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Friday, September 14, 2018, 15:32
US approves possible military sales worth US$2.6b to ROK
By Reuters
Friday, September 14, 2018, 15:32 By Reuters

This photo obtained from the US Navy shows a P-8A Poseidon aircraft as it departs Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington, Nov 20, 2014. The US State Department has approved possible military sales worth US$2.6 billion to the Republic of Korea, including six P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft and 64 Patriot anti-ballistic missile weapons, the Pentagon said on Sept 13, 2018. (US NAVY / BOEING AIRCRAFT / AFP)

WASHINGTON - The US State Department has approved possible military sales worth US$2.6 billion to the Republic of Korea (ROK), including six P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft and 64 Patriot anti-ballistic missile weapons, the Pentagon said on Thursday. 

The Boeing-made Poseidon aircraft, which are used for hunting submarines and conducting maritime reconnaissance, are worth up to US$2.1 billion, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said. 

The possible military sales would include six P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft and 64 Patriot anti-ballistic missile weapons, the Pentagon said 

ALSO READ: ROK says no US request for talks on drills

ROK procurement agency Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in June it had decided to buy the P-8 Poseidon aircraft. 

At the time, the contract was worth around US$1.71 billion. Thursday's DSCA authorization included training, logistics, support equipment and services that could affect the price. 

US ally ROK is engaged in talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on improving relations and the United States is involved in its own diplomatic efforts with DPRK on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Washington has put pressure on DPRK via sanctions to give up its nuclear weapons program. 

READ MORE: DPRK's Kim asks Trump for another meeting in new letter

The Patriot anti-missile systems, made by Lockheed Martin Co, are to defend against ballistic missiles and will cost US$501 million, the Pentagon said. 

ROK requested 64 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) Missiles. 

DSCA said the proposed sales, which were notified to Congress on Thursday, will help ROK improve its missile defense capability and support US national security objectives by enhancing Seoul's naval capabilities.

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