Trump touts quality of US military equipment during Japan visit

President Trump on Sunday praised the quality of U.S. military equipment during his visit to Japan, as tensions in the region continue to rise over North Korea’s recent actions.

“We made the greatest military equipment in the world. There’s nothing close. [Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe] is ordering a lot of military equipment, as he should be, given what’s happening with one of your neighbors,” Trump said during a visit to the U.S. ambassador to Japan’s residence, according to a pool report.

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“We had a case yesterday where a missile was shot into Saudi Arabia and their missile system defense took the missile right out of the air and blew it up. Incredible technology that we have,” Trump said.

Trump made the comments during a discussion on trade and business ties between the U.S. and Japan. His visit to the country is part of a five-nation, 13-day tour of Asia.

His comments also come amid increased concern over North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests.

North Korea launched missiles over Japan on separate occasions earlier this year. According to a report in The Japan Times ahead of the president’s visit, Trump said he thought Japan should have shot down the missiles.

In September, after North Korea said it had tested a hydrogen bomb, Trump tweeted that he would allow Japan and South Korea to buy “a substantially increased amount of highly sophisticated military equipment from the United States.”