Host now those remarks from Vice President pence to reporters in japan on his way to the olympics in south korea. Vice president pence thanks, everybody. Im good. Thank you so much. Before we leave for south korea, let me say a few words and well take a few questions. Were completing what we believe has been a very successful visit to our allies here in japan. Very productive and substantive discussions with the prime minister. With leadership of japans defense forces. The great honor of being here and touring the air force base and being around men and women of the armed forces of the United States in japan is deeply inspiring. We came here to japan to renew andstrength of our alliance restate our strong commitment to stand with people of japan and for our common security. And now we Board Air Force two, we head to south korea with a similar mission on the front end. Ill be meeting today with the president and well talk about bilateral issues. Both Economic Prosperity as well as security in the region. I look forward to substantive discussions with president moon today. Karen and i are also very excited to be headed to the olympics to cheer on all the american athletes that will be competing there. We know theyll be bringing home a lot of gold and we very much look forward to the opening ceremonies tomorrow night. Lastly, as i did here today, well continue to seize every opportunity to ensure that north korea does not use the powerful imagery and backdrop of the olympics to paper over an appalling record of human rights and a pattern of developing weapons and conducting in the kind of missile launches that are threatening our nation and threatening neighbors across the region. We delivered that message consistently here to japan. Well continue to deliver that in north korea South Carolina and every appropriate setting. It should be an eventful couple of days and again, we appreciate all of you traveling along. I would be happy to take a few questions. The speech you made today some might interpret it as preparing men and women for war. Was that your intention . Vice president pence were standing in a country thats literally sending Ballistic Missiles over fly their land. Twice in a single month. And they have seen multiple Ballistic Missiles land within their Economic Zone in the sea of japan. The american forces, japan, and selfdefense forces of japan are ready for any eventuality. We will continue to make it clear to all parties that the United States and our allies in this region stand ready at a moments notice to defend our people and defend our way of life. The message today is very much an affirmation of that reality and that truth. But we truly believe that peace comes through strength. As President Trump has said many times. And that our continued hope is by advancing a maximum Pressure Campaign of additional economic sanctions that we announced yesterday, additional diplomatic pressure, well be able to resolve the issues facing the Korean Peninsula peacefully, but all options are on the table. And reflecting on in a very real sense affirming american readiness and our allys readiness is an important part. Raj you opened the door to the meeting at the owe limb pix with the North Koreans on monday. Today the north korean Officials Say they have no intent to dialogue with the u. S. Your response . Would it be problematic with south korea decided to meet with the North Koreans . Vice president pence we havent requested a meeting with north korea. If i have any contact with them in any context, over the next two days, my message will be the same as it was here today. North korea needs to once and nuclear and on its Ballistic Missile ambitions. And the pressure will continue on it, economically and diplomatically, until thats nu accomplished. Well also make it very clear that the United States of america and our allies are fully prepared to defend ourselves. And defend our freedom and people. So well see if any kind of meeting comes about. In any context. But i can assure you my message will be very same what i said here at yokata air base and the same what i said in tokyo yesterday, the time has come for north korea to abandon its nuclear and Ballistic Missile ambitions. Setaside this long pattern of deception and provocation and then and only then can we begin to move forward to a peaceable outcome. Raj your comment on the allegations against porter. When were you made aware of the allegations and how . Additionally reports now that general kelly and others have been aware of these allegations for several months. Do you believe the president is being well served by his staff . Vice president pence were standing at Yokota Air Force base in japan. Were on our way to the olympics. I learned as i woke this morning of those developments. So well comment on any issues affecting the white house staff when we get back to washington. Raj briefly follow up on that. This is now a number of times when you found out, Vice President , number two in the administration, where you found out about something very late after a number of other senior staff below you even in the west wing found out about t i understand were standing here, can you comment on why you often seem a little bit out of the loop on some of this . Vice president pence its a great honor for me to serve as Vice President. President trump has been incredibly generous with the responsibilities and opportunities hes given me to serve representing the United States on the foreign stage as we have here in japan. As we will later today in south korea. And at the olympics. And also being involved in the legislative process. Im very grateful for that. Well leave those white house staffing matters for when we get back to washington. Raj a quick follow back on north korea. First of all you mentioned you spoke with the president this morning. Has there been any additional instructions in terms of whats going on in the region with north korea and a possible meeting . Could you just give us a little