Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said Wednesday South Korea is fully prepared to cope with any "further provocation" from North Korea amid concerns the communist regime may soon conduct a new nuclear test.
The security situation on the Korean Peninsula has grown increasingly tense after North Korea's unsuccessful launch of a long-range rocket last month, drawing new sanctions from the U.N. Security Council. There is growing concern that the North could soon engage in new provocative acts, including a nuclear test or border violence.
"Our government is getting everything in a state of readiness to cope with any further provocation from North Korea," Kim told a breakfast meeting hosted by the Korea Institute for Maritime Security, a private think tank, without hinting at any specific actions being planned by the North.
In recent weeks, North Korea's verbal threats against South Korea have become more specific and bellicose, warning that its military will turn the South Korean government and other targets into "ashes in three or four minutes."
Although the North's threats are not uncommon, such harsher remarks prompted some analysts to speculate that the North's new leader Kim Jong-un might launch another military attack against the South to establish more authority for his regime at home following the failed rocket launch.
"Compared with the past, the level of North Korea's verbal threats is very high and our government is becoming increasingly nervous," Kim said.
Inter-Korean tensions remain high after 50 South Korean troops and civilians were killed in two military attacks by North Korea in 2010. Seoul's military has vowed a tougher response if Pyongyang attacks again.
Despite a continuing cycle of provocations by North Korea, Kim said his government is working closely with the U.S., China, Japan and Russia to persuade the North to change its ways.
"We are intensifying strategic cooperation with the U.S., China, Japan and Russia to let North Korea change its attitude," the minister said.
North Korea has proven its ability to make fissile bombs by carrying out two nuclear tests, both based on plutonium, in 2006 and 2009. (Yonhap)
