Trump: Japan could shoot down North Korean missiles

US President Donald Trump has said Japan could shoot North Korean missiles “out of the sky” with military equipment bought from the US.

Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe meanwhile said his country could intercept missiles “if necessary”.

The two leaders were speaking to reporters at the close of Mr Trump’s first state visit to Japan.

North Korea has fired long-range ballistic missiles over Japanese territory twice in recent months.

On Monday, while answering questions at a press conference, Mr Trump said Mr Abe was “going to purchase massive amounts of military equipment” from the US.

Referencing North Korea’s missiles, he said Mr Abe could “shoot them out of the sky” when he completed the purchase, which he said would provide jobs to Americans as well as “safety for Japan”.

Mr Abe said Japan had to “qualitatively and quantitatively” enhance its defence capability, given the “very tough” North Korea situation.

He stressed that missile defence was based on “legal co-operation” between Japan and the US, and as for shooting down missiles, “if necessary of course we can do that”.

It is not clear whether a military deal has been signed during Mr Trump’s trip, but the two countries are close military allies with the US maintaining several military bases in Japan.

In September Mr Trump had tweeted that he would allow the sale of high-end military equipment to Japan and South Korea.