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| South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Lee Sun-jin, center, advises at a frontline post in mid-to-eastern regions to take heed of North Korea's military provocations as the South's Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn began his term as an acting-president on Friday after the National Assembly passed a motion to impeach President Park Geun-hye. / Yonhap |
By Ko Dong-hwan
South Korea's military chief on Dec. 10 called for vigilance against North Korea's possible provocations after the National Assembly voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye a day earlier.
The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Lee Sun-jin issued the mandate when he visited a general post in the front-line facing North Korea. Lee mentioned there is "a high possibility that North Korea's military could make provocative acts in a surprise manner on the occasion of the South Korean political situation in a bid to drive a wedge among South Koreans."
Lee ordered to raise the military's alert level and focus on defending the nation.
Lee's firm grip on the South Korean military came after the National Assembly passed a motion on Dec. 9 to impeach the President over a corruption scandal that rocked the country for weeks. The breakthrough suspended all authority held by the President as the head of state.
Lee led an emergency meeting of military commanders not long after the passage of the motion, calling for complete readiness against North Korea's possible provocations.
The following day, South Korea's foreign and unification ministries also had meetings to follow up on the impeachment.
Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se raised a need to inform other nations that South Korea is in a stable condition despite the impeachment. He also mentioned that Seoul will coordinate with its allies as well as neighboring countries over major diplomatic issues, including the nuclear-armed North.
Yun sent on Friday a telegram to South Korean embassies and consulates across the world, ordering diplomats to "stay focused on their duties," according to Yonhap news agency.
Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo also had a meeting, much in worries of the Northern neighbor. The ministry issued a statement on Friday, saying the South Korean government "will continue to keep its North Korean policy stance including a push for working toward a peaceful unification."
