The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) is planning to introduce a weather observation airplane in a move to improve the accuracy of its weather forecasts.

The KMA said that it is planning to spend 19-point-two billion won to introduce a 20-seat weather observation airplane by 2015. It will sign a contract next year and complete all preparations for the weather observation plane operation by 2015.

The plane will go into service in 2016 and will be tasked with predicting typhoons, torrential rains and yellow dust storms around the Korean Peninsula. It will also be used to make artificial snow for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games.