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Trump Suspends "War Games" With South Korea; Analysts: Western Influence Could End Kim Regime; Stranded Migrants Headed For Spain; Judge: Puerto Rico Must Release Death Record To CNN; British PM Wins Key Brexit Vote With A Concession; AT&T-Time Warner Mega Deal Approved By Judge; Security Concerns Linger Ahead Of Tournament. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired June 13, 2018 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:51] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: The summit between the U.S. and North Korea was in the history books, now comes the hard work of turning words into action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Closer, closer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Moving in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Hundreds of migrants rescued at sea of the coast of Italy only to be told they're not welcome. Now, they're getting ready for another voyage, this time to a safe haven in Spain.
And just one day a way from the start of the World Cup. Is Russia ready to secure the biggest sporting event in the world?
Hello. And welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. And this is CNN NEWSROOM.
Donald Trump arrives back in Washington in the coming hours basking in the glory of the first ever summit between a sitting U.S. president and North Korea's leader. But now comes the even harder part, working out the details of the declaration. Mr. Trump and Kim Jong-un signed in Singapore. It commits to work toward complete denuclearization. But it lack specifics like a timeline on verification process.
Mr. Trump is dispatching his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to South Korea. Pompeo will likely face questions about his boss's stunning announcement that he's halting joint military exercises with South Korea. And we will get more on that from my colleague Anna Coren who is in Seoul. And in just a moment we will talk with her. But first here is CNN's Jim Sciutto.
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Trump and Kim have left Singapore. And now diplomats here in Asia lawmakers back in Washington are taking stock of the summit itself. And by the simple arithmetic of what each side came to Singapore with an imbalance.
The U.S. president, President Trump making some quite specific promises, promises to end joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises calling them provocative something that U.S. president has not done before, also putting on the table, the possibility of withdrawing U.S. troops from the Korean peninsula, troops that are there not just to protect South Korea but also to project American force in Asia.
From the North Korean side, no specificity, no specific promises on the timeline of denuclearization. Also no specific promises on how verification would come of denuclearization if and when it happens even not taking the step of giving stock, taking stock of exactly what weapons it has which will be a normal first step to nuclear negotiations like this.
Now, the president, his aides say that that will for negotiations. And at the hard negotiations on the specifics are beginning now. That is certainly true. There's also certainly true that we are in a very different place than where we were a few month ago when the prospect of war was very real, when there were discussions inside the administration of a military strike on North Korea.
The question is, now, what comes out of these talks going forward? You've had the symbolism here in Singapore. Will there be substance to follow that symbolism?
Jim Sciutto, CNN, Singapore.
CHURCH: And now, let's go to my colleague Anna Coren in Seoul, South Korea. Good to see you Anna. So of course, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un is being seen as the big winner out of his five hour meeting with President Trump. A meeting is father and grandfather wanted but never received. War games halted and perhaps U.S. troops withdrawn. So everyone is asking what did the United States get out of this?
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. A very good question, Rosie. And from the analyst that we're being speaking to over the last few hours, they have said not much if anything at all. The feeling really is that Kim Jong-un has emerged from the summit as the winner, certainly the winner of this first round.
He went to Singapore wanting to be this legitimate international player. Well, he achieved that. He was considered on equal footing with president of the free world, the leader of the free world. So just the imagery, the optics to be standing there next to Donald Trump, you know, back home in North Korea, he is going to be welcomed like a rock star.
[02:05:18] We are yet to see those images out of Pyongyang. But no doubt, Rosemary, when we do. Kim Jong-un is going to be considered god. He is cemented his place in North Korean history. That is for sure. And the other thing too that he really wanted out of this summit was halting of those joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, some thing that is always been referred as provocative from the North Koreans. Well, guess what, Donald Trump was using that language yesterday when he addressed the media for a one hour and five minutes. It really was quite stunning to analyst to think that Donald Trump use exact same language as what Kim Jong-un did.
Now, I have to apologize for the noise. There are elections happening here in South Korea, here in Seoul. So that is why there's a bit of a band. So I apologize for the drums.
CHURCH: Yes. It's quite some noise there on the background. And of course, so, President Trump hardly touched on the human rights abusers and crimes against humanity associated with Kim and his regime, instead showering Kim with complements. What's being said about that?
COREN: Yes. Look, he said that he did bring it up with Kim Jong-un. But really Rosie, we know that he obviously didn't bring it up, you know, too much in depth due to the fact that they were all smiling. North Korea has appalling human rights record, the world knows that.
You know, Rosie, I'm going to push back to you and maybe we can talk a little bit later when it's not so loud.
CHURCH: Yes. Absolutely. All right, Anna, we'll come back to you in just a moment. And may be it'll be a little quieter. We'll see.
