South Korea to Train All 500,000 Troops to Operate Drones as a 'Second Personal Weapon'

South Korea plans to train every member of its nearly half-million-strong military to operate drones as easily as they handle personal firearms, aiming to make drones a universal combat tool. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced the initiative on June 26, citing lessons from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The military will also reorganize its drone command to focus on procuring commercial drone technology and equip units with more cheap, expendable drones for surveillance and strike missions, along with counter-drone lasers and microwave weapons.