really, it we would be in uncharted territory. She has raised the stakes

because when this whole issue began bubbling up at the weekend, there was briefing to some papers saying, well Downing Street wouldn't be crying into

its beer if we had to stay inside the customs union.

That had those ardent Brexiters absolutely up in arms saying that would be a betrayal of the whole Brexit vote. So Theresa May has been calling them

in, and saying no, no, we're finitely going to leave the customs union. I said this all along, this is a red line.

If she's then defeated in the House of Commons, as she already has been in the House of Lords on this issue, then it is very difficult indeed.

It's hard to see how she could defy the rule of parliament without making it a confidence issue. That could bring up the prospect of another -- of

another general election. And that is something which neither main party in the parliament at the moment actually wants just now.

BLACK: Carole Walker, thank you very much. Kristie, Theresa May is expected to continue for at least a few hours in the Commons behind us with

a vote likely at the end of it on this symbolic motion to ensure that Britain does remain within a customs union with the European Union.

It's notable that the government benches are looking pretty bare at the moment. So it is likely you would think that the vote would go in favor of

that motion, as I say it is only advisory, but a symbol of the pressure that the Prime Minister, and the government is under as they try to resolve

this over the coming weeks and months. Back to you.

LU STOUT: Yes, and maybe as you say symbolic, but it is a high-risk moment for Theresa May. Phil Black reporting live, thank you. Now, we have some

breaking news coming into CNN.

The U.S. President's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Ronny Jackson, has withdrawn his nomination. Jackson is currently Donald

Trump's personal doctor.

Senate Democrats have compiled a list of alleged scandals, which include claims that Jackson was abusive to colleagues, handed out prescription

medication like candy, and crashed a car once while drunk.

Now Jackson said he decided to withdraw because the allegations have become a distraction to President Trump. But he calls them completely false, and

fabricated.

Now the former FBI director took some tough questions at CNN's Town Hall on Wednesday. James Comey clashed at times with host Anderson Cooper, while

defending the release of memos detailing conversations with U.S. President Trump. And he rejected the president's claim that he broke the law.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[08:20:03] EVELYN LAWHORN, STUDENT, WILLIAM & MARY: Do you think that there's any credence to the President's claims that you broke the law when

you released your memos?

JAMES COMEY, FORMER FBI DIRECTOR: I don't. That won't surprise you. I don't. In fact, I think he's just making stuff up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Comey and Mr. Trump have recently traded barbs after the former FBI chief began a media tour to promote his new book, A Higher Loyalty.

Now after days of smiles and solidarity, the French President wrapped up his visit to Washington with a surprisingly direct message to Congress.

Emmanuel Macron spoke out against isolationism, and encouraged U.S. lawmakers to engage more in global affairs. He also pushed the case for

the Paris climate, and Iran nuclear deals, which President Trump has strongly criticized.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: As for Iran, our objective is clear. Iran shall never possess any nuclear weapons.

(APPLAUSE)

MACRON: There is an existing framework called the JCPOA to control the nuclear activity of Iran. We signed it at the initiative of the United

States.

It is true to say that this agreement may not address all concerns, and very important concerns. It said it's true, that we should not abandon it

without having something substantial and more substantial instead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: CNN is learning that Emmanuel Macron does not think he was able to sway President Trump into staying in the Iran nuclear deal, so it may

take a new separate plan with Iran to keep the U.S. engaged.

CNN's Michelle Kosinski is live in Washington with brand new reporting on this. She joins us now. And, Michelle, what are you learning about what

President Macron has been describing as this new deal with Iran?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is different from what has been discussed for months among U.S. allies, the Europeans, and the U.S.

itself over the Iran deal.

They've been talking in a level reaching up to the State Department. They want to come up with some kind of political agreement as it's been called

to basically agree to, you know, for now that they would keep talking about the problems with the Iran nuclear deal.

Because everyone agrees in this group that Iran's ballistic program needs to be addressed, that inspections need to be enforced to the fullest extent

of the law.

But they would work on this with Iran, so that they could come up with some other agreement to take care of the time after the current deal expires.

So this political agreement would be a sort of way of saving phase Trump, who's been against the Iran nuclear deal.

But Macron comes over here, and he soon realizes we're learning now that it's going to take a lot more for the U.S. to stay in the deal. What they

discussed in their meetings together about this, would be some now, new deal that the U.S. wants, not to renegotiate the Iran nuclear deal itself,

which is no-go, not only for Iran, but also for European allies.

