Miitary/  Developing countermeasures

South Korea plans to modernize its armed forces and to develop new arms in response to the growing nuclear potential of North Korea, Yonhap news agency reported Monday.

Defense minister Han Min-koo presented the plan on the armed forces' modernization to President Park Geun-hye on Monday.

According to the plan, by 2020s, South Korea will develop a laser weapons system, high-power microwave (HPM) bombs and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) warheads, which will cost $28 million.

After 2020, the laser weapons system will be put into service on South Korean warships.

South Korea will spend almost $19 million to develop drone watercraft able to undertake military operations in the Yellow Sea.

South Korea plans modernization of its armed forces in response to the growing nuclear potential of its northern neigbour