North Korea has blasted South Korea for its "active deterrence strategy," calling the change a serious military provocation and a dangerous act.

South Korea’s presidential Commission for National Security Review recommended to the president earlier this month that the military shift its policy from the existing defense-oriented strategy to an "active deterrence strategy."

A spokesman for North Korea’s “Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland” told the North’s official Korea Central News Agency that the South’s shift is tantamount to adopting an “attack strategy” against the communist country. He added that North Korea is fully prepared for any preemptive attack from South Korea.

An active deterrence strategy refers to a stronger military posture in which South Korea will strike military bases and command facilities in North Korea if it obtains signs of war, such as the launch of missiles or nuclear weapons by North Korea.