U.S. boosts weapons sales to Japan and South Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump late Monday authorized expanded military weapons sales to South Korea and Japan in response to North Korea’s nuclear test on Sunday. Trump announced the amount in an early Tuesday morning tweet: “I am allowing Japan & South Korea to buy a substantially increased amount of highly sophisticated military equipment from the United States.” On Monday, South Korea conducted a live-fire exercise to simulate an attack on North Korea’s nuclear test site. While condemning North Korea’s provocations, world leaders continue to call for diplomatic, rather than military, solutions to the crisis. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a “diplomatic and peaceful solution” after speaking to Trump by phone late Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin called for talks with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. “Whipping up military hysteria makes absolutely no sense in this situation,” Putin said. “This is a road to nowhere.” Analysts say the United States has few good options to address the crisis. Sanctions haven’t curbed Kim’s nuclear ambitions, and negotiations seem futile. A military strike would cause mass civilian casualties and could strain already tense relations with China and Russia.