South Korea’s Defense Minister Shin Won-sik called for a strong readiness posture against North Korea as he made his first visit to a front-line military unit in his new role.

Shin, who took office Saturday, was briefed on border operations at the Army’s 1st Infantry Division in Paju, just south of the Demilitarized Zone, and ordered a firm military readiness posture, according to South Korea’s News Agency (Yonhap).

In the past, North Korea has conducted large-scale provocations two or three years after a new South Korean government takes office, Shin said. If North Korea provokes, Shin said, “First, retaliate immediately. Second, retaliate strongly. Third, retaliate until the end.” Last week, South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to defend the nation from North Korea’s provocations by strengthening its ability to respond “immediately and overwhelmingly.”

Source: Qatar News Agency