Marine Corps chief calls for tighter defense of capital area

The commanding officer of the Marine Corps inspected front-line troops on Monday and called for strengthening defense around the capital city amid a rise in inter-Korean tensions.

Earlier in the month, the North threatened to engulf Cheong Wa Dae -- South Korea's presidential office -- and other state organizations in "a sea of fire" as the country stepped up its saber-rattling campaign.

It has also carried out a military assault exercise against a replica of South Korea's capital of Seoul.

Such actions pushed President Park Geun-hye to put the police on high alert for possible terrorist attacks by the North.

"The Marine Corps should be keenly aware that it is in charge of defending the part of the 156-mile border in the Gimpo and Ganghwa to Baengnyeong Island regions," Lt. Gen. Lee Sang-hoon said during his visit to Marine Corps units in the western coastal area.

"The Northern Limit Line and the mouth of the Han River, west of the capital area, should be defended with watertight readiness," he noted.

"Our combat readiness and determination to hit back" could assuage the public's jitters about North Korea's recent threats, the general highlighted. (Yonhap)