The defense ministry said Thursday it will require surveillance cameras to be installed in all female barracks for better monitoring and enforcing stronger punishment of soldiers who commit sex crimes.

The ministry reviewed the discipline and security of military troops in a meeting with senior officers and came up with a string of measures aimed at curbing sex crimes and suicides in barracks.

"The ministry will appoint a sexual harassment counselor for each unit and require the establishment of CCTVs at female-only barracks," a ministry official said.

The latest move is part of the military's efforts to more strongly deter sexual violence after a female cadet of the nation's elite Army academy was assaulted by her senior during a campus festival in May.

 There are currently no definite statistics on the number of female soldiers who have been the victims of sex crimes. Victims of sexual assault and harassment in barracks have faced difficulties in reporting the cases involving fellow members and senior officers over fear that it could ruin their military career, while some have reportedly come under pressure not to go public with the information.

The military plans to make the annual sex crime prevention program mandatory for all soldiers and officers, and their attendance will be reflected in their performance rating, the ministry said.

Troops will be required to conduct regular inspections of barracks and toughen punishment on those who sexually harass their subordinates and colleagues in barracks, officials said.

In addition, the ministry pledged to strengthen its suicide prevention program and appoint special counselors to help soldiers.

The government and the military have introduced various measures in recent years to prevent young soldiers from killing themselves by expanding counseling services and enforcing harsher punishment on those who physically abuse their subordinates.

The measures are aimed at dealing with a growing number of soldier suicides in recent years. In 2011, 97 soldiers took their own lives, which was up from 82 in 2010, 75 in 2008 and 77 in 2006.

All able-bodied men in South Korea are required to serve roughly two years in the military, which forces them to suspend their studies and careers for the compulsory service that grants them limited freedoms. (Yonhap News)