SEOUL, June 28 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Defense Ministry said Wednesday that it has requested a 9.9 percent rise in the defense budget for 2007.

    "The increase is necessary for a successful push to carry out planned military projects in pursuit of military reform," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

    In the budget draft submitted to the Ministry of Planning and Budget, the military seeks to secure 24.75 trillion won (25 billion U.S. dollars) for next year, 9.9 percent up from a revised 22.5 trillion won (23.5 billion U.S. dollars) this year.

    According to the statement, the ministry will build an air base headquarters in Osan south of Seoul by 2010, bringing the total number of air base headquarters to six across the country.

    The ministry also plans to spend a total of 3.05 trillion won (3.18 billion U.S. dollars) next year to improve soldiers' welfare, including expenses for increasing the wages of conscripts from current 65,000 won (about 68 U.S. dollars) to 80,000 won (83.5 U.S. dollars) monthly and renovating barracks.

    The defense ministry set up a 2006-2010 defense strategy earlier to boost its independent defense capacity and prepare for taking back war time control over the South Korea troops from the United States in future. Enditem