Aegis destroyers to be introduced next year

Korea will introduce 7,000-ton class "dream destroyers," or Aegis Destroyers (KDX-111) from 2001, and the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and air refueling aircraft in 2002 and 2005, respectively, in order to build a ultra-modern technological air force.

The National Defense Ministry announced Monday the contents of the defense budget, set at 15,375.4 billion won for next year, including the outlays for this program, and mid-term and long-term defense plan from 2001 to 2005, stressing that the emphasis in military buildup will be placed on counter-measures against uncertain future threats surrounding the Korean peninsula.

Lee Won-Hyung, weapons acquisition policy director of the Defense Ministry, said that the outlays for the investment in defense buildup was decreased to 5,213.7 billion won, down 2.5 percent from the current year, but the budget was compiled in a manner to implement the core projects already set in line with the policy to build an updated information-scientific force. The budget for future military buildup projects was increased by 9.4 percent from the current budget and the research-development budget also raised by 0.3 percent.

According the budget plan, out of 5,213.7 billion won for military buildup program, 335.0 billion won (6.4 percent of the total) was earmarked for 20 new projects, including the introduction of Aegis destroyers and AWACS, and 4,878.7 billion won (93.6 percent) for the 4,000-ton class next generation destroyers (KDX 11) and Baekdu and Geumgang projects.

Ordinary operational expenditures were set at 10,161.7 billion won, up 11.7 percent from this year. The total budget for various projects was scaled at 3,679.5 billion won, including 6,482.2 billion won in personnel outlays such as the improvement of the treatment of men and officers and 66.9 billion won to boost information technology and science for national defense and relocate inhabitants near the Maehyang-ri U. S. military drill range.

Hwang Yoo-Seong yshwang@donga.com