U.S. President Donald Trump responded in a non-negative way to President Moon Jae-in's decision to provide humanitarian assistance to North Korea when he held a trilateral summit with Moon and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a presidential official said Friday.

Senior press secretary Yoon Young-chan made the remark to reporters, rejecting Japanese news reports that Trump expressed strong anger about Seoul's decision to provide US$8 million in aid to the North during the summit held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

"We express strong regret to the relevant media firms and the Japanese government in connection with malicious reports surrounding the meeting of the leaders of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan," Yoon said during a briefing.

Yoon cited South Korean officials present at the summit as saying such Japanese reports are totally untrue.

"After listening to what President Moon said (about assistance to the North), President Trump made brief remarks to the effect that it could be possible," Yoon said. "I can't reveal any further details.

Yoon also said it's regrettable that inaccurate reports continue citing unidentified Japanese government sources. He said such reports could have negative effects on relations between the two countries.

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