The United States and South Korea have agreed to strengthen South Korea’s defences, with the US poised to approve billions in arms sales to the country, days after North Korea fired a missile over Japan and threatened further launches.
The United States and South Korea have agreed to strengthen South Korea’s defences, with the US poised to approve billions in arms sales to the country, days after North Korea fired a missile over Japan and threatened further launches.
In Seoul, the presidential Blue House spokesman confirmed that US President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in agreed to enhance the country’s deterrence against North Korea by boosting its missile capabilities.
North Korea fired an intermediate-range Hwasong-12 over Japan early on Tuesday, which it said was a mere « curtain-raiser » for the North’s « resolute countermeasures » against ongoing US-South Korean military drills.
It came as US and South Korean forces were nearing the end of the ten-day annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint exercises, which the North regards as a rehearsal for invasion.
Mr Trump has insisted that « all options » are on the table in an implied threat of pre-emptive military action, while on Thursday US heavy bombers and stealth jet fighters took part in a joint live fire drill in South Korea intended as a show of force.
Mr Trump and Mr Moon spoke on the phone yesterday about North Korea’s « continued destabilising and escalatory behaviour, » the White House said in a statement.