flavor of the dynamic going on with the possible meeting, even despite their rhetoric where the North Koreans sending mention through the south that theyd like to meet . Or the South Koreans trying to get to you meet . Theres just this wind in the air about you meeting with them. How did that come about . Vice president pence as i said a few days ago raj exactly. How did the idea reporter exactly. How did the idea . Vice president pence leave that to others to discuss. At this point in time were headed to the olympics. And there may be a possibility for any kind of an encounter with North Koreans. Whether it be informal or whether it take the form of a meeting. Well have to wait and see exactly how that unfolds. What i want to assure the American People is that as the president said, while we always believe in talking, our message is going to be exactly the same as it was here in japan. To be exactly the same as President Trump delivered in his state of the union address. And that is that north korea must end this long era of deception and prove days cagse, of developing nuclear weapons, threatening the region, and wider world. If they dont, while all options are on the table, well continue to bring greater and greater pressure to bear until we achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Reporter its no secret theres tension between the Moon Administration and Trump Administration over their engagement with north korea. The new administrations have different vision abouts where this engagement should go. How do you plan to address that with president moon when you meet him . Is there a way to get back on the same page with the Trump Administration and the Moon Administration . Vice president pence President Trump and president moon enjoy a strong relationship. Spoke by the phone last week and im very much looking forward to the time that well have in our bilateral meetings today and meetings yet this evening. Let me assure you the relationship between the United States and south korea is strong. Were committed to freedom. Were committed to our common defense. And i trust that when i meet with president moon today well reflect on all of those agreements and that common purpose. Even as we also, even as we also reaffirm our commitment to continue well beyond the olympics. When the olympics are long a distant memory, to continue to isolate north korea economically and diplomatically so that we can achieve what the world has longed to see. Which is a nuclearfree Korean Peninsula. Reporter would you advise president moon against meeting with the North Koreans . Vice president pens i will tell you that i look Vice President pence i will tell you i look forward to visiting with president moon tonight and talk about our common interest and common commitment to freedom. But i also look forward to being with president moon to celebrate the olympics. As the president said this morning, south koreas done an incredible job getting ready for these winter olympics. It will be a great sellment budget reconciliation. A great testament to a free and prosperous nation. I look forward to sharing a great experience and great memories with president moon. The backdrop of his discussions with north korea, about joint olympic efforts, i expect will be a topic. But at the end of the day i know that were going to reaffirm in our discussions the Strong Alliance between the United States and south korea. Its an alliance that will grow economically and grow strategicically and my great privilege to reaffirm that. Reporter do you think president moon made the right decision . [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2018] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] host they pushed back the Briefing Time to start at 3 15 eastern. Well have live coverage of that for you here on cspan. On this day where midnight tonight the current shortterm spending measure is set to run out. The house has passed the extension, the sixweek extension until march 23. Now the debate moves over to the u. S. Senate where at this hour the senate has yet to really move on to the c. R. Taking a look live at the u. S. Senate, can you follow it by the way over on cspan2 as well. The senate will take up the c. R. They will add to that. The twoyear budget agreement that was announced yesterday by senators mcconnell and schumer. They are going in a quorum call. We have seen a number of these today. Waiting for senators to come to the floor and speak. We should see some movement shortly in the senate in terms of debate on the continuing resolution. Meanwhile on the house side, the house is waiting for the senate to finish up its work. It could be well into this Late Afternoon and evening before we see the house gavel back in. Ahead of that, alex, nbc news, is tweeting about democrats and their plan. How democrats, will hold a caucus meeting at 4 15 p. M. To talk more about the caps deal, the budget deal. And the c. R. Vote. Well keep you posted on any news out of that and possibly get comments from members as they enter or leave that event. Were waiting to take you live to the white house here on cspan. Coming up at 3 15 eastern. Meanwhile back to late this morning in the briefing from House Republican leaders including house speaker, paul yan. The speaker the government has no higher responsibility than to support our men and women in harms way. For months now we have been working to get our military the resource it is needs to keep the peace. This budget agreement delivers on that commitment. It fully funds our National Defense at levels that secretary mattis has requested. It provides what the message message needs to restore our pentagon needs to restore our military edge. As secretary mattis said yesterday, i quote, congressional action will ensure our military can defend our way of life. That mission is hard enough, especially in a time of rapidly evolving threats, but our militarys job has become exponentially harder because of the staggering readiness crisis that it is