As Anna alluded to the U.S. and South Korea were scheduled to take part in joint military exercises this coming August in fact, that apparently won't happen. CNN pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr takes a closer look now with what President Trump's decision to halt the war games could mean for the region.
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BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kim Jong-un has always wanted two things from the Pentagon. No more U.S. war games with South Korea and removal of the 28,000 U.S. troops on the peninsula. Kim might be getting one of his wishes.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will be stopping the war games which will save us a tremendous amount of money.
(voice-over): And President Trump signaling even more for Kim could be on the table against the advice of many in the national security community.
TRUMP: I want to get our soldiers out. I want to bring our soldiers back home.
(voice-over): The president talking words out of the North Korean playbook calling his own military exercises with South Korea provocative.
TRUMP: We're bombing empty mountains for practice. And I said, I want to stop that. And I will stop that.
(voice-over): These are major military concessions even before Kim takes any verified steps to end this nuclear program.
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN: I think the president is trying to butter the guy out to make it easier to get a deal with him.
(voice-over): But there are security risks.
MICHAEL HAYDEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: The whole defense of South Korea is based upon our ability. And the South and North Koreans knowledge of our ability to flow forces to the peninsula quickly for the defense of South Korea, that's why we do the exercises.
(voice-over): The president even critical of spending money on air force bombers flying in from Guam on training rant. The Pentagon will now review all air, naval, and land exercises to see what exactly will be canceled. A U.S. defense official says, the military also wants to know from the White House whether there are any conditions that North Korea would need to meet first.
The next exercise all ready scheduled for August. But the South Korean government, a close ally of the Pentagon, clearly was surprised issuing a statement saying, at this moment, we need to figure out President Trump's accurate meaning and intention.
The Pentagon says, Defense Secretary James Mattis was consulted and not surprised by the statement on ending the exercises. Nobody is saying, if he supported the decision before it was announced.
JAMES MATTIS, U. S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We're still assessing --
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CHURCH: All right. And now, of course the big question is what comes next for North Korea, could the famously reclusive nation be open to western investment. Brian Todd, takes a look at that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A new world can begin today.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This likely produced movie trailer President Trump said was designed to show Kim Jong-un what's possible for North Korea if Kim gets rid of all his nuclear weapons.
[02:10:03] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What will he choose, to show vision and leadership or not.
(voice-over): The video which Trump says he showed to Kim on an iPad portrays a flood of western investment, new railroads, factories, resorts.
TRUMP: They have great beaches. You see that whenever they're exploding their cannons into the ocean, right? So I said, boy, look at that view. Wouldn't that make a great condo -- (voice-over): Now, experts warn that while Kim would certainly want more cash coming into his country. The dictator knows if he really opens North Korea up to western investment, it could spell his doom.
MICHAEL GREEN, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: It's like opening the window of a submarine underwater to get more fresh air. The North Koreans know that that is the beginning of their own doing.
(voice-over): Letting western companies like McDonald's come in and let's say means letting more information into North Korea something the paranoid regime doesn't want a traumatically sealed population to have because it's so closed, most North Koreans believe what their taught in school that Kim is something a Kim to a living god that their country is superior.
GREEN: When the information and the choices and the money flows into the pockets of North Koreans and they realize that they are living in a hell hole on earth not the paradise or purees they were told. It can -- it's entropy. It's chaos.
(voice-over): Which could lead to Kim's assassination and the destruction of his regime, that's a risk that President Trump could be downplaying or misunderstanding when talking about how North Koreans feel about their supreme leader.
TRUMP: His country does love him. His people, you see, the fervor, they have a great fervor.
(voice-over): But that fervor is forced. Human rights monitor say, the North Koreans veraciously clapping for Kim at rallies, crying with joy in his presence, know what happens if they don't.
GREG SCARLATOIU, COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN NORTH KOREA: If you don't clap or adore him, you'll swiftly pulled out of the crowd and replace with somebody else and punished.
(voice-over): But it's not just people pulled out of crowds. Kim deals with anyone who crosses him harshly.
SCARLATOIU: All prisoners in North Korea have particular political prisoners are subjected to a relentless vicious cycle of forced labor and induced malnutrition, public executions, secret executions, torture.
(voice-over): Expert say, that's what Kim uses to maintain control and it's his desire to maintain that control that could ultimately scuttle any nuclear deal.
(on camera): Most analysts do get President Trump credit for at least raising the issue of human rights with Kim Jong-un. They say if Kim releases just a few prisoners or let a little bit of western investment come in to North Korea, it will still be a better situation that it was before. But they say, any western companies that come in to North Korea like Starbucks or McDonald's here or there will likely only be accessible to the North Korean elites who are close to Kim at least at the outset.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
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CHURCH: Well, next here on CNN NEWSROOM, hundreds of migrants stranded at sea may at last be headed for a country preparing to take them in. Plus, a blockbuster merger is allowed to move forward despite intense objections from President Trump.
