In response to the escalating drone threat from North Korea, a plan is in motion to double the military’s drone capabilities within two years.
Discussions were held during the 4th committee meeting, led by Jang Ho Jin, head of the National Security Office, at the Presidential Office in Yongsan on the 2nd. The Presidential Defense Innovation Committee swiftly prepared a solution to strengthen drone power and increase the budget for weapons system improvements from 1% to 5% of the defense improvement costs.
The government decided to actively increase the speed of acquisition and research development for domestic and commercial drones and expand budget investments to secure many drones quickly.
Accordingly, the military plans to have at least twice the number of drones currently available, bolstering its preparedness against the drone threat from North Korea by 2026.
The government also decided to increase the budget for weapons system improvements to 5%, currently at 1% of the defense improvement costs.
Along with this, the government plans to actively improve conditions for soldiers to perform their duties, break inefficient unit operation practices and systems to increase the support rate for junior officers, which is steadily declining, and improve conditions for mid-level combat commanders.
Members of the Defense Innovation Committee attended the meeting, including Deputy Chairman Kim Kwan Jin, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd heads of the National Security Office, the Defense Secretary, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Deputy Minister of Defense, and the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.