At the beginning of the last week of the year, South Korean fighter pilots tried to shoot down five North Korean drones that flew in over South Korea. The breach was the first at that level in five years.
The incident sparked criticism of South Korea’s air defenses. The country’s president regretted that they had not succeeded in shooting down the drones.
The military, which apologized for the failure, claims the drones were too small to be shot down.
“Cannot be deterred by nuclear weapons”
In the past year, North Korea has conducted more robot tests than in any previous year, at least since 1984 when the measurements began, according to a compilation by CNN and the American think tank CSIS.
Now South Korea is responding to the threats, by significantly upgrading its defenses.
– We must punish and mark against every single provocation from North Korea. It is the most effective way of deterring further provocations, the country’s President Yoon Suk-yeol said during a meeting on Wednesday.
– We cannot be discouraged or hesitate just because Nordkora has nuclear weapons.
Seven percent increase
Over the next five years, South Korea will invest roughly 331 trillion won in defense. This corresponds to approximately SEK 2,800 billion, and is an annual increase of approximately seven percent.
This can be compared with this year’s defense budget of just under 57 trillion won – roughly 447 billion Swedish kronor.
At the same time, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un has promised that the military will be further strengthened next year, AP reports.
Relations between North Korea and US-backed South Korea have been frosty for decades, but have worsened since conservative Yoon Suk-yeol took office this spring.
Among other things, Suk-Yeol has promised to keep a tougher line against the rival in the north.
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