North Korea Drones 2017: South Korea To Develop Laser Weapon System To Shoot Down UAVs Sent By Pyongyang

South Korea will develop a laser weapon system to shoot down drones sent by North Korea, the country's defense ministry said Friday. This comes as Seoul has repeatedly alleged Pyongyang of building large drones that have greater range capability to be flown remotely using flight controllers. The development of the laser weapon system is expected to begin by 2018 and it is expected to be ready by 2020, the defense ministry said, according to Yonhap News Agency. The technology will be part of its broader laser weapon system, the report added. The North operates about 300 observation drones and around 10 machines capable of conducting attacks with weapons as per South Korea's estimates, military officials told Yonhap.