President Donald Trump Monday hailed a "great respect" between the US and nuclear-armed North Korea, as he also held out the possibility of talks with Iran, stressing he did not want "terrible things" to happen.

Ahead of summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump played down recent belligerence from Pyongyang, which last month fired short-range missiles that raised tensions in the region.

"I personally think that lots of good things will come with North Korea, I feel that. I may be right, I may be wrong, but I feel that," Trump told reporters at Abe's office.

"There's a good respect built, maybe a great respect built between... the United States and North Korea, but we will see what happens," added the president, whose failed talks with the North's leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi sparked a fresh spike in tensions.

He noted that when he came to office, there was "testing all the time, nuclear testing at the highest level, and that seems to have stopped".

On Sunday, Trump dismissed the recent missile tests from the North as "some small weapons" and appeared to undercut his National Security Advisor John Bolton, who had said the day before that the launches contravened UN Security Council resolutions.

Trump said the recent tests had "disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me," which was widely seen as a reference to his hawkish advisor.

- 'Terrible things' -

Trump also struck a relatively dovish tone on Iran, amid mounting tensions with the historic American foe.

"I do believe that Iran would like to talk, and if they'd like to talk, we'd like to talk also," Trump said.

"We'll see what happens, but I know for a fact that the prime minister (Abe) is very close with the leadership of Iran... nobody wants to see terrible things happen, especially me."

Abe is reportedly weighing a trip to Tehran in a bid to mediate in the Middle East crisis and Trump appeared to give the green light, saying "we'll see what happens, that would be fine".

Trump is in Japan as the first foreign leader to visit the country's newly enthroned Emperor Naruhito -- an honour Abe hopes will help charm the US president when it comes to thorny trade talks.

And while the US president again lashed out at what he called a "tremendous imbalance" in the trade relationship between the world's top and number-three economies, he said: "I'm sure that will work out over a period of time."

"I think we will be announcing some things, probably in August, that will be very good for both countries."

On Sunday, Trump had already taken a softer note, saying that "much" of that deal would wait until Abe faces upper house elections likely in July -- as rumours swirl that the popular prime minister will combine that vote with a snap general election.

With his trade war against China getting bogged down, Trump won't want another dispute to rock the boat for his closest Asian ally.

Top Japanese and American trade negotiators spent more than two hours locked in talks on Saturday night but failed to achieve a breakthrough, although the Japanese side said there was more "understanding" between the two.

- 'Great honour' -

Monday marked the start of the official programme for the two leaders after a fun-filled weekend of sumo, golf and meals out. Trump said on Sunday he was having a "great time" with his friend and close ally Abe.

Trump said it was a "great honour" to be the first to meet Naruhito, who took the Chrysanthemum Throne only three weeks ago, after his father stepped down in the first abdication in two centuries.

In the morning, Trump, dressed in a dark suit and red tie, reviewed the Japanese honour guard and greeted dozens of Japanese and visiting US officials as a military band played.

Naruhito, wearing a light blue tie, and his wife Empress Masako, who was in a white hat and jacket, accompanied Trump and his wife Melania, who wore a summery white dress and tall red high heels.

Walking together through the palace, notable for its elegant, restrained decor, the two couples then sat down for a further chat where official translators found themselves with little to do -- Naruhito having gone to Oxford and Masako graduating from Harvard.

In the evening, Trump and Melania will be back at the palace for a banquet.

That will mark the lavish high point in a Japan visit laden with feel-good moments aimed at celebrating US-Japanese ties at a time of growing regional uncertainty due to US trade policies, a rising China and nuclear-armed North Korea.

Trump downplays North Korea launches on Japan visit
Tokyo (AFP) May 26, 2019 - US President Donald Trump Sunday downplayed recent North Korean missile launches as he teed off a state visit to Japan with a round of golf and a trip to the sumo with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Before his official schedule began, Trump tweeted that North Korea had tested "some small weapons" that had "disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me".

This appeared to be a reference to US National Security Advisor John Bolton, who said Saturday there was "no doubt" the launches had contravened UN Security Council resolutions.

But Trump said: "I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me."

The American president maintains that North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un has pledged he is serious about denuclearisation, although experts say there is still a wide gulf between the two sides over what that means.

Trump and Abe's talks are expected to touch on tensions with Pyongyang, which have mounted after a summit in February in Hanoi collapsed without an agreement, and trade negotiations as Tokyo and Washington attempt to thrash out a deal.

On trade, Trump tweeted that "great progress" was being made but "much will wait" until after Japanese upper house elections expected in July -- with rumours rife Abe might also call a snap general election at the same time.

The serious diplomacy starts on Monday, when Trump will be the first foreign leader to meet Japan's new emperor, Naruhito, who has been on the Chrysanthemum Throne for less than a month following his father's historic abdication.

Sunday was about cementing diplomatic bonds between the two countries through the leaders' shared passion for golf and a chance for Trump to see one of Japan's most famous sports -- sumo.

- 'The President's Cup' -

Trump entered the hallowed Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo stadium to loud cheers -- and a few scattered boos -- with spectators standing to take photos as the US president waved and smiled.

He and his wife Melania, accompanied by Abe and his wife Akie, sat in special seats a few rows from the sumo ring.

Front-row seats at the sumo are usually on the floor, but the two couples were given modified seats with backs, and were ringed by security personnel.

Trump looked serious as he listened to explanations from Abe and others around him about the bouts between the sport's top wrestlers.

The US leader then presented tournament winner, Japanese wrestler Asanoyama, with the "President's Cup," a specially made trophy weighing 60-70 pounds (27-32 kilograms) and measuring 54 inches (1.4 metres) that was unveiled to an audible murmur of appreciation from the audience.

A set of wooden steps leading up to the raised "dohyo" sumo ring were installed for Abe and Trump to walk up, with both leaders donning shiny black slippers to enter the space, which is considered sacred.

Trump read in English from a scroll, offering Asanoyama the cup "in honour of your outstanding achievement", before lifting the massive trophy with the help of a sumo official and presenting it to the wrestler with an enormous grin.

- Wagyu and ice cream -

The presidential sumo visit prompted high security, with long lines forming at metal detectors in the blazing heat before the tournament kicked off.

"I thought we would see some level of tight security. But I didn't realise that it was going to be this much," 76-year-old Hisato Koizumi from Tokyo told AFP as he waited.

"We got today's tickets by chance. I don't like this."

Miyo Hirase, 80, called the measures "overkill."

"It's a pain. There aren't so many bad people in Japan," she said.

Excitable fans were also warned against throwing their seat cushions -- as tradition dictates whenever a yokozuna or grand champion is felled -- lest the president be hit.

After the sumo, self-employed Masamitsu Kurokawa, 56, said Trump had an "aura" and was "in a different class".

Earlier, Trump and Abe kicked off the visit with a round of golf -- the fifth time the leaders have played together.

Trump arrived at the course outside Tokyo by helicopter, sporting a red sweater and black trousers with a red USA cap. He was greeted by a casually-dressed Abe, who later tweeted a selfie of the two leaders grinning into the camera.

Aerial footage on local television showed the pair practising and putting on the manicured greens despite the unseasonably warm weather. They were accompanied by Isao Aoki, one of Japan's most successful golfers.

The two leaders rounded out the day with a meal at a traditional Japanese grill restaurant, with wagyu beef and vanilla ice cream among the menu items.

Trump said he and Abe had discussed "trade and military and various other things".

"I think we had a very productive day."

bur-sms-mis-sah/ric/amu

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