South Korea to spend $440 million until 2027 to counter North Korea drones

FILE PHOTO: A South Korean Navy Lynx helicopter fires flares during a commemoration ceremony marking South Korea's Armed Forces Day, which will fall on October 1, at the Second Fleet Command of Navy in Pyeongtaek on September 28, 2017. REUTERS/Jung Yeon-Je/Pool

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea plans to spend 560 billion won ($441.26 million) over the next five years to beef up its ability to fend off North Korean drones, Seoul's defence ministry said on Wednesday.

The plan was included in South Korea's midterm defence blueprint for 2023-27 after North Korean drones crossed into the South in the first such intrusion since 2017.