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NEWS STREAM
U.K. Prime Minister: Overwhelmingly Likely Putin Ordered Poison Attack; Lavrov: Of Course Russia Will Expel British Diplomats; Sources: U.S. National Security Adviser To Be Replaced; At Least Six People Killed In Florida Bridge Collapse; Puerto Ricans Still Dying In Hurricane Maria's Wake; Sweden Offers Support For Talks; Former U.S. Envoy Says North Korea Surprised Trump Said Yes to Talks; The Legacy Of The Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games; The Priciest Places. Aired at 8-9a ET
Aired March 16, 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)
ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Anna Coren in Hong Kong, and welcome to News Stream.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: Vladimir Putin called Britain's reaction to the Salisbury poison attack destructive and provocative. Another White House personnel shake-
up, CNN learns H.R. McMaster is out. Donald Trump is now shopping for his third National Security Adviser in just over a year. And a horrific scene
in Florida after a new bridge collapses over a busy highway, crashing cars, and killing people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: We begin with new developments in the crumbling diplomatic relationship between the U.K. and Russia. The British Foreign Secretary,
Boris Johnson, has pointed the finger directly at Vladimir Putin for an attempted assassination on British soil.
He says it's overwhelmingly likely the Russian President personally gave the order to use a nerve agent to attack a former spy and his daughter in
the city of Salisbury.
Well, Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, meanwhile says there is no doubt British diplomats will be expelled from his country. It follows
Britain's decision to expel 23 Russian diplomats from the U.K. in response to the attack.
Well for the latest on all this, we're now joined by CNN's Melissa Bell, who is in Salisbury, and Fred Pleitgen who joins us from Moscow. Good to
see you both. Melissa, let's start with you, the latest in the investigation, and obviously, Boris Johnson's comments.
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Boris Johnson speaking there alongside the Polish Foreign Minister who is visiting with him. And very
clearly laying this squarely at the feet of Vladimir Putin himself, saying the Russian President would have ordered this himself.
That is -- those are the latest words, the latest ratcheting up in the war of words, and that is something we've seen consistently over the course of
the last two days.
Not at least yesterday from the British Prime Minister herself who visited Salisbury for the first time since that attack on March 4th, once again
saying there was no doubt in her mind that Russia was responsible for this.
As far as the investigation goes, it continues. You can see behind me, that bench on which Sergei and his daughter -- Sergei Skripal and his
daughter were found on March 4th.
It, as well as all the others sites that they have visited on the Sunday, remained cordoned off, remained protected by policemen, remain the center
of an investigation.
But the latest speculation in the British press this morning is that far from having been contaminated at one of these sites, the pair could in fact
have been contaminated by poison that have been placed in the suitcase of Yulia Skripal, and has yet to be confirmed first. It's speculation for the
time based on media reports here in the U.K. Anna.
COREN: And, Melissa, we know that Theresa May, she has outline U.K.'s plan to retaliate, but critics said that she's not going far enough. How do you
read the public sentiment?
BELL: Well I think that it depends very much on where you're standing. Here in Salisbury, there was great relief I think that she turned up
yesterday. They continued to be concern about possible contamination.
A meeting was held here with local police, with health officials to reassure the public, to give exact figures of those who had been treated in
hospital, and so on. I think that's what people here in Salisbury were really willing to hear.
I think the wider country is very keen to get to the bottom of this investigation to find out precisely how this could have happened and what
the rest will be.
And that will depend very much on what support Theresa May gets from her allies. Clearly the support she got yesterday from the U.S., France and
Germany was crucial.
It had taken several days to come, and there had been speculation of rifts and wavers even within the E.U. on the question of whether her very
forthright words should be backed, or rather people should wait for that investigation to reach its end.
Clearly, though, Theresa May has chosen with Boris Johnson once again today to continue that war of words to ratchet up the pressure on Moscow as she
waits to see what else can be done.
COREN: Well, Melissa, if you can just standby. We'd like to bring Frederik into this discussion. Fred, Vladimir Putin says he's concerned by
the destructive and provocative stance of the U.K., and that according to his Foreign Minister, Russia plans to expel British diplomats in response.
Is this part or I should say the start of Russia's retaliation?
