In a hastily organized joint statement on Saturday evening, President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe condemned North Korea's surprise launch of a ballistic missile test in the direction of the Sea of Japan, with Abe calling the test "absolutely intolerable." Abe, speaking through a translator from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort estate in Palm Beach, Florida, declared that the two nations “completely share the view that we are going to promote further collaboration” with regards to North Korean military aggression and on other matters. Trump's follow-up remarks were shorter than a tweet: “The United States of America stands behind Japan its great ally 100%. Thank you.” The president and prime minister did not respond to questions.