And CNN has obtained new information that officials were trying to keep from the public on the number of deaths in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. We'll have the details for you when we come back.
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[02:15:59] CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. Well, hundreds of migrants who had been stranded on a vessel in the Mediterranean are on their way to Spain, this after some were moved to other ships to relieve overcrowding.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get them off people. Get them off people.
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CHURCH: Now, Italy refused to allow them entry into the country. Spain stepped in Monday and said it will accept them. The journey is expected to take about four more days, Doctors Without Borders and other humanitarian groups are concerned the already stress passengers could suffer even more.
Well, CNN's Melissa Bell joins us live now from Catania in Sicily. Melissa, before we get to what lies ahead in Spain for these people, let's start with why Italy turn these migrants away. And what impact that had on these refugees?
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the plait of those on that boat, one can only imagine the conditions many of them wounded of course, many of them women, many of them children. And as you say, a few more days at sea, and really what they were victim of was terrible timing. Indeed, they were on the Aquarius which is so regularly over the last few months, Rosemary, brought people that have been rescued from the Mediterranean to this port.
What's changed is the new Italian government is now decided not that migrants will no longer be allowed to be taken in having been rescued from the Mediterranean. You can see just behind me a boat that has arrived this morning carrying some 900 migrants. The difference is that these were rescued by Italian navy ships and by the E.U. rescue mission in the Mediterranean.
What the new Italian government which is made up of populous and the right wing league party has said, Rosemary, is that they're no longer going to be taking in migrants that have been rescued by NGOs. And indeed Italy is new interior minister has been outspoken on this issue saying that he's simply will not allow these NGOs to turn Italy into a massive refuges camp anymore. Rosemary.
CHURCH: Right. So rejected by Italy, why would Spain the only European country to step up and offer a home to these migrants?
BELL: Well, Spain also has a new government and then shape of its new Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is made this offer to the migrants. So it's been very interesting to watch these two very different new governments. This is socialist one in Spain opening its port of letting these migrants the new populous and right wing government here in Italy very much closing its ports to any further migrants from NGOs.
And the question is of course, one, for the European Union. This is part of the Italian government strategy for so many years now, successive Italian governments have been saying to the E.U. look, you need to help us with this, the Dublin Rules mean that migrants who land on this shore will then need to have their applications dealt with in Italy. Italy believes that's unfair. It's been left the shoulder the burden of this crisis for too many years now.
And this new government is saying enough of that. The question is whether this new strategy will get the European Union to respond whether the E.U. will now try and come up with so -- at the end of the month, the meetings to be held some sort of revision of the Dublin Rules and the immigration system in Europe as a whole. Otherwise, what we're likely to see are more of these ships looking for ports hoping that someone will take them in but not having any certainty of where they should go.
And of course as we've seen with the people in the Aquarius who have several more days at sea ahead of them that really leads to untold extra human suffering for people who've already of course been through so much. And do remember, Rosemary, that on these ships like on the one behind me of course they are economic migrants, they are also people who genuinely have a right to asylum in the E.U. because they're fleeing the sort of circumstances that they're fleeing which is why Italy's move has caused such an uproar.
CHURCH: All right, Melissa Bell bringing us up to date on the situation there, reporting from Catania in Sicily, many thanks to you.
[02:19:59] Well, the Puerto Rican government has been forced to provide CNN and another news organization with data about the controversial death toll following Hurricane Maria. The government wanted permission to stall the delivery of this information. But a judge denied that. The official death toll from last year's storm stands at 64. But a Harvard study says the number could be well over 8,000.
Our Leyla Santiago reports on the discrepancies.
LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: After were judges ruling CNN obtained this. This is a disk with nearly 12,000 death certificates of people who died after Hurricane Maria. Now, some of those have as a cause catechismic storm. But really it's the other ones that we are really going to be digging into trying to find out who died, when, how, what led up to that death to get a better understanding of what really has been a controversial death toll.
Now, to even get this information, CNN, had to sue the government of Puerto Rico, a judge sided with us and said, the government must release that information even though they did ask for an extension, they said, they wanted more time to redact social security numbers from death certificates with this.
This will be the first concrete evidence with the names, causes of death, municipalities, information that could really shed light on the impact of Hurricane Maria on this island specifically for the death toll. I spoke to one family that we have followed for quite some time, the family of Jose Pepe Sanchez.
We have featured them in previous story. He died the day of Hurricane Maria. And his wife said, she had goosebumps when she heard the news because she says, this information she believes will shed more light on the people who died. She says, I am sure to find more Pepes on the island.