But it would be some separate agreement that would incorporate everything into on box. It would include Iran's missile program, it would include the

sunset clauses in the current deal. That allows Iran then to use more centrifuges, and enrich uranium after the current deal expires.

It would even include Iran's activities in the region, like in Yemen and Syria. So all of these issues, it would put into one kind of box, the U.S.

wants this to a strong agreement, possibly even a treaty that would have the force of law.

And they want to start negotiating with the Iranians over this, immediately. So, it would be something like a treaty, side by side with

the current Iran deal.

And Macron is realizing that this is what the U.S. is looking for. And if they don't get it, the U.S. seems likely at this point to leave the deal.

What's really not clear about this, though, aside from a lot more detail, would the -- would the Iranians even negotiate right now something like

this. And would European allies go for this? Kristie.

LU STOUT: Got it. So it's a separate agreement, in addition to the existing Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA.

KOSINSKI: Right.

LU STOUT: Michelle Kosinski walking us through it, thank you so much. Now we have breaking news into CNN. Again, the U.S. President's pick to lead

the Department of Veteran Affairs, Dr. Ronny Jackson has withdrawn his nomination. For more on this, we're joined by Abby Phillip at the White

House. Abby, what more are you learning about the reasons behind this withdrawal?

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, hi, Kristie. This has been a whirlwind couple of days for Ronny Jackson, who went from being about to be

in a confirmation hearing to withdrawing his nomination.

[08:25:03] After, you know, serious allegations being unearthed about his conduct as a doctor here at the White House, and while on duty with former

presidents, President Obama, and George W. Bush.

Now Jackson has withdrawn his nomination, and said in a statement that while he would go into this process, I expected tough questions about how

to best care for our veterans. I did not expect to have to dignify baseless, and anonymous attacks on my character, and integrity.

Jackson vehemently denies the allegations, but says he doesn't want to be a distraction to President Trump. Now President Trump is currently

conducting an interview as we speak, and was speaking just moments ago about the Ronny Jackson situation.

Yesterday, the President didn't vehemently defend Jackson. But today, listen to what he's saying about the fact that Jackson was forced to pull

his nomination.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And I want to tell you that Jon Tester, I think this is going to cause him a lot of problems in his

state. He took a man who was just an incredible man -- an incredible man, respected by President Obama, gave him his highest rating.

You saw what President Obama said. President Bush -- he was the doctor to President Bush, to President Obama, and the family. He's been my doctor.

And he runs a fantastic operation.

You know, they have many doctors, and they run a fantastic operation, and honestly, I said it to him, he didn't come to me, I said, you know, Doc,

you run a great operation. How do you think you would do at the V.A.? Now we can talk about experience.

But the V.A., when you think about 13 million people, you can take the head of the biggest hospital corporation of the world, and it's peanuts compared

to the V.A. So nobody has experience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP: So, the President there was referring to Jon Tester, the ranking Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee, which would have been the

committee that dealt with Ronny Jackson's nomination.

He's sort of issuing something of an electoral threat to Tester, saying I won his state, and the role that he played in torpedoing Ronny Jackson's

nomination is not going to bode well for him in that state.

But it should be noted, Kristie, that it's both Republicans and Democrats who had raised concerns about Jackson. It's not just the allegations, it's

also the underlying issue of experience, whether or not he had the relevant experience to lead one of the largest agencies in the federal government.

And also one of the most troubled. Now President Trump there acknowledged that Jackson may not have had the experience, but he suggested that it

didn't matter. I think a lot of Democrats and Republicans disagree, simply because the care for veterans is such a sensitive issue.

And so many people who have been so qualified for that position had not been able to successfully do it well. This nomination was really at risk

from the very beginning. But President Trump is clearly very worked up about the fact that he's lost yet another prospective cabinet nomination

here. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, a nomination at risk. A nomination that has been withdrawn. That's our breaking news this hour. Abby Phillip reporting

live from the White House, thank you.

Now, the two Koreas, they will meet on Friday, that's tomorrow. This is much we know, but is a Donald Trump-Kim Jong-un meeting still in the cards?

All that and more after the break.

[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are your world headlines.

South Korea is giving us a preview of Friday's summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un. They will meet and undergo

a formal welcoming ceremony start to get 9:30 in the morning local time. They will sign a guest book, have lunch separately, plant a tree together,

take a walk, sign an agreement and then attend a banquet.

