South Korea's defense chief ordered the military to tighten vigilance against a possible North Korean provocation after parliament voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye Friday, the ministry said.
Defense Minister Han Min-koo called a teleconference with the top military commanders following Park's meeting with Cabinet ministers that began at 5:00 p.m., according to a ministry official.
Immediately after the result of the vote was announced, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn called the minister and said, "The military should stay focused on countering any provocations by the North in times of political uncertainties," the official said.
The prime minister will act for the president who will be suspended pending a Constitutional Court review.
The South Korean and U.S. forces have mobilized more surveillance and unmanned reconnaissance planes and are ready to instantly respond if there are any signs of provocations by the North, he said.
"North Korea could raise military tension in an attempt to worsen the political crisis in the South, though there are no specific signs yet," another official said.
The ministry also said the plan to deploy a U.S. advanced missile defense system, known as THAAD, in the nation by 2017 will not be affected by the impeachment.
"All policy decisions have been made and only the process for execution remains for the deployment," the ministry said. Seoul and Washington agreed in July to install a THAAD battery here to defend against growing missile threats from the North.
On Friday afternoon, the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion by a vote of 234 to 56 over an influence-peddling scandal involving Park and her close confidante. (Yonhap)