South Korea Vows To Reply If North Korea Provokes

The archive - The photo, broadcast by the North Korean news agency KNA on March 25, 2022, shows the test launch of North Korea's Hwasongpho-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). (ANTARA/Korean Central News Agency

JAKARTA - The South Korean military said it was ready to retaliate on a large scale in response to any provocations made by North Korea.

The statement was made by Colonel Lee Sung-jun, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) at a regular press conference because Pyongyang increased tensions with a series of new weapons tests.

"Our military maintains a posture capable of responding to North Korea's artillery provocations, while continuing to monitor its weapons development and improve our prevention and response capabilities," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 13.

North Korea on Monday (12/1) said it had developed a 240mm caliber controllable double rocket launcher and a ballistic control system to expand its weapons.

The South Korean military immediately detected and monitored North Korea's real-time shooting test on Sunday afternoon (11/2) and has analyzed its specifications along with the United States.

Lee said the military did not immediately release the information because the rocket launcher was not included in the scope of disclosure as outlined in its protocol. JCS usually uncovers tests of North Korea's main ballistic missiles and weapons.

North Korea conducted a test-fire of several rocket launchers towards the Yellow Sea from an area near the port city of Nampho in the western part on Sunday.

The North Korea's 240 mm double rocket launcher system is known to be deployed near the border, posing a potential threat to South Korea's wider capital area.

The latest trial was carried out just days before the birthday of the late leader Kim Jong-il, a major holiday that falls this Friday. However, according to the JCS, so far there has been no specific movement by the North Korean military.

North Korea has stepped up tensions on the Korean Peninsula with weapons tests this new year, including launches of cruise missiles from sea and land, as well as firing artillery into waters near the western inter-Korean sea border.