(NSI News Source Info) - November 27, 2010: South Korea's new defense minister has called for tougher action against North Korean attacks, local media reported, as tension mounted after an artillery exchange and with China and the United States getting drawn into the row.A Seoul newspaper also reported the government plans to sharply increase defense spending next year.
"We need to deal with North Korea's provocations strongly," Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin was quoted as telling presidential aides by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. "We need to hit back multiple times as hard."
The Korea Economic Daily said the government had proposed a 5.8 percent increase in the 2011 defense budget to about $27 billion to buy more self-propelled artillery and fighter-bombers, far more than the 3.6 percent rise this year.
It said parliament could approve an even higher amount, given this week's shelling by North Korean forces of a Southern island near the disputed maritime boundary.
Lawmakers have blasted President Lee Myung-bak's government for not responding strongly enough. At least four people were killed on the island of Yeonpyeong in the biggest bombardment since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. The defense minister resigned, taking responsibility, and Kim, a career soldier, was appointed in his place.
The Korea Economic Daily said the government had proposed a 5.8 percent increase in the 2011 defense budget to about $27 billion to buy more self-propelled artillery and fighter-bombers, far more than the 3.6 percent rise this year.
It said parliament could approve an even higher amount, given this week's shelling by North Korean forces of a Southern island near the disputed maritime boundary.
Lawmakers have blasted President Lee Myung-bak's government for not responding strongly enough. At least four people were killed on the island of Yeonpyeong in the biggest bombardment since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. The defense minister resigned, taking responsibility, and Kim, a career soldier, was appointed in his place.
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