Dhaka, 11 Dec, Abnews: South Korea plans to create a combat unit of weaponised drones next year that would be capable of swarming the nuclear-armed North in the event of a conflict.
Army officials said the drones would primarily focus on reconnaissance operations against strategic North Korean military sites, amid growing tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programme.
But the unit could be mobilised to launch swarm attacks if necessary, with an army official claiming drone combat would be a "game-changer in warfare" on the Korean peninsula.
"The army plans to set up a special organisation to lead the development of dronebots, establish a standard platform and expand the dronebot programme," the unnamed official said.
The move to develop weaponised drones indicates the government is heeding calls from Western allies to improve its advanced surveillance systems.
The new combat unit will reportedly be modelled on Israeli technology, but several governments, including the US, Russia and China are developing "drone swarm" capabilities as a formidable new battlefield tactic.
Seoul said on Wednesday that it would increase its annual military budget by seven per cent next year, in the biggest jump since 2009, reflecting the increasingly precarious security position on the peninsula.
Meanwhile, American bombers and fighter jets took part in a large-scale US-South Korean military exercise yesterday, alarming China.
The drills came after North Korea said last week that it had tested its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the US, sparking fresh fears of a nuclear conflict in the region.
Chinese media published a page of "common sense" tips on how people can protect themselves from a nuclear weapons attack or explosion.
The advice came from the Jilin Daily newspaper, which is published close to the border with North Korea.
The report did not mention the threat of attack from North Korea or any other country, but explained how people should react to protect themselves from a nuclear incident.
Advice included lying in a ditch or jumping in the water if caught outside during an attack. - The Telegraph
ABN/Adrian/Jasim/AD