SEOUL. July 6: South Korea Has decided to reduce its army by 100.000 men by 1997, the National Assembly Defence Committee Chairman reported today, says AFP.

Shin Sang-Woo announced the cuts after holding a Joint ruling party and government meeting on national defence to adopt a revised military manpower structure plan.

He added that the plan calls for strengthening navy and air force with high technology weaponry to cope wtth modern wars, while the size of the army, which now stands at 540,000 men. will be trimmed.

According to a latest de fence ministry report. South Korea now has a total of 655.000 men under army.