Washington/Seoul, Aug 22 (IANS) The US government has authorised a potential sale to South Korea of AIM-9X air-to-air missiles and related equipment, the US State Department has said, noting that the proposed sale will help enhance the Asian ally’s air defence capabilities.
The department announced its decision on the potential government-to-government Foreign Military Sale (FMS), which is estimated to cost US$125 million. The proposed sale requires congressional notification and review.
South Korea has requested the purchase of 103 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II tactical missiles and 10 guidance units, as well as other non-major defence items, such as training aids and devices, and spare parts, according to the department, reports Yonhap news agency.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region,” the department said in a release.
“The proposed sale will help improve the Republic of Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats by expanding its air defence capability, deterring aggression in the region, and ensuring interoperability with U.S. Forces,” it added.
The principal contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Arlington, Virginia, it said.
This came just days after the US and South Korea announced their decision to cut short the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise at President Donald Trump’s orders.
Trump wrote in a social media post Sunday that he had instructed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises that send a “totally inappropriate and hostile” signal to North Korea.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he respects Trump’s efforts to create the conditions for dialogue with North Korea by going as far as scaling back South Korea-US military exercises.
“I feel that President Trump’s message is a big decision reflecting the serious thought he put into creating peace beyond hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula,” Lee wrote.
“We, who believe that the most perfect security asset is a peace regime in which there is no need to fight, share President Trump’s commitment and efforts to create the conditions for dialogue toward establishing a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, even if that means scaling back the South Korea-US combined exercises and field training, and express our respect for that decision,” he added.
Lee went further to express his wish that Trump’s decision will ultimately lead to a stable peace regime on the peninsula through confidence-building and a resumption of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, reports Yonhap news agency.
–IANS
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