New DAPA chief vows to speed up weapons procurement process

▲ Seok Jong-gun, the new chief of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), speaks during an inauguration ceremony held at DAPA's branch in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, on Feb. 19, 2024, in this photo provided by the state procurement agency. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

DAPA-new chief

New DAPA chief vows to speed up weapons procurement process

By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- The new head of South Korea's state procurement agency vowed Monday to speed up the weapons acquisition process to bolster the military's capabilities against North Korea's threats in a timely and efficient manner.

Seok Jong-gun, commissioner of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), outlined a comprehensive strategy to bolster the "three-axis" deterrence system designed to track, detect and strike North Korea's missiles and prepare for future warfare by using emerging technologies.

"It is important to swiftly and efficiently acquire weapons to support the overwhelming augmentation of military capabilities," Seok said during an inauguration ceremony held at DAPA's branch in Gwacheon, south of Seoul.

Seok, a retired Army major general with expertise in military strategy and planning, said DAPA will overhaul the acquisition system to enable "swift and flexible" acquisition of the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence, networks, drones, space and cyber.

He also pledged active support for defense companies' efforts to export weapons systems to help the nation achieve the goal of becoming the world's fourth-largest defense exporter by 2027.

"We will diversify financial support measures for arms exports and deepen international cooperation in major markets to provide a wide range of policy support measures," he said.

South Korea aims to carve out a 5 percent share of the global arms export market by 2027 to become the world's fourth-largest defense exporter.

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