U.S. President Donald Trump has requested an additional USD$4 billion in emergency funds for the nation’s missile defense systems to directly counter the threat of North Korean ballistic missiles, according to a White House letter to Congress published on Monday.

Several requested amendments to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) budget totaling USD$5.9 billion were outlined in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan, with the funds for missile defense representing well over half of the new funds.

“The request includes an additional $4.0 billion to support urgent missile defeat and defense enhancements to counter