The Republic of Korea will focus its attention on defence research and development projects. According to the country’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) statement on 6 January, the work on more than 170 projects led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration's (DAPA's) Agency for Defense Development (ADD) will be put on the fast track. The projects include missile defence systems, stealth technologies, “laser weapons” to intercept small unmanned systems, advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and communication technologies. The ministry also considers establishment of a ‘Defence Industry Innovation Fund’ to support private-sector investment in military development programmes.