[08:05:00] FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think Russia is working on its retaliation. It's really been quite interesting, and of
course we had, almost two days ago now, that announcement by Theresa May there in British Parliament that the Brits would kick out 23 Russian
diplomats.
And pretty much right after that, the Russians came out and said well, we're going to take counter measures against the Brits. And then, what
we've gotten since then is sort of a trickle of information.
The Russians have said they are also going to expel British diplomats. They say there could be other measures as well, and that those measures
will be coming soon. But so far, they have not come.
So there have been a lot of announcements, but so far, very little in the way of substance. What we've had this morning is, we've had Sergey Lavrov
come out, and just a couple of minutes ago, we've also had the spokesman for the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov come out as well.
And he wants to, again, reiterated that yes, there would be a response by the Russians that these measures would be in accordance with the national
interests of Russia, and that they're being worked on.
However, he also did not say when exactly the Russians plan to announce the measures that they are going to take against the United Kingdom. What we
do know is that these measures are going to be decided upon by Vladimir Putin himself.
Then, that these measures are then first going to be announced to the Brits on a bilateral level, and only then to the public. The Russian were quite
critical of Theresa May for going out into parliament, and announcing them before allegedly speaking to the Russians.
At least that's what the Russians are saying. One caveat that we do have to note is that all of this, the information that we've got from the
Kremlin, that was before we got the information of Boris Johnson coming out, and having those very strong words for Vladimir Putin.
So we're going to see, if we can get more information of what the reaction to those very harsh words by a top level member of the British government
will be, Anna.
COREN: Fred, I want to ask you about that because, obviously, Boris Johnson has gone, and said what everyone thinks, and then we have that rare
joint statement from the leaders of France, Germany, the U.S., and U.K. condemning the attack as the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe
since the Second World War. Obviously, there is international pressure mounting, but does Vladimir Putin really care?
PLEITGEN: Well, I don't think at this point that he necessarily does. I mean, I do think that it is going quite a bit further by Boris Johnson than
what we've heard before. And we have heard President Trump come out and said he thinks it was probably the Russians that did it.
And you heard Theresa May come out and said this is a never agent that is only manufactured in Russia, and that the Russians would have to respond
about whether or not it was lost from their stockpiles, or whether or not this is something that came directly from the Russian military or Russian
Intelligence Services.
He's the first one to come out and say he believes almost without a doubt that Vladimir Putin would have ordered this. And that certainly is going
quite a bit further than what we've heard before.
I don't necessarily think that Vladimir Putin will be particularly caring about all this, or fazed by all of this. For him it's quite interesting
because, obviously, the Russians have been saying that they want relations with the United Kingdom to return to at least an acceptable level.
But at the same time, they also say they believe that the Brits are the ones who are not abiding by the regular process in the case like this.
It's very simple for the Russians they say.
They say look, they're being accused of having used a nerve agent of military grade in a British city. If that happens, everything has to
happen according to the charter of the organization to prevent chemical weapons.
And under that charter, they have the right to receive some of the samples of the stuff that was allegedly used there in Salisbury. So far they say
they have not received it, and therefore, they're not going to give any sort of responses to any ultimatums.
They say they believe that the Brits are the ones who are acting outside the norms of bilateral and international relations. Obviously, the Brits
and their allies see that very difficult -- very differently.
But I don't think that Vladimir Putin, after everything that's happened over the past couple of years between Russia and members of the western
community will be particularly concerned about the relations, and about the way he's being portrayed, Anna.
COREN: Fred Pleitgen in Moscow. Melissa Bell in Salisbury. Many thanks to both of you for your reporting. Well, Donald Trump is on board with
British authorities acknowledging Moscow is likely behind the poisoning attack in England. Pointing the finger at Russia is something he almost
never does.
For months, he's questioned the U.S. Intelligence Community's finding that Russia meddled in the 2016 elections. But finally, the Trump
administration has retaliated imposing sanctions against Moscow.
However, some critics say the west is lacking teeth when it comes to dealing with Russia. The Wall Street Journal had this to say. Mr. Putin
keeps taunting the west because he has learned that its leaders lack the political nerve to strike back in the way that matters. Until the west
threatens his finances, Mr. Putin won't be deterred from future aggression.
Well some analysts say relations between Russia and the west right now have summed to Cold War (ph) levels, and NATO's Secretary-General says that's
the last thing he wants.
