Park calls for military readiness, deterrence against N. Korea

President Park Geun-hye on Monday called for military readiness and overwhelming deterrence against North Korea amid heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea has issued a series of harsh rhetoric against South Korea in recent weeks in protest of Seoul's ongoing military drills with Washington.

"Now, we should put an end to North Korea's reckless provocations and the threats of a war and move forward to open the era of unification on the Korean Peninsula," Park said in a rare message to South Korea's military. "To accomplish the historic task, we need a strong military that keeps military readiness and have overwhelming deterrence."

The message came two days after North Korea threatened to take "merciless" military action against South Korea unless Seoul offers an apology for its alleged move to hurt the dignity of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Pyongyang has accused South Korea of staging a drill of what it claims was a plan to destroy Kim's office with 16 fighter bombers carrying guided air-to-surface missiles.

South Korea has confirmed its Air Force conducted a large-scale air raid drill against a simulated key North Korean facility, though it did not give details.

The North also claims the annual military drills are a rehearsal for a nuclear war against it, a charge denied by Seoul and Washington.

South Korea has repeatedly warned North Korea against provocations, noting any action would eventually lead to the North's self-destruction.

Pyongyang is under tougher U.N. sanctions for carrying out its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and a long-range rocket launch on Feb. 7.

Park is expected to call for international efforts towards North Korea's denuclearization on the eve of this week's Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, said Kim Kyou-hyun, senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs.

Park will also raise the topic of the danger of North Korea's development of its nuclear weapons program at a working dinner scheduled Thursday, a day ahead of the summit.

The biennial summit is meant to exchange opinions on the threats of nuclear terrorism and discuss ways to strengthen an international regime for nuclear safety.

The two-day gathering will be the final session of the summit, which has been held every two years since U.S. President Barack Obama hosted the inaugural summit in 2010. (Yonhap)