Seoul's defense ministry has made a proposal
to the government for what would be the highest
ever amount for a yearly national defense
budget for 2021.
Our Kim Ji-yeon has the details.
Seoul's defense ministry has asked for a five-and-a-half-percent
increase for next year's budget... which would
amount to nearly 43-point-seven-billion U.S.
dollars... the highest ever amount if approved.
"The government's proposal is aimed at strengthening
not only South Korean military defense capabilities,
but also at strengthening its competence against
rising non-traditional security challenges...
including infectious diseases and acts of
terror."
The defense ministry says it will set aside
some 14-point-three-billion dollars for arms
purchases and projects to boost defense capabilities.
It will also earmark some 30-billion dollars
for operational costs... the highest on-year
growth in a decade of seven-point-one-percent.
In order to better deal with North Korea's
nuclear program and weapons of mass destruction
... the ministry has allocated nearly four-point-nine-billion
dollars.
Some 762-million dollars are annexed for the
development of domestically produced fighter
jets, the KF-X project... while nearly 442-million
dollars are set aside for the development
of a three-thousand-ton next-generation submarine.
A total of 80-point-seven-million dollars
is being appropriated to better prepare for
COVID-19 and other infectious diseases,...
such as procuring face masks, medical equipment
and setting up facilities for virtual meetings.
The ministry also plans to boost the welfare
of service personnel... a vital part of its
"Defense Reform 2-point-oh" scheme.
For instance, the monthly wage for rank-and-file
service members is to increase 12-and-a-half
percent next year from the previous year.
With the increase, an army sergeant, for example,
will receive five-hundred-11 dollars a month
starting next year.
Kim Ji-yeon, Arirang News.
