The Ministry of National Defense said it is the basic position of the military to be ready to firmly respond to any provocations by North Korea.
 
Defense ministry spokesperson Kim Min-seok made the remark during a regular briefing on Monday in response to North Korea's warning that Seoul would face a reign of "stern punishment." Kim added that if the North sincerely wants to improve inter-Korea relations, it should stop making one-sided assertions and come to the dialogue table.
 
The North's powerful National Defense Commission criticized the South on Sunday for allowing the spread of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by activists and the South's annual joint military drills with the United States. It said South Korea would face a reign of stern punishment if the Seoul continues to challenge the North’s historic measures aimed at improving inter-Korean relations.