FILE PHOTO: A South Korean Navy Lynx helicopter fires flares during a commemoration ceremony marking South Korea's Armed Forces Day, which will fall on October 1, at the Second Fleet Command of Navy in Pyeongtaek on September 28, 2017. REUTERS/Jung Yeon-Je/Pool
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea plans to spend 560 billion won ($441.26 million) over the next five years to beef up its ability to fend off North Korean drones, Seoul's defence ministry said on Wednesday.
The plan was included in South Korea's midterm defence blueprint for 2023-27 after North Korean drones crossed into the South in the first such intrusion since 2017.
The ministry earmarked the funds for four projects aimed at bolstering counter-drone capabilities, including an airborne laser to destroy drones and a jammer to neutralise smaller devices.
The blueprint also included a plan to add another drone unit in the army, which operates two squadrons.
"The laser weapon programme is in a testing phase and expected to begin deployment in 2027," a ministry official said. "The 'soft-kill' type jamming system would improve our response capability against small drones."
Monday's incident triggered criticism over South Korea's air defences as it tries to curb the North's evolving nuclear and missile threats.
President Yoon Suk-yeol chastised the military's handling of the incursion, urging it to hasten the reinforcement of the drone units.
The military apologised for its response, and said it could not shoot down the drones because they were too small.
As part of efforts to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the ministry seeks to procure more stealth jets, which it said would bolster real-time strike capabilities against moving targets.
The ministry will also secure additional ballistic missile submarines and accelerate the development of systems to intercept artillery rockets.
"We will strengthen our overwhelming massive punishment and retaliation capability to be able to destroy key facilities anywhere in North Korea in case of its nuclear attack or use of weapons of mass destruction," the ministry said in a statement.
In total, the ministry aims to spend 331.4 trillion won ($261 billion) on defence over the next five years, with an average annual increase of 6.8%. This year's budget stood at 54.6 trillion won.
Defence expenditures are subject to parliamentary approval.
($1 = 1,269.1000 won)
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
