The south Korean military on Aug. 14 made public "2020-2024 mid-term defence plan," the keynote of which is to "cope with the north's threat" and to "build up strategic deterrent," and announced that it would increase next year's defense budget 8.5 percent more than this year's.

Efforts will be reportedly concentrated on developing an integrated fire warship, precision guided munitions, etc. and improving their capabilities according to the plan that set it as the primary task for the strengthening of combat power to "bolster up the strategic deterrent for coping with threats of the north's nukes and WMDs".

Amid the deployment of F-35As for action this year, the south Korean military made it as a fait accompli to build a multipurpose light carrier-class transport ship that can serve as a base for F-35Bs, which shows it gets more undisguised in its attempt to mount a preemptive strike on the north.

Under such plan, joint military exercise and other war moves targeting the DPRK are persistently being staged in south Korea.