Acting President Han Duck-soo visited troops on the front lines Tuesday and ordered them to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation from the enemy.
Han met with troops of the Army's 1st Infantry Division in the border city of Paju and checked the military's readiness.
"Under the grave security situation, we must anticipate all provocation scenarios that North Korea could stage and prepare thoroughly," he said. "Deter the enemy's provocations by maintaining a firm military readiness posture and in the event the enemy provokes, respond overwhelmingly and crush their will to provoke."
Han later visited Camp Bonifas, home to the United Nations Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area, and was briefed by the battalion's commander and deputy commander.
He then met with both South Korean and U.S. troops serving in the battalion and stressed its importance as a symbol of the firm alliance between South Korea and the United States. (Yonhap)
