S Korea approves 6.2% increase for defense in 2011

South Korea’s parliament approved plans to increase spending next year by 5.5 percent to 309.1 trillion won ($270 billion).
Lawmakers from the ruling Grand National Party approved the budget in a televised session of the National Assembly today, allocating 500 billion won less than a September proposal by the government.
Members of the opposition parties including the Democratic Party tried to block passage after the GNP earlier today approved the bill at a subcommittee without their participation.
South Korea plans to increase spending on defense by 6.2 percent to 31.4 trillion won next year to bolster military readiness to respond to any provocation by North Korea. The increase is higher than the 5.8 percent initially planned by the government.