Korea Overseas Information Service, Defense spending is expected to rise by 9.8 percent, or 2.1 trillion won, to 22.9 trillion won next year from this year, with the spending aimed at improving the naton's self-defense capabilities, the Defense Ministry said.
The increase will be equivalent to 10.3 percent of the 221.4 trillion won budget for fiscal 2006.
Defense expenditures will further rise to 26.4 trillion won in 2008 from 20.8 trillion won this year.
The 2006 spending plan will allocate 7.9 trillion won for a set of arms build-up projects, up 12.8 percent from this year, the ministry added.
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