Of course we're going to spending quite a bit of time digging in to this information. And we'll have more reports through the coming days to try to get to the bottom of Puerto Rico's death toll when it comes to Hurricane Maria.
Leyla Santiago, CNN, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
CHURCH: Britain's prime minister has scrapped through and survived one of the greatest tests of her Brexit strategy today. Theresa May managed to fight off a rebellion demanding that MP's have the definitive say over final Brexit deal. But the government had to make a concession in which parliament could have some say if Mrs. May doesn't strike a deal with Brussels by October. More votes on the amendments to the withdrawal bill are set for Wednesday.
Well, this week's parliamentary skirmishes over Britain's exit from the European Union reveal just how contentious the final divorce may be. CNN's Bianca Nobilo takes a look at the battles yet to come.
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BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.K. is just 290 days away from leaving the European Union. But Theresa May and her government if they hadn't realized already are in the middle of a scrap.
As of 29th of March 2019, draws ever closer, the E.U. is increasingly unhappy at the perceive lack of progress.
MICHEL BARNIER, E.U. CHIEF BREXIT NEGOTIATOR, (through translator): There is a request for status quo, a source of continuity which is point paradoxical since it was their country which took the decision to leave the European Union.
(voice-over): But Theresa May's party is throwing punches of its own.
DAVID DAVIS, U.K. BREXIT SECRETARY: We're going to need the European Union to recognize the United Kingdom is not your average third country. We're going to get trading agreement, the defense jobs across Europe.
(voice-over): And Boris Johnson was caught in a secret recording.
BORIS JOHNSON, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Imagine Trump doing Brexit, what would he do? He'd go in bloody hard. You know he'd go, all sorts of breakdowns, there'd be all sorts of chaos. Everyone would think he'd gone mad. But actually you might get somewhere.
(voice-over): Today, the House of Commons will get its chance to take a swing at the punch back that is the E.U. Withdrawal Bill. The center piece legislation of Brexit will be debated by MP's during a marathon session spanning two days. Already badly bruised from the House of Lords, it returns to the lower house with 15 amendments which would implement big changes to the government's plans. Out of the 15, three present the greatest challenges.
Round one, staying in a customs union, Theresa May has pledged to remove Britain from any customs union and pursue a customs partnership. Round two, full access to the single market. That's never been possible without accepting the four freedoms including freedom of movement which makes brexiteers would never accept.
Round three --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Questions to the prime minister?
NOBILO: Parliamentary approval of the outcome of negotiations essentially giving parliament a veto on what of a deal Theresa May strikes or doesn't with the E.U. This embattled prime minister has a lot to loose. Defeat on any amendment would limit the prime minister's options in negotiations and pile on the domestic pressure. And time is running out.
[02:25:17] Bianca Nobilo, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: The merger between AT&T are now parent company Time Warner can now move forward after it was approved by a judge in the United States. It's a deal President Trump tried to stop.
CNN's Jessica Schneider has the details.
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JESSICA SCHNEIDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tonight a federal judge has given the green light to the $85 billion deal between AT&T and Time Warner. Judge Richard Leon ripped apart the government's case point by point concluding for each of the government's three main arguments. The government has failed to meet its burden to establish that the proposed transaction is likely to lessen competition substantially.
The Department of Justice which sued to block the deal in November is now deciding whether to appeal. Prosecutors argue that combining the country's largest telecommunications company AT&T with programer Time Warner, parent company to CNN would mean the resulting company could charge higher prices for its must have programing like live sports and news harming consumers.
In a statement, Makan Delrahim, the DOJ Antitrust Chief, express disappointment on the ruling saying, we will closely review the court's opinion and consider next steps in light of our commitment to preserving competition for the benefit for American consumers.
AT&T General Counsel David McAtee said in a statement, they hope to complete the merger by next Wednesday writing, we are pleased that, after conducting a full and fair trial on the merits, the Court has categorically rejected the government's lawsuit to block our merger with Time Warner.
The courtroom fight played out over six weeks in Washington D.C. The trial drew intense interest from media observers and the business world.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN ANCHOR: Will AT&T be allowed to buy Time Warner?
(voice-over): It was the first time since the 1970s. The Department of Justice sued to block a so called vertical merger since AT&T and Time Warner don't directly compete. The judge also issuing a warning to the Department of Justice cautioning them not to ask him to put his decision on hold and issue a stay, the Court has spoken, to use a stay to accomplish indirectly what could not be done directly especially when it would cause certain irreparable harm to the defendants simple would be unjust.
The deal was announced in October 2016.
RANDALL STEPHENSON, CEO, AT&T: The ability to take really premium quality content to our customers in the mobile environment is huge for us. It's huge for our customers.
(voice-over): At the height of the presidential campaign, then candidate Donald Trump, weighed in repeatedly promising to block the deal if he was elected president.
