South Korea unveils $440 million plan to acquire anti-drones defense system

Asia-Pacific, News December 29, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol approved a $440 million plan to improve its military’s capability to counter drones. The announcement came from the ministry of defense, two days after North Korean drones breached into South Korean border.

Under the newly approved budget, South Korea plans to spend $261 billion on its defense until 2027. The country plans to gradually increase its defense budget at an annual rate of 6.8 percent.

The approved defense spending of $440 million would include the development of an airborne laser weapon and a signal jammer. The military also plans to increase its drone capabilities to three squadrons. South Korea aims to procure more stealth jets and ballistic missile submarines and to accelerate the development of systems to intercept rockets.

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup told parliament that Yoon had also ordered him to send drones into North Korea in response to any incursion “even if that means risking escalation.”

The South Korean Ministry of Defense said in a separate statement, “We will strengthen our 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.”

According to the press secretary of South Korean President Kim Eun-hye, President addressed North Korea’s drone invasion on December 28, by stating that any provocation by North Korea must be met with retaliation without hesitation despite its nuclear weapons.

*^{North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a ballistic missile at an undisclosed location on May 14, 2017. (Image Credit: KCNA/AFP)}*

Yoon said in a meeting with his aides, “We must punish and retaliate against any provocation by North Korea. That is the most powerful means to deter provocations. We must not fear or hesitate because North Korea has nuclear weapons.”

North Korean drones entered the South’s airspace on December 27, prompting the military to scramble fighter jets and attack helicopters. According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, while attempting to counter the drones, a South Korean KA-1 light attack aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from its base at Wonju in the country’s east.

The two pilots were able to escape before the crash and are currently in the hospital. South’s response failed response to bring down any drone prompted an angry statement from President Yoon Suk-yeol and an apology from the South Korean military.

*^{The wreckage of a South Korea’s KA-1 light attack aircraft is seen in an image taken on December 26, 2022. (Image Credit: Twitter)}*

The drones were North Korea’s first confirmed violation of South Korean airspace since 2017. Five years ago, a North Korean drone was found crashed on a mountain near the border. The drone was believed to be on a spy mission. In 2014, a North Korean drone was also discovered on a South Korean border island.

Tensions have been rising between North Korea and United States ally South Korea since Yoon’s conservative government took over in May this year, promising a tougher line with their northern neighbor.