Anchor: The Defense Ministry says that North Korea may engage in fresh provocations in order to increase its leverage in negotiations with the U.S.
Our Oh Soo-young has this report.
 
Report: The Defense Ministry on Friday held a year-end meeting of military commanders chaired by Defense Minister Song Young-moo in Seoul and went over the nation's key security issues, including threats from North Korea. 
 
The ministry viewed that North Korea is faced with growing uncertainty and anxiety within the regime due to strong long-standing international sanctions.
 
Nevertheless, the ministry said Pyongyang is likely to continue its hard line stance on the U.S. and seek to boost its negotiation power through strategic provocations as it believes that its nuclear and missile programs are a means of survival.
 
The ministry also assessed that if instability within the regime worsens, North Korea may violate the inter-Korean border or launch terrorist or cyber attacks with the purpose of disrupting international gatherings in a bid to turn the situation around. 
 
The ministry pledged to strengthen defense posture against the North's possible provocations and to ensure the PyeongChang Olympics and Paralympics will be held successfully. 
 
At the meeting, Defense Minister Song said war has changed completely compared to the past amid growing asymmetric warfare threats such as nuclear, missile and cyber attacks.
 
Song then stressed the need to build a strong military and pursue defense reforms based on new concepts in a bid to maximize deterrence against the North's nuclear and missile threats. 
Oh Soo-young, KBS World Radio News. 
 

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