Two countries "on the edge"; 500.000 soldiers to be trained

The expansion also includes training 500,000 "drone warriors" and deploying tens of thousands of unmanned systems to frontline units, the country's Ministry of Defense announced today.

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-Bak said the military plans to produce 110,000 drones by 2029 for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, Reuters reported.

However, the ministry later revised the plan, announcing that approximately 60,000 drones will be produced, with about 11,000 expected to enter service as early as 2026.

"Drones should no longer be equipment used by a limited number of units, but a universal combat tool," Ahn said at a news conference, adding that soldiers should use them as "another personal weapon."

Ahn also said that only domestically produced components will be used in the drone systems, excluding Chinese-made parts for security reasons.

"Cheap drones used in large numbers are fundamentally changing the nature of warfare," Ahn said, warning that North Korea is also advancing its unmanned capabilities, increasing the threat to both military and civilian facilities in the South.

South Korea's plan also includes expanding its anti-drone capabilities by deploying laser weapons and high-powered microwave systems. In addition, the military will reorganize its operations so that each service branch can independently conduct reconnaissance and strike missions using drones, rather than relying on centralized command, the ministry said.

A senior Defense Ministry official said the military will rapidly acquire more than 20,000 low-cost expendable drones and introduce artificial intelligence-based drone swarm systems and loitering munitions.