US President Donald Trump has reiterated the country's ironclad commitment to defend South Korea, including through the provision of extended deterrence, using its full range of military capabilities, the White House said in a statement.
Trump and South Korean acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn agreed during a phone call on Sunday to take steps to strengthen joint defence capabilities to defend against threats from North Korea, the White House said.
A statement, posted on the White House website within minutes of Trump's inauguration on January 20, said the new administration intended to develop a "state of the art" missile defence system to protect against attacks from Iran and North Korea.
It did not provide details on whether the system would differ from those already under development, its cost or how it would be paid for.
Reuters