Trump to Address South Korea Assembly
BERMAN: In just a few hours, President Trump will deliver a highly anticipated speech before the South Korean National Assembly. The whole world waiting to hear what he will say about the nuclear standoff with North Korea and on that front, the president seems suddenly relatively optimistic.</s>HARLOW: He does. A real reversal in language and tone, speaking today with South Korea's new president, barely 35 miles from the border with North Korea. President Trump claimed for the first time progress is being made and movement towards curbing the North Korean threat. Our Jeff Zeleny is in Seoul. What did he say - you know, that marked such a reverse of course?</s>JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Poppy. It was more of the tone of what the president was saying, more of a measured response, rather than exactly any new policy change. The reality here is that the president was talking about progress. He's hopeful that that is happening here, but that's a very difficult to measure. But he was also talking about strength. He was also talking about using the full force of the U.S. military and the allies here. This is what he said earlier today, if things don't go well, what will happen. Let's watch.</s>TRUMP: We have a nuclear submarine also positioned. We have many things happening that we hope, we hope -- in fact, I'll go a step further, we hope to god, we never have to use. With that being said, I really believe that it makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and to make a deal that's good for the people of North Korea and the people of the world. I do see certain movement, yes. But let's see what happens.</s>ZELENY: So hope to God we never have to use the full weight of the military there. That was something we've not heard from the president before. Again, though, the facts on the ground on either side of this peninsula have not changed at all. So it's hard to imagine that a deal would be reached or negotiations would begin. But the president was definitely in optimistic mode, not necessarily a change of strategy, more likely a change of proximity. As you said, you know, essentially in the shadow here of the regime, some 35 miles to the border, of course, farther across the country, but the reality here is when the president gives that speech this evening, he is going to be trying to urge other world leaders, particularly Russia and China, to come to the table and stop, you know, and increase the sanctions and other measures here. But that speech tonight around 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, will be something to watch without question to see if he continues that measured conciliatory tone that he's had so far here in Seoul. John and Poppy?</s>BERMAN: All right. Jeff Zeleny for us in Seoul. Jeff thanks so much. Joined by Dan Blumenthal, director of Asian Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Dan thanks so much for being with us. The president has gone from rocket man to all of sudden this more measured tone. This hours before his big speech to the South Korean National Assembly. What do you think he can get out of this speech tonight?</s>DAN BLUMENTHAL, DIRECTOR, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: I think the most important thing is to lay out a vision for the future of the peninsula, free of nuclear weapons. And hopefully, also speak to South Koreans and North Koreans who get information through all sorts of sources about bettering the lives of North Koreans as well. As well as reassuring the rest of the region. But it's not the United States that's going to start a crisis. We'll defend our friends and allies and ourselves, but the danger really has to be focused on Kim Jong-un and his unpredictable behavior now that he also has an ICBM and is closer to having a nuclear weapon he can put on it.</s>HARLOW: National security adviser H.R. McMaster said last week that the president is, indeed, Dan, thinking about adding North Korea back to this list of, you know, state sponsors of terrorism. If that were to happen, what does that actually mean?</s>BLUMENTHAL: Well, we and the rest of the world would be treating North Korea very differently. We would not be treating it as a normal state that has all the prerogatives and privileges of any other country. We would be treating it as a terrorist entity which has implications for how you treat their diplomats who oftentimes further the goals -- terrorist goals, criminal goals, of North Korea, and a whole new set of sanctions as well. I think it's the appropriate move, given North Korean actions and, you know, on other people's soil to assassinate and so forth.</s>BERMAN: The president says he sees certain movement in dealing with North Korea. Do you see movement?</s>BLUMENTHAL: It's very, very hard to read movement. It's such a closed box. I don't think anyone has a good sense really on the outside of whether Kim Jong-un is even processing information he's getting, whether his leaders are giving him that information. The movement may be from China itself. Remember, some of the target of the harsh language and of the military exercises is to put China back on its feet, knowing that we are serious and helping them move forward to put pressure on North Korea.</s>HARLOW: And you do know that the president heads to Beijing a little later today. This is a trip that could be fraught with peril, but before he gets there, while he is still in South Korea, you think that we are headed towards a deterrence and containment and pressure sort of evolving relationship with North Korea. But you say a policy of unification would be better, why?</s>BLUMENTHAL: Well, I think it would be better for us, it would be more stable, it would be better for the Koreans, the South Koreans, certainly would be better for the North Koreans who are enslaved by Kim Jong-un and frankly it would be better for China. After a while China will tire of having North Korea as its de facto ally, if it continues to face this kind of coercion.</s>BERMAN: All right, Dan Blumenthal, American Enterprise Institute, thanks so much for being with us. Appreciate it.</s>BLUMENTHAL: Thank you so much for having me.</s>BERMAN: It is Election Day across the country. Perhaps the most closely watched race in Virginia. What it tells us, not just about that state, but the state of politics in this country.</s>HARLOW: Yes, the president's policy being put to the test.