South Korea, facing up to the communist North's million-strong military, on Wednesday announced plans to buy "smart" bombs, torpedoes and extra jet fighters. The defence ministry said it will request a 9.7 percent increase in its budget for next year, to 24.7 trillion won (24 billion dollars), to boost military capacity and improve the welfare of its largely conscript army.

If approved by parliament, military spending will account for 10.3 percent of a 2007 government budget of 238.5 trillion won.

"While the increase is being kept below 10 percent, it reflects the need for spending on bolstering military capability and improving the morale and welfare of soldiers," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry plans to spend 6.8 trillion won on strengthening military capacity including the purchase of new weapons and research and development, up 17.5 percent from 2006.

Some 33.2 billion won is earmarked next year to purchase guided weapons, including joint direct attack munitions (JDAM) and anti-submarine torpedoes.

South Korea plans to buy 900 GPS-JDAMs worth 120 billion won by 2012. JDAMs are guided bombs used against weaponry hidden in tunnels, like those deployed by North Korea near the heavily fortified border.

The ministry will also start a project next year to secure an additional 20 "F-15 fighter-level" jets as the second phase of a fighter procurement project.

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing is to deliver 40 F-15K fighters by the end of 2008 but a model has not yet been selected yet for the 20 new jets.

The military plans to spend 2.93 trillion won next year on soldiers' welfare, including a pay rise for conscripts and renovations to barracks, following several suicides by draftees.

All eligible South Korean men aged over 19 must serve in the military for at least 24 months. The country's 650,000-strong military, backed up by 29,500 Americans, faces a North Korean force of 1.2 million across the world's last Cold War frontier.

earlier related report

South Korea To Spend $500 Million Developing Surface-To-Air Missiles

Seoul (AFP) Sep 27 – South Korea will spend some 500 million dollars over the next five years to develop its own surface-to-air missile systems, military authorities said Wednesday.

Fired vertically from launch pads, the new missiles — tentatively named Cheolmae (Iron Hawk) — will have a range of 40 kilometers (25 miles) and use multi-purpose radar in searching and destroying targets.

"The new missile systems will replace the existing Hawk missile systems, which are too outdated now," said a spokesman for the Defence Acquisition Program Agency, which approved the development project.

The project will involve 16 local firms and six research institutions, he said.

The army meanwhile said it would launch its first missile defence command to counter threats from North Korea's missiles and long-range artillery.

"The army will create its first missile command to command and control the existing missile units with efficiency," it said.

The missile command will control multiple-launch rocket systems and ground-to-ground missiles, known as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

South Korea has been beefing up its anti-artillery capabilities as North Korea's long-range guns and multiple rocket launchers poses a serious threat to Seoul, some 55 kilometers (33 miles) south of their joint border.

The South has also developed a cruise missile with a 500-kilometer range that can launch precision attacks on missile sites deep inside North Korea.

The cruise missile is similar to the US-made Tomahawk. Its range will double to 1,000 kilometers within five years, according to reports.

Source: Agence France-Presse