International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robertson is tracking those developments from London for us. Nic, good to see you.
[08:10:00] Let's just follow up firstly on that Wall Street Journal editorial. Basically it's saying the west response to Russia's behavior
thus far is pathetic. Why do you think the U.K. and the U.S. isn't doing more to punish Vladimir Putin and his cronies?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think what we're seeing at the moment is the Russians slowing down the situation. The Foreign Ministry
much as they did when President Obama in December 2006 turfed out 35 Russian diplomats.
The Foreign Ministry in Moscow said immediately that there will be reprisals that American diplomats will be thrown out of Moscow. It didn't
happen. That was a Putin decision.
Apparently, he made those decisions we're told. And are we in a similar scenario right now? While the situation slows down, while all the
attention turns back to Russia, turns back to President Putin, In London they wait for President Putin to see what he's going to say.
In Washington they wait there for to see what President Putin is going to say, this is exactly what he would like. This allows Russia to put forward
its narrative that it's the aggrieved party here that it didn't do anything wrong, and the others are essentially ganging up on it.
So I would say that the reprisals have already begun because this is the game that Russia plays well, that President Putin plays very well. So in
essence, what you have there in The Wall Street Journal saying that the steps so far aren't enough, it does.
Putin is treating this as water off a duck's back if you will. And I think that's perhaps why we see today this statement by Boris Johnson pointing
the finger very clearly at Vladimir Putin.
It is tossing the equivalent of a diplomatic grenade back at the Kremlin because he's not getting anything response so far. So you could look at
that through the eyes of frustration. But here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: Our quarrel is with Putin's Kremlin and with his decision. And we think it overwhelmingly likely that
it was his decision to directly use of a nerve agent on the streets of the U.K., on the streets of Europe for the first time since the Second World
War.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: Well, Boris Johnson there. The Foreign Secretary said that while he was meeting with the Polish Foreign Minister. And the Polish
Foreign Minister assured Britain of its support in this current situation.
So to a degree, the British government has taken its shots, sending out those diplomats, freezing high-level contacts, and a number of other
things. And we've yet to see a reaction from Russia.
And that really does play in to allowing -- play into Putin's hands with elections this weekend. It allows him to play Russia, as I say, the
aggrieved party.
But that's a narrative that he likes, and that's one that he'll perhaps hope would drive up -- will send more Russians to the polls this weekend
because that's what he fears most. A low turnout in this election, not that he'll lose.
COREN: Nic Robertson, always good to see you. Many thanks for your analysis. Well, there are conflicting reports about the future of
President Trump's National Security Adviser. Sources have told CNN that H.R. McMaster will be replaced before May. But the White House says he's
staying put. Abby Phillip has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Multiple sources tell CNN that after months of tension, President Trump has made the decision to fire National
Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.
The President now weighing potential replacements, aiming to have a new Adviser in place ahead of his historic meeting with North Korea's dictator,
which could happen soon.
Among the names under consideration, former U.N. Ambassador and Fox News Contributor John Bolton, but late Thursday, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders
again insisting that the President and McMaster have a good working relationship, and there are no changes at the National Security Council.
SARAH SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: General McMaster is not going anywhere. As the President said in the Oval Office to a number of the
people, he thinks he's doing a great job.
PHILLIP: But a source tells CNN that McMaster and Mr. Trump have never gotten along, and that the President feels McMaster has a condescending
briefing style.
The New York Times reports that Chief of Staff John Kelly is strongly pushing for McMaster's firing, and has become increasingly angry at what he
views as General McMaster's prolonged effort to undermine outgoing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There will always be change. And I think you want to see change. And I want to also see different
ideas.
PHILLIP: The turmoil in the West Wing coming as Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation widens. A source tells CNN that Mueller has
subpoenaed the president's family business, an area Mr. Trump has indicated could cross a red line.
MICHAEL SCHMIDT, REPORTER, NEW YORK TIMES: If Mueller was looking at your finances and your family's finances, unrelated to Russia, is that a red
line?
MAGGIE HABERMAN, REPORTER, NEW YORK TIMES: Would that be a breach of what his actual charge is?
TRUMP: I would say yes. Yes, I would say yes.
