South Korea-US Air Force Joint Air-to-Air · Air-to-Ground Live Firing Exercise [Yonhap News Photo]  

The Donald Trump administration in the United States has decided to sell approximately $292 million (approximately 444 billion won) worth of weapons to South Korea, including medium-range air-to-air missiles.

The U.S. Department of State announced on the 10th (local time) that it has approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 70 AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and two AMRAAM guidance sections requested by the South Korean government.

The sale also includes AMRAAM containers, control sections, support equipment, spare parts, weapons systems support, and classified and unclassified software, the State Department said.

The State Department stated that this sale "will support U.S. foreign policy and national security by enhancing the security of a major ally which is an important force for political and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific region."

It added that the sale will "improve South Korea's ability to respond to current and future threats by expanding its air defense capabilities, deterring regional aggression, and ensuring interoperability with U.S. forces," and that it will not alter the basic military balance in the Indo-Pacific region or negatively impact U.S. defense readiness.