Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee says he has given more authority to frontline commanders to respond more quickly to possible provocations from North Korea.

Speaking before a National Assembly plenary session Monday, Lee said border commanders have to respond to North Korea's aggression more quickly, citing the 1999 and 2002 naval skirmishes which lasted only 14 and 18 minutes respectively.

He said North Korea is likely to fire ship-to-ship missiles or attack South Korean patrol vessels along the western sea border. He said the military is preparing for all possible scenarios and that combined forces will repel any aggression in the shortest possible time.

He said the military is also keeping a close watch on North Korea's move to fire the long-range Daepodong Two missile. He added that "combined intelligence assets" of South Korea and the United States are monitoring the North's move even though Seoul is capable of doing it on its own.