Military authorities plan to develop and soon deploy more powerful and precise ballistic missiles to respond to North Korea’s nuclear arms and weapons of mass destruction. 

The Defense Ministry on Thursday unveiled a five-year blueprint to strengthen the military’s might, starting next year. The government plans to spend some 315 trillion won in the effort. 

The ministry said during the five-year period, it will aim to continuously weaponize a wide range of missiles, including more destructive surface-to-surface and ship-to-surface missiles. 

By developing missiles that are stronger, more precise and travel farther, the military will aim to exercise strong deterrence and secure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. 

The latest mid-term defense plan is the last of its kind to be drafted in the Moon Jae-in administration. It had no mention of the planned transfer of wartime operational control and placed focus on boosting the military’s strength to complete the incumbent government’s “Defense Reform Two-point-O” initiative.