And this afternoon, South Korea's defense ministry has finally announced its long-awaited plan for military reform.
It aims to use technology to build a more versatile, efficient and effective fighting force.
It's a comprehensive plan called "Defense Reform 2.0" that'll cost around 240 billion dollars over the next five years.
Mandatory service will be shortened for all branches of the military by two or three months -- for example, in the Army and Marines from 21 months down to 18.
By 2022, the number of troops will be reduced from the current 620-thousand service men and women to half a million.
It will also increase the number of women in the ranks and reduce the number of generals.
And South Korea will continue to pursue its three-axis defense -- that is, the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense or KAMD, and Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation system.
02:49
05:10
05:10
02:18
02:00
