Japanese TV Station: Trump Called SKorean President a 'Beggar' to Japan's PM

President Donald Trump allegedly said South Korea's President Moon Jae-in was acting "like a beggar" because of his calls for dialogue with North Korea over their nuclear weapons program, Japanese TV network Fuji TV reported Thursday, according to independent newspaper The Hankyoreh.

Trump reportedly made the remark in a telephone conversation Aug. 29 with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, although the TV station did not disclose a source for the comment or provide a basis for its report, only stating that it was "based on our network's investigation."

The report also said Trump asked Abe "not to tell anyone" about needing to put pressure on North Korea. Abe is alleged to have used Trump's comments in a later telephone conversation with Moon and another conversation with Trump.

Fuji TV provided an analysis for the conversation explaining that Japan was serving as mediator between the United States and South Korea over the continued threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons testing.

In another telephone conversation the president had with Abe Sept. 3, the TV station reported Trump said he was "100 percent with Shinzo [Abe]" and added Japan would need to "help us if the U.S. is attacked."

Fugi TV is affiliated with Japan's right-leaning newspaper Sankei Shimbun. The article explained conservative Japanese news outlets have recently been touting the close relationship between the U.S. and Japan and Trump's unhappiness with South Korea.

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