The United States will deploy new "Patriot" air defense missiles in South Korea within the year to reinforce America's military capabilities on the peninsula.

Officials at the U.S.-South Korea combined forces command said a new U.S. air defense brigade would arrive this year with two anti-missile batteries and 500 soldiers.

The command said the upgraded Patriot missile systems are part of the U.S. military's 11-billion-dollar build-up plans to strengthen its air defenses in Korea.

The Patriot missile system is designed to shoot-down incoming ballistic, cruise missiles and aircraft.

North Korea has already developed and deployed its short-range Rodong missiles, based on Russia's Scud missiles while actively developing longer-range Taepodong missiles.