TRUMP: AT&T is buying Time Warner and thus CNN a deal we will not approve in my administration because it's too much concentration of power in the hands of too few.
(voice-over): The president statements never came in to play during the trial. And now with tonight's ruling, this mega deal is moving forward pending any appeal by the government of further court action. The companies have said a June 21st deadline and if the deal isn't done by then, either side could walk away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Jessica Schneider with that report.
Well, it is believed that Tuesday's decision could lead to another round of media mergers Comcast is expected to make a play for 21st Century Fox which would pit it against rival Disney.
Well, it's not just President Trump and Kim Jong-un who were pleased with this summit in Singapore so as China. We'll have the details for you and a live report, next.
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[02:31:07] CHURCH: A very warm welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you on the main stories we've been following this hour. Shares in ZTE stocks plunged 40 percent on Wednesday. It's lowest level in more than a year. Analyst had predicted the Hong Kong listed stock would fall sharply when it resumed trading on Wednesday.
The company had been suspended for the past eight weeks after the U.S. blocked American firms from ZTE after it was revealed the company had been illegally sending goods to Iran and North Korea.
British government has won a key vote on an amendment to Brexit legislation after giving concessions to rebel conservative lawmakers. The Justice Minister Phillip Lee quit ahead of the vote warning Brexit would damage businesses in his constituency.
U.S. President Donald Trump is lavishing praise on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un calling him talented, loved by his country and trustworthy. He says, he believes Kim will dismantle his nuclear stock pile. In surprise move following their summit in Singapore, Mr. Trump suspended joint military exercises with the South Korea.
Well, China is apparently pleased with the summit and with President Trump saying he would like to bring U.S. troops home from South Korea. So let's get more on there from Matt Rivers, who is standing by that live in Beijing. Good to see you Matt.
So both North Korea and China getting everything they wanted and neither of them appeared to have done very much to get it. And then of course, the U.S. doesn't appear to have received much in return. How is these all playing out there?
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, look, after one summit, one day of negotiations, the Chinese government is going to look at what happened in Singapore and say, you know what, this is a pretty good start. Of course the negotiation though just getting started, things could change over the weeks and months to come. And likely will. But if you're looking at just one day, what happened in Singapore, it went really well for the Chinese government.
And let's walk our viewers through exactly why that is. Let's start with the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thought that the summit went well enough to bring up the notion that countries could start to consider relaxing sanctions that the U.N. Security Council has imposed on North Korea, sanctions that China only were grudgingly signed on to really in the first place.
China never really wanted to do that. And so they said, they're going to continue to impose the sanctions but they felt strong enough about this summit to bring up the concept of potentially reducing sanctions. That's one. Then move on to what President Trump said about a couple of things. What about troop removal? The president said in the long- term, he doesn't want to see U.S. troops on the Korean peninsula even though he said it's not the table as of right now.
The Chinese government loves to here that. They absolutely hate the fact that U.S. troops are on the Korean peninsula. They have been threatened by those troops for decades now. And then go to those war games as President Trump called them, what military personnel in this region would call it military exercises. Don't forget, those exercises are not just conducted with the view on North Korean. They are also conducted with China in mind.
China, doesn't like those exercises any more than the North Koreans do. And now, the president says, they're stopping. So when you take sanction relief, when you take troop removal, when you take military exercises now off the table, those are three of China's biggest wish list items seemingly being checked off.
CHURCH: They are certainly very happy. But of course, we have to make the point that President Trump did say that those war games are halted for now. He called them provocative which is interesting talking point from North Korea. But is it possible if things don't go as they're supposed to go, that they would start those joint military exercises again?
RIVERS: Yes. That's right. And that something that China is going to talk to the North Koreans about. You know, everyone has a stake in this. Everyone has their own strategic interest in mind. And so when you hear things like Kim Jong-un meeting with Xi Jinping, you can bet that at those meetings, it's China's government's role to make sure that China strategic interest are being carried out.
[02:35:16] So as this process continues, as the negotiations go forward, you can bet that China is going to tell the North Koreans, look, as this plays out, you need make sure that these military exercises stay off the table. How do we get what we want out of this while seemingly giving something up in return? That's what China's strategic aims are going to be. They were very happy with what happened yesterday in Singapore, with what the president said.
But now, the task for the Chinese government remains, how do we keep what the president said from changing, how do we make what he said into actual policy and reality.
CHURCH: Yes. Indeed. Matt Rivers, live there from Beijing with the some reaction there. Very pleased for themselves, no doubt the China and North Korea are in the aftermath of this. Many thanks.
Well, the governor of Guam says, he and the thousands of residence on his island, a breathing a sigh of relief in the wake of the U.S. and North Korean summit. Governor Eddie Calvo joins me now by phone with more reaction. Good to have with us. And of course, you are very relieved because those missiles will now will blasted off. You are right in the line of fire. So talk to us about exactly how you're feeling and how the people there in Guam are feeling about this?
