Korea: September 23, 2003

Archives

Faced with increasing hostility from the north, South Korea is increasing next year's defense budget 2.1 percent (to $102 billion). North Korea spends only a few billion dollars a year, but maintains about a million troops on active duty. The ancient weapons these troops are armed with are still dangerous if the soldiers obey orders to march south. There is increasing doubt about whether the North Korean army would, or could, march south. Declining morale and readiness indicate rapid decline in combat capability.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close