Front-line barracks to be equipped with advanced night vision devices

Korean military will install domestically developed advanced night vision devices at front-line barracks next week to better monitor the North Korean military in light of some of its soldiers' defections across the land border, a state-funded defense agency said Thursday.

Samsung Thales Co., a defense firm affiliated with the Samsung Group, has released a longer range and higher definition thermal operational device (TOD) after two years of development that cost 3 billion won ($2.7 million), the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DATQ) said.

The next-generation TOD is equipped with an infrared camera, global positioning system and a remote controller to provide clearer night image than the present equipment, the agency said.

The military will first deploy 53 devices at front-line barracks next week and will phase in the system at major posts in the coming years, it said.

"The TOD will be deployed in major operational posts at barracks on the front, sea shores and river sides to monitor the enemy's infiltration routes," the DATQ said in a statement.

Last month, the defense ministry announced a plan to strengthen security in border areas by deploying more guards and installing advanced surveillance equipment and wire fences in light of a series of undetected defections by North Korean soldiers through the heavily fortified border. (Yonhap)