The Republic of Korea wants to incorporate unmanned combat systems into manned units starting by 2024.

Defence Ministry sources said the military studied the effects of forming units mixed with personnel and unmanned weapons earlier this year and as the population declines, building units with both troops and unmanned systems is now being considered as a must.

The study said unmanned reconnaissance vehicles could do the work of about 500 to 600 soldiers. It also said a fully automatic, unmanned turret system for K-9 self-propelled howitzers in the Army and the Marines could save the work of about 2,000 troops.