Asia-Pacific

Seoul report cites DPRK military build-up

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-12-30 13:22

SEOUL -?The Republic of Korea (ROK)?says in a major military review that rival the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has boosted its special forces and deployed huge artillery guns and a new kind of tank close to the heavily fortified border.

Related readings:  ROK calls for talks on the DPRK  DPRK says peace wish of all Koreans  DPRK: Peaceful use of nuclear power legitimate right  ROK leader says no fear of war with DPRK

The report, released by the Defense Ministry once every two years, also says the?DPRK intends to rely on its nuclear program as a counterweight to ROK's high-tech military.

The document says?the DPRK?has 200,000 special operations forces, an increase from 180,000 in its last previous assessment in 2008. It says those forces are aimed at infiltrating and disrupting sensitive facilities.

The update on DPRK's military came amid lingering tension following a?DPRK artillery attack that killed four people on a front-line island last month.