MANILA -- Leaders from 18 countries met in the Philippine capital for the East Asia Summit on Tuesday, with concerns about continued provocations by North Korea a key area of discussion. But the meeting was underscored by the absence of U.S. President Donald Trump, as he left the Philippine capital due to what is believed to be time constraints.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who chaired the summit, told reporters that "almost every leader" mentioned North Korea in their speeches. "The dark clouds are there. We better pray," he said, describing the situation in the Korean Peninsula as a "crisis looming ahead."