PHILLIP: The New York Times reports that some of the documents Mueller has requested are related to Russia, and that investigators have been asking
witnesses recently about a possible Trump real-estate deal in Moscow.
[08:15:00] A lawyer for the Trump Organization responding, this is old news, and our assistance, and cooperation with the various investigations
remains the same today.
News of the subpoena coming after the administration announced it had finally imposed sanctions on Russia for election meddling that were
overwhelmingly passed by Congress last August.
It comes as the Department of Homeland Security accuses Russia of trying to penetrate the U.S. energy grid, still, the White House stopping short of
declaring Russia an enemy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is Putin a friend or a foe of the United States?
SANDERS: I think that's something that Russia's going to have to make that determination. They're going to have to decide whether or not they want to
be a good actor or a bad actor.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: Abby Phillip reporting there on the latest from the White House. Still ahead of what caused a deadly bridge collapse in Florida. We'll go
live to Miami. And it's been nearly six months since hurricane Maria. So why are people on the island still dying in the aftermath?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COREN: Welcome back to News Stream live from Hong Kong. Well, there are more questions than answers in the wake of a deadly bridge collapse in
Miami.
At least six were killed when a newly installed pedestrian bridge suddenly crumpled and fell onto the highway underneath. Several cars were crushed.
Our Rosa Flores is at the scene, and joins us with the very latest. Rosa, what can you tell us?
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anna, good morning. What we've learned from police is that there could be up to five people still pinned inside
this rubble, and they also believe that there could be more cars. We've learned of eight vehicles that are pinned underneath, and they say that the
death call -- death toll could rise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was super loud. It sounded like the world is ending.
FLORES: Shocking new video obtained by the Miami Herald captures the sudden collapse of a pedestrian bridge at Florida International University
in Miami.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My friend's sister called me. Her brother -- my childhood friend, he was crossing as the bridge was coming down and it hit
him.
FLORES: You know how he's doing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. I don't know. He was rushed to the hospital. I don't know. I'm just so worried.
FLORES: Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeting that cables that suspend the bridge had loosened, and were being tightened when the structure gave way.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Inaudible), and we have a report that several people are injured at this time.
FLORES: Authorities announcing the frantic effort to rescue people trapped in the rubble is now a recovery operation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The cars were completely crushed under. You could see some of the front car and just a lot of debris everywhere.
FLORES: Emergency crews working desperately into the night to recover victims trapped in eight flattened vehicles, digging through debris, using
search and rescue dogs to look for signs of life.
[08:20:06] GOV. RICK SCOTT (R), FLORIDA: We all want to do our best to find out what happened here. And if anybody has done anything wrong, we'll
hold them accountable.
FLORES: The 950-ton bridge was designed to give students a safe way to cross the busy highway below, after the death of a student last year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Being under that bridge, we're like, oh, my God, this is so scary because it weighs so much, but we had trust that the people who
built it, there was no fault or anything.
FLORES: The structure was just installed last Saturday, when University President Mark Rosenberg touted the project.
MARK ROSENBERG, PRESIDENT, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY: This new bridge is critical for student safety. We're thrilled they can now have a
much safer passage.
FLORES: The bridge was designed to withstand a category five hurricane, and was slated to open next year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FLORES: Rest assured that this will be investigated fully. There are local, state and federal officials here already. There are homicide
detectives, Anna, working alongside engineers, and members of the FBI, and NTSB, as well as OSHA. Anna.
COREN: Rosa Flores joining us from Miami, Florida. Many thanks for your reporting. Well, hurricane Maria may have swept across Puerto Rico six
months ago, but people there are still dying as a result of that storm's fury. Well CNN has identified at least five deaths related to the
hurricane just since this year began. Our Leyla Santiago reports.
(BEGIB VIDEOTAPE)
LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It shouldn't be so difficult for Miriam Rodriguez seeing this machine.
MIRIAM RODRIGUEZ, WIDOW: That takes me back. It makes me so angry.
SANTIAGO: When this machine for sleep apnea stopped working, her husband, 77-year-old Natalio, stopped breathing in the middle of the night in
Maunabo, the southeastern part of the island.
RODRIGUEZ: Suddenly he started to shake. And I saw him lying dead on the floor. And I couldn't do anything to help him. That's why I say that. If
we had electricity -- normal electricity at that time, he could be alive still today. He could be alive.
