WASHINGTON, Jumada I 10, 1438, February 07, 2017, SPA -- The United States should expand its missile defense systems given missile testing by North Korea and Iran, the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee said on Monday. The comments by Republican Representative Mac Thornberry followed new U.S. sanctions against Iran after the Persian country's recent ballistic missile test. "If you look at what's happening around the world, I would mention Iran and North Korea, the importance of missile defense is increasing," Thornberry told reporters at a news briefing. He said there was a need to provide more systems and to improve missile defense technology. "Actors around the world are building missiles that are harder to stop," he added. --SPA 03:23 LOCAL TIME 00:23 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w327039