Trump approves billions in military hardware for South Korea

The White House issued a statement Monday afternoon saying the President Donald Trump had approved several billions of dollars in military equipment and weapons to South Korea in a call with President Moon Jae-In.

The approval was described as “conceptual” in the statement which muddies the meaning of the announcement but demonstrates solidarity with a crucial U.S. ally in the region.

“The two leaders agreed to maximize pressure on North Korea using all means at their disposal,” the White House said in the statement. “President Trump gave his in-principle approval to South Koreas initiative to lift restrictions on their missile payload capabilities. President Trump also provided his conceptual approval for the purchase of many billions of dollars worth of military weapons and equipment from the United States by South Korea.”

The increased level of military support to South Korea comes just after North Korea tested a Hydrogen Bomb on September 3 that felt like a 6.3 magnitude quake and is estimated to have had a blast yield of between 100 and 120 kilotons of TNT.