President Trump Says North Korea, South Korea Have His 'Blessing'

President Donald Trump says conversations between North and South Korea to end their decades-long war have his blessing.

Speaking as he welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his private club in Florida, Trump confirmed that the two Koreas are negotiating an end to hostilities. A meeting between North Korea's Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in is expected in next week. Trump said the leaders "do have my blessing" to discuss an official end to the war.

"North Korea is coming along," Trump said. "South Korea is meeting and has plans to meet to see if they can end the war and they have my blessing on that. They've been very generous ... without us and without me in particular, I guess, they wouldn't be discussing anything and the Olympics would have been a failure."

Meanwhile, Trump says five locations are under consideration for the historic U.S.-North Korea meeting, which he hopes will take place in the next two months.

Speaking through a translator as he begins two days of meetings with Trump on North Korea policy and trade issues, Abe says the U.S. and Japanese effort to place "maximum pressure" on Kim's government has been successful.

Abe says: "I'd like to commend Donald's courage in his decision to have the upcoming summit meeting with the North Korean leader." Trump says five locations are under consideration for that meeting, which could take place within two months.

Abe added that he will raise the issue of Japanese abductees held in North Korea, calling it "a priority issue for Japan."

Trump insisted many foreign leaders have "requested" to meet at Mar-a-Lago, instead of Washington.

"Many of the world's great leaders request to come to Mar-a-Lago," the president said. "Now indeed it is the southern White House," Trump said. 

Trump said he and the Japanese leader will golf tomorrow, if possible.

"We're going to sneak out tomorrow and play a round of golf if possible," said Trump, who has praised Abe's golf game in the past.

The White House said Trump and Abe have a few key objectives, generally speaking to "reaffirm the United States-Japan alliance as a cornerstone of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region." Trump said the two nations have "never been closer" than they are now.

"The two leaders will discuss the international campaign to maintain maximum pressure on North Korea in advance of President Trump's planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. President Trump and Prime Minister Abe will explore ways to expand fair and reciprocal trade and investment ties between the United States and Japan, two of the world's wealthiest and most innovative economies," the White House added. 

Abe last visited Trump's resort in February 2017, soon after the president took office. Trump has met with Abe more than any other foreign leader. 

(The Associated Press, CBS News contributed to this report.)