EDDIE CALVO, GOVERNOR OF GUAM: Yes. Good afternoon Rosemary. Yes. Again, I talked to President Trump. He stopped in Guam for quick with feeling stop (ph) by an opportunity to speak with him. The first question of president asked was, so what are the thoughts of the people of Guam, what are they feeling?
And I said, Mr. President, considering 10 months ago, all you're hearing about is nuclear inhalation and destruction of Guam. And now, 10 months later, where we see a greater sign by the president and the chairman, I call it miraculous. So I told him, I believe there's about a 165,000 of people in Guam breathing a deep side relief.
So that's the sentiment here in the territory because again, the attack on Guam in terms of threat by North Korea, last year was not the first. This has been going on since 2013. And that's why President Obama establishes FAB Missile Defense System after the first threat in 2013.
So we're used to these threats. Well, Guam has been a part of the American military base establishment in Asia Pacific since World War II. So it's nice to see that it's calming of tensions particularly in the Korean peninsula.
CHURCH: Governor, you are landed although at the pledge made by President Trump to halt what he calls the provocative war games and of course these discussion about removing U.S. troops. I mean nearly 30,000 U.S. troops from South Korea. Does that alarm you at all?
CALVO: He brought that up in his visit to Guam. He brought up. And he didn't talk. He called that exercises, he called them war games. And he believes that this particular point they were provocative and expensive. And he also made mention to me about the over flights of the Korean peninsulas by B1 bombers based out of Guam.
As far as I'm concerned, and I'm not there pretty (ph) to the readiness of all American military forces throughout the region but when it comes to Guam, I did remind the president that the reason why Kim Jong-un did target Guam was because of the numerous strike from Guam of B1 and B2 and B52 bombers over the past few years. So they are provocative.
As far as I'm concerned, and he was very clear on this, he was talking about exercises. And he was talking about the over flights of strategic bombers. But he did not mentioned to me that anything about pulling out of forces out of the Korean peninsula, out of Japan and out of Guam. So as far as I'm concerned, I look at this and I'm hopeful that it's more of good will gesture, you know, you can stop exercises fairly quickly and you can restart them.
But I would assume that President Trump is looking now at the actions of North Korea and hopefully with this good will nature -- gesture, they will reciprocate another ways. CHURCH: Yes. So President Trump did mention that there was a possibility in the future he didn't pledge the removal of troops at this stage. But he did put it out there that there was a possibility that they would take U.S. troops ultimately in the future out of the South Korea.
[02:40:13] I just want to ask you to about all the analysts looking at this great shopping list of what China and North Korea got out of this. And of course we had our live report from CNN's Matt Rivers in Beijing. I mean, they are excited and thrilled about what they got out of it. A lot of analyst saying, the U.S. didn't get very much out of this. What would you say to them?
CALVO: Well, you know, President Trump is known as a man who makes deals. And he focuses on transactions. One thing is certain between 2013 and last year with strategic patience. There are more and more missile threats to Guam. There were larger test of higher yield nuclear weapons that back missiles were shooting over the Japan.
Since President Trump had exercised maximum use of sanctions and a very hard mode policy of potentially a preventative, a preemptive attack, there had been no missile threats to Guam. And there have been no further explosions. And there have been no further missile testing.
So already, you are seeing positive results out of this guesstimate (ph), this change in strategic patience to a more aggressive policy. And I'm pretty sure you're from United Kingdom, I'd like in to strategic patience to what Neville Chamberlain called appeasement. And we saw what happened in Europe as a result of appeasement of dictators.
I believe the policy set by President Trump is not a forfeiture of strength and putting too much on the table. It's dealing with a strong hand. And of course, I think also that has a lot to do with the cooperation of countries such as China and Russia that also believe that there needs to be a denuclearization and lessening the pressures in the Korean peninsula.
CHURCH: Yes. At this stage, the jury appears to be out on who really gained in this and what the United States gained out of it. But Guam is very excited. You're very happy, very relieved. Guam's Governor, Eddie Calvo, thank you so much for joining us on the phone. We do appreciate it.
CALVO: Thank you so much.
CHURCH: And let's go back to our Anna Coren in Seoul for more reaction to the summit between President Trump and Kim Jong-un. And of course, the halt to the war games between the U.S. and South Korea. So Anna, we heard there a very relieved governor of Guam. But now that the analyst have had time to digest what happened at the summit on way up who won and who lost in this. What is being said?
COREN: Well, Rosie, firstly, I have to apologize about the noise earlier. That was the performance for peace believing that peace will come. It is of course a national holiday here in South Korea. But look, as far as what South Koreans hoped to gain from this day, celebrating the historic summit. They believe that this is the start of denuclearization and enduring peace.
