Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian ... Read more

South Korea's military has shrunk to about 450,000 people - a decline of 20% over the last six years, according to a defence ministry report released by a ruling party lawmaker on Sunday. Authorities say the main reason behind the decline is the country's dismal birth rate, which at 0.75 babies per woman is the world's lowest.

South Korea’s military faces a sharp decline in soldiers due to the world’s lowest birth rate, a new report by the country’s defence ministry has highlighted. The size of the army has fallen by 20 per cent in just six years,

The shortfall, driven by the Asian country’s record-low birthrate of 0.75, left the military 50,000 soldiers under the level deemed necessary for defence readiness in 2025, the defence ministry said in a report on Sunday. More worryingly, it noted, there was a shortage of 21,000 non-commissioned officers.

North Korea will react with “resolute counteraction” in the event of provocations from upcoming joint military drills between South Korea and the US, its defence chief said.

South Korea's military shrank by 20% in the past six years to 450,000 troops, largely due to a sharp drop in the population of males of enlistment age for mandatory service in the country with the world's lowest birthrate,

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s military said Saturday it detected North Korea removing some of its loudspeakers from the inter-Korean border, days after the South dismantled its own front-line speakers used for anti-North Korean propaganda broadcasts, in a bid to ease tensions.

South Korea's military has shrunk to about 450,000 people - a decline of 20% over the last six years, according to a defense ministry report released on Sunday. Authorities say the main reason behind the decline is the country's dismal birth rate, which at 0.75 babies per woman is the world's lowest.

South Korea is grappling with a military personnel shortage as Kim Jong Un escalates North Korean military preparations, with not enough young men available for recruitment in the country. A recent report has estimated that the South's military has shrunk by 20 per cent over the past six years,

South Korea is grappling with a military personnel shortage as not enough young men are available for recruitment, while Kim Jong-un escalates North Korean military preparations. A recent report suggests that the South's military has shrunk by 20 per cent in the past six years,

South Korea faces a military personnel shortage with not enough young men to recruit in the country as Kim Jong-un ramps up North Korean military preparations. A recent report estimated that the South's military has decreased by 20 per cent in the past six years,