Focused Strengthening of the Korean 3-Axis System Over the Next 5 Years

Ministry of National Defense Announces Mid-Term Defense Plan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Going forward, defense budgets will be intensively used to secure the capabilities of the Korean-style 3-axis system to respond to North Korea's nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

On the 28th, the Ministry of National Defense announced the "2023~2027 Defense Mid-term Plan," which contains plans for military force construction and operation over the next five years. The mid-term plan is a document prepared annually to build and operate military power with a mid-term (5-year) perspective.

According to the mid-term plan, the military will pour in 331.4 trillion won over the next five years, with an average annual growth rate of 6.8%. The defense capability improvement budget is expected to total 107.4 trillion won with an average annual growth rate of 10.5%, and the operational budget is expected to total 224 trillion won with an average annual growth rate of 6.8%.

To dramatically strengthen North Korea's nuclear and missile response capabilities, additional medium-sized submarines equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) will be secured, and tactical surface-to-surface guided missiles (KTSSM) and cluster munitions will be operationalized to secure the capabilities of the "Korean-style 3-axis system." The military authorities plan to equip a total of 78 SLBMs on nine medium-sized submarines, including the Navy's first 3,000-ton class submarine, the Dosan Ahn Changho. The medium-sized submarines will be constructed in three phases: first, three 3,000-ton class submarines including the Dosan Ahn Changho; second, three 3,600-ton class submarines; and third, three submarines over 4,000 tons, totaling nine. The 3,000-ton class submarines have six vertical launch tubes, and the 3,600-ton class will carry up to ten launch tubes.

Budgets will also be concentrated on securing the Korean-style 3-axis system capabilities to respond to North Korea's nuclear and WMD threats. To expand the "kill chain" capability that can quickly and accurately detect and destroy important targets such as North Korean nuclear and missile launch sites, additional stealth fighters will be acquired, tactical surface-to-surface guided missiles (KTSSM) and cluster munitions (weapon systems that neutralize enemy power grids) will be operationalized, and non-physical strike means such as electronic warfare equipment and electromagnetic pulse munitions will be developed.

Through the Korean-style layered missile defense system (KAMD) project, which rapidly detects and intercepts missiles and long-range artillery, simultaneous operation of ballistic missile early warning radars I and II, additional operation of Aegis destroyers (8,000-ton class), and radars will be implemented. The deployment of Cheongung-II and Patriot missiles will be completed, and partial deployment of long-range surface-to-air missiles (L-SAM) with increased interception altitude will be pursued. The long-range artillery interception system plans to secure key core technologies by the end of 2026.

In the event of a North Korean nuclear or WMD attack, the massive retaliation (KMPR) capability to destroy key facilities across all North Korean regions will be enhanced by increasing missile warhead weight and quantity, and strengthening special operations and special mission brigade capabilities through reinforcement of special operations light tactical vehicles and anti-material unmanned aerial vehicles.

To efficiently operate the Korean-style 3-axis system's forces, advancements in surveillance, reconnaissance, and command and control systems are planned, including operationalization of reconnaissance satellites, completion of the second reinforcement of the Baekdu system, and operationalization of multi-source image fusion systems.

A personal battlefield visualization system to maximize individual combat performance will be operationalized, and research and development of communication relay drones and swarm drone bot operation control technologies will be conducted.

For advanced weapon research and development, 11.4 trillion won will be invested over five years in 107 projects. In the unit planning sector, the standing force, reduced to 500,000 personnel this year, will be maintained for five years. Officers will be reinforced mainly in operational and combat fields, increasing from 201,000 this year to about 202,000 by 2027. Based on the Nuclear and WMD Response Headquarters, a Strategic Command will be established, and in connection with the additional deployment of Aegis destroyers, a Navy Mobile Fleet Command will also be created. The basic meal allowance per soldier will be gradually increased from the current 13,000 won to 15,000 won by 2025.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.