9/13/2018

MILITARY/SOUTH KOREA/STATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The Trump administration has approved a deal to sell six P-8A patrol aircraft to South Korea for an estimated cost of $2.1 billion and 64 Patriot Advanced Capability missiles for $501 million, the US State Department announced Thursday [9-13-18]. If approved by Congress, the aircraft sale will provide an upgrade over the older, US-made P-3 surveillance planes that South Korea has used for more than 25 years…Purchasing the Patriot missile system will allow South Korea ‘to improve its missile defense capability, defend its territorial integrity and deter threats to regional stability,’ according to the State Department. It will also ‘increase the defensive capabilities of the ROK Military to guard against hostile aggression and shield the allies who train and operate within South Korea’s borders.’ Specifically, the P-8A is the newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft built by the US. A multi-mission capable aircraft, the P-8A is designed to ‘conduct anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions,’ according to the US Navy.”

Zachary Cohen, “US approves $2.6B sale of missiles and surveillance planes to South Korea,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, September 13, 2018 6:06 pm