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South Korea plans to build a non-lethal 'blackout bomb' that will wipe out North Korea 's electricity grid if war breaks out between the two countries.

If successful, the 'soft bomb' will paralyse North Korea's infrastructure.

Development of the bomb is part of a newly announced £140 billion five-year defence budget that will be used to neutralise the increasing threat from the north, the Times reports.

South Korea also intends to introduce a new GPS system that will take out rockets aimed at Seoul.

They will also upgrade their radar used to detect attacks by missle-launching submarines which Kim Jong Un's navy is developing.

(Image: Getty)

In time South Korea will take over 'operational command' - at the moment if war broke out with North Korea they would be led by a US general.

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But the new weaponry is preparing South Korea to lead itself when the times comes.

A spokesman for South Korea's defence Ministry told the newspaper: "Our assessment for the period shows that there will be a need to enhance our capacity in light of constant threats by North Korea, ongoing military reform and preparation for Seoul’s takeover of wartime operational control from the US."

(Image: REUTERS/KCNA)

The graphite bomb South Korea desires uses a secret technology which was used in the first Gulf War and in the Nato bombing of Serbia in 1999.

Carried by cruise missiles, the bomb explodes above its target, releasing fine carbon filaments which float down in a cloud.

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When they come into contact with electrical transformers they can melt electrical equipment and cause fires and explosions.

The move to take the lead from the US if war ever broke out could take up to a decade.