Now CNN is learning that French President Emmanuel Macron does not think he was able to sway Donald Trump into staying in the Iran nuclear deal, so he

may take a new separate plan with Iran to keep the U.S. engaged. Mr. Macron has just ended a state visit to Washington which culminated in that speech

to Congress on Wednesday.

The U.S. president's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dr. Ronny Jackson, has withdrawn his nomination. Senate Democrats have compiled

a list of alleged scandals which include claims that Jackson was abusive to colleagues, handed out prescription medication like candy, and crashed a

car once while drunk. Jackson calls the allegations completely false and fabricated.

Now as we know, the two Koreas are coming closer together, but what is the spell for U.S.-North Korea relations? Will the much anticipated Donald

Trump and Kim Jong-un's summit actually take place? Both leaders have publicly indicated their willingness to talk but their relationship has

been rocky to say the least. Will Ripley has this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): From fire and fury to peace talks. It's an unlikely path that has led to the upcoming

summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un.

As the U.S. was celebrating its Independence Day in July last year, North Korea conducted its first successful test of an intercontinental ballistic

missile. Pyongyang plane, the Hwasong-14, could reach anywhere in the world. In August, Trump issued his most stern warning yet to North Korea.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire

and fury like the world has never seen.

RIPLEY (voice over): In September, North Korea conducted another nuclear test. North Korean television showed picture of Kim inspecting what it said

was a hydrogen bomb, ready to sit on top of an ICBM.

The new year began with Trump ridiculing Kim on Twitter, warning Kim that he also had a nuclear button and that the U.S. button was bigger and more

powerful.

But just a few days later, the White House issued a statement indicating a willingness to hold talks with North Korea. The call came a day after

Pyongyang agreed to send a delegation to the Winter Olympics, a talk with the South held in the Demilitarized Zone.

In February, North Korea sent a delegation including 22 athletes to compete in five sports at the Pyeongchang Winter Games. The two Koreas even marched

together at the opening ceremony.

In March, President Trump accepted an invitation to talks with Kim Jong-un, the first time a North Korean leader would sit down with a sitting U.S.

president. a South Korean delegation carrying the invitation to Washington made the announcement.

CHUNG EUI-YONG, SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: I told President Trump at our meeting that North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un said he is

committed to denuclearization. Kim pledged that North Korea will refrain from any further nuclear or missile tests.

RIPLEY (voice over): And in April, the U.S. president revealed a secret Easter weekend trip to Pyongyang by CIA Director Mike Pompeo. Pompeo held

talks with Kim Jong-un about North Korea's nuclear program. North Korea later announced it had suspended all missile tests and it was shutting down

a nuclear test site.

Kim Jong-un said Pyongyang's quest for nuclear weapons was complete and it no longer needed to carry out nuclear tests. Welcoming the development as

big progress, President Trump tweeted, it was good news for North Korea and the world.

(on camera): Kim Jong-un will be the first North Korean leader to set foot in the south. Friday's inter-Korean summit hopes to pave the way for the

Kim-Trump talks with the ultimate goal of leading the region down the path of denuclearization.

Will Ripley, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: I want to bring in Bill Richardson now. He is the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and he has negotiated with the North

Koreans in the past.

[08:35:03] Ambassador Richardson, thank you so much for joining us here on CNN. Expectations as you know for this summit to take place tomorrow at the

DMZ are so high, but realistically, what do you think is going to come out of tomorrow's meeting?

BILL RICHARDSON, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UNITED NATIONS: Well, I think it's an important meeting because South Korea has paved the way for this

diplomacy with North Korea and the United States and also South Korea because South Koreans are most vulnerable to a North Korean attack.

There is 25 million people from South Korea and Seoul area vulnerable to an artillery, conventional weapons attack, so it's important.

I think what we will find out at this summit besides the positive images, which are good in defusing tensions, is exactly what North Korea mean about

denuclearization. They say it's on the table but my view is that they are ready to freeze their weapons, not necessarily eliminate them. And

secondly, the degree of international verification and inspections that North Korea is ready to accept.

Nonetheless, I think there's some human rights initiatives, people to people, family reunification issues that could be discussed that will ease

the tension between the two Koreas. It's not just the United States or North Korea. It's South Korea, it's Japan that is already nervous that it

is being left out, and the big player that has to keep enforcing the sanctions, and that is China.

