South Korea Defence Minister Warns Of More Attacks By North Korea
Seoul, March 25 (Bernama) – South Korea’s Defence Minister Kim Kwan-jin said that North Korea could launch more military attacks against the South, ordering his troops to brace for another possible aggression from the communist regime, Yonhap news agency reported Friday.
The latest warning came a day before South Korea marks the first anniversary of the deadly sinking of the Cheonan warship blamed on North Korea.
“We must keep in mind that North Korea will provoke again, ” Kim said in his directive to the military.
“North Korea is plotting a second, third provocation beyond our imagination like the attack on the Cheonan.”
Therefore, Kim ordered his military to maintain combat preparedness against another possible provocation from the North, repeating a tougher response to any provocations.
“Throughout the Cheonan attack, we empirically experienced and epigram of ‘Freedom is not free. We must ensure our top-notch combat preparedness to strongly deal with the enemy with swift measures,”Kim said in the directive.
Forty-six South Korea sailors were killed in the March 26 sinking of the Cheonan. A team of multinational investigators concluded last May that a North Korean torpedo was responsible for the sinking. Pyongyang still denies involvement.
Tensions between the two Koreans rose further last November, when the North shelled the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong, killing two marines and two civilians.
Oganized by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, a memorial ceremony will be held on Saturday at the National Cemetery in Daejeon, south of Seoul, where the 46 sailors were laid to rest.
About 4,500 people, including government, military leaders, family members of the fallen sailors and citizens, are expected to attend the ceremony, the ministry said.
–BERNAMA
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