Korea aims to bolster three-axis deterrence system with defense budget hike

Korea aims to strengthen its three-axis deterrence system against North Korean threats and build a cutting-edge combat system with an 8.2 percent hike in the defense budget proposal for next year, the defense ministry said Wednesday. Under the proposal submitted to the National Assembly the previous day, the ministry sought a budget of 66.3 trillion won ($47.6 billion) for next year. It marked the biggest on-year expansion in seven years since an 8.2 percent increase in 2019. The increased budget will be allocated with a focus on building "overwhelming" response capabilities as Korea eyes the transition of wartime operational command (OPCON) to Seoul from the Washington, the ministry said. It plans to spend 8.9 trillion won, up 22.3 percent from this year, on strengthening the three-axis structure that comprises the Korea Air and Missile Defense multilayered missile shield system, the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform, and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation system. In efforts to bolster the country's missile defense capabilities, the budget for next year also reflected theWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times