South Korea unveils ambitious $265 Bn Defense investment plan for next 5 years.

The South Korean Defense Ministry has unveiled a comprehensive five-year plan to enhance and bolster its defense capabilities in response to evolving military threats, particularly from North Korea, Yonhap news agency reports, echoed by The Korea Times. This plan, known as the mid-term Defense blueprint for 2024-2028, seeks to allocate a substantial budget of nearly 350 trillion won (approximately $265 billion) for various defense initiatives.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Republic of Korea Special Warfare Command (RoK SWC) service members and Green Berets from 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif. on July 2, 2022 (Picture source: U.S. Army/Sgt. Thoman Johnson)

The primary focus of this blueprint is the reinforcement of South Korea's defense capabilities through the implementation of a "three-axis" deterrence system designed to counter North Korean military threats. These three key components include the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation plan, the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike platform, and the Korea Air and Missile Defense system.

To achieve these objectives, the Defense Ministry has outlined a series of specific measures:

• Acquisition of Military Reconnaissance Satellites: South Korea plans to acquire five military reconnaissance satellites by 2025, enhancing its ability to monitor and gather intelligence on North Korean activities.

• Submarine Deployments: The deployment of KSS-III Batch-II submarines is planned, increasing the country's capacity for submarine-launched ballistic missiles and bolstering its naval capabilities.

• Advanced Missile Interceptor Systems: The plan involves the completion of the deployment of tactical surface-to-surface missiles intended to neutralize hostile tunnel targets, improving South Korea's missile defense capabilities.

• Development of Advanced Weaponry: The Defense Ministry intends to develop innovative weapons systems, including suicide drones and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) shells designed to disrupt the electronic equipment of adversaries.

• Missile Defense System Expansion: South Korea aims to complete the deployment of the Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) system and the long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) system by 2028, establishing a robust missile defense network.

• Personnel Resources: To address concerns related to a declining birthrate in South Korea, the ministry plans to maintain the number of active-duty military personnel at the current level of 500,000.

• Budget Allocation: The Defense Ministry intends to allocate a total budget of 348.7 trillion won over the five years, with 113.9 trillion won dedicated to improving defense capabilities and 234.8 trillion won allocated for maintaining troops, equipment, and facilities. An incremental increase in the annual defense budget is planned, reaching 80 trillion won in 2028, representing an average annual increase rate of 7 percent.

It's important to note that any defense spending plan requires parliamentary approval, emphasizing the need for political support and oversight.

Defense News December 2023