And to discuss this further, I'd like to bring in Kenneth Choi, he is the International Editor for Chosun Ilbo. Kenneth tell me, how are South Koreans feeling today?
KENNETH CHOI, INTERNATIONAL EDITOR, THE CHOSUN ILBO: Actually, you know, a bit ambivalent because, you know, the periods, whatever the President Trump made an agreement with Kim Jong-un it doesn't look much different from the past previous agreement. So south Korea, yes, some of them are celebrating. And hopefully that, you know, the true peace comes. But still a bit ambivalent because, you know, the CVID was not included in the agreement.
COREN: They complete, verifiable, irreversible, denuclearization.
CHOI: Correct.
COREN: Which Trump said is a must. It's a deal breaker.
CHOI: Right, right. We were taking it back a little bit. And when I saw that, I was like, oh, it's like a blown saved in game 7 in World Series, when you're leading four-zip. And it's like, oh no, this is not, you know, what it's supposed to be. But what I heard when I was watching the press conference by President Trump, he said, he showed the video clip to Kim Jong-un about, you know, North Korea can prosper if he goes -- he makes the right choice. But --
COREN: That was an incredible if I may interrupt you, that was an incredible piece of propaganda on behalf of the United States.
CHOI: Maybe. But I just wanted to see the other way around because President Trump is a very unconventional president. And he -- I think he have said something very unconventional suggestions to Kim Jong-un because I think he probably have said, there was a jump button right next to him. And I think he said--
[02:45:06] COREN: Who despise --
CHOI: Probably.
COREN: From the -- by the North Koreans.
CHOI: Right, right. So they -- he eventually said that they will not accept anything short of CVID. And President Trump didn't say anything when he asked in press conference about what if North Korea does not follow through the steamed acquisition (ph) process. But I think he probably made a very credible unconventional things to Kim Jong-un. And then Kim Jong-un probably agreed to him. So I want to believe that President Trump is right on Kim Jong-un.
COREN: It's funny, I think most South Koreans that I speak to want to believe, you know. They are extremely optimistic. But let me ask you this, how did you feel when you heard President Trump announced the cancellation of this joint military exercises between South Korean troops and the United States?
CHOI: That's bummer, actually. I just want to bring this up to you. South Korea host the largest American military base outside of United States.
COREN: 28,500 troops, U.S. troops here in South Korea.
CHOI: Not only troops but military base is about hour way from here.
COREN: Right.
CHOI: It has a port. It has runways and so on. And President Trump said, it takes about six hours to fly B1 bomber from Guam to this theater, this region, right? It takes about five minutes to fly off to the Chinese border if you take off from that military base.
It's the closest U.S. military base -- and I mean to the Chinese border. And the reason I'm saying this is, the primary purpose of this military base was to protect Korea, to -- provide nuclear umbrella and so on. But, you know, over the years, the geopolitical situation changes. And, you know, there are more utilities added to it. And right now, because the Chinese military expansion and so on, one not, whatever, and then South China Sea issues and stuff like that.
So this military base here is actually to sort of secure the region, not only for protecting South Korea but for, you know, sort of keeping the peace in the region. And if President Trump is stopping the military drill and then pulling the troops out, there will be --
COREN: Which is what he alluded to, I mean he basically said, he wants to bring the troops home, not now, not now, but perhaps down the line. Kenneth, I'm sorry, I would love to keep on talking to you.
CHOI: All right, no problem.
COREN: You offer a fascinating insight into a story that you know best. But no doubt, we will continue to discuss this in the months --
CHOI: Thank you.
COREN: -- and years ahead Kenneth Choi.
CHOI: All right, no problem. Thank you very much.
COREN: Great to have you with us. Rosemary, back to you in Atlanta.
CHURCH: Wonderful. Thank you so much Anna. We'll chat in just a moment.
And we will take a quick break here. But still to come, who will host the World Cup in 2026? A FIFA announcement from Moscow is just hours away. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [02:50:24] CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. Well, Hurricane Bud is churning in the Pacific Ocean and is expected to be make land fall in the next 48 hours, impacting Los Cabos in Mexico. And our meteorologist, Allison Chinchar joins us now with the details. So, Allison, just how bad is this going to be?
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, it depends on how fast this storm actually moves. And that's going to be something we have to watch very closely, because the slower this system moves, the more likely it is to dump tremendous amounts of rain.
So here you can see it again just on the western coast of Mexico, you can see Bud and also by the way a second disturbance located just to the South East. There has been a 20 percent chance of development over the next several days. But let's focus on Bud for right now. It is a hurricane, although it is expected to weaken as it continues its track to the north-north-west at about 5 kilometers per hour, so again, moving incredibly slowly.
