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Subject to the vagaries of defense procurement, Korea hopes to launch a midsize 3,500 ton submarine capable of launching missiles at land targets hundreds of kilometers away next year. The sub will be fitted with 500 km cruise missiles that will significantly boost the country¡¯s attack capabilities, a Defense Ministry official said. The introduction of the submarine will come¡°at the beginning of the mid-term plans," the official said, hinting that at the earliest the project may be launched in 2007.
South Korean troop numbers will shrink by around 35,000 over the next five years and reach a level of 634,000 by 2011. That is an 8.2 percent decrease from near 691,000 in early 2004. The ministry submitted the plans to President Roh Moo-hyun on Tuesday. Designed to boost Korea¡¯s independent defense over the next five years, they once again include the much delayed E-X Project to acquire airborne early warning systems, all-purpose satellites, high- and mid-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles, to help Korea achieve independent intelligence gathering abilities. There will also be new mid-air refuelers and large transport planes, plus more F-15K fighter planes and a 7,000 t Aegis ship.
The ministry is asking for W150.7 trillion (US$1=W947) over the next five years to pay for the plans, and the defense budget will swell from this year's 2.57 percent of GDP to 2.89 percent in 2011.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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