December9, 2006: Despite the continuing tensions with North Korea, South Korea is reducing the size of its armed forces. Between now and 2020, total military manpower will shrink 26 percent (from 680,000 to 500,000.) A falling birth rate is producing fewer young men to conscript, but the booming economy is producing more money, and technology, for more effective weapons and equipment. Moreover, it's pretty obvious that, despite increased bellicosity from North Korea, economic decline up there has reduced the combat capability of the North Korean armed forces. So the South Koreans are following the example of the U.S., and replacing a lot of troops with technology.