South Korea Prepares for Potential North Korean Provocations

Amid Kim Jong Un, the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, repeatedly suggesting the possibility of a nuclear attack by setting a counter-fire against the US-Korea Freedom Shield (FS) joint exercise, the military authorities have reaffirmed the principle of absolute punishment in case of provocation.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, on the 7th, Defense Minister Shin Won Sik visited the B-1 document storage of the Capital Defense Command in the morning to check the joint exercise site and the command’s readiness.

Shin said, “Yesterday, Kim Jong Un distorted our defensive exercise as a war provocation and ordered to suppress it thoroughly,” and said, “This is nothing but a trick to strengthen the cohesion of the unstable internal system and provoke conflict between the South and the North.”

The North Korean state-run media, the North Korean Central News Agency, reported on the 7th that Kim Jong Un visited an important operational training base in the western district the day before, looked around the training facilities, and directed practical training. ⓒKorean Central News Agency

According to a North Korean state-run media report, the North Korean Central News Agency, Kim visited an important operational training base in the western district the day before, toured the facilities, and directed practical training.

Kim said, “For our army to deter the constant threats of the enemy with overwhelming power, thoroughly suppress even a small war provocation, and precisely perform the important tasks in case of emergency, we must always raise higher requirements in the completion of war preparations in light of the changing and developing aspects of modern warfare and constantly strengthen practical training to improve combat capabilities dramatically.”

This is interpreted as reconfirming the will to use nuclear weapons by emphasizing the precise performance of essential tasks imposed in case of emergency.

Aware of this, Shin reemphasized the deterrent to North Korea by reaffirming the position that Kim Jong Un’s regime will end in case of North Korea’s usage of nuclear.

Shin said, “Be prudent in practical exercises and training so that if the enemy (North Korea) invades the Republic of Korea, we should be able to announce the end of Kim Jong Un’s regime as immediately as possible,” and emphasized, “Through this exercise, we need to strengthen further the operational capabilities in all areas such as land, sea, air, cyber, and space against changed security threats such as gray zone provocations with unclear subjects, fake news, etc.”

In particular, he instructed, “There is a possibility that North Korea may attempt various provocations such as artillery fire in the border area, drone infiltration, cyber attacks, etc. during the exercise period,” and “If North Korea provokes under the pretext of our defensive exercise, do pre-punish and post-report in the principle of immediate, strong, and until the end, beyond action first and report later.”

Shin also checked the readiness of the Capital Defense Command on the day. He said, “I hope you maintain a solid readiness with the pride of being the elite unit protecting the heart of the Republic of Korea,” and said, “In case of North Korea’s provocations such as terror and drone infiltration against Seoul, the capital, you should end that operation on the spot with resolute maneuvers that won’t give a second chance of provocation and protect the lives and safety of the people.”