The South Korean Ministry of National Defense has announced the latest measures to combat future North Korean belligerence.
An official from the Ministry explained that it is preparing additional military and non-military measures contingent upon the North Korean reaction to existing measures.
Ryu Jeh Seung, a Ministry policymaker, said today in a conference on the Cheonan incident, “Following the resumption of psychological warfare operations against North Korea and the closure of sea lanes in South Korean territorial waters to their ships, the Ministry is preparing or carrying out other related military measures, including US-ROK combined anti-submarine training and training to block the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”
Ryu pointed out, therefore, that “North Korea may pursue further military or non-military provocations.” He listed predictable, possible provocations; by North Korean commercial shipping, for example, or attacks on psychological warfare facilities or personnel attempting to erect them.
He also explained that the Watch Condition was increased from the 3rd level to the 2nd level on the 26th. Additionally, the Ministry has been strengthening surveillance activities against any signs of North Korean provocation via ROK-US Combined Forces.
He emphasized, “The Ministry will put pressure on North Korea so that it acknowledges, apologizes for and punishes those persons responsible and promises to prevent any recurrence of similar incidents.”
The military authorities have also stated that they will fire back at North Korea’s guard posts, general outposts and the vicinity thereof in cases of North Korea firing at South Korean loudspeakers.
Additionally, should North Korea fire its coastal batteries in the vicinity of the Northern Limit Line, the South will react in one of two ways: in cases where the firing does not damage the South Korean navy, the South will fire warning shots; in cases where the South incurs damage, it will attack the artillery responsible with the full military power of the navy and air force, the Ministry stated.