SANTIAGO: She blames hurricane Maria for wiping out the island's power. At least 120,000 customers still don't have power nearly six months later.
The night her husband died, months after the storm, Miriam says their generator ran out of gas, leaving her home without power for the machine
her husband needed to breathe.
Natalio's grave is one of many this year. CNN has identified at least five deaths from 2018, identified by families, doctors or funeral homes as
related to Hurricane Maria.
Among them, Braulio Salinas Santiago (ph), his family tells us he died of a heart attack in the parking lot of Maunabo's clinic, waling for the clinic
to open.
The mayor says after Maria, the town can't afford to run the once 24-hour service. Carmen Rodriguez Martinez, her family tells us she died because
she didn't have power for the machine she depended on for oxygen. Dr. Arturo Torres listed Hurricane Maria as a contributing factor on her death
certificate.
SANTIAGO: Is Maria still killing people?
DR. ARTURO TORRES, PHYSICIAN: Yes. Yes. I'm sure that my case is not an isolated case since there's no electrical power in many places that would
accelerate the end of the -- of the life of that person.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking Foreign Language)
SANTIAGO: Cemetery workers tell us the number of deaths have doubled since the storm, pointing to dozens of graves they believe are related, graves
that cemetery workers tell us will not be getting a headstone anytime soon because families can't afford them after Maria.
Natalio's family paid $4,000 for his funeral. Still owes $1,000. To qualify for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the
death must be certified as hurricane related. But Puerto Rico's list of certified deaths hasn't changed since early December.
The official death toll stands at 64 even though the government's own death statistics in 2017 show an increase of at least 1,000 more deaths after
Hurricane Maria compared to the previous two years. The Puerto Rican government has now ordered a review of deaths since Maria.
Dr. Torres says the elderly and those with complicated health conditions are too vulnerable to resist the challenges brought on by Maria.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking Foreign Language)
SANTIAGO: So just last week -- just last week they had a death. Do you think you'll have to write Maria again on a death certificate?
TORRES: I don't discard it. In my opinion, yes.
SANTIAGO: That's hard to hear. Is it hard to say?
[08:25:00] TORRES: It's hard to say, yes.
SANTIAGO: Even harder to accept that six months later...
RODRIGUEZ: It wasn't a normal death. That wasn't.
SANTIAGO: ... Maria is still destroying lives. Leyla Santiago, CNN, Puerto Rico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: There are signs a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could be seeing some progress.
Coming up, details on the North Korean foreign minister's trip to Sweden.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COREN: I'm Anna Coren in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. These are your world headlines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: The British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has pointed the finger at Vladimir Putin for an attempted assassination on British soil.
He says it's overwhelmingly likely the Russian President personally gave the order to use a nerve agent to attack a former spy and his daughter in
the city of Salisbury.
Sources tell CNN that H.R. McMaster is to be replaced as Donald Trump's National Security Adviser. The White House says reports are false, and
that the two men have a good working relationship.
At least six people are confirmed dead after a newly built pedestrian bridge suddenly collapsed in Miami, Florida. Witnesses say there was a
loud boom, and then the bridge crumpled, crushing cars on a highway underneath.
The cables were being tightened when the bridge collapsed. Hong Kong's richest man, Li Ka-shing, has announced his retirement. The 89-year-old is
stepping down as Chairman of the telecom and shipping conglomerate, CK Hutchison. Well, Li is the 23rd richest man in the world. According to
Forbes magazine, he is handing things over to his son.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: Both North and South Korea appear to be laying the ground work an upcoming inter-Korean summit, as well as a possible meeting between U.S.
President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Well North Korea's Foreign Minister is in Sweden for a second day of talks with his Swedish counterpart. They are expected to address security on the
Korean Peninsula.
The meeting has fueled speculation that Sweden could end up hosting the summit. Well meanwhile, South Korea's Foreign Minister is in Washington to
meet with American leaders there.
Well, let's get more on these diplomatic efforts. Our David McKenzie is following everything from Seoul. David, any details coming out of the
meetings in Sweden and Washington?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in Sweden it's clearly the most high-profile visit of a North Korean diplomat since President Trump's
bombshell announcement that he plans on having a face-to-face with Kim Jong-un.
