Trump in Japan: US President meets Emperor Naruhito

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President of the United States, Donald Trump, became the first foreign leader to meet the Japanese Emperor, Naruhito.

Mr. Trump, who is currently on a four-day state visit to Japan, was greeted by the Emperor and Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

The US leader said before the meeting that it was a "great honor".

Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne earlier in May after the resignation of his father, Akihito – the first abdication of a Japanese emperor for centuries.

"It's been over 200 years since something like this happened," Trump said of Sunday's abdication. "It is therefore a great honor to represent the United States."

Mr. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were greeted by a Japanese guard and a crowd waving American and Japanese flags as part of an official welcome ceremony on Monday.

According to Reuters newspaper, the US president would have slightly inclined the emperor and the empress before entering the palace.

Mr. Trump and Mrs. Trump will return to the Imperial Palace later in the evening for a gala dinner.

"Human flaw"

Mr Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on Monday at Akasaka Palace – a state-owned guest house – where they discussed trade and relations with North Korea.

Linkages with the United States are of great strategic importance to Japan, and countries are working on a bilateral trade agreement.

Mr. Trump had previously met families of Japanese citizens who had been kidnapped by North Korea decades ago to train North Korean spies on Japanese language and customs.

This decades-old issue is a painful chapter in the relationship between Pyongyang and Tokyo.

• Girl found after kidnapping in North Korea

North Korea admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s and sent five to Japan in 2002. It claims the others are dead – something that Japan does not believe.

At a press conference at the end of the meeting, Abe said that the issue of kidnappings remained the "most important thing" for his government, adding that families had "appreciated" the Mr. Trump's visit.

"Regardless of my mandate, I must do everything in my power to solve this problem," he said.

Trump also discussed relations with North Korea, recalling that the country had "enormous economic potential".

He described his leader Kim Jong-a as "intelligent man" and said he was "very happy" with the direction followed by North Korea.

His remarks came hours after North Korea called the "maniac of war" US National Security Advisor John Bolton.

"Such a human flaw must disappear as soon as possible," said a spokesman for the Ministry of the North.

When asked if he shared Trump's optimism about North Korea, Abe said the US leader had "broken the shells of mistrust."

Trump also spoke about relations between the United States and Iran, noting that Abe was close to the Iranian leader.

"I believe Iran would like to speak and if they want to talk, we would also like to talk," reported AFP, which reportedly said. "Nobody wants to see terrible things happen, especially me."

Mr. Trump recently announced that the United States would send 1,500 troops to the Middle East as tensions escalate between the United States and Iran.

He appeared to express his support for Abe to facilitate talks with Iran, as local media reported that the Japanese leader was planning a trip to Iran next month.

Golf buddies

The bilateral meeting comes after the two leaders meet on Sunday to play golf and attend a sumo tournament together.

• Trump in Japan: Sumo, barbecue and an imperial audience

Abe tweeted a selfie taken on the Mobara Country Club golf course, south of Tokyo.

Both players are regular golf partners and Mr. Trump noted their "very, very good chemistry".