The Norwegian Defence will set up a new quick response force with professional soldiers. This unit comes in addition to the already existing Telemark Batallion, The Norway Post reported Tuesday. The new special force, named HRS North, will become the Norwegian Army's second fully professional force, outside the special units. HRS North is according to Defense Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide, a response to the need for an increased professionalizing of the Defense. The new professional force will consist of around 700 soldiers, and will be based at Setermoen in the county of Troms in Northern Norway. It will be operative in 2017.