[08:30:00]
Now, the Swedish foreign minister sounded cautiously optimistic. She said that the whole world should pay attention to the security of the Korean
Peninsula and says they'll do what they can to facilitate meetings. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARGOT WALLSTROM, SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER: We value this opportunity to arrange the meeting. We believe in dialogue and in political process. But
we are not naive. But we are hoping that if we can use our role and also our context, then we will put it to the best use. And then it's for the
parties to decide what is the way forward and the process from now on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Of course, Sweden's role in North Korea has been to be the representative of the U.S. in diplomacy because, of course, the Americans
don't have any kind of diplomatic presence in Pyongyang. So they could play a key role here.
Still too early to tell, Anna, whether that will be the location for the meeting, when exactly the meeting will happen, and what will the terms be
of any discussions between President Trump and Kim Jong-un. Anna?
COREN: David, no official word from the North Koreans since Donald Trump made that shocked decision to meet with Kim Jong-un. Should we be reading
into this?
MCKENZIE: I don't think necessarily yet. It's not entirely unusual for the North Koreans to kind of keep quiet on their state media. Of course, if
they were to broadcast to their own population that there's a meeting, then that meeting fell through, it will be deeply embarrassing to Kim Jong-un
who has sort of told to the public that he's an infallible leader.
So it might not be that we hear much. We don't know. They did acknowledge of course that the foreign minister was having those meetings in Sweden and
that is a step in that direction, but nothing official yet and they continue in fact to bash the U.S. on issues of human rights and other
issues.
So, really, everything is going to be, I think, behind the scene at this stage until we know exactly when that meeting is going to happen.
COREN: David, so much obviously at stake here. Everything is being done to lay the groundwork in such limited time, obviously that meeting before May
or at least in May. How does everyone keep everything on track between now and then, considering we are dealing with two of the most unpredictable men
on earth, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un?
MCKENZIE: Well, yes, and also the aggressive timetable that has been put in is something that would upend diplomatic protocol. There was a
discussion between President Moon Jae-in and the prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, earlier tonight in Asia. They did discuss these issues as well
as to say they are looking to have a high-level summit between Japan, China, and South Korea.
So, really, Trump's decision to agree to this meeting has upended the standard way of doing things in this region. It seems everyone is falling
over themselves in a way to meet with Kim Jong-un now and just getting those meetings actually happen
and having them to be productive is the next step.
So diplomats are going to be scrambling to make that happen. And of course, the State Department in the U.S. is undermanned without a permanent
secretary of state and many other key officials that generally deal with the Asia situation. Anna?
COREN: David McKenzie, joining us from Seoul, many thanks to your reporting. The U.S. diplomats who had formerly spearheaded diplomatic
efforts on North Korea says Pyongyang is probably surprised by how quickly President Trump agreed to a meeting with Kim Jong-un. Elise Labott reports
in an exclusive interview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSEPH YUN, FORMER U.S. ENVOY ON NORTH KOREA POLICY: Right now, the most important thing it to reduce tensions.
ELISE LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): America's former top diplomat on North Korea says while he didn't expect it, he
doesn't think there is anything wrong with President Trump sitting down with Kim Jong-un.
YUN: I would have loved to bring it forward and this is a great outcome.
LABOTT (voice-over): Joe Yun said he is not surprised Trump agreed to the meeting, but says National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster pushed a
different strategy.
(on camera): So why has it taken a whole year for this invite to come?
YUN: I think -- I think that's a good question. I think one reason is really we could never get all of the administration together on our side
and on their side. Let's not forget, Elise, they have been relentless in testing missiles, nuclear devices, so this is not easy. It's a complicated
problem, but I know we're getting a great start if we start off with a summit.
[08:35:03] LABOTT (on camera): When you say that you couldn't get all the administration on the same side, do you mean that some were more favoring
military action?
YUN: Well, I think there was obviously voices within the administration.
LABOTT (voice-over): Like who?
YUN: It is natural to have different voices who are more aggressive and those who wanted more of a diplomatic solution.
LABOTT (on camera): Like the national security adviser who advocated a bloody nose, so to speak? Yes?
YUN: Well, I mean, it is really in an administration, you are going to have different views. But I think time has now come really to speak with
one single unified voice and that voice has to be that of the president.
