South Korea plans to train all of its nearly 500,000 military personnel to operate drones as easily as they handle personal firearms, calling it a move to maintain a technological edge against North Korea. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated the goal is to make drones a “universal combat tool” and a “second personal weapon” for every troop, announced during a June 26 briefing.
The initiative includes equipping units with cheap, expendable drones for surveillance and strikes, as well as deploying counter-drone lasers and microwave weapons, while reorganizing the former drone operations command to collaborate with industry on commercial technology. The minister cited the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East as key inspirations for these military reforms.
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