At a joint news conference June 1, South Korean and U.S. defense officials announced an $11 billion, three-year plan to significantly enhance U.S. forces deployed on the peninsula. The plan, discussed by United States Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Leon J. LaPorte and South Korean Defense Minister Cho Young Kil, includes upgrading anti-missile systems, bombs and helicopters, deploying UAVs and new Stryker Brigade Combat Teams and prepositioning equipment for a heavy armored brigade on ships off the Korean coast. The timing of the announcement is intended to send signals not only to North Korea — which recently has renewed its claim of developing nuclear weapons — but to South Korea, which currently is engaged in negotiations over the future constitution and deployment of U.S. forces.