In the United States, the Pentagon is seeking 440 million US dollars more into missile defence, including yet another expansion of its fleet of missile interceptors. This is being done to counter North Korea’s accelerating push for a nuclear-armed missile capable of hitting the United States.
Citing urgency, the Pentagon has asked US Congress to let it shift funds from the current budget rather than wait for the next defence budget. The Pentagon already has 8.2 billion US dollars in its missile defence budget prior to the add-ons.
The spending has come under increased scrutiny as North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs have progressed and critics have questioned whether the Pentagon has developed missile defences that would work in combat.