As it pushes of to the north, the winds will start to die down going down to that 85, then 75, then hopefully, down around the 50 kilometer per hour range by the time it makes its way a little bit further off to the north.
Now, one thing that we talked about again, the slower it moves, the heavier the rain is going to be. The more rain it can dump because it's going to train over the same locations. So widespread rainfall are now to long the track are expected to be upwards of say around 100 millimeters total. But you are going to have some isolated spots where you get embedded in those thunderstorms where you could pick up as much as 200 millimeters.
Now, one good thing is as it pushes into areas of the south western U.S. they need the rain, desperately. Right here you're taking a look at the U.S. drought monitor. We have areas of extreme and even exceptional drought. So at this point they can certainly use some of that moisture.
One thing to note though, much of the Atlantic really isn't active right now. Thanks to this layer of Saharan dust and those particles as they push over towards the Caribbean as well as much of the Atlantic. Rosemary?
CHURCH: Thank you so much Allison, appreciate it.
And just ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, Russia steps up its security to send a message to anyone who may want to disrupt the World Cup. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. Well, we are just one day away from the World Cup kick off in Moscow. But before that, FIFA needs to pick the host nation for 2026. The 68th FIFA Congress is underway in Moscow right now with the vote expected in about three hours time. And there are two candidates in the running a joint bid from the United States, Mexico and Canada known as the United bid and a bid form Morocco. The winner will be picked by 207 Member Associations who will hold the vote. The magic number is 104 votes or a 50 percent majority that either side needs to win of course. And "The New York Times" vote tracker shows the United bid ahead but of course it's far from a done deal.
As the fans are getting ready for the World Cup, officials are keeping an eye out for possible security threats. Russia says, it has thwarted 25 terrorist attacks in the past year alone, as Matthew Chance reports from Moscow the nation is putting on a show of force ahead of the tournament.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[02:55:13] MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Russian security forces smashing a suspected Jihadi cell in the capital. More than 60 people are arrested in this one swoop. But other raids like this recent one in Saint Petersburg, guns and explosives were also seized.
Its acetone peroxide the suspect says, an explosive known as the Mother of Satan, he adds. These videos broadcast on Russian state media are meant to show the government's tight grip on security. But they also hint that the security threat looming over a World Cup tournament spread across 11 Russian cities.
SAJJAN GOHEL, SECURITY ANALYST: Depending on where the particular match is being played, the threat and the challenges are also different. For example Kaliningrad that could be a threat from maritime security, if it's Saint Petersburg or Moscow that could be targets on the transportation hubs.
(voice-over): But in the build up to the worlds biggest sporting event, Russian authorities insist they're dealing with every threat. Fan I.D.s have been introduced to control access to stadiums and transport networks. The Russian president says, his security services have thwarted 25 terrorist attacks in the past year alone.
(on camera): From inside the Kremlin, this World Cup is seen as a huge propaganda coup that will show Russia in it's best possible light. A chance to move on from the barrage of criticism level that the country over issues like the annexation of Crimea doping or allegations of meddling in the U.S. presidential election, preventing anything from going wrong has become an issue of national pride.
(voice-over): But it's a daunting task. Russia has faced a longstanding terrorist threat from Jihadi and separatist groups, especially from Chechnya in the volatile north caucuses. This suicide bomb attack in Saint Petersburg last year was carried out by a Russian citizen from central Asia.
And military intervention in the Syrian conflict in support of its government ally has yielded a whole new source of challenges and vows of revenge. GOHEL: There has been blow back following the collapse of the so called ISIS Caliphate where a number of Chechnyans have fought with them and other individuals from the caucuses have come back to Russia, what is their intention? Do you want to try and carry out attacks during the World Cup?
This will be an opportunity because of the fact that the eyes of the world will focus on Russia. So for that reason, the Russian authorities will have to take that much more seriously than perhaps they've been doing previously.
(voice-over): And an opportunity for Russia to show it is up to the task.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And you can count on CNN to stay on top of everything that will be going on at the World Cup. Keep an eye on our website CNN.com for all the latest developments from Russia. And make sure to check out our interactive site, World Cup in numbers for all the statistics about the tournament.
And thanks so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. I'll be back with more world news after a very quick break. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:01:10] CHURCH: There were handshakes and history being made. But now the real work begins. What's next for President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un after this summit? We have the latest from Seoul.
Plus, after days stranded at sea, hundreds of migrants have made it to dry land, the details on their journey coming up in a live report.
And excitement in Russia as it prepares to host the World Cup. But with the countries disputes with the west, it may be difficult to separate politics from sport.
Hello. And welcome to our viewers joining us from all the world. I'm Rosemary Church. And this is CNN NEWSROOM.
Well, Donald Trump arrives back in Washington in the coming hours basking in the glory --
