U.S. approves US$ 2.6 billion new arms sale to South Korea

The United States on Thursday approved a new arms sale to South Korea worth US$2.6 billion, with denuclearisation talks stalled between Washington and the North.

Six Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft worth US$2.1 billion form the bulk of the sale, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

A second contract covers 64 Patriot missiles and support worth US$501 million, the agency said.

Congress has 15 days to oppose the sale but that would be unlikely given the close relationship between Seoul and Washington, which stations tens of thousands of its troops on South Korean soil to defend against the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea.

Channel News Asia