LU STOUT: If there is a pledge that is delivered tomorrow after this meeting for denuclearization, as you said, we need to hash out the

definition, what does it mean according to the North Koreans, but what needs to happen to turn that pledge into something more concrete? Is it all

about, as you suggested a moment ago, verification?

RICHARDSON: Yes, there has to be verification, there has to be inspection, because the North Koreans have a lot of sites that are hidden. They have to

give access to international inspectors. They haven't done that in the past. They just did it with the Yongbyon facility and that caused the

agreements with the United States in the past not to happen or to be violated.

So, I think what is also -- I don't think the North Koreans are going to be very explicit about denuclearization. They don't want to say, we are not

going to denuclearize, because then President Trump may say, well, then I am not going.

I think they're going to keep it vague. But I think the North Koreans are also going to try to drive a little wedge between us and the South Koreans

and say to the South Koreans, look, we are talking diplomacy, you got to help us with international sanctions, lower them, maybe get some pledges of

South Korean investment, human rights initiatives with North Korea, trade concessions.

You know, the North Koreans, they have their set agenda. And my hope, Kristie, is that the United States, that we have a sensible common sense

strategy, long-range, to make this summit work. It's just not going to be a photo of President Trump and Kim Jong-un.

LU STOUT: Yes, absolutely. Well before tomorrow's summit and this week, you wrote an op-ed saying that even if there's no pledge for

denuclearization that's announced by the North Koreans that Donald Trump should still go ahead with this planned meeting with Kim Jong-un. Walk us

to the reasons why.

RICHARDSON: Well, because any kind of easing of tension is important. First, if we get for instance a pledge that North Korea will not ship

chemical weapons to Syria, that's good. Exports of nuclear and missile materials to countries like Pakistan and other world pariahs.

But also, I think a pledge to find with verification a freeze on their nuclear missile activities, particularly those that might hit the United

States and other parts of the region like Japan. That is positive. But maybe a long-range denuclearization strategy makes sense.

I want the U.S. to pursue denuclearization. I just don't think the North Koreans are going to be prepared to do that. If they do, it's going to come

at a very high price. If you thin the marshal plan after World War II was expensive, wait until you see what the North Koreans ask for.

LU STOUT: Wow. What should we expect? What should Donald Trump expect? I mean, he fancies himself as the ultimate deal maker. You have dealt with

the North Koreans. What is the reality when you're sitting down at the table across the North Korean negotiators? What should Donald Trump and his

team be ready for when they sit down with Kim Jong-un?

RICHARDSON: Well, I don't think -- you know, with the North Koreans, you don't make deals sitting across the table, negotiating back and forth. It

will be mainly prepared statements.

It's the informal talks with the North Koreans when they go for either a meal or a walk. That's when the North Koreans make a deal. And I think the

president needs to be conscious of that but also know where he wants to end up.

[08:40:00] My view is that he took a gamble in this meeting with North Korea. It was the right gamble. But let's not raise expectations and say,

they're going to denuclearize at the first meeting. They're not going to do that. These guys, they are slick, you know. They're unpredictable, but

they're relentless. They have an agenda.

And I think Kim Jong-un has shown he is now the diplomatic star of the world after being unpredictable and, you know, pariah. He's now --

everybody is courting him, the Chinese, the South Koreans, the international community.

But he is up to something so we have to be careful and we should be prepared, not just the United States but the international communities,

South Korea, Japan. And I think also the European Union which has a lot of stake here too.

LU STOUT: Yes, from international pariah, Kim Jong-un, as you put it, is now the diplomatic star of the world, and international community got to be

prepared with what he is up to. Ambassador Bill Richardson, we will leave it at that. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your insight on

CNN. Take care.

You're watching "News Stream." Still ahead here in the program, space researchers rejoice as new 3D map reveals new secrets about our galaxy, the

Milky Way.

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LU STOUT: All right, welcome back. The DR2, the biggest ever 3D map of our galaxy, the Milky Way, has been released. The Gaia space telescope scanned

a whopping 1.7 billion stars to make this map happen. Star gazers can thank the European Space Agency for getting it all off the ground.

Researchers say that Gaia is tracing how stars move. And that's a big plus for something called galactic archaeology. Astronomers say it means that

they will be able to wind the clock background and say how the galaxy evolved over the past 13 billion years.

And that, my friends, is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with Amanda Davis is next.

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