The likely future head of U.S. forces in South Korea has stressed the need to be prepared to address further provocations by North Korea.

General James Thurman made the remark in written answers to questions by members of the Senate Armed Services Committee ahead of his confirmation hearing. Thurman is the current Commanding General of the U.S. Army Forces Command.

Thurman said the U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command "must continue readiness preparations to fight and win a war with North Korea and at the same time prepare to deal with the complexity of a regime collapse and the attendant consequences.”

He added that the North has enough material to make at least six plutonium-based weapons and an inventory of more than 800 ballistic missiles.

Thurman said he believes North Korean leader Kim Jong-il “is an unpredictable leader.”