Korea's top military general on Monday urged the Navy to counter North Korean provocations with prompt and stern responses.

Army Gen. Jung Seung-jo, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), inspected the Navy's 2nd Fleet Command here in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul. Jung checked up on the unit's naval readiness posture and its preparations to ensure South Korea's safe hosting of the Nuclear Security Summit later this month.

During his visit, Jung boarded a 3,200-ton destroyer named the Yang Man Chun and was briefed on the status of the North Korean military and the command's preparations for naval security during the Nuclear Security Summit.

The destroyer simulated attacks by North Korea's ground-to-ship guided missiles and demonstrated its response procedures.

Jung later boarded the fast-attack craft Chamsuri 322 and a patrol killer, guided-missile (PKG) class high-speed vessel to watch the naval troops in training.

The chairman called on the command to stay on guard at all times.

"North Korea can provoke us at any moment, and you should take that as an opportunity to strike back promptly and powerfully with all assets available," Jung said. "As the weather gets warmer, we expect the North to grow more active in waters, and we have to remain active in our monitoring and surveillance. We have to make the enemy bitterly regret any provocation they make."

Jung also met with three surviving soldiers from the sinking of the warship Cheonan in March 2010. The North torpedoed the vessel in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 men aboard. Kim Hyo-hyung, a petty officer second class and one of the survivors, said he hasn't forgotten about his fallen comrades, and the next North Korean naval provocation will be his chance for revenge.

Jung also paid a visit to U.S. Navy soldiers on the USS Chaffe, a 9,200-ton aegis destroyer, currently in South Korea for a joint Foal Eagle exercise that started on March 1.(Yonhap)