SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s defense chief said Sunday the military will upgrade its Patriot missile system to help defend Seoul and nearby areas from North Korea’s growing threats.

Defense Minister Song Young-moo also reaffirmed a plan to establish the country’s own missile defense networks, called the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD), at an early date.

“North Korea’s firing of an ICBM-class ballistic missile two days ago is a reckless provocation threatening the Korean Peninsula and the international community,” he said, inspecting a local Patriot battery, according to his ministry.

Source: S. Korea to upgrade Patriot missiles against N. Korea’s threats: minister