South Korea's defence ministry said Friday it has asked for a larger budget for next year to improve troops' readiness for combat and fortify frontline islands against North Korea.

The ministry said in a statement it is seeking a budget of 33.5 trillion won ($29.1 billion) for 2012, a 6.6 percent increase from this year.

"Our request was focused largely on building a military that is ready for battle and can win immediately," it said.

"We will also try to improve the welfare of our troops and boost their morale, and to keep pushing for defence reform."

Out of the total, 4.3 trillion won has been allocated to bolster defences on islands near the disputed Yellow Sea border after two deadly incidents last year that were blamed on the North.

The South accused the North of torpedoing a warship in March 2010 and killing 46 sailors. It denied the charge but went on to shell a border island last November, killing four South Koreans including two civilians.

Some 3.5 trillion won has been allocated to improve the welfare of the largely conscript military and will be used partly for better medical treatment and improvements to barracks.

The ministry set aside 1.9 trillion won to prepare for 2015, when South Korea takes over wartime control of its own troops from the United States.

The funds will be used to strengthen the command and control structure and help construct a war games centre.

The US, which stations 28,500 troops in the country, has exercised wartime command over South Korean forces since the 1950-53 conflict. The South regained peacetime control over its own military in 1994.

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