Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said his ministry has made efforts to adopt high-altitude Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles from the United States, adding that its efforts will soon bear fruit.

During a parliamentary inspection meeting on Friday, Kim noted that sales of the Global Hawk has yet to be approved by the U.S. Congress, adding that the ministry is engaged in talks with working-level officials and will negotiate to lower the high prices.

The Global Hawk is estimated to cost around 400-billion won per unit, but prices have surged to 940 billion won recently.

The Global Hawk is a strategic weapon that can distinguish items as small as zero-point-three meters long from 20 kilometers above the ground.