By Chung Min-uck
Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said Tuesday that growing instability in North Korea following last week's execution of the once-powerful Jang Song-thaek, the uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, could push the communist country to act out and stage military provocations.
"There is a high probability of the North launching various kinds of provocations between late January and early March," ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok quoted him as saying during a video conference with military commanders. "We have to prepare for both provocations and an all-out battle to strike back against the commanding forces of the North."
The minister further stated that the "terror politics" of Jang's execution can only temporarily unite the internal forces in the North and that the instability to come could push military hardliners to seek outside provocations to maintain their power.
Jang's execution is viewed by observers here as a sign of the hard-line military faction seizing control in the North.
"Jang's execution could serve as a major turning point for North Korea, 68 years since the regime's establishment," Minister Kim said. "North Korea's reign of terror will not be able to last for long."
In the face of a mounting sense of crisis, bipartisan lawmakers also said North Korea is showing signs that it might soon conduct a fourth nuclear test.
"Signs indicate that North Korea is preparing to carry out a fourth test and another long-range rocket launch," said Rep. Cho Won-jin of the ruling Saenuri Party, who is also the chair of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, during a party meeting. "The nation is trying to divert domestic attention from Jang's execution to external issues."
Cho provided no further specifics.
Rep. Park Jie-won, a veteran lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) who previously visited the North as a delegation head, echoed Cho's view, saying that after the purge of Jang, military officials in the Stalinist regime have taken center stage and they might carry out military provocations against the South to show off their might to the people.
"Options surely include a fourth nuclear test, which is really worrisome," said Park.
Last month, Vice Defense Minister Baek Seung-joo told an Assembly meeting that North Korea was getting ready to conduct a test at its Punggye-ri site in the country's northeast, though there were no signs of an imminent one.
North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests so far, the first in 2006, the second in 2009 and the third in February this year under the Kim Jong-un regime. Pyongyang has also carried out a series of long-range rocket launches — the last being in December 2012.
Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin said Tuesday that growing instability in North Korea following last week's execution of the once-powerful Jang Song-thaek, the uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, could push the communist country to act out and stage military provocations.
"There is a high probability of the North launching various kinds of provocations between late January and early March," ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok quoted him as saying during a video conference with military commanders. "We have to prepare for both provocations and an all-out battle to strike back against the commanding forces of the North."
The minister further stated that the "terror politics" of Jang's execution can only temporarily unite the internal forces in the North and that the instability to come could push military hardliners to seek outside provocations to maintain their power.
Jang's execution is viewed by observers here as a sign of the hard-line military faction seizing control in the North.
"Jang's execution could serve as a major turning point for North Korea, 68 years since the regime's establishment," Minister Kim said. "North Korea's reign of terror will not be able to last for long."
In the face of a mounting sense of crisis, bipartisan lawmakers also said North Korea is showing signs that it might soon conduct a fourth nuclear test.
"Signs indicate that North Korea is preparing to carry out a fourth test and another long-range rocket launch," said Rep. Cho Won-jin of the ruling Saenuri Party, who is also the chair of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, during a party meeting. "The nation is trying to divert domestic attention from Jang's execution to external issues."
Cho provided no further specifics.
Rep. Park Jie-won, a veteran lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) who previously visited the North as a delegation head, echoed Cho's view, saying that after the purge of Jang, military officials in the Stalinist regime have taken center stage and they might carry out military provocations against the South to show off their might to the people.
"Options surely include a fourth nuclear test, which is really worrisome," said Park.
Last month, Vice Defense Minister Baek Seung-joo told an Assembly meeting that North Korea was getting ready to conduct a test at its Punggye-ri site in the country's northeast, though there were no signs of an imminent one.
North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests so far, the first in 2006, the second in 2009 and the third in February this year under the Kim Jong-un regime. Pyongyang has also carried out a series of long-range rocket launches — the last being in December 2012.
