Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

S.Korean military on alert after Pyongyang's warning

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-18 19:14

SEOUL -- The South Korean military has increased military readiness for possible conflicts with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) following Pyongyang's latest warning, South Korean officials said Sunday.

South Korean tourists walk by display of North Korea's Scud-B missile model, center, and other South Korean missiles at the Korea War Memorial Museum in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009. [Agencies]

According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean military has been put on increased alert after the DPRK army spokesman released a statement through DPRK's television networks nationside on Saturday about the "all-out confrontational posture. "

South Korean officials told local media they are taking the DPRK's threat seriously and are preparing for "all possibilities."

According to Yonhap, the South Korean military is deploying an "overwhelming" number of troops near potential flash points, including the disputed maritime territory with DPRK on the Yellow Sea, and is keeping a "close watch" on DPRK's move.

However, the South Korean government said they will "take a low- key approach" to the situation and have decided not to issue an official response to the warning to avoid to further provoke the DPRK.

The inter-Korean ties have witnessed serious setbacks since South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who adopts hardline policy towards Pyongyang, took office early last year.

Following DPRK's warning, the main opposition Democratic Party expressed regret to DPRK's move while urging the government to change its policy towards Pyongyang and act to improve inter- Korean ties.