Trump requests extra $4bln to counter DPRK threat

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US President Donald Trump has requested an additional four billion US dollars to support efforts to counter the threat from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), as well as funding to increase troop levels in Afghanistan and conduct repairs on Navy ships in the Asia-Pacific.

The budget request, revealed in a letter from Trump to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Monday, calls for the extra funding "to support urgent missile defeat and defense enhancements to counter the threat" posed by the DPRK.

US President Donald Trump and South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in have lunch with troops at US military base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on November 7, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"This request supports additional efforts to detect, defeat and defend against any North Korean [DPRK] use of ballistic missiles against the United States, its deployed forces, allies, or partners."

The call for additional funding came as the US president started his visit to South Korea, the second leg of his Asia tour.

The Associated Press reported that the money would be used to build an additional ground-based interceptor field at Fort Greely, Alaska; the initial procurement of 20 new ground-based interceptors; ship-based missiles; and interceptors for the THAAD anti-missile system.

US President Donald Trump and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hold a news conference in Tokyo, Japan on November 6, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday, Trump warned that "the era of strategic patience is over" towards the DPRK.

"Some people say my rhetoric is very strong but look what has happened with very weak rhetoric in the last 25 years," he added.

Ships, Afghanistan, the wall

The Trump administration also called for 700 million US dollars to pay for repairs to damaged Navy vessels in the Asia Pacific and 1.2 billion US dollars in funding to increase troop levels in Afghanistan.

The additional 700 million US dollars requested was to repair damage to the USS John S. McCain and the USS Fitzgerald, the US Navy ships damaged in deadly collisions in recent months. The letter noted that the "ships provide critical naval presence and additional ballistic missile defense capabilities in the Asia-Pacific theater."

The 1.2 billion US dollars requested for Afghanistan would fund an additional 3,500 troops, and includes resources for urgent needs and special operations forces capabilities.

Additionally, Trump urged Congress "to act" on a 1.6-billion-US-dollar request related to his proposed wall to be built along the border with Mexico.

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