Military to issue blueprint for reform

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday that it would issue a blueprint for military reform toward the end of this year as part of preparations for new circumstances in the 21st century.

The blueprint will feature 10 policy goals based on research by professional agencies. They include bringing troops into the information and technology age, developing an operational concept for a "unified digital battlefield" and fostering elite manpower with cutting edge technological skills.

The ministry also plans to build an integrated information system for the Ulchi Focus Lens exercise and improve the drill by correcting problems fostering the development of further war game models, a spokesman said.

The ministry will build a comprehensive information system for personnel management by integrating data that is currently scattered among the ministry, Joint Chiefs of Staff, army, navy and air force.

The projected system will be used in the areas of allowances, budgets and personnel management, the spokesman added.

The ministry will form a consulting team made up of experts from related fields and assign it the task of "informationizing" personnel management as the first priority and then doing the same in the fields of military supply and mobilization.