Seoul to spend W7 trillion on defense goods in first half of 2009

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will spend over 7 trillion won (US$5.4
billion) in the first half of next year on purchasing weapons or other defense
articles as well as new apartments for its military servicemembers to help boost
the country's slumping economy, the defense ministry said Wednesday.

The amount accounts for over 60 percent of the ministry's budget for next year
that is earmarked for domestic purchases. The plan came under the ministry's key
policy goals for 2009 that were briefed to President Lee Myung-bak.
"The ministry decided to take measures to help the country overcome the economic
crisis as it understands an economic recovery is a prerequisite to building a
strong, advanced military," Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee said in his report to
the president.
The move is also in line with government plans to execute over 60 percent of its
entire annual spending in the first half of next year to help revive the slowing
economy.
Also to help create jobs, the ministry will seek to increase the country's
defense exports to $1.2 billion, up 20 percent from $1 billion marked this year.
The number of army conscripts allowed to work at industrial companies instead of
serving their two-year mandatory military service will also be increased to 7,200
from the current 5,400 to help relieve the difficulties of small- and-medium-size
enterprises in finding workers, it said.
The ministry's new year goals also include efforts to strengthen the country's
military alliance with the United States and to contain threats from North Korea
along the demilitarized zone and the often disputed maritime border in the Yellow
Sea, known as the northern limit line.
"To counter any transnational or non-military threats (from North Korea), the
ministry will actively seek to establish joint countermeasures with the
international community through multinational security forums and reinforce its
preparedness against terrorist and cyber attacks," the report said.
The ministry said it will also continue to support reconciliation between the
divided Koreas by maintaining dialogue channels with the communist nation and by
working to reduce military tension.
However, the ministry noted the North continued to pose serious threats to the
country with its conventional and nonconventional weapons.
"The North Korean regime is expected to solidify its strong grip on the people
under its Songun (Military First) policy, while it could try to create additional
tension through provocations, nuclear tests or missile launches," the report
said.
Pyongyang detonated a nuclear device in October 2006 in its first-ever nuclear
test. The communist nation is believed to have up to 48 kilograms of plutonium,
which is enough to make six to eight nuclear weapons, according to officials
here.
Since the 2006 test, Seoul's arms buildup has been focused on securing
capabilities against the North's nonconventional weapons, such as new Aegis ships
that can simultaneously engage and intercept up to 20 targets, including
missiles, within a 150-kilometer radius.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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