LABOTT (voice-over): Yun, who has decades of experience working on North Korea, dismissed critics who worry by meeting with Kim Jong-un, Trump will
only give Kim what he wants, legitimacy on the world stage.
YUN: I don't think there is anything wrong in acknowledging that he is a leader of North Korea who had nuclear weapons.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: Elise Labott there speaking to Joseph Yun.
There have been strides and improving ties between the two Koreas and the U.S. ever since the Pyeongchang Winter Games. Coming up, we'll examine the
games' legacy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COREN: Welcome back. The upcoming inter-Korean talks are the result of the momentum from the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics when North and South Korea
marched under unified flag. As the Paralympics prepares to wrap up, Kristie Lu Stout spoke to the executive vice president of Pyeongchang organizing
committee and asked him if the games managed to change attitudes and encourage a more inclusive community.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIM JAE-YOUL, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PYEONGCHANG ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: I went to many Paralympic competitions and I was very happy to see many
spectators with impairments. And there was -- thanks to the improved accessibility that we have to prepare for the Paralympic Games.
And these Paralympic athletes are amazing and they're so inspirational, so I'm sure a lot of people in Korea have much better understanding and built
greater respect for the people with impairments. My kids certainly do.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN NEWS STREAM SHOW HOST (on camera): Absolutely respect and a lot of inspiration for these athletes to see them. I have to
ask you about North and South Korea. You know, there was incredible moment when athletes from North and South Korea, they marched together under one
unified flag in the opening ceremony, that seemed to bring about a thaw in relations, but is it really the peace Olympics? Do you think Pyeongchang
will be remembered as the peace games?
JAE-YOUL: I hope so. So, if you remember, a few months back, there was a lot of concerns about safety and security about the games, especially as
the tensions -- geopolitical tensions on the peninsula intensified in the second half of the year.
But for Organizing Committee, the leadership at the Organizing Committee has never doubted that we wouldn't be able to deliver peaceful games.
[08:40:00] But what was even better was that the North Korean participation made our games more complete, embodying the spirit of
Olympics. Because Olympics are about bringing people together. They are about putting aside differences to celebrate humanity through shared love
of sport.
LU STOUT (on camera): The Olympics can generate so much goodwill but hosting the Olympics can be very expensive. "CNN Money" reported that it
cost about $13 billion. I have to ask you, was hosting the PyyeongChang Games worth it?
JAE-YOUL: I believe so because I think Pyeongchang Olympic Games delivered a lot of values. We had the vision of opening new horizon of winter sport,
broadening the bases for winter sports and making them more popular. And I think we achieved that.
And regarding the cost, we had operation budget of $2.5 billion. The rest of the budgets were the investment that we made for the transportation,
including the high-speed railways, building the new highway, refurbishing access ways around Pyeongchang.
Yes, we do plan to use some of the venues for future sporting events. We actually only built some of the venues for the Olympics. We refurbished the
existing venues for competition and these venues will serve as sporting facilities both for the elite and public users.
And I think also we cannot look -- overlook the value that the Paralympic Games would bring, having a lasting impact on the Korean society, the
Korean becoming more inclusive and have a better understanding with the people with impairments.
LU STOUT (on camera): The games may be over in Pyeongchang but the memories will last forever. What will be your favorite Olympic memory?
JAE-YOUL: So there are many, but if I have to pick one, I want Pyeongchang Games to be remembered as a game that rekindled our belief in power of
sports, our belief in the power of Olympic Games, because Olympics are about putting aside differences to bring people together through share of
love. And I think Pyeongchang Games really sent a strong message around the world about the unifying power of sports and the power of Olympics.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: Certainly has been a successful Winter Olympics. Can you guess what the world's most expensive city is? Well, it's right here. A new report
from economists says it is Singapore for the fifth year in a row. The survey compares the price of items like bread, wine and cigarettes across
133 cities.
Singapore is slightly cheaper for personal care and household goods compared to other Asian cities but it is still the most expensive place to
buy and run a car. Paris, Zurich, Switzerland, here in Hong Kong and the Norwegian capital also round out the top five priciest cities.
That is "News Stream." Thanks so much for your company. I'm Anna Coren. Don't go anywhere, "World Sport" is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)
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